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Applications Being Accepted for Two Seats on Grants Pass Housing Advisory Committee
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Applications are now being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Housing Advisory Committee due to expiring terms. These are three-year appointments. The Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) explores opportunities to facilitate the provision of housing for all income levels and it makes recommendations to the Grants Pass City Council. The HAC also promotes public awareness of housing resources and promotes public participation in identifying and addressing housing issues and needs. The special qualifications for these positions includes one representative from a financial institution/lender and one representative who is a renter in the low- to moderate-income category. Applications can be found at the City Administration Building at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received before 5 p.m. on August 9th.
Posted on 6/12/24 6:09AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP's CDBG Draft Annual Action Plan Now Available for Public Review and Comment
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The City of Grants Pass has announced the Draft 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan is now available for public review and comment through July 8th. The draft plan -- which is part of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program -- may be viewed at "grantspassoregon.gov." Citizens are encouraged to submit their comments to Anne Ingalls, who will incorporate them into the draft plan before it is presented to the Grants Pass City Council at a public hearing scheduled for July 17th. The City Council will hold a public hearing to consider public input and -- after final review -- adopt the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan (AAP). The AAP will be submitted to US Housing and Urban Development by August 15th.
Posted on 6/12/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh
 

BCC to Hold Public Hearing on Ordinance Allowing ADUs on Rural Properties
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on an ordinance that would change the rules for rural residential zones during its weekly business session tomorrow. The Board will then consider the first reading of the ordinance that would amend the Josephine County Code to update the rural residential chapter to allow more construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). ADUs would be limited to 900 square feet and they must be located no more than 100 feet from the existing single-family dwelling on rural properties outside the urban growth boundary that are at least two acres in size. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider the Findings of Fact on a comprehensive plan map change on a property from Forest to Residential and a zone map change from Woodlot Resource to Rural Residential-5. There will also be a presentation from Josephine County Public Health. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:56AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Man Injured in Motor Vehicle Crash Arrested on Statewide Felony Warrant
A Grants Pass man who was injured yesterday when his motorized bicycle was struck by a vehicle was later arrested on a statewide felony warrant. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle crash in the 1400-block of NW 6th Street on Monday at 3:35 p.m.. Police said a 44-year-old man was operating an eBike on 6th Street when he was struck by a large white truck driven by another man. A witness at an automobile dealership reported the bike rider was standing and walking, but he was holding his head. It was not disclosed whether he was wearing a helmet. During the crash investigation, officers discovered that the man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from an assault conviction. He was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation and -- after being cleared by doctors -- he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Following the investigation, the truck driver was cited for Careless Driving.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Snared Felon for Parole Violation after Stopping Him for Impaired Driving
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after he was pulled over for impaired driving on Redwood Highway west of Grants Pass yesterday. OSP reports troopers stopped a black Lincoln Navigator driven by a 22-year-old man near milepost 4 of US Highway 199 on Monday shortly after 11 a.m.. Troopers said the Lincoln was called in as a driving complaint after it struck a guard rail and continued northbound toward Grants Pass. It was reported that the driver was unable to maintain his travel lane and was going into oncoming traffic. Upon contact with the driver, he displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was placed into custody when it was discovered that he was a convicted felon. The suspect motorist was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and his vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Sex Offender Found Sleeping Face-Down near Skate Park
Grants Pass Police arrested an out-of-compliance sex offender after he was found sleeping face-down near the Skate Park yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were dispatched to perform a welfare check on the 37-year-old man in the 500-block of SE Mill Street on Monday at 2:12 p.m.. Police said a passerby called 9-1-1 to report a male subject with his face in the dirt and a can of beer next to him. The caller said the man was not moving and they were concerned for his safety because he had a bunch of clothes on in the heat. Officers responded, contacted the man and recognized him as a convicted sex offender. He was found to be out-of-compliance with registration requirements and placed into custody. He said he had no good reason for sleeping face-down. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:27AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Apprehended Motorist on MPD Warrants after Downtown Traffic Stop
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist on two local felony warrants following a traffic stop in the downtown area late last night According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old woman near the corner of SE I and 8th streets on Monday at 11:06 p.m.. Police said they stopped the female driver for illegal display of license plates and registration tags when they discovered that she was wanted on two Medford felony warrants for Probation Violation related to a burglary arrest and for failing to appear in court for Supplying Contraband to a Correctional Facility. Officers placed the suspect into custody without incident and lodged her at the Josephine County Jail. She awaits transfer to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh
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Man Reported Missing in Coburg Collared in GP on Springfield Felony Warrant
A man who had been reported missing in northern Lane County was apprehended on a Springfield felony warrant after he went to the Grants Pass Police Department early yesterday. Grants Pass Police reported the 54-year-old male subject arrived at GPPD on NE 7th Street on Monday around 9:30 a.m.. Police said the man came to the police headquarters to turn himself in as a missing person out of the small city of Coburg. He was cleared from the missing persons list, but apparently unaware that he was wanted on a Springfield Police Department felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a conditional release agreement. The underlying crime in the release agreement was not disclosed. The former missing person was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on scheduled bail of $250,000.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police Arrested Woman for Obstructing Traffic on Highway 199
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for obstructing traffic on Redwood Highway last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to multiple reports of a female pedestrian obstructing the flow of traffic on US Highway 199 at Affordable Truck & RV on Monday at 9:40 p.m.. Officers said they contacted the 25-year-old woman after she failed to obey a traffic control device and crossed the highway in front of several vehicles, causing them to stop. They placed her into custody after she did it again, forcing vehicles to stop to avoid hitting her. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Evicted Total of 14 Campers for Violation of City Park Ordinances
Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 14 campers for violating ordinances in city parks on Monday. At Riverside Park, 11 campers were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. All 11 were issued 30-day exclusions. At Lawnridge Park, one man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish while another man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Staking a Tent. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. Later in the day at Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space, Scattering Rubbish and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also issued a 30-day exclusion. Six other campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Baker Park, officers assisted in enforcement of parking codes after a citizen reported there was no parking available for boaters. All the spots were taken up by vehicles associated with camping. One person was cited for Illegal Parking while several others were warned and left the area.
Posted on 6/11/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh
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Eagle Point Man Killed in West Diamond Lake Highway Accident Last Weekend
A Jackson County man was killed last weekend when he was ejected from a vehicle that crashed on West Diamond Lake Highway. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle accident on Highway 230 near milepost 10 in Douglas County on Sunday at 8 a.m.. State troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford F-150 pickup driven by 24-year-old Jason Michael Ettenberger of Portland went off the shoulder of the highway on a left-hand turn. The driver overcorrected back across the highway before rolling the truck several times down an embankment where it came to rest on its passenger side. The passenger in the vehicle was ejected. According to OSP, the passenger -- 31-year-old Austin Cordell Belford of Eagle Point -- was declared deceased at the scene. He did not appear to have worn a seatbelt during the crash. Ettenberger sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Highway 230 was impacted for approximately 4-1/2 hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed and occupant safety are considered the primary causes of the fatal crash. OSP was assisted by Diamond Lake Resort First Responders, Umpqua Valley Ambulance and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Posted on 6/11/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Man for Roughing Up Woman & Threatening Her Two Children
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up a woman and threatening two of her children at a south Grants Pass home last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 100-block of Wilmar Avenue on Sunday at 8:29 p.m.. Deputies said a young woman called 9-1-1 to report that her mother had been punched in the face and pushed to the ground by a 37-year-old man with whom she lives. The caller advised there were multiple children in the home, adding that a 15-year-old female had been hit in the face and a 9-year-old boy had been pushed to the ground as well. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported. According to the report, there had been a prior domestic violence incident at that address in 2012. The female victim was trying to collect her personal items and leave, but the male suspect was preventing her escape. The caller was not there, but told dispatchers she witnessed the altercation via Facetime. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties and then placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Assault and two counts of Menacing. He was being held without bail. The Oregon Department of Human Services was notified about the incident.
Posted on 6/11/24 6:20AM by Sam Marsh
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