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ODOT Announces Big X Intersection Project Starts This Summer in NW Medford

The Oregon Department of Transportation has a "big" construction project ready to go beginning this summer in northwest Medford. The Big X Intersection Project will replace the asphalt, update the ADA ramps, and improve bicycle and pedestrian connections leading through the four-way intersection of Oregon Highways 99, 238 and 62. The Big X intersection is on Highway 99 between Table Rock Road and Ohio Street, Highway 238 west to North Ross Lane and Highway 62 east to the Biddle Road overpass. ODOT officials said the work will extend the life of the roadways and bridges as well as improve the safety for bicyclists and pedestrians in the area. The construction contract has been awarded to Knife River Materials. The project is scheduled to begin this summer and run through winter 2025. ODOT anticipates night construction with flaggers, lane closures and reduced lanes.

Posted on 6/6/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Council Approves $255+ Million Dollar Budget

The Grants Pass City Council’s Wednesday night business session began with Council President Vanessa Ogier filling in for Mayor Sara Bristol. The Council quickly approved the City’s balanced budget for fiscal year 2025 for a total expenditure of $255,198,739 and appropriations. Councilors also approved a resolution declaring the City’s election to receive state shared revenues The council approved the vacation of a property line on tax lots 1008 and 1009 on Southeast Demi Court. Both lots are owned by the same individuals with the intention of developing a new residential accessory structure. Logan Werner was appointed to the Urban Tree Advisory Committee. The Council then moved to public comment and, following discussions held during the Monday workshop, limited individual time for comment to two minutes. Several agenda items were moved to the Council’s June 19th meeting. The Business Session was adjourned at 6:48 and Councilors reconvened as the Urban Renewal Agency. The Agency approved awarding a grant for restoration, rehabilitation and restoration grants for the property located at 245 Southeast ‘G’ Street.

Posted on 6/5/24 7:07PM by Chuck Benson

OSP: Excessive Speed a Factor in Redwood Highway Crash that Killed GP Man

A Grants Pass man was killed when he crashed his vehicle on Redwood Highway at Hayes Hill earlier this week. The Oregon State Police reported today that troopers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle accident near milepost 16 of US Highway 199 on Monday at 7:08 p.m.. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Dodge Ram 1500 driven by 28-year-old Brandon Richard Cain failed to negotiate a curve, left the highway and struck a tree on the southbound shoulder. Troopers said Cain was declared deceased at the scene. They said excessive speed is considered to be the primary factor in the crash. According to OSP, Redwood Highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted at the fatal crash scene by Rural Metro Fire Department, Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 6/5/24 12:59PM by Sam Marsh

Commissioners Adopted Ordinance Creating Permanent Funding for Fairgrounds

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning adopted an ordinance creating a permanent funding mechanism for the Fairgrounds. Following a public hearing in which there was no public comment, the Board voted unanimously to amend the Josephine County Code by adding a chapter that pertains to the Fairgrounds Permanent Fund. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the fund was created after the sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church for $9.5 million. He said $9 million of the proceeds will be kept in an interest-bearing account from which the Fairgrounds can borrow money for projects, equipment and other expenses. The money must be paid back to the account, which will be administered by the Board of Commissioners and the Fair Board. The Commissioners opened the meeting with the annual presentation of the Raskin Awards, which are given to groups and individuals for their outstanding support of the Josephine County Animal Shelter. This year, Raskin Awards were presented to Shelter Friends and Dr. Rebecca Cross-Hall of Riverside Veterinary Clinic.

Posted on 6/5/24 11:01AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Assisted Living Resident for Threatening Staff with Hammer

Grants Pass Police jailed a resident of an assisting living center for threatening employees with a hammer early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 52-year-old man for the incident that occurred at The Bridge Retirement and Assisting Living Center on SW Bridge Street on Tuesday shortly after 8 a.m.. Police said the man felt staff members were laughing at him following a series of mornings that made him increasingly upset about violations of the noise curfew at the facility. They said he retrieved a hammer from his room, walked upstairs and proceeded to yell threatening profanities throughout the facility, telling staff he was going to be "smashing faces." The incident was seen on video surveillance. According to the report, frightened staff members locked themselves in a room to avoid being hit with the hammer and then called 9-1-1. Responding officers seized the hammer as evidence and placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Misdemeanor Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/5/24 10:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Possession of Stolen Motorcycle Frame and Drugs

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for possession of a stolen motorcycle frame and narcotics during a welfare check at a downtown supermarket last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to perform a welfare check on a 38-year-old male subject in the parking lot of Safeway on SE 7th Street at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. The man was slumped over in a parked pickup truck. Police said they contacted the man in the driver's seat of the pickup with drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. A consent search uncovered approximately four grams of methamphetamine that was seized. Further investigation located a Harley Davidson frame in the truck bed that had been reported stolen. Officers said the man admitted to knowing the frame was "probably" stolen as he got it for free. It was recovered and the registered owner was notified. It had been listed as stolen by the California Highway Patrol. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Possession of Methamphetamine. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/5/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Corrections Client on Local Warrant for Domestic Assault

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on an outstanding warrant late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were summoned to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday around 4:55 p.m.. Police said they were told a 30-year-old male subject was there to meet with his corrections officer and that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. Officers contacted the subject in the lobby and placed him into custody, lodging him at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was set to be transferred to the Jackson County Jail in Medford.

Posted on 6/5/24 10:56AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist & Passenger for Inebriation in Interstate 5 Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and placed his passenger on a detox hold last night following a traffic stop on Interstate 5 north of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chrysler 300 sedan driven by a 21-year-old Woodburn man near milepost 61 of I-5 on Tuesday at 9:19 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car after observing numerous traffic violations and the driver showed strong signs of impairment. They said the driver performed very poorly in field sobriety testing. The driver and his passenger -- a 28-year-old Woodburn man -- were both taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center due to their high levels of inebriation. The driver was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Driving While Suspended. The car was impounded and towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 6/5/24 10:54AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Issued Several Citations and Evicted 3 Campers from City Parks

Grants Pass Police issued several citations and evicted three campers from city parks during routine patrol checks on Tuesday. At Baker Park, a woman was cited for Scattering Rubbish and she was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Debo Park, a man was contacted regarding a complaint of Public Urination. He was cited for Public Consumption of Alcohol and Unlawful Utilization of Park Space before being issued a 30-day exclusion. Also at Debo Park, a woman was cited for Scattering Rubbish and No Dog License. She was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. He was warned that a subsequent violation would lead to a 30-day exclusion.

Posted on 6/5/24 10:52AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Incarcerated Man for Pulling Knife on Grandfather & Threatening Him

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office incarcerated a man for pulling a knife on his grandfather in the Jerome Prairie area early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 34-year-old male subject for the incident in the 4300-block of Jerome Prairie Road on Tuesday at 8:26 a.m.. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 from that address and told dispatchers that his grandson pulled a knife on him and threatened to kill him. The grandfather ran away and drove his motorhome to the Fast & Easy Market on Demaray Drive. He was not injured. According to the report, the grandfather advised deputies that his grandson uses methamphetamine. He said he believed his grandson put the knife back in the kitchen drawer after he threatened him with it. Deputies responded, interviewed the involved parties and placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/5/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Redwood Highway Crash at Hayes Hill Claims Life of Motorist on Monday Night

A motorist was killed this week when they crashed their vehicle on Redwood Highway at Hayes Hill. On Monday at 7:07 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon State Police responded to the single-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 west of Wonder. Upon arrival, rescue crews confirmed the single occupant of the vehicle was deceased. No other vehicles or persons were involved. During the accident reconstruction and investigation that followed, northbound traffic on the highway was detoured onto the Old Hayes Hill bypass road. State troopers said they would release details of the fatal crash when it's deemed appropriate.

Posted on 6/5/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

Motorist Hurt after Crashing Vehicle into Trees at Interstate 5 Hugo Interchange

A motorist was injured early yesterday when they crashed a vehicle off the northbound Interstate 5 Exit near Hugo. On Tuesday at 8:34 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck off I-5 at milepost 66. Rural Metro officials said the vehicle traveled toward the frontage road near Jumpoff Joe Creek Road before striking trees and catching on fire. Engines from Rural Metro and ODF Southwest got quick containment on the fully-involved vehicle and small spread to surrounding vegetation. Officials said the driver had already self-extricated and was tended to by AMR. The patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with moderate injuries. He claimed not to know why he crashed his vehicle. OSP was investigating the cause of the wreck. The remains of the burned vehicle were towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 6/5/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

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