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R.V. Park at Bridge & Leonard Rd Okayed & HBDC’s Denial of Mural Upheld

The Grants Pass City Council denied an appeal of the Urban Area Planning Commission’s approval of an R.V. Park at the corner of Bridge Street and Leonard Road. Consolidated Land Holding, L.L.C. will move forward with phase one of the R.V. Park which will initially create a 63-space facility with an almost 3,000 square foot utility building containing showers, laundry and recreation room. Phase two will add an additional 24 spaces that will be added once a wetlands area is mitigated. The vote to uphold the Planning Commission’s approval was 6 to 2 with Brian DeLaGrange and Rob Pell casting the dissenting vote. Later in the meeting the land for the R.V. was annexed into the City of Grants Pass.The Council then heard a second appeal, this from the Committee on Public Art, after the Historic Building and Sights Commission denied a request for a mural designated for the alleyway that connects the Beaver Parking lot at the corner of 7th and ‘G’ to Northwest 6th Street. The proposed mural depicted dogs in various historic apparel. The vote to overturn the HBSC’s denial failed on a five to three vote. The council vacated property lines all within city owned Baker Park because the installation of the new Portland Loo fell inside the set back criteria to one of the property lines.

Posted on 5/1/24 10:03PM by Chuck Benson

BCC Approves Library Annexations and First Readings of Code Amendments

The Board of Commissioners this morning approved the annexations of seven properties into the Josephine Community Library District along with the first readings of four ordinances that would amend the Josephine County Code. The Board unanimously approved the library annexations requested by landowners following a public hearing. Six of the properties are in the Grants Pass area and one is in Williams. The library district increased in size by more than 43 acres. The Commissioners okayed the first readings of ordinances that would change the County Code, with the second readings and final approvals set for May 15th. Vice Chair Herman Baertschiger said the amendments are housekeeping items aimed at removing unneeded ordinances from the Code document. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper said the ordinance relating to the Southern Oregon Library Information System needs to be repealed because the County no longer operates the library and the ordinance relating to the Law Enforcement Data System also needs to be repealed because Human Resources no longer uses it for criminal background checks. The ordinance pertaining to the Law Library needs to be amended to reflect after-hours access to certified personnel and more flexible hours for public use. The 1981 Public Works Revolving Fund has been closed. Under Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard from several people who had complaints about the proposed sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church, related complaints about the lack of local economic development, support for recently fired Board Secretary Trish House and a Williams resident who is opposed the sale of the Pipe Fork timber property. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board appointed Tom Hilton to a four-year term on the Parks Advisory Board.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:55AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Elderly Man for Threatening Wife & Stepdaughter with Firearm

Grants Pass Police jailed an elderly man for threatening his wife and stepdaughter with a firearm at a northwest city residence yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 81-year-old man at a home in the 700-block of NW A Street on Tuesday shortly before 2 p.m.. Police said the man got upset with his wife and stepdaughter after he believed they were throwing away his belongings. An investigation determined the suspect made contact with his family members in the upstairs master bedroom, pointed a .45-caliber revolver at them and ordered his stepdaughter to leave the house. Both family members were able to leave the residence without harm and the man was said to be cooperative with law enforcement. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts each of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Misdemeanor Menacing. He was held without bail. At his wife's request, at least five firearms -- including a rifle, handguns and the revolver -- were collected by police for safekeeping.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:54AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Apprehended Man on Statewide Felony Warrant in Selma Traffic Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant during a traffic stop in the Selma area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Honda sedan containing the 37-year-old male subject on private property near the intersection of Reeves Creek Road and Redwood Highway on Tuesday at 3:20 p.m.. Deputies said they pulled over the car because of expired registration tags and learned that the female driver had a suspended license. She was warned for the moving violations and the car was not towed because it was on private property. The male passenger in the car was discovered to be wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2018 conviction for Possession of an Explosive Device. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:52AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Probation Violation after He Tried to Steal from Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his probation last night after he was caught stealing items from a downtown convenience store. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Tuesday around 10 p.m.. Police said a 23-year-old man attempted to steal candy and a drink from 7-Eleven before he got into an argument with the store manager. The stolen merchandise was retrieved and the suspect climbed into a black Dodge sedan that left the scene. Officers caught up with the vehicle a short time later and pulled it over near the corner of SE 8th and K streets. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for 1st-Degree Robbery and 1st-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:51AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Local Warrant after Welfare Check at Dollar Tree

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant during a welfare check near the north Dollar Tree store yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to reports of strange behavior from a male subject outside the store on NW 6th Street on Tuesday at 2:20 p.m.. Police said a 28-year-old man stripped down to his shorts and was screaming and throwing punches in the air while causing public alarm. They said he left the store, but was contacted a short time later near Kesterson Park on NE Evelyn Avenue. Officers contacted the man and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Improper Use of 9-1-1 and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:50AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Returning to Illegal Campsite on East Side of City

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who was illegally camping on the east side of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint near the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday. Police said the 33-year-old man had been warned for trespassing on the easement between Agness Avenue and Foothill Boulevard last weekend, but he had returned and set up a brown tarp with his belongings scattered everywhere. The property owner was contacted and wanted the man to be arrested after he refused to leave. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:48AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted 6 Campers for Tuesday Ordinance Violations in City Parks

Grants Pass Police evicted six campers for committing ordinance violations at city parks on Tuesday. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping as his campsite had been posted last week and he did not leave. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Westholm Park, a man and woman were cited for Scattering Rubbish. They were issued 30-day park exclusions. Another man who was sleeping in the street next to the park was cited for Methamphetamine Possession. At Tussing Park, a man and woman were cited for Oversized Camps, another woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish, and another man was cited for Illegal Camping and Buffer Zone Violation. Two of them were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Baker Park, a woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. She was issued a 30-day exclusion. Back at Westholm Park, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. The two people cited earlier in the day were in the process of removing their personal belongings from the park. A neighbor complained that there was a tent set up in the street.

Posted on 5/1/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh

RADE Jailed CJ Man on Felony Warrant for Josephine County Drug Trafficking

Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) jailed a Cave Junction man on a warrant for drug trafficking this week. The Grants Pass Police Department reports detectives arrested a 54-year-old male subject at a home in the 100-block of Ken Rose Lane on Monday evening. RADE detectives said the man was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant which contained a secret indictment for Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl, as well as Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Methamphetamine. No other details about the arrest or charges were disclosed by RADE or GPPD. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held in lieu of posting $75,000 bail.

Posted on 5/1/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man on Felony Warrant after Investigating Trespass Complaint

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding felony warrant early yesterday after investigating a northwest city trespassing complaint. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to man ringing the doorbell at a home in the 2500-block of NW Lassen Way on Tuesday at 5:12 a.m.. Police said the caller told dispatchers the male subject was standing on their front porch and when they called out to ask who he was, he said "Jo Jo." They did not know the man and requested that he be trespassed from their property. Officers arrived on scene, contacted the 43-year-old man at the end of Sinclair Drive and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was trespassed from the Lassen Way residence. His probation officer was advised of his client's arrest.

Posted on 5/1/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Williams Highway Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week after a traffic stop on Williams Highway in south Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 driven by a 51-year-old man near the intersection of Highway 238 and New Hope Road late Monday night. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for speeding and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he consented to field sobriety tests, but refused to cooperate with the testing. He was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was well over twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was issued citations for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 5/1/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

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