Local News

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is accepting final applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program, which has limited funds remaining. HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief, designed to help homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardship due to the pandemic. Homeowners are eligible if they are facing foreclosure, involved in a court case that threatens their home, in property tax foreclosure, or in other high-risk situations identified by a housing counselor. Homeowners should explore all other options with their servicer or a housing counselor before applying for HAF. Scheduling and completing foreclosure avoidance takes time and documentation. While the agency is accepting new applications, they cannot guarantee assistance to everyone who applies due to limited funding. Homeowners wanting to apply for assistance must work with an HAF intake partner to submit an application on their behalf. A list of intake partners can be found at "oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/Pages/Homeownership-Assistance-Fund.aspx."

 

The Rogue Community College Military Resource Center is hosting the "Scholars and Stripes" golf tournament at the Resort at Eagle Point on Sunday, October 20th. RCC's Military Services Department and Military Resource Center present this fundraising golf tournament in support of a scholarship fund for student veterans, their spouses and their families. While military students receive education benefits through the GI Bill, there are often unforeseen expenses that can disrupt their academic journey. The scholarship fund created by the Military Services Department and RCC Foundation seeks to bridge this gap by providing assistance for various needs. From housing and utility bills to childcare, auto repairs and emergency funds, this program is designed to alleviate financial stressors and empower students to focus on their studies. The Player Sign-Up Deadline is October 6th. The form can be found at "roguecc.edu/webforms/Veterans/golf.asp."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the final reading of an ordinance that will pave the way for a new development in the North Valley area during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. Following a public hearing, the Board will decide whether to adopt an ordinance amending the Josephine County Comprehensive Plan from Forest to Residential and amending the Zoning Map from Woodlot Resource to Rural Residential with a five-acre minimum lot size for a property bordering Interstate 5 near South Schoolhouse Creek Road. The property owner is KND Development, LLC. Also on the agenda is a proclamation of September 17th-23rd as "US Constitution Week" and the monthly recognition of county employees. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Due to a last-second agreement between ABC and the Salem Radio Network, the Presidential Debate will be aired on KAJO Radio this evening. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will have their first face-to-face encounter tonight as they take the debate stage in Philadelphia. "Live" coverage of the debate on KAJO will begin at 6 p.m.. KAJO Radio is available at 99.7 FM and 1270 AM as well as at "KAJO.com."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for a bizarre series of events that happened at businesses on Rogue River Highway yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 38-year-old man they identified as "Jimmy Dean Couch" near the Bottle Drop Center at the corner of Highway 99 and Parkdale Drive on Monday at 12:45 p.m.. Police said Couch was the subject of three separate calls for service. First, he was reported shouting at passing vehicles. Second, he entered private property and was cutting branches off a tree. Third, he was screaming at customers at U-Save Gas & Tackle while pretending to shoot people with his hand shaped like a gun. Officers located Couch at the Bottle Drop Center and told him he was under arrest. He began to walk away, so one officer grabbed his left arm and another officer grabbed his right arm. He actively resisted by tightening his muscles and pulling his arms upward. He was then taken in a controlled manner to the ground where he continued to resist and kicked an officer, causing minor pain but no serious injury. Couch was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest, Escape and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. Upon booking, it was discovered that Couch was reported as a missing person in Jackson County. GPPD contacted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to let them know he had been located.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for impaired driving last night after receiving numerous traffic complaints near the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a red Jeep Cherokee driven by a 19-year-old male subject in the 1300-block of SW Foundry Street on Monday at 7:20 p.m.. Police said the driver was first called in as a complaint at NW B and Fry streets where he was reportedly doing burnouts and traveling at a high rate of speed. He almost hit some pedestrians, was fish-tailing and allegedly pulled a gun on one witness. Officers pulled him over after observing several moving violations. Upon contact, officers said the young man displayed indicators of impairment. He asked for legal counsel, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented impairment. The young suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. It was unclear if his vehicle was impounded. Police said there was a Remington shotgun located inside the SUV.

 

Not all members of the unhoused population in Grants Pass are willing to reside in the city's designated campsites on SE J Street and 6th & A streets. Late Sunday afternoon, Grants Pass Police discovered that a man had erected a tarp and pipe-framed structure on a sidewalk near the corner of NE Beacon Drive and the Parkway where he was sleeping. Officers contacted the man and moved the structure off the sidewalk in the front of the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles office across from Fred Meyer. They said there was visible trash including tools, personal property and soda cans next to his impromptu campsite. The trash detracted from the natural beauty of the area. The male subject whom GPPD identified as "Jerry L. Lee" was cited for Scattering Rubbish, Sleeping on a Public Sidewalk and Blocking a Public Sidewalk. He was ordered to appear in court and advised of the two urban campgrounds available for the unhoused population.

 

Grants Pass Police cited one person for an ordinance violation at a city park and two people for ordinance violations at a designated urban campground yesterday. The first incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. when officers performed a patrol check at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway. That's where they contacted a woman who was found to be in possession of marijuana. She was cited to appear in court and trespassed from the park for 30 days. During a 3:04 p.m. check of the SE J Street urban campground, officers cited a man for tying a tarp to a fence after being warned several times. They also cited a woman for Unlawful Utilization of Open Space after she was previously warned.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of a downtown restaurant last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 28-year-old male subject they identified as "Brandon James Bledsoe" at Quality Used Cars on NE 7th Street on Sunday at 3:10 p.m.. Police said Bledsoe stole a woman's Mazda 3 from the back parking lot of the Powderhorn Cafe on NE 6th Street. They said the vehicle was recovered at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street. The suspect was identified via video surveillance and he was located at Carl's Jr., but he fled on foot and a foot chase followed. With help from citizens, officers located Bledsoe at the used car lot and he was placed into custody. He was found to be in possession of a forged bill of sale and claimed to have purchased the vehicle. However, the registered owner proved his claim was false. The stolen car was returned to its owner. Bledsoe was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 2nd-Degree Forgery and 3rd-Degree Escape. He was being held without bail.