Passenger Truck Strikes, Kills Pedestrian in Central Point

A 65-year-old Central Point man driving a passenger truck struck and killed a 48-year-old man Wednesday evening in Central Point. The Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team is investigating the incident that occurred in the crosswalk at the Interstate 5 Exit 33 northbound on-ramp. Dispatch received a report of a pedestrian struck at approximately 5:39 p.m. on Wednesday. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Central Point Police Department (CPPD), Jackson County Fire District 3, and Mercy Flights responded to the scene. The vehicle involved was a 2022 GMC Sierra. Mercy Flights transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased approximately one hour after the crash. The victim was from the Las Vegas area. JCSO deputies on scene requested a STAR Team callout to conduct a full investigation. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the investigation was conducted, and Jackson County Roads assisted with traffic control. ...Read more

Woman Arrested by GP Police in Stabbing Case

Grants Pass Police responded to a stabbing in the 1000 block of NE A Street Wednesday. A call to 911 came in around 8:30 p.m. and dispatch heard a disturbance in the background while on the phone with the resident. Patrol units responded to the scene and discovered the 39-year-old man had been stabbed in the upper body. Grants Pass Fire and Rescue and American Medical Response personnel responded to provide medical treatment before transporting the victim to Three Rivers Medical Center. He had significant injuries and is expected to recover. Due to the seriousness of the case, the Grants Pass Major Crimes Unit assumed responsibility for the investigation around 9 p.m. Detectives worked throughout the night until past 5 a.m. to ensure a timely and effective investigation. As a result of their work, Heidi Smith, 42, was taken into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Assault in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. ...Read more

City Council Directs Staff to Bring Salary Schedule 10% Less than Recommendation

The Grants Pass City Council directed City Staff to bring a salary schedule 10% less than the Taskforce Recommendation to consider at a later date. The council was presented with updated approaches to adjusting the Non-bargaining Employee's compensation and classification based on market analysis and Oregon Pay Equity law. The funding for these adjustments is in the budget. These aren't merit increases, it's a question of if these positions are paid competitively and whether employee placement is consistent with their experience. The goal was to find the most cost-effective salary schedule adjustment and implementation that allows for recruitment and retention of qualified employees and ensures compliance with legal requirements. Four options were presented to the council. The first was recommended by the Taskforce starting with a 2.71% Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) with phased implementation over the five fiscal years. The second would be Full Implementation starting with the same COLA, then 3% over subsequent fiscal years. ...Read more