KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Jackson County Sheriff Increasing DUII Patrols during 2024 Holiday Season

During the Christmas and New Year holiday periods, we often see a rise in impaired driving deaths. In fact, recent data shows December impaired driving deaths are the highest in 15 years. Starting tomorrow and running through New Year's Day, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is increasing DUII patrols to keep the community safe from impaired drivers. The Sheriff's Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon are using federally-funded overtime to increase DUII patrols and educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. The program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Oregon Department of Transportation. Local motorists are reminded this holiday season to "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

Posted on 12/10/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

US Forest Service Accepting Applications for $200M in Community Wildfire Defense Grants

The US Forest Service has announced the agency is accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program to assist at-risk communities with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks. Now in its third year, this competitive grant program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Individual grants of up to $250,000 can be used to develop and update community wildfire protection plans while grants of up to $10 million can be used for wildfire resilience projects that implement community wildfire protection plans. The number of projects selected will be determined by available money, which is up to $200 million for this round of funding. Projects must be completed within five years of the award. In the first two years of the program, 45 projects across Oregon and Washington received more than $100 million in funding to develop community wildfire protection plans and implement strategic wildfire mitigation projects, investing millions in the safety of high-risk forest communities across both states. Community Wildfire Defense Grants help provide forest communities and partners thin overstocked stands, create shaded fuel breaks, and develop or update wildfire protection plans to ensure forests and communities are better prepared for and resilient to wildfires.

Posted on 12/10/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

City of Grants Pass Working to Comply with New FEMA Rules Protecting Fish Habitat

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is implementing new requirements for development in the regulated floodplain for continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which provides Grants Pass residents discounts on flood insurance. In 2009, FEMA was sued by various environmental agencies which claimed the federal floodplain regulations were not compliant with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) -- and FEMA has been working on resolution since that time. On July 15th of this year, FEMA announced the enforcement of short-term Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures for communities located in the Oregon implementation area that participate in NFIP and have a mapped SFHA while they complete their Environmental Impact Study. The changes are intended to protect 16 endangered and threatened salmon and steelhead species and their habitat by requiring "no net loss" of habitat functions. These functions include flood storage, water quality and riparian habitats. The Grants Pass Community Development Department is drafting a development code text amendment to include these requirements and will be sending out notices to all affected property owners in early 2025.

Posted on 12/10/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Chamber of Commerce Invites Citizens to Take Part in Annual "Operation Joy" Program

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce is once again inviting the community to help spread some holiday cheer this year for people residing in assisted living centers. "Operation Joy" is a program that collects unused Christmas cards. The cards are then given out to individuals, clubs and/or groups to be addressed to participating facilities. Completed cards are returned to the Chamber for delivery. Participating locations include Highland House with 85 residents, Royal Gardens with 80 residents, Oak Lane with 65 residents and Regency Care with 50 residents. Do you have leftover holiday cards? Do you want to make the holidays a little brighter for others? Drop them off and/or pick them up at the Chamber, which is located at 1995 NW Vine Street in Grants Pass.
Completed cards must be returned by December 18th. For more information about Operation Joy, contact Christie Swafford at (541)-226-3101 or e-mail "cswafford@grantspasschamber.org."

Posted on 12/10/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Threatening Wife & Stepdaughter at Golf Course Home

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his wife and stepdaughter while he was highly intoxicated over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 56-year-old male subject at a home in the 100-block of Whispering Drive on Saturday shortly after 11 p.m.. Police said the subject placed his wife and adult stepdaughter in fear of imminent serious injury during the incident. They said he threw several items at the women, with one of the items striking the stepdaughter. She was not physically injured. The suspect was located on the 7th green of the Grants Pass Golf Club and placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on two counts of Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Deputies Jailed Woman for Harassing Her Mother at Murphy Residence

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for harassing her mother at a Murphy area residence over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 45-year-old female subject at or near a home in the 5,000-block of New Hope Road on Saturday around 7:15 a.m.. Deputies said the woman called 9-1-1 several times, initially reporting that her elderly mother beat her up and requesting an ambulance. She said she was injured "everywhere" by her mother, whom she claimed had dementia and for whom she was acting as a caregiver. She yelled profanities at dispatchers before hanging up. A short time later, the subject called 9-1-1 again, stating that her brother stole her car and she was walking down the road naked because she was being threatened. The woman was deemed to be "emotionally disturbed" and "manic" when deputies contacted her and placed her into custody. The suspect kicked at deputies while being placed in the patrol vehicle, but no one was hurt. The suspect was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was booked for Domestic Harassment and Resisting Arrest.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Recent Jackson County Jail Inmate for Prowling SE Home

Grants Pass Police arrested a former Jackson County Jail inmate for prowling around a property in the southeast part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of "suspicious activity" in the 300-block of SE Rogue View Lane on Saturday at about 8 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a prowler who she observed on her surveillance camera at about 3:30 in the morning and who returned about two hours later. The male subject unlawfully entered a shed on the property, but it appeared nothing had been taken. Upon arrival, officers searched the area and located 41-year-old Genaro Joseph Elliott Montalvo who was still wearing a Jackson County Jail ID band. They said he told them he was in Grants Pass checking on multiple properties he owns. Montalvo was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail and was told not to return to the Rogue View property.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:07AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Former Walmart Worker for Stealing from her Employer

Grants Pass Police arrested a former Walmart employee over the weekend for allegedly stealing from her employer. The Police Department reports officers responded to an employee theft incident at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 5 p.m.. Police said 24-year-old DeeAnna Janae Raley-Murphy was detained by Walmart loss prevention for stealing approximately $250 worth of items from the store. An investigation determined she concealed items in her purse and brought them into the break room to take home without paying. According to the report, Walmart tracked multiple incidents of Raley-Murphy stealing from the store during her shift and they terminated her employment. The stolen items were recovered. Raley-Murphy was cited to appear in court on January 7th for 2nd-Degree Theft. She gathered her personal items and left the store.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

Washington Man Cited after Weekend Crash on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek

A Washington man was cited for causing a weekend crash on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 76 on Saturday at 9:14 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicates a 69-year-old man from Des Moines, Washington, was driving an Itasca motorhome when he attempted to pass a commercial vehicle hauling cars and side-swiped the trailer. They said multiple witnesses observed the incident and corroborated evidence at the scene. The Washington motorist was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center after complaining of pain. The motorhome was heavily damaged and towed to Grants Pass. The semi driver from San Mateo, California, was not hurt and he was able to drive away. Following an investigation, the Washington man was cited at the hospital for Failing to Drive Within Lane and No Operator's License.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

GP Man Hurt after Crashing Vehicle in Ditch off US Highway 199 near Kerby

A Grants Pass man was hurt when he crashed his vehicle on Redwood Highway near Kerby. The Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 25,200-block of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 6:34 a.m.. State troopers said evidence at the scene indicates the 27-year-old man was driving a Honda Civic when it sustained a tire malfunction, left the roadway and came to an uncontrolled stop in a ditch. The driver sustained minor injuries in the crash and was evaluated by medics at the scene, but he declined further medical evaluation at the hospital. His request to arrange his own vehicle recovery was granted. No citations were issued.

Posted on 12/9/24 11:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Logged Busy Week of Protecting Citizens & Structures

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters started off the holiday season by logging a busy week of community safety by protecting people and structures. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 477 calls for service along with 337 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 28 arrests, 35 citations, 80 warnings and three highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 118 traffic stops in the city and they made 17 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 80 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting three people, citing three more and warning 20 others. The CRT unit also trespassed four individuals from various locations. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 93 calls last week including 40 for emergency medical service, five for reports of fire or smoke, 18 lift assists, eight rescue situations, nine assists to other agencies and nine false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,043 emergency calls along with 482 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 12/9/24 6:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon with Bad Habit of Continuing to Drive While Suspended

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon with a bad habit of driving with a suspended license at the start of the weekend. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a truck driven by 55-year-old Shane Allen Feack in the 700-block of SW Bridge Street on Friday around 7 p.m.. Police said they stopped Feack for Failure to Obey a Traffic Device at SE 7th and M streets as well as Operating a Vehicle without Proper Mudguards. They learned he was driving with a felony suspended license and that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for the same violation. Feack was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus Felony Driving While Suspended and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 12/9/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

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