KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Fire Officials Investigating Cause of Rogue River Highway Dumpster Fire

Grants Pass fire officials were investigating the cause of a dumpster fire that broke out on Rogue River Highway this week. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was toned by the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center for a reported dumpster fire in the 1200-block of Highway 99 on Wednesday evening. Battalion 4 and Engine 7308 staffed with three firefighters arrived to find a well-involved dumpster with flames extending to the exterior of an adjacent structure. Crews were able to control the fire with no extension to the interior of the building. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available. Mutual aid was provided by Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Police.

Posted on 6/28/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Set to Make Final Decisions on Budgets This Morning

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will make its final decisions on three budgets for the next fiscal year this morning. The decisions will be made on the Josephine County Budget, Law Enforcement Service District Budget and 4-H Extension Service District Budget following public hearings that will give residents one last chance to provide testimony. During Wednesday's weekly business session, most of the meeting was consumed by citizens testifying both for and against the 4-H Extension Service District spending plan. Voters in 1996 approved the district by a 2-to-1 margin, but two of the current Board of Commissioners -- John West and Herman Baertschiger -- have vowed to defund the district despite the Budget Committee approving it. Oregon law requires local governments to have formally adopted balanced budgets by June 30th. Today's final budget hearings begin at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 6/28/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Millions in PILT Payments Coming to Southern Oregon to Support Key Community Services

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced on Thursday that counties throughout Oregon will receive more than $30 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services. PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by federal agencies including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and US Army Corps of Engineers. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and its corresponding population. Individual payments may vary from year to year as a result of changes in acreage, which are updated annually by the federal agency administering the land. Locally, Jackson County will receive a PILT payment of just over $1.9 million while Josephine County will receive a payment of $1.74 million and Douglas County will get nearly $800,000. Curry County and Klamath County are each set to receive nearly $1.1 million. Senators Wyden and Merkley said they monitor PILT payments closely and will advocate for fair payments for every county every year.

Posted on 6/28/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Total Payroll Employment in Josephine County Increased by 320 Jobs in May 2024

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 320 jobs in May, with three industries accounting for most of the change. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,445 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.4%, which was the same as in April. Local job increases were in leisure & hospitality with 120, private education & health services with 70, and retail trade with 40. Other industries showed little change. Government employment increased by 50 jobs with gains in federal, state and local government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County slipped by 190 jobs, a decrease of 0.7%. Industries adding jobs since May 2023 included private education & health services (+320), professional & business services (+100), and financial activities (+20). Industries with estimated loss over the past year were leisure & hospitality (-240), manufacturing (-140), retail trade (-110), wholesale trade (-60), and other services (-40). Government employment rose by 50 jobs over the year. Federal, state and local government education all added jobs since May 2023.

Posted on 6/28/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

Southern Oregon Leaders & Students Receive Recognition for Outstanding Achievements

The Southern Oregon Community came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of its finest leaders during an awards banquet at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford last week. This year's event honored 10 distinguished leaders and four exceptional student leaders selected from across Southern Oregon for their dedication to improving their communities. Each honoree received certificates of accommodation from the likes of US Congressman Cliff Bentz and State Senator Jeff Golden. In an effort to combat homelessness and food insecurity, the leaders collaborated with The Salvation Army to raise nearly $103,000 in just over 10 weeks. Numerous community leaders were recognized during the event including Kelly's Automotive Service Manager Jared Renko, Medford Police Department Lieutenant Rebecca Pietila and McKenzie Crume of the Josephine County Recreation Department. Student leaders honored at the event include Shelby Shannon of Cascade Christian, Emma Tabaldo of South Medford, Riley Smith of Rogue Community College and Lucas Ivey of Southern Oregon University.

Posted on 6/28/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Parole Violation after He Punched Mom at City Park

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating his post-prison supervision after he punched his mother in a minivan at a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 28-year-old male subject for the incident at Morrison Centennial Park on Wednesday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her son was inside her van when she woke up. The caller said she asked her son to leave and he became upset before punching her in the face. The woman did not wish to pursue changes, but she was concerned that her son was "off his meds." The suspect's corrections officer was contacted and advised of the situation, so the officer requested that his client be arrested for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged in jail and being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested for violating his parole 11 times since July 16th of last year.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:48AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Probation Violation after Fruitdale Area Incident

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating terms of her probation after she caused a disturbance in the Fruitdale area of the city last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the complaint near the corner of Hamilton Lane and Rogue River Highway on Wednesday at 6:24 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that a female subject was on the other side of his fence screaming, yelling and messing with his dog. The caller said the woman called him racial slurs after he told her to leave his dog alone. She was last seen walking south on Hamilton. Responding officers searched the area and located the 38-year-old woman a short time later in the 1400-block of Rogue River Highway. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Probation Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the woman has been arrested seven times for violating probation since September 6th of last year.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Causing Havoc on Rogue River Highway

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing havoc in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of bad behavior by the 47-year-old female subject along Rogue River Highway shortly before 4 a.m. on Wednesday. Police said the woman caused public alarm and inconvenience when she tipped over about a dozen trash cans and spread rubbish along the highway. They located the culprit by her loud screams and placed her into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. She was being held without bail. Officers took photos of the trash cans that were pushed over before returning them to their upright positions.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:45AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Woman for Returning to Merlin Home after Being Evicted

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for returning to a home in Merlin from which she and her husband had been evicted. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at a residence in the 100-block of Peach Street in Merlin on Wednesday shortly after midnight. Deputies said a neighbor reported a man and woman were on the property after they had been legally evicted due to non-payment of rent on Monday. The caller advised both subjects were back in the yard with their car and personal belongings. A short time later, the 49-year-old female suspect called 9-1-1 to report someone had stolen all of their property. She told dispatchers that a lot of the items was stuff she had taken from a deceased neighbor. Meanwhile, the husband disappeared and was not located. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted 3 People Who Failed to Remove Illegal Camps from Parks

Grants Pass Police evicted three campers on Wednesday who failed to remove their illegal campsites after they had been posted in city parks. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Nuisance Dog because his dog was off its leash. Six campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Westholm Park, a woman was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her previously posted campsite. She was trespassed for 30 days. Seven campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Fruitdale Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. Four campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Riverside Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. He was also trespassed for 30 days. A total of 14 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Motorist for Causing Collision on Williams Highway near Murphy

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist for causing a multi-vehicle crash that injured another motorist on Williams Highway near Murphy yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency personnel responded to the three-vehicle collision near milepost 7 of Highway 238 on Wednesday at 3:14 p.m.. Troopers said a Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 61-year-old man rear-ended a Chevrolet Camaro that was stopped in the eastbound lane for a Dodge pickup stopped in front of it. The Ram rear-ended the Camaro, pushing it into the Dodge. The 47-year-old male driver of the Camaro injured his elbow in the crash, but it was unclear in the report whether he was transported to the hospital. No one else was hurt, but the Ram and Camaro were damaged and towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, troopers cited the Ram driver for Following Too Closely.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Fire Officials Investigating Cause of Rogue River Highway Dumpster Fire

Grants Pass fire officials were investigating the cause of a dumpster fire that broke out on Rogue River Highway late yesterday. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was toned by the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center for a reported dumpster fire in the 1200-block of Highway 99 on Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.. Battalion 4 and Engine 7308 staffed with three firefighters arrived to find a well-involved dumpster with flames extending to the exterior of an adjacent structure. Crews were able to control the fire with no extension to the interior of the building. No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available. Mutual aid was provided by Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Police.

Posted on 6/27/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

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