Local News

Citizens are invited to meet author and globally respected musician Danny Donnelly -- also known as "Zoro the Drummer" -- for a discussion featuring his memoir, Maria's Scarf, on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library. Afterward, community members can visit Oregon Books & Games at 150 NE E Street in Grants Pass for a personal book-signing event. Maria's Scarf is the incredible story of a mother's love, a family's unbreakable bond and a starry-eyed boy who never lost sight of his dreams. As the fatherless child of a Mexican immigrant, Danny Donnelly was never expected to amount to much. Before the age of 9, his single mother had moved her seven children more than 30 times -- from the impoverished streets of south central Los Angeles to Southern Oregon. Through it all, Danny transformed himself into Zoro, one of the world's greatest drummers. Participants will hear excerpts from the book and learn about Zoro's upbringing -- including his time living in Grants Pass as a child in the 1970s and 1980s that led to a remarkable career as a drummer for many Grammy Award-winning musicians.

 

Grants Pass City Council dealt with significant grants aimed at adding affordable housing to the City. The Council first approved an ordinance vacating the property line of two lots at 165 Southwest Jefferson Road and Southwest “G” Street. Both lots are the property of a single owner that wishes to build a single dwelling home with detached garage. Without the vacation minimum setbacks could not be achieved. The Council then approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve a special use permit allowing Grace Roots, a local non-profit, to operate a support housing unit at 336 Northeast “C” Street. The unit would be referred to as Hope Home and would support pregnant individuals with substance use disorders. A full range of services would be provided along with sanitation concerns and security. A resolution supplementing the fiscal year ‘24’ budget modifying the currently adopted budget to create changes in the city’s various funds. Very little financial impact is affected, basically correcting and adjusting the final budget with no additional funds expended, just accounted for differently. An affordable housing grant of $747,500 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds was approved for the creation of water and sewer connections for the Fruitdale Townhomes and Cottage Development of up to 20 owner occupied affordable homes at 1907 Fruitdale Drive. Home Bridging will sell the homes to families at or below 120% of area median income. A $749,000 grant for Home Bridging was also approved for public infrastructure at 235 Northwest Scenic Drive by the Urban Renewal Agency.The Grants Pass City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency, conducted a required public hearing reviewing the 2025 fiscal year budget for the Agency. The budget was then approved on a 7 to 1 vote with Councilor DeLaGrange dissenting.

 

The rules to address the Grants Pass City Council during Business Sessions was changed Wednesday night by a unanimous vote. The primary change is reducing the amount of time citizens may speak during public comment is reduced from three minutes to two minutes. Current rules in effect now include citizens must submit a public comment card prior to the public comment section of the meeting. The cards are available at the city’s administration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cards will be received up to the comment section. The Council may ask two questions during Public comment with citizens given one minute to respond. The P:ublic Comment period will be limited to no more then 30 minutes. In special circumstances Council has the discretion to expand the period.

 

Now that spring is nearly over and shrubs and trees have leafed out, Grants Pass officials want to remind residents of the city's requirements for maintaining their vegetation in the public right-of-way. Summer officially begins at 1:50 p.m. tomorrow. Grants Pass City Code requires property owners to maintain vegetation in the public right-of-way along their properties. The right-of-way include sidewalks, planting strips, curbs and gutters adjacent to city streets. Trees and shrubs alongside city streets must allow the safe passage of motor vehicles and may not limit the visibility of drivers. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above roadway surfaces. At corners, shrubbery must be trimmed to a maximum height of 30 inches for a distance of 20 feet from an intersection. Weeds growing in cracks or seams of sidewalks are trip hazards and must be removed. Low-hanging tree branches must be trimmed to a minimum of 8 feet above the sidewalk. Shrubs and trees must be trimmed back so they do not encroach on sidewalks. Vegetation hanging over the curb or growing in the gutter interferes with drainage and street sweeping and must be removed. Shrubs should be trimmed back at least 6 inches from the curb.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order this week by visiting the home of his estranged mother. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Monday afternoon. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son came to her house despite the fact that she had a valid restraining order prohibiting him from doing so. She locked herself inside the home, stating that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and is known to take methamphetamine. She said he would not leave. Officers arrived on scene and found the 34-year-old man in the backyard of the residence. They said the restraining order clearly states he is not allowed to enter or remain on the premises. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police collared a man on a local warrant and for drug possession at the Williams Highway Shopping Plaza last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 38-year-old male subject in the shopping center parking lot on Tuesday at 7:12 p.m.. Police said they observed the man exiting Rite Aid and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. They contacted him as he entered a white Ford SUV. The man was detained and -- during a consent search -- he was found to be in possession of 3.6 grams of fentanyl. He admitted to buying two grams of the controlled substance earlier in the day. It was seized as evidence. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Possession of Fentanyl. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant while investigating suspicious activity near Bi-Mart late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to two men who were possibly doing drugs in the Bi-Mart parking lot on Tuesday around 5:45 p.m.. Police said they contacted a 37-year-old male subject who showed clear indicators of using a narcotics depressant and who was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail. No information was disclosed about the second male suspect or whether any drugs were found.

 

A traffic complaint at the Grants Pass Walmart resulted in the arrest of a motorist for drugged driving yesterday. Grants Pass Police were alerted to the incident in the Walmart parking lot near Taco Bell off NE Terry Lane on Tuesday at about 2:50 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report a woman driving a Ford sport utility vehicle who almost struck his parked vehicle as she pulled in. The caller advised the SUV was parked in a "precarious" manner and he observed the female driver getting out of the vehicle with a needle in her arm. Responding officers contacted the 33-year-old woman who had her son with her and showed indicators of impairment. The woman agreed to participate in field sobriety tests, performed poorly and was placed into custody. A urine sample was obtained after proceeding through the implied consent process. The female suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances and Reckless Driving. She was cited to appear in court and released while her son was given a courtesy ride home.

 

Grants Pass Police had relatively light duty while performing patrol checks at city parks on Tuesday. At Tussing Park on West Park Street, officers cited a man for Nuisance Dog due to him allowing his dog to run loose. It was his second such ordinance violation, so he was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Fruitdale Park on Hamilton Lane, officers pulled over a Chrysler minivan for expired registration before citing the motorist for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. At Baker Park on East Park Street, officers contacted a male camper who was heavily intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested for Public Intoxication and taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center.