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Commissioners Table Hearing on Rural Land Development Code Amendment

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning tabled a public hearing on the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the Rural Land Development Code for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Board opened the hearing but decided to continue it due to lingering questions about fire protection on rural and forested lands. Is the Oregon Department of Forestry a fire service provider? That's the question the Board wants answered. Assistant Community Development Director James Black testified the ordinance amends the development code to allow accessory dwelling units on properties that are more than two acres in size. He said it also allows the conversion of historic homes on such properties into ADUs, adding that all the provisions contained in the amendment are based on state statutes. However, when the Commissioners questioned the state-mandated rule to provide proof of fire protection for these developments neither Black nor County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks would provide an answer. The Board has already passed an ordinance that states ODF is a fire service provider for forest land developments. The Public Comment period was lengthy with several people addressing the Board on a new offer for the proposed Pipe Fork Timber Sale near Williams. The new offer is reportedly $2,320,000 for the 320-acre property, which is $300,000 higher than the original offer funded by a conservancy organization. The Commissioners are scheduled to consider the new offer during a Thursday executive session. Other comments came from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Director Colleen Padilla who encouraged the Board to remember the good work SOREDI has done in Josephine County, a Master Gardener who urged the Board not to defund the OSU Extension Service and three Colonial Valley residents who made complaints about a dangerous dog on Palomino Drive.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man Wanted on Statewide Warrant at Williams Highway Plaza

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant early yesterday during a patrol check at the Williams Highway Plaza. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 37-year-old male subject at the Plaza Liquor Store on Tuesday at about 9 a.m.. Police said they contacted the man outside the liquor store and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show the man has been arrested for violating terms of his post-prison supervision four times since July of last year.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Missouri Motorist Wanted on Local Warrant after I-5 Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested an out-of-state motorist on a local warrant during an Interstate 5 traffic stop in northern Josephine County early yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Saturn station wagon driven by a 46-year-old man from Nevada, Missouri, in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 75 on Tuesday shortly after 7 a.m.. Troopers said they initiated contact with what appeared to be a disabled motorist, but the driver identified himself and said his vehicle was not disabled. A routine records check revealed the man was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His vehicle was towed to an impound yard.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Trio for Outlandish Behavior in Three Separate Calls

Grants Pass Police arrested three people for their outlandish behavior in three separate incidents on Tuesday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday at Radio Design Group on NW E Street. Police said a 57-year-old man was acting in a violent manner while trying to push open the door to the business. His actions caused an employee to be in fear, so they called 9-1-1 for assistance. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. The second incident happened shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday when officers were alerted to a woman disturbing multiple businesses on Redwood Highway. Police said the 34-year-old woman's behavior was the reason for eight calls for service in a short period of time. She was reported to be threatening to kill people and yelling obscenities while causing public alarm. She also kicked and hit doors. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. The third incident took place at 11:36 a.m. yesterday when officers responded to a disturbance near the corner of NW 6th Street and Hillcrest Drive. Police said a 38-year-old man was throwing rocks at traffic and struck a vehicle on the passenger-side door. He was also said to be lunging at passing cars. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and his belongings were placed in safe-keeping. All three suspects were being held without bail and they were trespassed from the affected businesses.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Transient for Becoming Nuisance at Local Supermarket

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient for becoming a nuisance outside an eastside supermarket early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday around 9 a.m.. Police said a 35-year-old man was sitting at the entrance to WinCo and blocking the entire sidewalk with his property. They said he had food, trash and soiled bedding on the ground in front of the store. When asked to clean up his mess and leave, he began yelling profanities. The man had been warned for his behavior on Monday, but returned and continued to be annoyance so he was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering. The trash was disposed of and his belongings were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:34AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested One, Cited Several & Evicted Eight in City Park Patrols

Grants Pass Police arrested one camper on an outstanding warrant, cited several more for ordinance violations and evicted eight of them in Tuesday park patrols. At Baker Park, officers contacted a 30-year-old woman who was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Fentanyl Possession. She was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. Also at Baker Park, a female camper was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Open Spaces, a man and woman were cited for Methamphetamine Possession, and a man was cited for Open Burning and Scattering Rubbish. All five were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man and woman were cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Open Spaces while another woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish. All three were issued 30-day park exclusions. At Tussing Park, officers responded to a complaint about ordinance violations including tents not following buffer zone rules and garbage spread all around the facility. One man was cited for Illegal Camping. All other issues were unfounded.

Posted on 4/10/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Provides More Information on Double-Fatal Crash on Riverbanks Road

The Oregon State Police has provided more information on the double-fatal crash that occurred this week on Riverbanks Road west of Grants Pass. In a Tuesday afternoon press release, OSP reported troopers and emergency crews were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 20 of State Route 260 on Monday at 6:05 p.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Dodge Ram 2500 driven by 39-year-old David Scott Anderson of Wilderville left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck some trees and overturned. His passenger was identified as 28-year-old Shelby McKenzie Spliethof of Wilderville. According to Rural Metro Fire Department, the crash occurred in the sharp S-curves between Marcy Loop and Douglas Drive. Efforts to rapidly extricate and treat the two occupants were performed, but both Anderson and Spliethof were confirmed to be deceased at the scene. Riverbanks Road was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. Traffic was detoured while the scene was active. OSP was assisted by Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office as well as several citizens.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Causing Wild Disturbance at Eastside Supermarket

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for causing a wild disturbance at an east-city supermarket early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 39-year-old male subject for the incident at WinCo Foods on Tuesday at 12:32 a.m.. Police said they responded to an active disturbance involving the man and several WinCo employees. As officers were responding, dispatchers advised them that the man was engaged in a physical fight with another man in the store parking lot. An investigation determined the suspect had entered the store, consumed alcohol and cookies, and exited out an emergency door when confronted. The suspect then entered a parked vehicle and began fighting with its owner. Once Officers detained the man, he admitted that he was aware he entered the vehicle and said he did so in an effort to steal it. He also admitted that he damaged an ATM machine at the nearby Rogue Credit Union. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Theft plus violating his probation in Jackson County. A charge related to the ATM vandalism was pending further investigation.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Suspicion of Drug Trafficking after Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for suspicion of drug trafficking this week following a traffic stop near Tussing Park. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle driven by the 42-year-old woman near the corner of West Park and Short streets shortly before midnight on Monday. Police did not say why they stopped the woman, but confirmed that she was placed into custody because of an ongoing narcotics investigation. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Manufacture and Delivery of Fentanyl as well as Felony Possession of Fentanyl. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Collared IV Man for Outstanding Felony Warrant after Highway 199 Stop

The Oregon State Police jailed an Illinois Valley man on an outstanding felony warrant this week following a traffic stop in Cave Junction. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford F-350 pickup driven by the 47-year-old Cave Junction man on Redwood Highway near Laurel Drive around midday Monday. State troopers said they stopped the man for observed traffic violations and they quickly discovered that he was wanted on a felony warrant for absconding on his parole from a previous conviction for an unspecified crime. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Two Men Snared Just Minutes Apart for Trespassing at GP Coffee Businesses

Two men were arrested just minutes apart this week for trespassing at coffee-related businesses in downtown Grants Pass. The Grants Pass Police Department reports the first incident occurred early Monday morning at Dutch Bros headquarters on SW 4th Street. Police said a Dutch Bros employee reported a male transient sleeping behind the building next to the picnic tables in the covered break area of the facility. The caller said they asked the man to leave last Friday, but he had returned. Officers placed the 46-year-old man into custody, charged him with Criminal Trespass and lodged him in jail. The second incident occurred early Monday morning at the Human Bean stand at the Riverway on SE 7th Street. Police said a 30-year-old man was asked to leave the Human Bean property and he refused. They said he returned multiple times and asked the young female worker to expose herself to him. He also checked the employee's vehicle and returned to the stand where he peered into the window after pounding on the back door. He was placed into custody, charged with Criminal Trespass and lodged in jail.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Set to Hold Public Hearing on Amendments to Rural Development Code

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on an ordinance amending the Rural Land Development Code during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will hold the hearing on the first reading of an ordinance designed to update development code definitions and the chapter concerning rural residential zones. If approved, a second reading and adoption is set for April 24th. There are no Administrative Action items on the agenda for the meeting, which will begin with the monthly recognition of employees. As usual, 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. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 4/10/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

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