KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Motorcycle/SUV Collision Sends both Drivers to the Hospital

A motorcycle collision with a Kia SUV resulted in both drivers transported to the local hospital. The crash sent multiple first responders going lights and siren down Rogue River Highway to accident scene at the intersection with Mt. Baldy Road. According to the report from the Oregon State Police, the motorcycle, a black Suzuki, was seen going at a high rate of speed from Mt. Baldy Road onto the highway causing the crash with the Kia. The cyclist, identified as 54-year-old Sean Michael O'Connell, was transported to the hospital with significant injuries. The driver of the Kia Sorrento, 74-year-old Patrick Michael Lemasters, was also transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. The Kia was towed and the motorcycle was recovered by the O'Connell family. There is no report of citations in the Troopers narrative.

Posted on 4/23/26 8:58AM by Chuck Benson

Daughter Jailed after Stealing Mom's Camaro

Just after 7 p.m. Wednesday night Grants Pass City police received a call from a mother stating her daughter had stolen her Camaro. Officers eventually jailed the daughter following a wild ride. The 18-year-old daughter went to Albertson's with her father and when Dad went into the store, daughter moved to the driver's seat and left. The mother began a search and saw the Camaro headed to the 7th Street on ramp, speeding and running red lights. Mother stated the daughter was schizophrenic and was off her medications. She told law enforcement the daughter does not drive the car often and she wanted to pursue unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. An investigating officer was leaving Mom's residence when he received a report of the Camaro stopped at the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and Agness Avenue. At that time he observed the daughter walking toward Mom's home. He advised her she was under arrest and transported her to the county jail where she was lodged on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. She remained in jail this morning.

Posted on 4/23/26 8:16AM by Chuck Benson

Frequent Flyer Jailed on Drug Charges, Again

Grants Pass Police Officers arrested and lodged a 31-year-old man on drug charges Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the initial call at 11 a.m. from the office manager at 861 Northwest 5th Street reporting a man in the courtyard refusing to leave. Officers contacted Brandon Nathaniel Stradford, and confirmed a valid warrant for his arrest for failure to appear for unlawful possession of methamphetamine.Stradford was taken into custody and lodged in the County jail on the possession charge with bond set at $30,000. This is the 3rd incarceration of Stradford for meth possession this year. He remained in custody this morning.

Posted on 4/23/26 7:45AM by Chuck Benson

BCC Workshop to Deal with Budget Committee Applications

This afternoon at 1:30 the County Commissioners will convene a workshop in the conference room in the Court House where they will begin with applications for the County's budget committee. The Commission last week dismissed the entire budget committee and stated at the time that all were welcome to reapply. That process continues this afternoon. The only other item on this afternoon's agenda is a Human Resources personnel requisition for a web and information coordinator. Citizens may attend in person or view the proceedings online on the county's website.

Posted on 4/23/26 5:17AM by Chuck Benson

Repeat Offender Lodged in County Jail on Multiple Warrants

Armed with a valid arrest warrant, a Josephine County Deputy located and detained Ian Derek Berry in the area of east Lister Street and North Redwood Highway Cave Junction. The 39-year-old felon's warrant out of the Sheriff's office was for a probation violation for an original charge of theft I. Berry was also wanted on a Grants Pass Police warrant for a probation violation for possession of methamphetamine. Berry was transported and lodged with bond set at $20,000 in the County Jail where, according to jail records is his fifth stay in the last 12 months.

Posted on 4/23/26 5:03AM by Chuck Benson

Warrant Arrest Results in Additional Drug Charge for Felon

A Josephine County Sheriff's Deputy, with a warrant in hand, located and arrested the suspect in the area of East Watkins Street and South Junction Avenue in Cave Junction Wednesday morning.At 11:19 the Deputy made contact with 38-year-old Adam Roy Jackson and took him into custody. A search of Jackson revealed the subject was in possession of a useable amount of fentanyl, less than one gram. Jackson was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the warrant for failure to comply with the terms of his probation stemming from an original charge of ID theft. He was additionally charged with possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance. He remained in custody this morning with his bond set at $25,000.

Posted on 4/23/26 4:49AM by Chuck Benson

BCC to Deal with Legal Issues In Open Discussion & Executive Session

Josephine County's Board of Commissioners will be dealing with legal issues this morning in both open discussion and an executive session this morning when Counsel updates the Board this morning at 10 a.m. in the conference room in the court house. The agenda lists the policy regarding news media attendance along with consideration of approving accredited media representatives. The agenda also lists the 2025 Budget Officer Contract and agreement for the National Opioid Settlement. The Board will then go into Executive Session to deal with several legal and real estate matters. Following the Executive Session the Board will reconvene and deal with the Josephine County case of Gabbert et al versus the county, plus the proceeds from the sale of foreclosed property, then handle a foreclosure on the Powell Creek Cabin. Commissioners will also deal with county property on Southeast "N" Street before handling facility leases at 500 NW 6th Street and 370 Bowhill Road. Baring other matters introduced by the Board, that will conclude the meeting.

Posted on 4/23/26 4:23AM by Chuck Benson

The Klamath National Forest Mushroom Collection Season is Open

Mushroom collection season is now open in the Klamath National Forest and the Forest Service wants you to know you may collect up to one gallon of mushrooms per day for personal use without a permit.
A permit is required for any commercial collecting or for personal collection exceeding the five gallon annual limit. A $20 permit allows for the collection of up to 8 gallons over four consecutive days. A $50 permit allows for the collection of up to 20 gallons over 30 consecutive days with additional days available for $5 each. Permits are available at Forest Service offices in Yreka, Happy Camp, Macdoel and Fort Jones.

Posted on 4/23/26 4:22AM by Chuck Benson

Weather Conditions and Diverted Attention May have Contributed to Multiple Crashes

The Oregon State Police responded to two separate accidents Tuesday afternoon, one that generated minor injuries to two drivers. Just after noon Gini Maia Alexis Queen, 25, of Glendale, lost control of her Pontiac on a wet curve at milepost 80 of Interstate 5, left the roadway, crashed into the embankment and then back on to the road, blocking the freeway. The vehicle was towed and Ms. Queen was cited for driving uninsured. Then just before one p.m. Troopers responded to a two vehicle crash with injuries on milepost 19 on U.S. highway 199. Scene evidence and driver statements indicated a black Crown Victoria was following a white Ford F-250 too closely when the pickup slowed for construction flaggers. The driver of the Crown Victoria, Aimie Jean Earley, 20-years-old, of Selma, was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the pickup. Both Ms. Earley and 60-year-old Ronald Keith Fuller were transported to a hospital with suspected minor injuries. Ms. Earley was cited for following too closely. Both vehicles were towed.

Posted on 4/22/26 2:15PM by Chuck Benson

Driver Arrested for DUII after Slowing the Drive Thru at In & Out

A 55-year-old man was arrested just after five o'clock Tuesday afternoon after a call to City Police from In-&-Out Burger at 124 SE Morgan Lane about black Land Rover holding up the drive thru. Officers contacted Lawrence Amon Ocain in the driver's seat of the running SUV. Ocain admitted to driving the vehicle and presented numerous indicators consistent with the use of depressants. He consented to field sobriety tests and showed additional indicators of impairment. He was taken into custody and consented to a breath test. A drug recognition expert was requested but none were available. Ocain then refused consent for a urine test. The Range Rover was impounded and Ocain was lodged in the county jail for DUII-controlled substance and remained in custody Wednesday morning

Posted on 4/22/26 9:07AM by Chuck Benson

One Jailed on Drug Charges Following Altercation between Uncle and Stepdad

Reports of a child abduction, threats being made, car chases and the brandishing of a firearm led to one man jailed on drug charges. Dialog on the Grants Pass police log was disjointed but it appears Tuesday morning at 10:46 dispatch was notified an altercation between an uncle and a stepfather occurred because the uncle believed a missing juvenile was in the stepfathers van. The stepfather left the scene and reported two vehicles followed him to the Lincoln Road area. During the incident, the suspect, 45-yeare-old Jason Richard Durham allegedly stated he had a firearm and was going to shoot the stepfather. City Officers located all parties at the Redwood Center where things had calmed down and the stepfather declined to press charges against Durham and both men apologized. However, the manager of the Redwood Center advised Durham hid an item by the vehicle. The items was retrieved and turned out to be Durham's methamphetamine and a pipe. There was no other mention of a firearm.He was arrested, lodged and remained incarcerated this morning.

Posted on 4/22/26 8:40AM by Chuck Benson

City of GP Seeks Public Input on Redevelopment of Washington-Midland Property

The City of Grants Pass and its Urban Renewal Agency is seeking input on the public's vision for the redevelopment of city owned property. The city has launched the Washington-Midland Redevelopment Opportunity Plan, a community-driven effort to shape the future of approximately eight acres of City-owned land in North Grants Pass, located along 6th Street, bordered by Midland Avenue on the south and Washington Boulevard to the west. Community input is a central part of this project. The City and the consultant team held a community forum on Thursday, April 16, 2026, where they provided information and solicited input from attendees. A survey was available to those in attendance and is currently available on the City's website.

Posted on 4/22/26 6:49AM by Chuck Benson

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