KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Library Issued Release in Response to Southern Oregon News Facebook Post

The Josephine Community Library issued a press release regarding the future Grants Pass Library site following an article from Southern Oregon News' Facebook page.

The original article, posted April 15th at 11:23 a.m., reported there were public concerns for the $26 million project, with county residents expressing homelessness concerns, and questions regarding leadership compensation and a physical library's necessity.

A response from the library, in a release, said the project's price was determined through eight public listening sessions and survey input, helping to inform "cost, safety, and long-term sustainability" of the project.

Public transparency was brought up in the Facebook article, to which the library responded saying no taxes are being used for the Library Foundation-led project, and that it is still in the fundraising phase. The library tax rate will reportedly not increase, with that revenue only supporting library operations.

Southern Oregon News posted April 18th in response to the Library's release, reporting "growing scrutiny" following the release, and asking further financial questions.

Posted on 4/20/26 11:43AM by Alex Bauer

ODOT's National Work Zone Awareness Week to Encourage Safe Driving

Oregon work zone crashes hit a five-year high in 2024, 621 crashes, according to the latest data from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

All of the serious injuries and deaths in work zones in 2024 were to drivers or their passengers.

To encourage safe driving through work zones, ODOT announced April 20th through the 24th is National Work Zone Awareness Week. It highlights the workers who risk their lives to keep our roads safe, clear and flowing smoothly.

Work zones are a shared space between drivers and road workers. Your decisions behind the wheel matter. Pay attention, slow down, move over, and plan ahead. As summer nears, drivers will see more work zones statewide. But work zones aren’t just orange barrels and lane closures. If you see someone working along the road, that’s a work zone; slow down and move over.

Work zones are still active even if you don’t see anyone working when you drive through it. Fines double for speeding and other unsafe, unlawful behaviors in work zones.

Posted on 4/20/26 11:42AM by Alex Bauer

Donate Now for 20th Annual Soroptimist Community Baby Shower

This is the final week to contribute to the 20th Annual Community Baby Shower.

Soroptimist International River Valley is hosting the shower Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 1101 NE Grants Pass Parkway. Before the event takes place, the public can donate new or handmade gifts to contribute to the shower.

The deadline to donate is April 24th. Suggested items to donate include disposable diapers, baby wipes, bottles, toys, blankets, quilts, shampoo, lotion, and new clothes from sizes infant to five years.

There are five collection centers around the community where items can be dropped off. Stop by the Grants Pass Museum of Art, 229 SW G Street, Plaza Sewing, Quilting and Vacuum Center, 311 SE 6th Street, both Evergreen Federal Bank locations, 969 SE 6th Street and 1329 NE 6th Street, and Grants Pass Broadcasting at 888 Rogue River Highway.

Donate now for the 20th Annual Soroptimist Community Baby Shower. For more information, call 541-218-3564, or visit soroptimistsirv.org.

Posted on 4/20/26 6:50AM by Alex Bauer

Traffic Stop Resulted in Driver being lodged for Felony Driving While Suspended

A deputy with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office pulled over and subsequently arrested a man for driving while suspended Saturday.

The suspect, driving a white Chevy S10, was stopped by law enforcement outside the Los Taquitos at 304 NE Agness Avenue around 9:46 p.m. The deputy observed the driver, identified as Chad Bauer, make an improper turn.

Bauer was contacted and it was learned he was driving while felony revoked. He consented to a search of his vehicle, which located a scooter. The deputy took Bauer into custody and transported to the Adult Jail Facility.

He was lodged for Felony Driving While Suspended, and his vehicle was towed from the scene to be impounded.

Posted on 4/20/26 5:58AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Lodged Man Violating Restraining Order by Spraying Neighbor with Garden Hose

A man was arrested by Grants Pass Police after he violated a restraining order between him and his neighbor Saturday night.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident in the 500 block of NW E Street around 7:26 p.m. 20 minutes prior, Glen Eldred reportedly walked into a shared backyard between himself and his neighbor, the petitioner of the order. He was sitting in a folded camp chair when his neighbor walked out into the backyard.

The neighbor began watering the grass with a garden hose before the two started exchanging insults. Eldred then intentionally used the hose to spray his neighbor several times.

Dispatch learned the neighbor had recorded the incident on his phone. Officers arrived and contacted both individuals. Eldred admitted to the offense, and officers uploaded the video evidence.

Eldred was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for the Restraining Order Violation.

Posted on 4/20/26 5:19AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Evicted Suspect Later Lodged in Jackson County Jail

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies apprehended a man following a standoff in the 1900 block of Thompson Creek Road.

The suspect, identified as Lester Monk, was refusing to leave the premises during an eviction action by deputies Thursday morning. Law enforcement communicated with Monk to come out, and soon deployed less lethal munitions.

He was detained around 11:22 a.m. and taken into custody. Deputies cleared trailers while on the scene, trespassing Monk and four others from the property.

Deputies transported Monk to the Josephine County Jail for a Medford Police Department warrant for Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. He was then transported to and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for charges including the Unlawful Manufacture and Possession of Meth, Felon in Possession of a Fire Arm, and Altering or Obliterating Firearm Identification Numbers.

Posted on 4/17/26 1:38PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Man Trespassing on Private Property for Detainer

Dispatch was alerted to a man trespassing on someone's property, leading to the suspect's arrest by Grants Pass Police.

A call to 911 around 11:41 a.m. reported there was a suspicious person prowling around the yard of a home in the 200 block of NE School Street. The caller told dispatch the man was walking towards the front door and looking in windows of both the incident location and the neighbor's house.

It was requested the man, wearing a green t-shirt, blue jeans, and a blanket, be trespassed from the property. Officers arrived, checked the area, and soon contacted Matthew Barnett. His parole officer was contacted, who then placed a detainer on him after learning of the incident, and finding out Barnett failed to show up for work crew.

Officers took Barnett into custody. He was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail, and trespassed from the property.

Posted on 4/17/26 1:07PM by Alex Bauer

Nighttime Pavement Repairs on Interstate 5 Scheduled in Jackson County

Oregon Department of Transportation crews will be making minor pavement repairs on Interstate 5 next week in Medford and Central Point.

According to ODOT, work will occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to reduce impacts on travelers.

Crews will be working in the northbound and southbound lanes of I-5 near Exit 35, north of Central Point beginning Sunday evening, April 19th. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions. The northbound on-ramp from Blackwell Road to OR 140 will be closed. Drivers wishing to enter I-5 should use an alternate route to Exit 33 or Exit 40.

Work is expected to be completed by Tuesday morning, and later that evening, crews will begin work in the northbound lanes of I-5 near Exit 27 in Medford. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. The northbound off-ramp at Exit 27 will be closed. Work is expected to be completed by Thursday morning.

Drivers should watch for workers, equipment and vehicles in the roadway. Reduce speed through the work zone and expect short delays. The work schedule is subject to change for inclement weather.

Posted on 4/17/26 12:30PM by Alex Bauer

Woman Wanted on Trespass, Harassment, Assault Charges Apprehended by GP Police

A woman wanted on a warrant with multiple charges was taken into custody by Grants Pass Police Thursday.

An officer recognized Marissa Winters at the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Evelyn Avenue around 1:51 p.m. She was known to have a felony warrant out for her arrest from the Police Department, and was cooperative while being taken into custody in the parking lot across from 7th and Mead Streets.

Winter's warrant charged her with Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, two counts of Aggravated Harassment, and Assaulting a Public Safety Officer.

She was positively identified by law enforcement, then promptly transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant.

Posted on 4/17/26 11:55AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Lodge Man for Weapon Offense Warrant

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man with a weapon offense warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect, Brian Stack, was located at Resting Site 6 South Thursday at 1:07 p.m. Officers contacted Stack at the 704 NW 6th Street site, where he was then taken into custody for his warrant.

Stack was charged with a Parole Violation for a Weapon Offense, and he was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was subsequently lodged.

Posted on 4/17/26 11:39AM by Alex Bauer

Two Suspects Trespassing at Resting Site 7 Arrested by GP Police

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested two suspects from Resting Site 7 Thursday in separate incidents.

Law enforcement arrived at the 712 NE 7th Street location around 1:54 p.m. Michelle Richardson was contacted and taken into custody for a Second Degree Trespass charge. She was issued a 90 day exclusion, and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Two men on site were also contacted and trespassed from the resting site for 30 days. Both were cited for exceeding footprint and scattering rubbish, with one of the men being issued an additional citation for exceeding stay.

Officers returned to the resting site that evening at 6:31 and contacted Lori Signs. It was found she was wanted on an active warrant from the Grants Pass Police Department charging her with Possession of Methamphetamine.

Signs had also been previously trespassed from the site for 90 days, so an additional charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree was added. Law enforcement transported Signs to jail where she was lodged.

Posted on 4/17/26 11:18AM by Alex Bauer

Man Arrested, Trespassed from GPHS and Fred Meyer by GP Police

Grants Pass Police lodged a man in the Josephine County Jail on two Methamphetamine Possession warrants.

Officers recognized the suspect, Dakota Ree, as he was walking on A Street Thursday afternoon around 12:42. He attempted to cut through the Grants Pass High School property in order to avoid contact, but officers quickly detained him.

Ree was known to be wanted on two Grants Pass Police Department warrants charging him with Possession of Meth. Law enforcement took him into custody after a positive identification, and transported him to the Adult Jail Facility.

Officers lodged Ree on his two warrants. He was also trespassed from both the 830 NE 9th Street school, and Fred Meyer at 1101 Grants Pass Parkway per a previous case.

Posted on 4/17/26 10:56AM by Alex Bauer

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