Local News

An alert citizen helped firefighters get the jump on a small fire near New Hope Christian School early yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to the fire in the woods behind a home on Hidden Valley Road on Wednesday at 4:27 a.m.. With aid from nearby residents, Rural Metro and ODF crews quickly contained and extinguished the blaze, holding it to just 1/100th of an acre. Officials said the time of day and a quick response were key in keeping the fire small. ODF was investigating the cause of the fire after collecting evidence at the scene and obtaining statements from residents.

 

Josephine County Public Works has announced that a section of West Side Road in Cave Junction will be closed for approximately nine days for construction. Starting today, West Side Road approximately 1.35 miles south of Finch Road is closed for a large cross culvert installation. Dietrich Construction will be installing the culvert and the closure is expected to last about nine days. It will affect all traffic including emergency vehicles. The travelling public is advised to find alternate routes around the work zone. Public Works officials understand this is a significant inconvenience for residents and the travelling public, and they appreciate your patience and understanding during the project. For more information, contact Josephine County Public Works at (541)-474-5460.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night took action on four items related to extending infrastructure to new developments, a new advisory committee and a new designated campground for the unhoused population. Following public hearings, the City Council approved two ordinances that create reimbursement districts for the Buckmaster Subdivision Water Main Extension and the E Street Sewer Extension. The Council also passed a resolution creating a Public Safety Advisory Committee whose focus will be to study the needs and resources available in the community to help educate themselves and the public as they propose a long-term stable plan to fund public safety in Grants Pass. The committee will be composed of one member of the Chamber of Commerce, one Budget Committee member, one downtown business owner, one business owner inside the city limits, one city resident who is not a business owner, two citizens at-large, a police/fire liaison and one City Council liaison. After lengthy discussion from the Council and public comments on the merits of closing the 6th & A Street campground and adding a new location next to the Grants Pass Police Department on NE 7th Street, the resolution passed.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners took action on a future property sale plus ordinances pertaining to the County Code following four public hearings on Wednesday. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the sale on nine county-owned properties, most of which were acquired through foreclosure for unpaid property taxes. Board Chair John West was absent so Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger officiated the meeting. County Property Manager Helene Lulich testified two of the properties have been logged by the Forestry Department. They are 160-acre parcels on Caves Camp and Munger Creek roads. She said a Sheriff's Sale will liquidate all the properties, with sealed bids due on November 13th and the auction scheduled for November 14th. The Commissioners continued working on modifying the Josephine County Code by approving an order updating a 30-year-old chapter related to ballot measures to put it in line with Oregon Revised Statutes. They also repealed two ordinances regarding genetically engineered plants and loitering at the county jail. Assistant County Legal Counsel Leah Harper said both ordinances were outdated.

 

The 2024 Art Along the Rogue Festival starts tomorrow in downtown Grants Pass. Oregon's premier street chalk and music festival begins Friday at 5 p.m. and runs through Sunday at 6 p.m. at 5th & H streets. This creative event features local and regional street painters as well as a variety of great music from regional bands. The theme for 2024 is "Unsolved Mysteries." The goal behind the theme is to reminisce and embrace the unsolved mysteries of our world. Inspired by the 1990s television show "Unsolved Mysteries," this theme will allow artists to be creative while exploring our world history and culture. Art Along the Rogue is a yearly event that occurs on the first weekend of October. Its start this year coincides with the First Friday Art Walk in the downtown area. The hours are 5-9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Art Along the Rogue is sponsor-supported and free to the public. Dozens of local and regional businesses sponsor the event. Grants Pass loves the arts – and it really shows. For more information, please visit "artalongtherogue.com."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners took action on a future property sale plus ordinances pertaining to the County Code following four public hearings this morning. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the sale on nine county-owned properties, most of which were acquired through foreclosure for unpaid property taxes. Board Chair John West was absent so Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger officiated the meeting. County Property Manager Helene Lulich testified two of the properties have been logged by the Forestry Department. They are 160-acre parcels on Caves Camp and Munger Creek roads. She said a Sheriff's Sale will liquidate all the properties, with sealed bids due on November 13th and the auction scheduled for November 14th. The Commissioners continued working on modifying the Josephine County Code by approving an order updating a 30-year-old chapter related to ballot measures to put it in line with Oregon Revised Statutes. They also repealed two ordinances regarding genetically engineered plants and loitering at the county jail. Assistant County Legal Counsel Leah Harper said both ordinances were outdated. She said the citizen-approved ordinance related to genetically engineered plants was invalidated by a state court and the county jail was located in the basement of the Courthouse when that ordinance was approved in 1963.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking her husband in front on their child at a home in the Redwood area last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Raydean Drive on Tuesday around 9 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report his wife was attacking him, following him and would not leave him alone. The intoxicated caller said they both threw each other to the ground, adding that he was bleeding but did not want an ambulance. According to the report, the couple's 5-year-old child witnessed the altercation. Upon arrival, officers observed the male caller trying to get away from his wife as she was pursuing him and yelling. The woman admitted that her husband was trying to defend himself after she kept coming at him. She was placed into custody. The female suspect was found to be the primary aggressor. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession last night following an encounter in the Walmart parking lot. The Police Department reports officers contacted a 31-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman while they were performing a patrol check at the store on NE Terry Lane. Police said David Anthony Wong was located on the northeast corner of the property, rummaging through a backpack and taking out items. They said he was surrounded with tin foil with burnt residue and he admitted the residue was from smoking fentanyl. According to the report, Mary Lynn Tognoni arrived on scene and she admitted ownership of the drug paraphernalia items as well. A consent search of both suspects yielded additional drug-related items that were seized for destruction. Wong and Tognoni were both placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Fentanyl Possession. Wong was being held without bail while Tognoni was eventually released.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a disturbance at a fast food eatery in the south part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Burger King in the 500-block of Rogue River Highway on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.. Police said they contacted 41-year-old David Brian Rich at the south Burger King after reports he was banging on the counter, screaming and causing a scene. They said he had been previously trespassed from the restaurant in June. Officers placed Rich into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.