Local News

The Grants Pass City Council last night approved four allowable camping sites in an effort to end a preliminary court injunction that prevents law enforcement from restricting camping in most city parks. The vote was 6-2. The approved "resting" sites include existing sites at 712 NE 7th Street and 704 NW 6th Street plus new sites at 711 NW 5th Street and 714 NW 6th Street. The new sites include the paved employee parking area across A Street from City Hall. The City Council also approved the annexation of nine tax lots on Allen Creek Road between West Harbeck Road and Denton Trail. This area is to be improved by the City with the addition of curbs, gutters, sidewalks and a new stormwater facility. The zoning for the annexed properties was changed to City Residential-2 and Residential-3 districts. A resolution was passed approving the Affordable Housing System Development Charge waiver for Nebraska Trail Apartments, LLC. A new limited-term task force was created to review the Grants Pass Development Code for the purpose of simplifying and streamlining it to reduce barriers to new construction investment. The task force will be made up of eight individuals with a working knowledge of the code.

 

The Josephine County Fair Board is thanking Saxon Painting Company and PPG Paint for their donations to complete the project of painting the bleachers inside the Covered Horse Arena at the Fairgrounds. The Covered Arena was built in the early 1950s through efforts and guidance by the Josephine County Sheriff's Mounted Posse whose group still uses the facility to train. It's open year-round and used by community members and youth equestrian clubs as well as for special events like rodeos and circuses. The arena has seen several upgrades over the last six years including a new roof, exterior renovations, foundation improvements, lighting upgrades and restroom improvements. Josephine County Recreation Director Tamra Martin said the covered arena is at the heart of the Fairgrounds and it's used daily by the community. She said they're grateful for the support of Saxon Painting and PPG Paint Company who worked so hard to make this happen before last weekend's McCaslin Rodeo. Several thousand people attended the rodeo, which is the largest event for the arena outside the Josephine County Fair. It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!

 

The Grants Pass School District is thanking a company for its generous donation of a truck for use by the award-winning GPHS Marching Band and Color Guard. Old Dominion recently donated a 2016 Freightliner to the Grants Pass High School band program. The band's longtime volunteer driver -- Jim Martin -- has been driving the GPHS Band for 15 years, continuing even after his son graduated. The old 1994 truck was on its last legs, but Old Dominion stepped up in a big way. Not only did they donate the truck, they also invested additional time and money to make sure it's road-ready for the next 10+ years. The "new" truck is taking its first trip this week as the GPHS Band is performing in the Disneyland Parade.

 

The Grants Pass City Council approved, on a six to two vote, allowable camping sites in accordance with the city ordinance. Approved sites include 712 Northeast 7th Street, 704 Northwest 6th Street, 711 Northwest 5th Street, and 714 Northwest 6th Street. The sites include the paved parking area across ‘A’ Street from City Hall. Earlier Council approved the annexation of nine tax lots on Allen Creek Road between West Harbeck Road and Denton Trail. The annexation is considered to be annexation by request. This is the area to be improved by the City with the addition of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and a new stormwater facility. Then the zoning for the annexed properties was changed to City Residential R-2 and R-3 districts. A resolution approving the Affordable Housing System Development Charge waiver to Nebraska Trail Apartments L.LC. The total of the SDC’s for the development of the 51 unit development is $316,294.22. The fund to reimburse the SDC’s has a balance of $874,540.93. A new limited-term task force was created to review the Grants Pass Development Code for the purpose of simplifying and streamlining the code to make it more efficient to reduce barriers to new construction investment. The code would be made up of eight individuals with a working knowledge of the code. Areas of expertise envisioned for the task force includes real estate agents, brokers, design professionals, homeowners’ representatives, environmental interests and similar experts in the land development field.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for felony drug possession after an investigation into a trespassing complaint near Ross Dress-4-Less late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 69-year-old Steven Donald Carrier for the incident at the Grants Pass Shopping Center on Tuesday at 11:03 p.m.. Police said Concierge Security called the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center to report that a male subject who had been previously trespassed from Ross had intentionally disabled a motorhome and walked away. A security guard asked GPPD to impound the motorhome, but they were advised law enforcement does not tow vehicles off private property. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Carrier who had been trespassed from the entire shopping center last December. They also found him to be in possession of more than 19 grams of methamphetamine, which was seized for destruction. Carrier was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of Meth and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known criminal offender on an outstanding warrant last night during a patrol check in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 36-year-old Ian Siewell Hogue at the Dollar Tree on NW 6th Street on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.. Police said they spotted Hogue and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Methamphetamine Possession. He did not want to speak with law enforcement and walked away. Officers caught up to Hogue at the corner of Conklin and Midland avenues where they placed him into custody. After the warrant was confirmed, Hogue was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held in lieu of posting $10,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police issued multiple citations for ordinance violations and evicted one person from a city park yesterday. GPPD officers cited Daniel Beier for Scattering Rubbish at Tussing Park and trespassed him for 30 days. They also cited Kelsie Bare for Scattering Rubbish. A short time later, officers cited Jeffery McPeake for Utilization of Space at Baker Park. Later in the day, officers observed William Asbery throw a yogurt lid with a spoon on the ground in the 100-block of SW 4th Street, disregarding a garbage can that was only 20 feet away from him. He was cited for Scattering Rubbish.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass man for multiple violations early yesterday following a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just north of the city. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram pickup driven by 39-year-old Andrew Steven Cherry in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 59 on Tuesday at 9:51 a.m.. Troopers said Cherry was called in as a driving complaint after fellow motorists reported that his truck was speeding, swerving and crossing lines on the freeway near the City of Rogue River. When they pulled him over, they discovered that he had no driver's license or insurance. Cherry was cited to appear in court for Speeding and the two other violations. Due to the high likelihood Cherry's pickup would have been vandalized or stolen, it was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police responded to a chain-reaction crash involving three vehicles on Williams Highway between Grants Pass and Murphy late yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews were dispatched to the incident near milepost 4 of Highway 238 on Tuesday at 4:53 p.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Freestyle driven by 35-year-old Deborah Lolita Patricia Barnett collided with the rear of a second vehicle, which pushed it into a third vehicle. No one was hurt and two of vehicles were able to be driven away. The other motorists were not identified in the OSP report, which stated that Barnett was not paying attention when the crash occurred. Her vehicle was towed. It was unclear in the report whether any citations were issued.