Local News

The Connect Oregon Program's final review committee has recommended 19 air, marine and rail projects for this year's competitive grant cycle -- including two projects in Southern Oregon. The committee narrowed the list from 35 applications requesting nearly $100 million at their August 7th meeting. Connect Oregon has about $46 million available to award for this round of funding. The highest-ranked Southern Oregon project is from Jackson County, which asked for $3 million for the Medford Airport East Side Heavy Duty Aircraft Apron Expansion. It is currently ranked #7 among the recommended grants. Ranked at #14 is a request from Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad for

 

The City of Grants Pass is still offering Sustainable Tourism grants, but time is running out. The Sustainable Tourism Grant Program supports promotional activities aimed at fostering long-term tourism by attracting tourists and increasing overnight stays in Grants Pass. City officials said the most competitive grant applications are those that focus on boosting tourism during off-peak periods, generating economic growth from tourists traveling beyond a 50-mile radius, and providing increased economic benefits for local businesses and non-profit organizations. The application deadline is this Friday at 11:59 p.m.. Interested parties can apply for the grant program at "grantspassoregon.gov."

 

There's not much on the agenda for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners' weekly business session tomorrow morning. The Board will start the meeting with its monthly recognition of employees, but there are no action items, public hearings, presentations or proclamations. The Consent Calendar contains a limited power of attorney for land use and development for a county-owned real property at 232 West Stevenson Street in Cave Junction. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are allowed to address for the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for assaulting another man at a downtown church early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident by an employee of Asante Three Rivers Medical Center on Monday around 10:30 a.m.. Police said the hospital worker reported they were treating a man in the emergency room who had been kicked by another man at Newman United Methodist Church. The patient was identified as a 67-year-old man who stated he was assaulted by a 57-year-old male subject at the church earlier in the day. Officers searched the area of the church and located the suspect at the nearby A-1 Market & Deli. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

A Monday afternoon traffic stop in a Grants Pass city park led to the apprehension of a fugitive wanted on a statewide felony warrant. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a motorcycle ridden by a 27-year-old male subject at Riverside Park at 3:19 p.m. yesterday. Police said they stopped the motorcyclist for speeding through the park and learned that he was riding with a suspended license and without insurance or a motorcycle endorsement. An investigation revealed that the man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Crimes Against a Person. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. He was also cited for the traffic violations. The motorcycle was secured at the park per the arrestee's request. The keys and helmet were taken to the police station to be picked up by a friend.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man in connection with a theft case during a weekend patrol check at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the 47-year-old male subject while he was riding his bicycle near TJ Maxx on Sunday around 9 p.m.. Police said they recognized the subject from previous law enforcement contacts and they discovered that he was wanted for probable cause of 2nd-Degree Theft. After contacting the suspect's corrections officer, officers booked the man into jail on the theft charge as well as Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on no-bail detainer. Jail records show the suspect was arrested for Parole Violation on July 12th and he was arrested for Petty Theft on July 30th.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on local and outside warrants near a downtown supermarket late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers received an anonymous tip that the 40-year-old man was shopping with a female friend at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Monday shortly after 5 p.m.. Police said they located the male subject sitting in a truck in the Duck Parking Lot across from the street from the store. He was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation with underlying charges of Escape, Heroin Possession and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. He was also wanted on a Marion County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run. The suspect was placed into custody without incident. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His vehicle and dog were released to his female companion.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted 14 campers for committing ordinance violations in city parks on Monday. At Riverside Park, three men and two women were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. One of the men was also cited for Scattering Rubbish while one of the women was also cited for Misuse of Open Space. All five were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Tussing Park, a man and woman were cited for narcotics possession while another woman was cited for Scattering Rubbish, Misuse of Open Space and Buffer Zone Violation. All three were issued 30-day exclusions. At Fruitdale Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping, a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish, a woman was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Misuse of Open Space, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space. Four of the five campers were trespassed for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, a woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and issued a 30-day exclusion. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping. Since it was his second such citation, he was trespassed for the next month.

 

An elderly California motorist was both cited and injured when she crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 5 near Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 54 on Monday at 4:22 p.m.. State troopers said an investigation indicated that a 86-year-old woman from Fairfield, California, was driving a blue Nissan Sentra when she rear-ended a black Nissan Sentra driven by a 54-year-old Gold Hill woman after that woman stopped for a freeway hazard. The California woman was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center after she complained of chest pain. No one else was hurt. The blue Nissan was towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, the California woman was cited for Following Too Closely.