Local News

A woman was arrested for Second Degree Trespassing and Contempt of Court Thursday after returning to the same property she was previously trespassed from.

Grants Pass Police were notified that the suspect, Hannah Lore, returned to a property in the 2000 block of NE Fairview Avenue. She had just been released from prison that day and had a no contact order on file with the reporting party.

Dispatch was told the suspect kept getting in and out of a white Camaro with a dead battery parked in front of the apartments.

The caller believed the no contact order was from the District Attorney's office. When officers arrived, they not only confirmed the order by a phone call with the Josephine County Jail, but that Lore was trespassed from the residence.

She was contacted and taken into custody by officers, the transported to the jail where she was lodged on her trespassing and contempt charges.

 

Grants Pass Police sent one suspect to the Sobering Center, and one to jail following patrols of Resting Site Six North Thursday.

Shane Barton was observed in his tent at the 714 NW 6th Street site around 7:48 a.m. He had drug paraphernalia in his possession in plain sight of officers, and admitted to using methamphetamine within the previous 90 minutes before being contacted.

Barton was displaying signs of impairment, and subsequently taken into custody. His parole officer was contacted, and Barton was excluded from the site for 30 days. Officers issued him a citation for the Possession of Meth, and lodged him in the sobering center.

Grants Pass Police, later in the day at 11:45 a.m., took James McClung into custody. He was known to have two warrants out for his arrest charging him with Second and Third Degree Theft.

He was taken into custody at the resting site, positively identified, and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for his police department warrants.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for reckless driving following a high speed chase up 7th Street Thursday.

The suspect, Sabina Joseph, was driving a Subaru Forester northbound, running through red lights without slowing down at a speed of 70 miles per hour around 6:05 a.m. Pursuing officers attempted a traffic stop, but Joseph refused to slow until the patrol car's siren was activated.

She and her passenger were pulled over in front of Brighten Academy, where officers performed a Pinch Maneuver, stopping the vehicle. Joseph followed commands, exited the vehicle, and was promptly detained. Both women told law enforcement they had been driving for five days straight.

Law enforcement reported the cause of their behavior was unclear since neither exhibited signs of alcohol or drug use. Joseph was arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving and Felony Attempt to Elude Police. Her passenger, the registered owner of the vehicle, was released.

 

Nominations are now open for the annual Hunger Hero Awards taking place at Vista 222 this summer.

Hosted by The Josephine County Food Bank, this event recognizes local individuals and organizations working to fight hunger in the county.

According to a release from the food bank, the awards are part of the organization's Shining a Light on Hunger fundraiser. They honor those making a difference in the community by improving access to healthy food and supporting neighbors in need.

Eligible nominees include volunteers, nonprofits, community leaders, and groups dedicated to fighting against food insecurity. Anyone can submit a nomination at www.jocofoodbank.org, with an April 30th deadline.

Winners will be honored at this year's fundraiser taking place June 11th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Vista 222.

 

A recreational vehicle fire occurred Thursday at 2:35 p.m., prompting the immediate action of emergency personnel.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and ODF Southwest Oregon District responded to the scene in the 2300 block of Thompson Creek Road in Selma. Upon arrival, crews found the blaze had subsequently ignited the adjacent brush.

The fire was successfully extinguished and thoroughly mopped up. An investigation is ongoing regarding the incident. About one-hundredth of an acre was affected by the fire.

 

A Grants Pass Police Department School Resource Officer was alerted to possible criminal activity involving a student and adult staff member of Grants Pass High School January 6th. According to a release, due to the severity of the allegations, detectives with the Grants Pass Police took over the investigation the same day. Grants Pass School District 7 has been forthcoming with the investigation and took immediate action to prevent any further contact with students. The staff member is no longer employed with the district. The identity of the victim is being withheld. As a result of the on-going investigation, Terry Green, a 57-year-old male, was taken into custody on March 25th. Green was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Luring a Minor, and Second Degree Encouraging Sex Abuse. There is no evidence at this time that another student was involved. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Grants Pass Police Detectives Unit at 541-450-6260. Parents and students can also submit information anonymously via the Safe Oregon Tip Line by calling or texting 844-472-3367.

 

There's still time to "Say Cheese" and support local restaurants and families in Josephine County.

All through the month of March, 30 participating restaurants have been serving their own unique grilled cheese specials in a friendly competition.

With each specialty sandwich sold, two dollars from every purchase will be donated to the Josephine County Food Bank, equaling four meals for community members in need.

Now until the 31st, the public is encouraged to participate by voting for three categories: The Most Unique, the Most Gourmet, and the Cheesiest grilled cheese. Whichever restaurant sells the most sandwiches at the end of the month, they will earn bragging rights as having the "Best Grilled Cheese in Grants Pass".

 

The Grants Pass City website released its first update for the Parker's Place Village Shelter Site for the month of February.

On November 19th, the Grants Pass City Council voted to award a grant to Elk Island Trading Company for a shelter site with services for unhoused individuals. The agreement with Elk Island requires several monthly updates, with a goal of opening the site June 1st.

According to the February 2026 update, to date, the city has distributed just over $407,640 of the $1,179,000 grant. During the month, the city paid invoices totaling $23,307.50 and issued advances for $33,000 for site excavation and preparation.

The majority of work focused on completing the regulatory review and approval process required for construction and operation of the shelter. This included coordination with the Community Development Department, Building Division, Fire Department, and Public Works.

With the Director’s Decision approving the Emergency Shelter application issued on March 4th, the transition from the review phase to construction prep has begun. The building plans for the sleeping units were initially submitted February 25th, and the civil engineering plans were submitted mid-month. Conex unit procurement and delivery are already underway.

The full February Update is available at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man trying to get down off of someone's roof Wednesday evening.

A man had knocked on the reporting party's front door in the 300 block of Glen Crest Way. The 911 caller said the person outside the door wanted to be let in. He was reportedly yelling, and telling the caller that there was a man on his roof.

The reporting party told dispatch that he had a pistol laying out on his couch, his property wasn't gated, and all the windows and doors were locked. The man outside knocking reportedly lived in the second house down.

Dispatch was told the caller put the pistol back in a safe, and that the man was still on the roof, under the influence, and trying to get down. He was still attempting to get off the roof as law enforcement began to arrive. Once down, deputies took the suspect, Robert Darcy, into custody.

The reporting party didn't wish to press charges, but Darcy was wanted on a Central Point Police Department warrant for an original charge of Fourth Degree Assault. Law enforcement transported and lodged Darcy in the Josephine County Jail.