Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a local fugitive in Cave Junction this week following a brief pursuit in the downtown area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 32-year-old Nickolas Eugene Stephens in the 300-block of West Lister Street on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said they spotted Stephens riding a black BMX bicycle on Redwood Highway and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a 2023 arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Stephens reportedly ditched the bike on South Kerby Avenue, hopped a fence to Lister Street and then hopped another toward Sawyer Avenue. Deputies knew that his girlfriend lives on Lister Street and that's where they placed him into custody at Taser point. Stephens was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. A charge of Escape was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. He was also trespassed from properties on Pinewood Way and Logan Cut Drive.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding felony warrant early yesterday during a traffic stop behind the Grants Pass Shopping Center. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a bicycle ridden by 41-year-old Travis Edward McGee Blake near the corner of NE D and Anderson streets shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday. Police said they stopped Blake after he was observed operating his bicycle without proper lighting equipment. A routine records check revealed that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for narcotics possession. Blake was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His bike and personal property were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for petty theft and vandalism at a store in the Williams Highway Plaza this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the south Safeway supermarket late Tuesday night. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer entered Safeway and selected more than $70 worth of merchandise which he concealed in his jacket and proceeded past all points of sale. He was stopped by a store manager and all the stolen items were recovered. He previously had been trespassed from the store in December. Farmer remained in the area and began to draw on Safeway's ice machine and curb with a black permanent marker before he was placed into custody. Farmer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. His blankets and a sleeping bag were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Mercy Flights has donated an ambulance to the Illinois Valley Fire District that will be repurposed into a dedicated rehab unit. The new IVFD rehab unit will provide crucial resources to help firefighters recover during intense operations, ensuring they can continue serving their communities while at their best. In addition to supporting the local fire district, this vehicle will also serve as a regional asset, available to assist other first responders when needed. Mercy Flights officials said they are honored to play a role in strengthening local emergency services and supporting those who work tirelessly to protect our local communities.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners held its first weekly business session of 2025 on Wednesday. As a first order of business, newly-appointed Commissioner Andreas Blech was voted in as Board Chair due to his past experience with the previous Board. Ron Smith agreed to step aside after being elected Board Chair last week. Following a public hearing, the Board unanimously approved the annexation of a 6-acre property in Williams into the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of the 320-acre Clapboard Gulch property on Caves Camp Road by quitclaim deed to Ireland Investments. Property Manager Helene Lulich explained the property sold for $2,274,536, with proceeds going to the Josephine County Forestry fund. The Board also authorized the Recreation Department to apply for a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation agency to pay for improvements at Schroeder Park. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified that the grant money would go toward bringing power and water to tent sites at the park. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners set February 5th as the date for a public hearing on a revised fee schedule for the Recreation Department.

 

The Grants Pass City Council opened its Wednesday night regular meeting by electing Victoria Marshall as Council President and Rick Riker as Vice President. The Council then unanimously authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Slayden Construction Group, Incorporated. The agreement is for Phase 2 design-build services for replacement of the existing 90-year-old water treatment plant. The cost for the project is just over $99.8 million. Total cost -- including work already authorized -- is just over $113 million. The approval means construction for the new water treatment plant will break ground by late spring or early summer. Completion of the new plant is projected for late spring in 2028. In an effort to attract more candidates for the Budget Committee's three openings, the Council filled just one position with Chamber of Commerce CEO Terry Hopkins. The two other candidates -- Toni Webb and Jay Meredith -- in addition to other new applicants, will be considered at a future meeting. Seven positions were available on the Grants Pass Public Safety Committee. Tom Brandes, William Lovelace, Alan Hartford, Jay Meredith, Matthew Rosen and Terry Hopkins were all appointed.

 

Applications are now being accepted for the City of Grants Pass Sustainable Tourism Grant Program. Grants range from a minimum of $2,500 to $5,000. Applications must be received by February 12th. Tourism is an important part of Grants Pass' economic success and -- as such -- the City designates 12% of eligible tourism funds to the Sustainable Tourism Grant Program. This program supports promotional activities that will lead to sustainable tourism by attracting tourists and increasing overnight stays. The purpose of this grant is tied directly to the marketing or promotion of a specific event or activity. The program supports promotional activities that will lead to sustainable tourism by attracting tourists from more than 50 miles away. Some projects areas that will receive priority ranking include sustainable events leading to economic growth with potential to occur on a regular cycle, outdoor recreation, historically significant events, community-focused events and touring. For more information, please visit "grantspassoregon.gov."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners held its first weekly business session of 2025 this morning. As a first order of business, newly-appointed Commissioner Andreas Blech was voted in as Board Chair due to his past experience with the previous Board. Ron Smith agreed to step aside after being elected Board Chair last week. Following a public hearing, the Board unanimously approved the annexation of a 6-acre property in Williams into the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of the 320-acre Clapboard Gulch property on Caves Camp Road by quitclaim deed to Ireland Investments. Property Manager Helene Lulich explained the property sold for $2,274,536, with proceeds going to the Josephine County Forestry fund. The Board also authorized the Recreation Department to apply for a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation agency to pay for improvements at Schroeder Park. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified that the grant money would go toward bringing power and water to tent sites at the park. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners set February 5th as the date for a public hearing on a revised fee schedule for the Recreation Department.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for suspicion of numerous fraud crimes yesterday following a patrol check at a church thrift store in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Russell Ellis Davis at the Seventh Day Adventist Thrift Store on NE 9th Street on Tuesday at 11:22 a.m.. Police said they contacted Davis at that location and placed him into custody for a Felony Parole Violation related to a 2024 arrest for 1st-Degree Forgery. He was also wanted for probable cause for a total of 15 other crimes involving fraud. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for seven counts each of Felony Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or ATM, plus a single count of 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.