Local News

The unofficial results of Tuesday's primary election in Josephine County did not change much after the third run of ballots by the Clerk's Office yesterday. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the race for Position #2 on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners was still between Chris Barnett and Colene Martin. Barnett had 45.2% of the vote while Martin received 24.2%. Barring any dramatic changes, those two candidates will face off in the November general election. For Position #3, Pat Fahey was still leading with 39.05% of the ballots while Ron Smith was the runner-up with 26.08%. Fahey and Smith will face off in November. It was still bad news for all three ballot measures in Josephine County. Measure 17-116 to replace the County Charter, Measure 17-117 to fund the Animal Shelter and Animal Control, and Measure 17-118 to authorize bonds for Three Rivers School District building improvements were all failing by wide margins. Republican Noah Robinson was easily defeating Christine Goodwin in the race for State Senate District 2 by a 60.89% to 38.79% margin. Democrat Mark Seligman was still up big over Dustin Watkins in the race for House District 3 by a 60.79% to 36.86% tally.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday took the first step in creating a permanent financial resource for the Fairgrounds in south Grants Pass. Following a public hearing, the Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that amends the Josephine County Code to establish a Fairgrounds Permanent Fund using proceeds from the $9.5 million sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church. Adoption is set for June 5th. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that Oregon Revised Statutes allow the Board to open the reserve fund interest-bearing account in order to pay for Fairgrounds' projects, services and equipment. He said the fund must be maintained at no less than $9 million, and the Commissioners and Fair Board can authorize loans from the account to pay for the facility's financial needs. There was no public comment. The Board also unanimously approved three annexations to the Illinois Valley Fire District and one annexation to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexations were by petition of the landowners, without election.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 170 jobs in April with gains across several local industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,353 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally-adjusted jobless rate of 5.4% -- down slightly from 5.5% in March. Job gains of 40 were estimated in construction, leisure & hospitality, and private education & health services. Manufacturing, retail trade, and transportation, warehousing & utilities each added 20 jobs over the month. Government employment slipped by 20 jobs with a loss of 30 in local government education slightly offset by a gain of 10 federal government jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County slipped by 170 jobs, a decrease of 0.6%. Industries adding new jobs since April 2023 included private education & health services (+330) and financial activities (+20). Industries with estimated job losses were leisure & hospitality (-240), manufacturing (-120), retail trade (-100), wholesale trade (-50) and other services (-40).

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning took the first step in creating a permanent financial resource for the Fairgrounds in south Grants Pass. Following a public hearing, the Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that amends the Josephine County Code to establish a Fairgrounds Permanent Fund using proceeds from the $9.5 million sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church. Adoption is set for June 5th. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that Oregon Revised Statutes allow the Board to open the reserve fund interest-bearing account in order to pay for Fairgrounds' projects, services and equipment. He said the fund must be maintained at no less than $9 million, and the Commissioners and Fair Board can authorize loans from the account to pay for the facility's financial needs. There was no public comment. The Board also unanimously approved three annexations to the Illinois Valley Fire District and one annexation to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexations were by petition of the landowners, without election. In Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard about concerns over funding for the Firewise program, a suggestion that the City of Grants Pass should contribute funding to the Animal Shelter, a complaint about prominent Democrats changing their party affiliations in order to influence election results and one lady who spoke about the importance of patriotism related to Memorial Day.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for shooting at his neighbor yesterday as part of an ongoing dispute over growing marijuana in the Selma area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the disturbance in the 100-block of Hogue Drive on Tuesday around 5 p.m.. Deputies said a man at that address called 9-1-1 to report that his 47-year-old male neighbor took a shot at him while they were in a verbal dispute over a marijuana grow. The caller advised the man shot at his legs, but the bullet hit the ground and he was not hurt. He didn't have any weapons and secured himself inside his house. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties, located a bullet casing in the yard and placed the suspect into custody. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant during a patrol check in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were patrolling East Park Street near Locust Way when they spotted the fugitive on Tuesday shortly after 6 a.m.. Officers said they observed the 48-year-old man who they knew was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past drug conviction. The man took off running and -- following the short foot pursuit -- he surrendered at Tobin Court. During a consent search, the man was found to be in possession of a white crystal substance in his pants pocket that he admitted was methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the Parole Board warrant and for the narcotics violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing groceries from the south Safeway store early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store in the Williams Highway Plaza on Tuesday at about 9:30 a.m.. Police said a 64-year-old male subject entered Safeway, selected more than $246 worth of items, passed all points of sale and exited the store without paying. They said he was identified through video surveillance and prior contacts with law enforcement. He had been arrested before for stealing from the same store. Officers tracked down the man at his residence, recovered the grocery items and placed him into custody. He admitted to taking the food without paying for it, but told an officer that an employee allowed him to steal it because it was a write-off for the store. The suspect was charged with 2nd-Degree Theft and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. He was also trespassed from the south Safeway.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving as well as an outstanding warrant yesterday after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Selma. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Nissan Sentra driven by a 41-year-old man near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car for traffic violations and discovered the driver was wanted on an active felony warrant for Parole Violation. They observed signs of impairment and placed him into custody. User amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl were uncovered during a consent search of his vehicle. The driver performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Josephine County Jail for a drug evaluation which turned up positive for narcotics. The suspect was lodged on the no-bail warrant as well as for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Controlled Substances. His vehicle was secured by friends who arrived at the traffic stop location.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Roseburg woman on three outstanding warrants late yesterday during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just north of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Honda Civic driven by the 39-year-old female subject in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 60 on Tuesday at 4:13 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car because the driver was not wearing her seatbelt. They said she initially lied about her name, but they were able to identify her and learn that she was wanted on three outstanding warrants for her arrest. According to OSP, two of the warrants were issued by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for failing to appear in court and one was issued by the Oregon State Parole Board. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Her car was secured at the scene of the traffic stop.