Local News

The Josephine County Republican Women are proud to announce the three finalists of their second annual US Constitution Scholarship Essay Contest. Three young women in the Class of 2024 have been chosen from a total of 24 applicants in Josephine County. This year's essay question was "Since the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law…abridging freedom of speech or the press," what is the effect of social media on our decision making and our elections in the 21st Century? First place and a $5,000 scholarship was won by Evie Hitchcock of the Mountain View Academy Homeschool Program. Second place and $4,000 went to Rebekah Guymon of Grants Pass High School and third place and $3,000 went to Brynna DeLonge of Grants Pass High School. All three young women will be introduced at the Josephine County Republican Women's luncheon on Tuesday at the Grants Pass Golf Club.

 

The Josephine County Clerk's Office was reporting a low turnout for the May 21st primary election.
On Friday evening, the Clerk's Office reported that only 13,366 out of 69,909 registered voters -- or 19.12% -- had returned their ballots. Out of the 13,366 ballots received, 12,815 had been accepted. Tuesday's primary election in Josephine County features eight candidates running for two positions on the Board of Commissioners, a ballot measure that would replace the Josephine County Charter, a local option tax to financially support the Josephine County Animal Shelter, and a bond levy to improve safety and security in aging Three Rivers School District buildings.The ballot deadline for the election is next Tuesday at 8 p.m.. Completed ballots can be mailed in or hand-delivered to designated drop sites before the deadline.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two people who were allegedly involved in a shooting in the southern Illinois Valley early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to the shooting incident in the 700-block of Lone Mountain Road near O'Brien on Thursday around 6 a.m.. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report that he was taking his children to the bus stop when someone in a silver Honda Civic shot his truck and left the area. No one was injured, but the truck was damaged and the man's children were frightened. A short time later, the victim's wife called 9-1-1 to report that a white male adult in a blue truck was harassing them by driving back and forth past their house, slowing down, smiling at them and driving away. She told dispatchers she believed the man was associated with a property off East O'Brien Street. During the investigation, deputies developed probable cause to arrest a 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman as suspects in the shooting and ongoing harassment of the family. The male suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. The female suspect was lodged in jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was also being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for multiple crimes after he illegally entered the yard of Farmer's Building Supply last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to an audible alarm and arrested the 42-year-old man at the business in the 1700-block of Dowell Road on Thursday shortly before 9 p.m.. Police said they found the male subject on the property in a vehicle that did not belong to him. During a consent search, the man was found to be in possession of a double-edged spring-loaded knife as well as a small amount of fentanyl. A records check revealed that he is a convicted felon banned from both weapons and drugs. According to the report, nothing was stolen from Farmer's. No information was provided as to how the man was able to enter the property. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and the narcotics violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for creating chaos at several businesses on the east side of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple trespassing complaints involving the 41-year-old male subject on Thursday afternoon. Police said the man generated at least six complaints due to his behavior at Verizon Wireless, Arby's, Taco Bell, Grocery Outlet and Walmart among other businesses. He was reported to be aggressively panhandling and harassing motorists who did not give him money. The man was also said to be trying to steal items from stores while causing public alarm by screaming, threatening people, throwing things at vehicles and picking fights. Managers of the involved stores all requested that he be trespassed. Responding officers placed the suspect into custody and discovered that he was heavily impaired by alcohol. He was lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on Thursday for stealing a trailer out of Medford and a leaf blower from a Grants Pass landscaping company. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies spotted the stolen trailer being pulled by a maroon Ford pickup in the Fish Hatchery area at about 4:10 p.m. yesterday. Deputies followed the suspect vehicle into Murphy on South Side Road to the Hidden Valley Market and then onto Williams Highway. They eventually stopped the 54-year-old driver near milepost 10 of Highway 238 and detained him. The Medford Police Department confirmed the trailer had been stolen and a leaf blower in the truck had been reported stolen from All American City Landscaping by the Grants Pass Police Department. The suspect was placed into custody before being cited to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and then released. The stolen trailer and leaf blower were recovered and returned to their rightful owners.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" on a local felony warrant and for drug possession after he showed up at GPPD headquarters yesterday. The Police Department reports officers placed the 33-year-old man into custody in the lobby of the Grants Pass Police Department on Thursday at 12:50 p.m.. Police said the man came to agency headquarters and officers discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. He was also found to be in possession of a glass pipe with a white crystal substance that he admitted was methamphetamine. The report did not say why the well-known offender came to the police station. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant and for the narcotics violation. He was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers out of a city park early yesterday after finding them to be in possession of narcotics. Officers were performing a patrol check at Tussing Park on Thursday morning when they spotted a man and woman with fentanyl in plain view. Both were cited to appear in court for Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and trespassed from the park for 30 days. The fentanyl and associated drug paraphernalia were seized for destruction.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for allegedly stealing a vehicle out of Jackson County between South Medford and Phoenix. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old female subject at a home in the 1500-block of NW Lawnridge Avenue late Wednesday afternoon. Police said the Jackson County Sheriff's Office used a remote locator to ping a stolen vehicle in northwest Grants Pass. The vehicle is a white BMW 740I. Officers responded to the Lawnridge Avenue residence and contacted the resident who advised the vehicle belonged to a friend. The friend came out of the house to speak with officers and she admitted to stealing the vehicle. She was found to be in possession of the stolen car's key fob. There was also a large scratch along the passenger side of the car and the suspect admitted to striking a guard rail. Damage was estimated to be well over $1,000. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail.