Local News

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, The Salvation Army in Southern Oregon is preparing for an unprecedented increase in requests for holiday food boxes from families in need. In light of this demand, The Salvation Army is appealing to the community for donations of turkeys and funds to help ensure that every family can experience the joy and comfort of a holiday meal this season. In Grants Pass, The Salvation Army anticipates distributing 200 Thanksgiving Food Boxes, a significant increase over previous years. Captain Yohani Ortiz, Corps Officer for Josephine County, called the need in this community "greater than ever." He said they're seeing more families who are struggling to make ends meet, and they're committed to providing hope and sustenance to as many families as possible. The Salvation Army in Medford is also witnessing a sharp rise in need, with a 40% increase in requests for services this year alone. The Medford Corps expects to provide over 475 turkeys to families who would otherwise go without a holiday meal.

 

Despite the testimony of more than 30 citizens who requested the cancellation or postponement of tomorrow's auction of around 1,800 acres of timber properties in the Williams area -- including Pipe Fork -- the Josephine County Board of Commissioners still plan to move forward with the sale. The Board moved quickly through four Administrative Action items on today's meeting agenda, which was followed by nearly two hours of public testimony from dozens of local residents including at least three children. The Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $500,000 for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program. County Property Manager Helene Lulich said the program is aimed at low- and moderate-income residents who live outside the City of Grants Pass, with a maximum of $25,000 available for eligible homeowners to repair their homes. A related CDBG subrecipient agreement with Home Bridging to help administer the program was also approved by the Board. In other business, the Board approved a service contract with Push Enterprises, Inc., for a bull-riding event during the 2025 Josephine County Fair. Recreation Director Tamra Martin said one of the advantages of moving the fair up one week next year is adding rodeo-style events such as this one to the mix of entertainment. The Board also approved a Workers Compensation Non-Disabling Reimbursement Statement of $24,500, which Finance Director Sandy Novak said is designed to keep the County's workers compensation rates low.

 

Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) arrested two men last week for trafficking methamphetamine from California into Southern Oregon. Following a long-term investigation, MADGE made contact with several people and a vehicle in Ashland on November 5th. After executing a search warrant on the vehicle, detectives seized approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Two men -- 62-year-old Randall Banks of Sonora, California, and 42-year-old Gabriel Calderon of Madera, California -- were arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Felony Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Meth. The MADGE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force focused on identifying, disrupting and dismantling local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations. MADGE works in coordination with the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). MADGE includes members from the Medford Police Department, Eagle Point Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Jackson County Parole & Probation, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for being aggressive with his ex-wife at a home they still share. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 32-year-old male subject for the incident at a residence on Dyer Road on Tuesday at 8:06 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-husband grabbed her arm with brute force, causing a red mark. She stated that she and her ex are divorced, but they still live together for their children. Fortunately, the children had left for school and were not present when the incident occurred. Upon arrival, officers contacted the man and he admitted to aggressively taking a cigarette away from his ex-wife and current roommate while she was smoking. The woman's arm was red and had a half-inch abrasion from where he grabbed her. She did not require medical attention. After the victim advised she wished to pursue charges, the suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes last night after reports of suspicious activity in a neighborhood on the south side of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 33-year-old Matthew Dylan Barnett in the 400-block of Marion Lane on Tuesday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police said Barnett was contacted after suspicious activity was reported near Marion Lane and Ringuette Street. They said he had climbed over fences into the yards of private properties and he was eventually located inside the fence-line of Moser Paving. Officers noted that Barnett's pants pockets were bulging with items and they requested a consent search due to reasonable suspicion that he had been stealing items in the area. They found him to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and a small amount of methamphetamine, which were seized for destruction. Barnett was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Criminal Trespass plus two counts of Probation Violation related to arrests for 1st-Degree Forgery and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held on $45,000 bail. Barnett was also trespassed from at least two properties on Marion Lane.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early today for stealing a phone from another woman at a local sports bar late last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported theft at Joe's Sports Bar & Grill in the Grants Pass Shopping Center on Tuesday around 11:50 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report his girlfriend's iPhone 15 valued at $800 was stolen at the sports bar and it was "pinging" at Jack's Landing RV Resort in the north part of the city. They went to that location and contacted 44-year-old Jennifer Leann Lunsford who was found to be in possession of the phone. Lunsford admitted to taking the phone from the bar and she was placed into custody at 12:26 this morning. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail. Lunsford was also warned for Driving While Suspended and her driver's license was seized.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a man from the 7th Street campground yesterday after he was caught smoking marijuana in his tent. The Police Department reports officers were performing a patrol check at the designated campsite when they observed a man they identified as "Daniel Wells" smoking pot in his tent with the door wide open. Officers found Wells to be in possession of a marijuana pipe and a baggie with about eight grams of marijuana. The contraband was seized for destruction. Wells was cited to appear in court for Marijuana Possession and he was trespassed from the campground for 30 days.

 

A motorist escaped injury yesterday when she struck a deer on Redwood Highway in the southern Illinois Valley. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle mishap near milepost 35 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday shortly before the noon hour. Troopers said a 46-year-old woman was driving a Kia Sport when she struck a deer that was crossing the highway. They said she was not hurt. However, the woman's vehicle was not drivable after the crash. She arranged for a tow to Cave Junction through her rental company.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for attacking his pregnant girlfriend at a home in Williams this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 21-year-old male subject for the incident in the 500-block of Sheraton Drive on Monday afternoon. Deputies said the subject called 9-1-1 to report that his girlfriend had used a rock to assault him and was taking his truck. The girlfriend also called 9-1-1 to report that they were in a verbal and physical altercation with a young child present. Further investigation revealed that the subject had punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach, hit her in the head, pulled her hair and bit her fingers. She retaliated by using a rock to break his computer, but she did not hurt him. The subject had also locked the gate in order to prevent his girlfriend and the child from leaving. The victim was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of her injuries and an evaluation of possible harm to her pregnancy. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Menacing and Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.