Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to present awards and recognitions during what appears to be a brief business session this morning. The Commissioners have some awards to present to county employees for their bravery during an incident that occurred earlier this year plus the monthly recognition of workers for their years of service to the community. There are no public hearings, administrative action items or proclamations on the agenda. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 290 jobs in January, but it was little changed over the past year. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,436 people working in Josephine County in January for a seasonally-adjusted jobless rate of 7.4%, which was up sharply over the 5.8% mark in December. Retail trade had the largest estimated decline while seasonal industries leisure & hospitality and construction also lost jobs. Transportation, warehousing & utilities, professional & business services, private education & health services, and financial activities all declined in the first month of 2025. Manufacturing bucked the overall trend with a gain of 20 jobs in January. Federal government fell by 20 jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County was little changed, up by 20 jobs. Industries adding jobs since January 2024 included leisure & hospitality (+260) and other services (+70). Industries losing jobs over the year were retail trade (-130), manufacturing (-110), professional & business services (-70), wholesale trade (-40) and construction (-30). Government employment rose by 80 jobs over the year. Gains were posted in state (+50) and local government (+30).

 

Josephine County has issued a legal notice regarding an upcoming timber sale on five county-owned properties. Sealed bids on these sales are anticipated to be received by 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 17th, at the Josephine County Forestry Office located at 125 Ringuette Street in Grants Pass. Please go to "josephinecounty.gov" or call (541)-474-5291 to confirm the sale date and time. Timber sale and logging contracts are to be sold on a sealed bid, scale basis. The Farmer Gulch sale is estimated to contain 1,816 million board feet of timber. The minimum bid for this sale is $618,600, with a $62,000 bid deposit required. The Upper Hog Timber Sale is estimated to contain 1,816 million board feet of timber. Minimum bid for this sale is $512,620, with a bid deposit of $51,000. The Jumpoff Joe Timber Sale is estimated to contain 920 million board feet of timber. Minimum bid for this sale is $253,010, with a bid deposit of $25,000. The Mountain Ranch Timber Sale is estimated to contain 1,435 million board feet of timber. Minimum bid for this sale is $520,140, with a bid deposit of $52,000. The North Valley 40 Logging Contract is estimated to contain 184 million board feet of timber.

 

Rogue Community College's Automotive Department is driving workforce development forward by donating surplus vehicles to three area high schools -- Grants Pass, Illinois Valley and Phoenix -- to support their automotive programs. As RCC continues to expand its Automotive Technology Program, the department identified vehicles no longer needed as lab aids and saw an opportunity to benefit local students. By partnering with high school automotive programs in Josephine and Jackson counties, RCC is helping to provide the next generation of technicians with hands-on training resources. Stephen Phelps, RCC's Dean of Applied Technology and Visual Arts, said "by donating these vehicles, we're helping high school students gain real-world experience, preparing them for success in the automotive industry and beyond." While some of the donated vehicles were not in running condition, Goodfellas Towing -- a Josephine County-based business -- generously volunteered their services to transport the vehicles, ensuring they reached their new homes.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to present awards and recognitions during what appears will be a brief business session tomorrow. The Commissioners have some awards to present to county employees for their bravery during an incident that occurred earlier this year plus the monthly recognition of workers for their years of service to the community. There are no public hearings, administrative action items or proclamations on the agenda. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for possessing a stolen firearm yesterday following a traffic stop in downtown Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Tyler Jack Olson in the 100-block of South Redwood Highway at 1:23 p.m. on Monday. Deputies did not disclose the reason for the traffic stop, but they found Olson to be in possession of a Walther Creed 9-millimeter handgun that had been reported stolen by the Roseburg Police Department. The gun was seized as evidence and to be returned to its registered owner. Olson was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft by Receiving and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was towed.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Wolf Creek man for being an out-of-compliance sex offender yesterday. OSP reports state troopers arrested 61-year-old Thomas Glenn Thomason at Creekside RV Park on Old Highway 99 in Wolf Creek on Monday at 1:33 p.m.. Troopers said the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and US Marshals Service assisted with the arrest, which is part of Operation Sentinel that is aimed at rounding up non-compliant sex offenders. Thomason was placed into custody without incident. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail and booked for Felony Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Grants Pass man for violating terms of his probation yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies tracked down and arrested 46-year-old Dallas Lee Silva at a home in the 3100-block of Williams Highway on Monday at 1:34 p.m.. Deputies said Silva was wanted for Probation Violation related to a May 2024 arrest for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was initially charged with several other crimes, but the District Attorney's Office dismissed all other charges. Silva was described as "uncooperative," but he was eventually lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man on two local warrants in the O'Brien area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted and arrested 41-year-old Jonathan Mark Michels in the 200-block of Samarkand Drive on Monday at 3:13 p.m.. Deputies said Michels was wanted on two Josephine County felony warrants for Felon in Possession of a Weapon and failing to appear in court for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. They said he was placed into custody at gunpoint because of his past affinity for possessing and using weapons. Michels was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $60,000 bail.