Local News

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has dismissed a set of complaints made against members of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. During its regularly scheduled meeting on September 13th, the state ethics commission heard details of complaints made by Josephine County's former Human Resources Director JJ Scofield regarding an April 30th meeting. That meeting was led by Board Chair John West and attended by Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger as well as former Commissioner Dan DeYoung who resigned from the Board in July. The complaint involved possible violations of ORS 192.660(2), which outlines policies and procedures relating to meetings held in executive session. During the ethics commission meeting, Investigator Andrew McIntyre provided details of his preliminary review. Following feedback from West, Baertschiger and DeYoung plus brief deliberations among commission members, a motion was made to dismiss each complaint and end the preliminary investigation. Each motion passed 5-3 and all three matters were dismissed.

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest will re-mark, re-cruise and re-advertise the Secret Creek Timber Sale after a recent comprehensive review of the sale was conducted by Forest Supervisor Molly Juillerat. The Secret Creek Timber Sale -- located on the Wild Rivers Ranger District -- was originally scheduled for August 27th, but was extended to September 19th, to provide time for the Forest Supervisor to make the review. An on-the-ground review was conducted with District Ranger Scott Blower, timber management personnel and marking crew members. The review was conducted to ensure that the implementation and marking of the timber sale matched the original intent of the Upper Briggs Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA was developed to enhance fire resiliency in mixed conifer stands by strategically removing certain trees and improving forest health. The EA allowed for the removal of trees up to 120 years of age and generally not larger than 40 inches in diameter. Some trees marked for removal were found to be older than 120 years old.

 

Awards totaling nearly $1.4 million will be distributed to 181 Oregon arts organizations through the Oregon Arts Commission's Operating Support Program for Fiscal Year 2025. Ranging from $3,300 to $20,000, the unrestricted rewards are available to nonprofit arts organizations with annual budgets of more than $150,000. The Arts Commission determines awards based on the number of applications and available grant funds. Here in Southern Oregon, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and the Peter Britt Gardens Arts & Music Festival Association in Jacksonville will each receive $20,000 in the current fiscal year. Other local arts organizations receiving grant awards include the Grants Pass Museum of Art, Southern Oregon Film Society, Camelot Theatre Company, Rogue Valley Art Association, Rogue Valley Chorale Association, Rogue World Music, Southern Oregon University Chamber Music Concerts, Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon and Collaborative Theatre Project.

 

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has dismissed a set of complaints made against members of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. During its regularly scheduled meeting on September 13th, the state ethics commission heard details of complaints made by Josephine County's former Human Resources Director JJ Scofield regarding an April 30th meeting. That meeting was led by Board Chair John West and attended by Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger as well as former Commissioner Dan DeYoung who resigned from the Board in July. The complaint involved possible violations of ORS 192.660(2), which outlines policies and procedures relating to meetings held in executive session. During the ethics commission meeting, Investigator Andrew McIntyre provided details of his preliminary review. Following feedback from West, Baertschiger and DeYoung plus brief deliberations among commission members, a motion was made to dismiss each complaint and end the preliminary investigation. Each motion passed 5-3 and all three matters were dismissed.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on an out-of-county felony warrant early yesterday following a domestic disturbance near an eastside supermarket. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 31-year-old male subject in the 2,000-block of NE Fairview Avenue on Wednesday at 8:31 a.m.. Police said they responded to four people in a purple pickup truck with one of the male occupants beating up a female occupant. They said the man and woman were hitting each other and the other male occupants were trying to stop them. The other two men drove off in the pickup with the man and woman still throwing punches. A short time later, the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call from a resident about a man and woman fist-fighting in front of their home. That's when officers arrived on scene, broke up the scuffle and learned that the man whom they identified as 31-year-old Christian Bradley was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to a burglary conviction. Bradley was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. The woman was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center on a Police Officer Mental Hold. No physical injuries were observed, so no domestic violence charges were filed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman and her son after they unlawfully entered a property on the southeast side of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a home in the 2,000-block of SE Portola Drive at 8:08 a.m. Wednesday. Police said a 55-year-old female subject and her 28-year-old son were on the property without permission from the owner who wished to pursue criminal charges against them. They said the woman called for law enforcement assistance because she was on the roof of the home. Both were detained at the scene. A routine records check showed that the woman was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. She and her son were placed into custody. The woman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and a charge of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Her son was also jailed for Criminal Trespass.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for being out of compliance with his sex offender registration while investigating a squatting complaint at a vacant house near Selma early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested an unidentified male subject at a home in the 17,900-block of Redwood Highway on Wednesday at 10:21 a.m.. Deputies said a woman from the Oregon State Treasury called 9-1-1 to report the property had been assigned to her and she was bringing in a cleaning crew when she discovered that people were living in the house and cutting down trees on the land. She requested the trespassers be removed by law enforcement. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the squatters including a man whom they knew was a convicted sex offender. He had been living under a bridge near Hogue Drive, but had his clothing, a backpack and bedding inside the vacant house. The man was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender because he had not notified his corrections officer that he had moved.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attempting to steal hundreds of dollars' worth of merchandise from Home Depot yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Wednesday around 3:25 p.m.. Police said a man they identified as 45-year-old Alexander Hunt Neuman tried to steal more than $495 in items from Home Depot by bypassing all points of sale with Dewalt items and a Milwaukee Bag concealed in his jacket. He was detained by loss prevention and placed into custody by arriving officers. During a consent search, Neuman was found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that was in the form of pill capsules. It was tested and turned out to be positive for methamphetamine. The drugs were seized for destruction. Neuman was charged with 2nd-Degree Theft and Meth Possession, Because of his cooperative nature, he was cited to appear in court and then released.

 

rants Pass Police arrested at least two suspects for trying to steal items from Walmart yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 9:40 a.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane. Police said 25-year-old Nathaniel Lane Embrey stole nearly $72 worth of items by leaving the store through an emergency fire exit. They said he was located running through the parking lot and was placed into custody. Embrey was lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail. The second incident happened on Wednesday at about 2:20 p.m. when officers were alerted to another shoplifting incident at Walmart. Loss prevention reported that a man later identified as 44-year-old Steven Timothy Dowell, Jr, filled a shopping cart full of diapers and left the store without paying for them. Police said Walmart security confronted Dowell, so he let go of the shopping cart and fled on foot. Officers located him in a motorhome in the back parking lot. He admitted to trying to steal the diapers because he needed them for his kids. He was lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and was also being held without bail.