Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for causing a disturbance in the Kerby area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 38-year-old Shayla Bee Sandau for the incident on Redwood Highway at Glendon Road on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they were alerted to a male subject chasing a female down the road while she was screaming for help. The woman informed dispatchers that she was trying to leave her house when Sandau grabbed her to stop her from leaving. She said she was in fear of being assaulted, so she ran toward the highway where a motorist stopped, intervened and attempted to give her a ride. Sandau reportedly prevented the woman from entering the vehicle, grabbed the keys out of the ignition and threw them across the highway into a field. The driver was unable to find the keys, which they valued at more than $100. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties and placed Sandau into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Coercion, Harassment, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman on a statewide felony warrant and added a narcotics charge to her criminal bill early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 39-year-old Crystil Marie Ann York on the north side of the Josephine County Courthouse on Thursday around 4:15 a.m.. Police said York was reported to be trying doors and looking in windows at the Crest Motel on NE 6th Street. When officers contacted York, she provided her sister's name, but was positively identified and found to be wanted on an Oregon state warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to an undisclosed conviction. During a consent search, York was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. York complained of illness, so she was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. After being cleared at the hospital, she was lodged at the adult jail facility on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Two people were injured in a motor vehicle crash that occurred in the Selma area early yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 1300-block of McMullen Creek Road on Thursday at 6:56 a.m.. IVFD officials said two occupants of the vehicle were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

 

The Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the Josephine County Board of Commissioners to adopt a final budget that fully funds the Sheriff's Office -- not the reduced version approved by the Budget Committee this week. Voters overwhelmingly approved the formation of the Josephine County Law Enforcement District in 2023 with a clear expectation that their increased tax investment would finally provide 24/7 patrol coverage and restore public safety services to full capacity. The Sheriff's proposed budget reflected that commitment -- requesting nearly $2 million less in general fund support than previous years, thanks to the passage of the district. On Monday, the Josephine County Budget Committee voted unanimously to approve a countywide budget that included a 12% cut to general fund allocations for most departments -- excluding the Sheriff's Office -- but did not adopt the full Sheriff's budget as requested. Instead, the committee approved a version presented by the Budget Officer, which falls short of the staffing and service levels necessary to meet voter expectations. The Chamber contends public safety is not just a line item -- it's the backbone of a thriving, economically resilient community. The Chamber is calling on the Board of Commissioners to make the needed corrections before adopting the final county budget next week and to fully fund the Sheriff's budget as originally submitted.

 

Major General Gregory Day of Grants Pass retired from the Oregon National Guard in a ceremony held last week at the Elks Lodge in Salem. A soldier for more than 38 years, Day has served in both the Army National Guard and in the active duty Army. Day enlisted in the US Army in 1986 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1989. He left active duty and joined the Oregon Army National Guard in 1992, where he served as the Executive Officer for A Company, 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry in Eugene. Since then, Day has served with many units across the state including the 3rd Battalion 116th Cavalry, the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 1st Battalion 186th Infantry and the 82nd Brigade. He was deployed overseas to Afghanistan, Iraq and Egypt, and worked stateside as an executive officer during Operation Katrina Relief in Louisiana. Day was most recently assigned as the Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command of the United States Northern Command. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Day can now settle into his job as a Grants Pass attorney.

 

Porchfest Grants Pass returns on Saturday. Porchfest is a fun, free family-friendly music festival taking place on the front porches of vintage homes in the historic NW Washington Boulevard neighborhood. Tomorrow's event -- which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- also features food vendors, arts & craft sales, and benefit programs for Josephine County youth. Rogue Gateway Rotary Club organizes Porchfest Grants Pass and uses funds raised from the event to underwrite its own youth programs. Rogue Gateway also shares a portion of those funds with several nonprofit groups that support youth in Josephine County. This year, CASA of Josephine County, Family Nurturing Center, Family Solutions, Maslow Project, Our Foster Kids and others will benefit from Porchfest 2025. For more information, please visit "porchfestgrantspass.org."

 

The short-handed Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved land sale contracts on two properties that were not sold during a November 2024 Sheriff's Auction. The Board voted 2-0 to approve the order for the sale of properties at 12100 Redwood Highway for $36,000 and 106 East O'Brien Street for $20,230. Vice-Chair Chris Barnett was absent and excused. The Commission failed to approve orders concerning properties at 1375 Fish Hatchery Road near Wilderville and Coyote Creek Road in Wolf Creek after a public hearing. Property Manager Helene Lulich testified it was the first step in preparing the properties for sale after they had been acquired through foreclosure on delinquent tax liens. During the hearing, two representatives from American Mineral Research objected to the sale of the Spotted Fawn Mine on Coyote Creek as they believe the County should not sell properties that have potential mineral resources. Commissioner Ron Smith said he wanted to give AMR an opportunity to survey the property before it is sold and added that to his motion. Chair Andreas Blech refused to give a second. During the public comment period, the Board heard from a woman who voiced her opposition to the religious invocation at the beginning of weekly business sessions. Several people spoke in support of the Josephine Community Library District, with one woman stating that around 25,000 people hold library cards, another woman talking about the importance of libraries to childhood reading and a third woman who spoke about upcoming library events including the Summer Reading Program. Others who provided public comment included former Juvenile Justice Director Jim Goodwin who spoke against the voluntary retirement program and the budget process. His was among several complaints regarding the proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for causing a disturbance in the Kerby area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 38-year-old Shayla Bee Sandau for the incident on Redwood Highway at Glendon Road on Wednesday at 3:06 p.m.. Deputies said they were alerted to a male subject chasing a female down the road while she was screaming for help. The woman informed dispatchers that she was trying to leave her house when Sandau grabbed her to stop her from leaving. She said she was in fear of being assaulted, so she ran toward the highway where a motorist stopped, intervened and attempted to give her a ride. Sandau reportedly prevented the woman from entering the vehicle, grabbed the keys out of the ignition and threw them across the highway into a field. The driver was unable to find the keys, which they valued at more than $100. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties and placed Sandau into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Coercion, Harassment, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail pending his arraignment today.

 

Multiple agencies halted the spread of a small wildfire that broke out in the Illinois Valley near Cave Junction yesterday. On Wednesday at 1:05 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest responded to the vegetation fire on Little Grayback Road near Caves Highway. ODF reported that the fire was a quarter-acre when they arrived on scene. Crews began an aggressive initial attack while additional resources were en route to the scene. By 1:50 p.m., the fire had been wet-lined and crews started mopping up. In a final update at 3:45 p.m., ODF reported the fire was 100% lined and 30% mopped up. Officials said steep slopes and dense brush were slowing down the process, but firefighters would remain on scene until the blaze was extinguished. The cause of the fire was under investigation -- it was GPS-mapped at just over one-third of an acre. The Medford BLM District and Rural Metro Fire Department assisted the effort by providing mutual aid.