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Total Payroll Employment in Josephine County Increased by 170 Jobs in April

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 170 jobs in April with gains across several local industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,353 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally-adjusted jobless rate of 5.4% -- down slightly from 5.5% in March. Job gains of 40 were estimated in construction, leisure & hospitality, and private education & health services. Manufacturing, retail trade, and transportation, warehousing & utilities each added 20 jobs over the month. Government employment slipped by 20 jobs with a loss of 30 in local government education slightly offset by a gain of 10 federal government jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County slipped by 170 jobs, a decrease of 0.6%. Industries adding new jobs since April 2023 included private education & health services (+330) and financial activities (+20). Industries with estimated job losses were leisure & hospitality (-240), manufacturing (-120), retail trade (-100), wholesale trade (-50) and other services (-40).

Posted on 5/23/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Okays 1st Reading of Ordinance to Create Fairgrounds Permanent Fund

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning took the first step in creating a permanent financial resource for the Fairgrounds in south Grants Pass. Following a public hearing, the Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that amends the Josephine County Code to establish a Fairgrounds Permanent Fund using proceeds from the $9.5 million sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church. Adoption is set for June 5th. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that Oregon Revised Statutes allow the Board to open the reserve fund interest-bearing account in order to pay for Fairgrounds' projects, services and equipment. He said the fund must be maintained at no less than $9 million, and the Commissioners and Fair Board can authorize loans from the account to pay for the facility's financial needs. There was no public comment. The Board also unanimously approved three annexations to the Illinois Valley Fire District and one annexation to the Josephine Community Library District. The annexations were by petition of the landowners, without election. In Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard about concerns over funding for the Firewise program, a suggestion that the City of Grants Pass should contribute funding to the Animal Shelter, a complaint about prominent Democrats changing their party affiliations in order to influence election results and one lady who spoke about the importance of patriotism related to Memorial Day.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

IV Man Jailed for Shooting at Neighbor in Altercation over Marijuana Grow

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for shooting at his neighbor yesterday as part of an ongoing dispute over growing marijuana in the Selma area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the disturbance in the 100-block of Hogue Drive on Tuesday around 5 p.m.. Deputies said a man at that address called 9-1-1 to report that his 47-year-old male neighbor took a shot at him while they were in a verbal dispute over a marijuana grow. The caller advised the man shot at his legs, but the bullet hit the ground and he was not hurt. He didn't have any weapons and secured himself inside his house. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties, located a bullet casing in the yard and placed the suspect into custody. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man Wanted on State Warrant during East Park Patrol

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant during a patrol check in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were patrolling East Park Street near Locust Way when they spotted the fugitive on Tuesday shortly after 6 a.m.. Officers said they observed the 48-year-old man who they knew was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past drug conviction. The man took off running and -- following the short foot pursuit -- he surrendered at Tobin Court. During a consent search, the man was found to be in possession of a white crystal substance in his pants pocket that he admitted was methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the Parole Board warrant and for the narcotics violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Stealing Groceries from Safeway Supermarket

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing groceries from the south Safeway store early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store in the Williams Highway Plaza on Tuesday at about 9:30 a.m.. Police said a 64-year-old male subject entered Safeway, selected more than $246 worth of items, passed all points of sale and exited the store without paying. They said he was identified through video surveillance and prior contacts with law enforcement. He had been arrested before for stealing from the same store. Officers tracked down the man at his residence, recovered the grocery items and placed him into custody. He admitted to taking the food without paying for it, but told an officer that an employee allowed him to steal it because it was a write-off for the store. The suspect was charged with 2nd-Degree Theft and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. He was also trespassed from the south Safeway.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:33AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for DUII & Felony Warrant in Redwood Highway Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving as well as an outstanding warrant yesterday after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Selma. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Nissan Sentra driven by a 41-year-old man near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car for traffic violations and discovered the driver was wanted on an active felony warrant for Parole Violation. They observed signs of impairment and placed him into custody. User amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl were uncovered during a consent search of his vehicle. The driver performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Josephine County Jail for a drug evaluation which turned up positive for narcotics. The suspect was lodged on the no-bail warrant as well as for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Controlled Substances. His vehicle was secured by friends who arrived at the traffic stop location.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Roseburg Woman on 3 Warrants after I-5 Traffic Stop near GP

The Oregon State Police arrested a Roseburg woman on three outstanding warrants late yesterday during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just north of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Honda Civic driven by the 39-year-old female subject in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 60 on Tuesday at 4:13 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car because the driver was not wearing her seatbelt. They said she initially lied about her name, but they were able to identify her and learn that she was wanted on three outstanding warrants for her arrest. According to OSP, two of the warrants were issued by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for failing to appear in court and one was issued by the Oregon State Parole Board. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Her car was secured at the scene of the traffic stop.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:31AM by Sam Marsh

National Weather Service Posts Thursday AM Frost Advisory for SW Oregon

The calendar says spring, but local temperatures tonight will feel more like winter. The National Weather Service has posted a Frost Advisory for Josephine, Jackson and eastern Curry counties for Thursday between 3 and 8 a.m.. Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation in some areas. Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation and some plants may be killed if left uncovered. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

Posted on 5/22/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

JMET Arrested Wolf Creek Woman after Raid on Indoor Pot Growing Operation

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) jailed a Wolf Creek woman for multiple felony-level crimes after a raid on an indoor pot growing operation this week. On Monday, JMET -- with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety -- served a search warrant in the 900-block of North Frontage Road in Wolf Creek. During execution of the warrant, more than 200 marijuana starter plants were seized and destroyed. The property also had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in criminal forfeiture of the property. JMET detectives said 43-year-old Kari Davis was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana. She remained in custody on Tuesday without any scheduled bail. According to JMET, the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

Posted on 5/22/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Office Investigation Recovered Stolen Truck that Led to Hugo Arrest

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes including stealing a vehicle after an investigation in the Hugo area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 24-year-old male subject at a home in the 200-block of Keeta Way on Monday morning. Deputies said they received a call from a person who stated that they saw a pickup parked at that address that matched their stolen 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, with an extended cab, long bed, black wheels and tool box. Further investigation revealed that the property owner had been trying to evict the current tenant. Upon arrival, deputies confirmed that the pickup had been stolen by the tenant who was rumored to have five shotguns stashed throughout his residence. He was placed into custody without incident and the stolen pickup was recovered. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus two counts each of Petty Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from three homes on Keeta Way.

Posted on 5/22/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man on State Warrant after Trespass Call at Animal Shelter

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint at the Animal Shelter. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the call at the facility in the 1400-block of Brookside Boulevard on Monday afternoon. Deputies said a caller reported a dark-colored Chevrolet sport utility vehicle had been parked on the property and they wanted it removed. They responded and contacted the 42-year-old male driver and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Intimidation that included a Stalking Violation. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. He was trespassed from the Animal Shelter as well as the Safeway store in downtown Grants Pass due to another unrelated incident.

Posted on 5/22/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

OSFM Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Application Period is Open

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has announced the opening of its Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant. According to OSFM, this funding is designed to enhance wildfire defensible space across the state while supporting wildfire mitigation projects led by structural fire protection agencies, counties and cities. The $3 million grant will significantly reduce wildfire risk by funding projects to create and maintain defensible space around buildings and critical infrastructure. Individual grant awards will range between $50,000 and $75,000. The grant focuses on two project types: Defensive Space Projects -- where the goal is to protect the first 100 feet around buildings, constituting about 70% of grant funds -- and Community Protection Projects that extend beyond 100 feet to create fire breaks or lessen wildfire risks community-wide. Applications will be prioritized based on fire risk, social vulnerability and project clarity. More information -- including the application and a grant manual -- can be found on the OSFM's grants webpage at "oregon.gov/osfm."

Posted on 5/22/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

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