Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider grant agreements, a purchase request and intergovernmental agreements during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will open the meeting with a proclamation declaring May 4th to be "Sanctity of Life and Respect for Life Day." Josephine County Right to Life will hold its annual public protest of the Roe v. Wade decision on Sunday. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. Also on the agenda is a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase Request. In other business, the Board will decide whether to renew intergovernmental pacts with the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Youth Authority. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

May is "Wildfire Awareness Month." Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires can occur any time of the year including spring. Keep Oregon Green -- in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local fire and emergency response agencies -- will be spreading the word about the steps we can all take to prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires this summer while encouraging Oregonians to create defensible space around homes and outbuildings. Each year, over 70% of Oregon's wildfires are started by people. Many are a result of escaped debris burn piles or gas-powered equipment and vehicles casting sparks or catching on fire. During the 2024 fire season, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported that people were directly responsible for sparking 723 wildfires that burned more than 92,000 acres. Any spark can gain traction in dry vegetation, spread quickly and impact lives, personal property and the many benefits provided by Oregon's scenic natural areas. Before heading outdoors this summer, be sure to contact the agency or landowner who manages the land at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Everyone should be familiar with these restrictions before building open fires or using equipment that could ignite a wildfire.

 

The Josephine County Food Bank has announced that is has received a generous $20,000 grant from Fred Meyer and Kroger's Hunger Zero Waste Foundation to support its hunger relief efforts across this area. Executive Director Josephine Sze said the funding comes at a critical time as food banks across the nation are grappling with increased demand, rising costs and reductions in federal food supplies. Sze said the funds will allow Josephine County Food Bank to continue directing resources where they are needed most, helping to ensure that healthy, nutritious food continues reaching the more than 21,000 people served each month through its network of over 40 local partner agencies. In addition to their financial support, Fred Meyer has long been a leader in addressing food insecurity through the Fresh Alliance program, donating over 218,000 pounds of food between 2021 and 2024 to Josephine County Food Bank. With continued support from partners like Fred Meyer, Josephine County Food Bank remains committed to its mission "ensuring that no one in Josephine County goes hungry." For more details, visit "jocofoodbank.org" or call (541)-479-5556.

 

Southern Oregon's premier venue for "live" music and arts -- Britt -- announced its new brand and website on Wednesday. Following a year of work with local community members, staff, board members and UK-based design firm Fiasco Design, Britt unveiled its brand new logo and website ahead of its 2025 season. The new Britt logo features a hand-carved woodblock illustration of Gentner's Fritillary, a rare and beautiful flower that only grows in Jackson and Josephine counties and is in bloom right now. The largest concentration of the wildflowers is found on the Britt hill behind the fenceline. The public is reminded that these endangered flowers are a treasure and should not be picked. The relaunched website prioritizes accessibility, technology upgrades and patron reliability. The project was funded by the Murdock Charitable Trust and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Patrons can still access the site from "brittfest.org" as well as "britt.org."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider grant agreements, a purchase request and intergovernmental agreements during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The Board will open the meeting with a proclamation declaring May 4th to be "Sanctity of Life and Respect for Life Day." Josephine County Right to Life will hold its annual public protest of the Roe v. Wade decision on Sunday. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. Also on the agenda is a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase Request. In other business, the Board will decide whether to renew intergovernmental pacts with the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Youth Authority. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Thursday's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

An Illinois Valley man is in custody for four felony-level crimes after he allegedly fired several shots at two people and stole a quad from a Cave Junction area home. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Blaine Matthew Case for the incident in the 5200-block of Dick George Road on Tuesday at 6:06 p.m.. Deputies said they initially received a report that a male subject came onto the property looking for the owner, got into a verbal argument with the caretakers and fired five or six rounds at them. They said five bullet casings were recovered from where the shots were fired and four of the bullets struck the garage very close to where the victims were standing. The shooter fled the scene. A short time later, Case returned to the property and stole an Arctic Cat ATV from the victims. An investigation determined the suspect was a former employee of the property owner who lives nearby and his vehicle was identified as a GMC Yukon. Deputies located the stolen quad in the garage of Case's residence, but he was not there. They tracked him down at or near Illinois Valley River Forks State Park and placed him into custody. The quad was recovered by its owner. Case was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges including two counts of Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle plus a misdemeanor charge of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail pending his court arraignment this afternoon.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for harassing the manager of an apartment complex from which she had been evicted. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at Oakview Garden Apartments on NE Anderson Street on Tuesday around 8:15 a.m.. Police said the apartment manager reported 49-year-old Kathleen Frances Kirven repeatedly yelled and publicly insulted her at the complex. They said the suspect was banging on her office door and making threatening statements, which placed her in fear of physical injury. The manager advised this has been an ongoing issue. According to the report, Kirven also called 9-1-1 to report that the manager had violated a stalking order which did not exist. The suspect also stated that she works for the FBI, claimed she had been attacked and the manager was trying to kill her. Kirven had been evicted from her apartment in February, but she had not moved and was scheduled to appear in court yesterday. She was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Harassment. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing an expensive cell phone from the vehicle of a city contractor early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the crime near the temporary resting site at the corner of 6th and A streets on Tuesday at 9:40 a.m.. Police said the victim's vehicle was parked in a dirt area near the unhoused camp across the street from City Hall when the incident occurred. They said the victim contracts with the City to clean up the resting site. Further investigation revealed that 42-year-old Christopher Davis was captured on video stealing the Samsung phone valued at $1,200 after entering the victim's vehicle. Davis was located and contacted. He admitted to the theft, but the phone had already changed hands and it was not recovered. Davis was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by arranging to meet with his estranged wife in order to see their young daughter. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 21-year-old suspect at the NE Beacon Drive McDonald's on Tuesday at 11:42 a.m.. Police said the suspect called his estranged wife and asked to see his daughter even though both are protected from him by a court-ordered restraining order. They said the woman contacted GPPD before she agreed to meet with him at McDonald's and when he showed up, he was placed into custody on an outstanding warrant for Contempt of Court. The suspect was lodged in jail on the warrant plus new charges of Contempt of Court and Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.