Local News

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant on an illegal marijuana grow site in the 5000 Block of Dick George Road in Cave Junction. The warrant was executed September 18th with assistance from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), United States Postal Inspector Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. During the execution of the warrant, over 2,500 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, 14 firearms, 30 grams of Ketamine, 8 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of Methamphetamine were seized on scene. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Christopher Faustino, Veronica Gardner-Dyer, and Brian Enney were all taken into custody and lodged in The Josephine County Jail. All three suspects were charged with Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of Marijuana.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man with a warrant out for his arrest Wednesday afternoon.

The deputy recognized the suspect, Justin Calderon, at the corner of West Watkins Street and South Hussey Avenue. After contacting Calderon, the warrant was confirmed and he was taken into custody.

Officers lodged Calderon in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant, plus additional charges of Second and Fourth Degree Assault.

 

Community advocate and foster care lived-experience leader Cobey Giesler officially announced his candidacy for the Oregon State House of Representatives, District 3. Running as a non-affiliated candidate, Giesler pledges to put people before party and deliver practical, bottom-up solutions for Southern Oregon. Giesler’s campaign will focus on fixing the broken foster care system, protecting our kids by opposing any legislation that harms them or strips away essential protections, addressing addiction, affordable housing, transportation & infrastructure, and government transparency & accountability. In addition to his advocacy work with FosterClub and leadership as a peer navigator for youth transitioning out of foster care, Giesler has experience as a campaign manager and field director for a State Senate candidate in 2024. Giesler’s campaign is building a grassroots movement powered by small donations.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District has been awarded nearly $97,000 in federal funding through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. This grant will provide critical safety equipment for all district firefighters, strengthening IVFD’s ability to protect lives and property across more than 200 square miles of Southern Oregon. The funding will allow the district to purchase complete sets of NFPA-compliant structural turnout gear, ensuring that firefighters are properly equipped to respond safely to structure fires, wildfires, and other emergencies. Each year, applications far exceed available funding, making this award especially significant for the Illinois Valley community. The district will also contribute a required local cost-share of $4,857. For more information about the Illinois Valley Fire District, call their headquarters at (541) 592-2225.

 

Oregon health officials have turned over personal data about some Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending probe, according to The Oregonian. This move follows months of debate over privacy and potential federal misuse of health data. Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report with data on every adult who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June. The information included Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid eligibility categories tied to citizenship status, but not immigration status or patient names or addresses. State officials had resisted turning over the data since CMS requested it in June, citing distrust over how federal officials might use the information and highlighting concerns about privacy for Oregon’s immigrant communities.

 

In two separate cases, Grants Pass Police officers arrested two suspects during park checks.

On Tuesday just before midnight, officers contacted Robert Tiefenback at Kesterson Park, 109 NE Evelyn Avenue. He was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Tiefenback was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his Meth Possession warrant.

Early the next morning, during an area check at Morrison Centennial Park, 1187 Rogue River Highway, officers contacted three people for staying in the park after closure hours. One suspect, identified as Sabrina Willett, was discovered to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Willett was taken into custody and lodged in jail on her Second Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle warrant. The other subjects were warned for staying after hours and vacated the premises without issue.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a traffic accident in Selma early this morning.

Emergency services, including IVFD, American Medical Response, and the Oregon State Police, attended to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 199 near Wild Park Lane around 1:42 a.m.

One individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical attention. The vehicle was subsequently removed from the scene by Jerry's Towing.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department apprehended a shoplifter Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was stopped by Wal-Mart loss prevention after passing all points of sale with merchandise concealed in a large water jug. The total value of the items was $104.34.

Officers contacted the suspect in the GamesStop parking lot. He was identified as John Johann, and was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Johann was trespassed from the Wal-Mart, taken into custody, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Second Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man after a theft complaint at a local convenience store early this morning.

Officers arrived at Pinnacle 365 at 1044 NW 6th Street after a call from an employee who had the suspect held down.

The suspect, identified as Cristopher Lokken, had attempted to steal three Twix bars from the store. After being contacted by law enforcement, Lokken was found to have extraditable warrants out of Douglas and Lincoln County.

The worker requested Lokken be trespassed from the store, but didn't press charges. Officers lodged Lokken in the Josephine County Jail on his warrants which included charges of reckless burning, Second Degree Trespass, and Third Degree Theft.