Local News

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) raided two illegal cannabis growing operations in Selma yesterday. On Tuesday, JMET served two search warrants at adjoining properties in the 500-block of Davis Creek Road and the 200-block of Draper Valley Road. The agency was assisted by Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety. During execution of the warrants, over 900 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. Four firearms and a large amount of cash were also seized. In addition, both sites had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in criminal forfeiture of the properties. According to JMET, the primary suspect was not at either location during the searches. If located, he or she will be charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana and Unlawful Appropriation of Water. Detectives said the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a convicted sex offender on a statewide felony warrant and for not complying with his registration requirements this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 26-year-old male subject at the Speedway Express gas station on NE E Street on Monday. Police said the subject's corrections officer contacted them to report his client was on the way to Speedway Express to sell his motorcycle. The information came from the subject's mother and father who both work there. The subject was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a sex offense conviction. While being placed into custody, he admitted to lying about his residence on his sex offender registry. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug crimes during a downtown area patrol check this week. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 32-year-old Kyle Flury Palomino in the 700-block of SE J Street on Monday afternoon. Police said they spotted Palomino and knew that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and a Medford warrant for Unlawful Possession of Meth. During a consent search, Palomino was found to be in possession of a drug "tooter" as well as a container with a white powdery substance that tested positive as meth. Palomino was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Meth Possession. The meth and drug paraphernalia were seized for destruction.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for bad behavior this week following a foot pursuit in the North Valley area that caused secure lockdowns on three school campuses. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies eventually arrested 49-year-old Ryan Paul Jantz in a gravel parking lot off North Valley Drive on Monday morning. Deputies said they spotted Jantz and he took off running, hopping a fence off San Francisco Street, passing California Street and staying between the property lines and Interstate 5. They said he removed his shirt at one point and hid in the brush. The law enforcement pursuit caused Manzanita Elementary, Fleming Middle and North Valley High schools to be temporarily placed on secure lockdown. The lockdowns were lifted after Jantz was placed into custody. Jantz was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.

 

Firefighters extinguished a small fire near the railroad tracks in the Hugo area early yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a reported fire along the railroad tracks in the area of Russell Road and Jess Way. At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Rural Metro reported firefighters had accessed the 1/4-acre fire and were establishing water and containment lines. The railroad company was notified as some railroad ties had been damaged by the flames. No structures were threatened and the cause of the fire was under investigation. Many North Valley residents are concerned that someone might be intentionally setting fires in the area. On Monday, firefighters put out six fires along Interstate 5 near the Manzanita Rest Area and two more on Walker Mountain above the Josephine County Sportsman's Park. Officials said all the fires in the North Valley area over the past few days are being actively investigated by ODF, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. With no witnesses to the ignition of these fires, all factors must be taken into account. All leads are being pursued and evaluated.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year during its weekly business session this morning. The hearing for the supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2025 will be followed by a resolution that would transfer appropriations within or between funds and make budget adjustments. The Consent Calendar contains orders dissolving three task forces or committees, and a resolution making an appointment to the Mining Advisory Committee. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which residents can address the Board for up three minutes on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz and fellow Republicans in the US House of Representatives are working to restore America's forest health. US Representative Bentz on Tuesday introduced House Resolution 8790, the "Fix Our Forests Act," which revives and prioritizes forest health while safeguarding communities by streamlining environmental studies, minimizing lawsuits and accelerating the implementation of necessary forest restoration projects. Bentz said it's a bipartisan bill that will increase our ability to fight catastrophic wildfires and help protect Oregon communities. For too long, he said our forests have suffered from poorly designed and implemented forest management policies. Bentz said more than 117 million acres of national forests are overgrown, turning into unhealthy and incredibly dangerous tinderboxes. He said the "Fix Our Forests Act" directs the use of best available technology to support active and reasonable management of our federal lands. According to HR 8790, the legislation would allow forest managers to prioritize those forests at highest risk of wildfire. Forest managers will be able to improve powerline safety, and increase federal, state, tribal and local collaboration through the creation of a new Fireshed Center, expanded Good Neighbor Authority and better designed Shared Stewardship initiatives.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 70 jobs in August, but local employment increased over the year. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,245 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.4% -- down slightly from 5.5% in July. Private-sector industries losing jobs over the month were leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, and other services. Private education & health services gained 70 jobs over the month. Government employment lost 50 jobs, with 40 occurring in local government education plus a drop of 10 federal government positions. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County climbed by 180 jobs, an increase of 0.7%. Industries adding jobs since August 2023 included private education & health services (+560), professional & business services (+80), and financial activities (+70). Industries with estimated losses over the past year were leisure & hospitality (-340), manufacturing (-120), retail trade (-50), and wholesale trade (-10). Transportation, warehousing & utilities lost 20 jobs over the year.

 

The Eagle Point Police Department recently updated their patrol vehicles with a new graphic design. While doing the patrol vehicle designs, students from Eagle Point High School were offered a chance to help design the School Resource Officer (SRO) vehicle. Eagle Point Police Chief Jim Hamilton said Emilio Salas-Escalante and Natalie Hill submitted designs that were included in the new graphics. Both students provided different designs that incorporated the EPHS "Eagle" mascot and helped add a creative touch to the SRO patrol vehicle. School Resource Officer Marc Slagle worked with EPHS staff to obtain the designs and Wrap-It-Up Graphics helped to integrate the design onto the vehicle. Chief Hamilton thanks the students and staff who helped create the new design. He said EPPD appreciates its partnership with the Eagle Point School District and working with students on projects like this. Hamilton said the agency thinks this design "knocks it out of the park."