Local News

Travel Medford has announced that the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area has been named the #2 Best Wine Region in the United States by USA Today's Readers' Choice Awards. This national recognition is especially significant as the Rogue Valley -- located in the heart of Southern Oregon -- rose above world-renowned wine regions in California, Washington and other parts of Oregon. The Rogue Valley was one of 20 wine regions nominated by USA Today's panel of travel editors and industry experts, and its strong showing in this publicly-voted competition highlights its growing reputation as a premier wine destination. This accolade further solidifies the Rogue Valley as a must-visit wine destination, celebrated for its accessibility, approachability and laid-back charm, all set against the breathtaking landscapes of Southern Oregon. Cheers to the Rogue Valley!

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning approved a new lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library with an amendment that changes the terms of the termination clause. Today's public hearing was a continuation of a hearing that was abruptly ended last week by Board Chair Andreas Blech. No additional public comment was accepted as the Commissioners deliberated over the lease agreement. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett made a motion to approve the agreement that calls for a five-year renewal of the $1 per year lease, with the Josephine Community Library District assuming financial responsibility for the maintenance of building and grounds along with paying 1/6th of the cost to replace the roof on the county-owned property at 200 NW C Street. Commissioner Blech said he would not vote in favor due to "14 deficiencies" he found while reviewing the document. One of the deficiencies he pointed out was changing the termination clause from the original lease that allows the agreement to be "terminated by convenience" instead of "by cause" as had been negotiated. Commissioner Smith made a motion with an amendment that reinstates the original termination clause and Commissioner Blech seconded the motion. The agreement was approved by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Barnett voting "no." Library Director Kate Lasky made a last-minute plea with the Board to approve the short-term lease with the new termination clause in order to provide a stable place for the Grants Pass branch while it raises money for a new downtown location. It will now be up to the JCL Board of Directors to okay the amended agreement.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Rogue River man who allegedly tried to run over a Grants Pass woman with a vehicle on Highway 99 last night. OSP reports troopers arrested 68-year-old Jeffery Charles Hoff for the incident near milepost 5 of Rogue River Highway on Wednesday around 9:15 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to reports of a female subject yelling for people to call 9-1-1 due to a vehicle attempting to run her over. They searched the area and located a Ford Explorer driven by Hoff. The suspect advised troopers he believed the female was the same woman whose friend broke his property during an earlier incident. According to OSP, the 41-year-old victim said she did not know the suspect. Hoff was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County for Menacing. He was being held without bail. Because he used his vehicle as a weapon, it was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office assisted the California Highway Patrol by making an arrest while recovering a vehicle that was stolen out of Crescent City. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies chased down and pulled over a stolen Honda Civic driven by 40-year-old Phia Teao on Redwood Highway at the south end of Redwood Avenue on Wednesday at 6:56 a.m.. Deputies said CHP alerted them that the 2000 Honda was stolen from a Crescent City resident and was last seen heading north on US Highway 199 toward Oregon. They spotted the stolen car near Applegate Avenue, followed it and pulled it over. After confirming the car had been stolen, deputies arrested Teao and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. He was being held without bail pending extradition to California. CHP and the registered owner were notified about the recovery of the stolen car, which was towed into Grants Pass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing a bicycle from a southeast city apartment complex yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the theft complaint at the Garden Grove Apartments on Fruitdale Drive on Wednesday around 3:35 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a female transient entered her patio and took her son's Ambush brand BMX bike valued at $500 before riding away. The incident was captured on surveillance video which helped officers identify the suspect as 27-year-old Brittany Grace Demars. Officers searched the area and found Demars without the bicycle at Morrison Centennial Park. They said she admitted to stealing the bike and it was returned. However, it had sustained damage to the modified brake line. Demars was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail. Her personal property was turned over to a male companion at her request.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on two local warrants late yesterday while making a welfare check at a long-term lodging facility. The Police Department reports officers arrested 47-year-old Jeffery Neil Larson at the Hawks Inn Motel on NW 6th Street on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m.. Police said they received a third-hand account Larson was physically abusing a female tenant at the motel. The caller told dispatchers she witnessed the abuse and requested a welfare check by law enforcement. Officers arrived on scene and were unable to find any evidence of abuse, but they contacted Larson and discovered that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants. One of them was for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and the other was for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. Larson was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. His bail was set at $45,000.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Applegate Valley Fire District battled a small vegetation fire near Ruch yesterday. On Wednesday at 2:29 p.m., firefighters from both agencies were dispatched to a reported fire in the 3,000-block of Upper Applegate Road. Arriving units estimated the blaze to be about a half-acre in size with poor access. ODF ordered additional resources including Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters as well as an air attack plane out of Medford. An aggressive attack was launched, which knocked down the flames and stopped forward progress by 2:55 p.m.. Due to the rapid success on the fire, aircraft were canceled and additional engines stood by. In a final update at 4:25 p.m., ODF reported crews had lined 80% of the fire's perimeter and were working on mop-up operations. The fire was estimated to be one acre, but the agency said it would GPS map it when work was complete. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

A Grants Pass woman was killed this week when she crashed her vehicle into a utility pole near the City of Rogue River. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 8 of Rogue River Highway on Tuesday at 2:50 p.m.. Troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford Ranger pickup driven by 59-year-old Katrina Ann Knight left the highway for unknown reasons, rolled and struck a utility pole. According to OSP, Knight was declared deceased at the scene. Highway 99 was impacted for about one hour during the investigation. OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended two men wanted on statewide felony warrants during separate incidents on the same day this week. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred early Tuesday morning when officers arrested 40-year-old Glen Everett Porter during a traffic stop at SE M and 8th streets. Police said Porter was riding a bicycle with no light. They placed him into custody when it was discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for 4th-Degree Assault. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident occurred around midday Tuesday when officers contacted 38-year-old Christopher Michael Anthony at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway. Police said Anthony was working on his truck in the park and a routine records check showed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a 2023 conviction for Larceny. He was placed into custody and also lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.