Local News

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is reminding Oregonians that the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming statewide election is April 28.

It is also the deadline to change an existing voter registration, including declaring for a political party to participate in the closed primary election races across the state.

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Oregon, and at least 16 years old. Oregonians must be 18 years old to vote. Creating or updating your voter registration can be done online at OregonVotes.gov or at your local county elections office.

Prospective voters registering online will need documentation to prove citizenship and eligibility. They will also have to affirm, under penalty of law, that they meet all eligibility requirements and that the information provided on the registration form is true. 

 

The Medford Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Broad Street Monday morning.

Crews found smoke in the second story of the apartment complex. The fire sprinkler system had been activated, extinguishing the fire and preventing its spread, potentially saving the lives of the neighboring occupants and the structure itself from a larger incident.

Crews remained on scene to help get water out of the structure and salvage the belongings of the two families affected by the incident. Jackson County Fire District 3 and The Red Cross assisted at the scene.

An investigation determined the cause of the fire was accidental, starting from a candle left unattended near combustible materials.

 

He has been located and is safe.
Grants Pass Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing juvenile. Carter Harwood is described as three feet tall, fifty pounds and nine years old. He was last seen around 11 p.m. last night in the area of Lincoln Road. He has a bike and may be wearing a red Adidas shirt. Anyone with information on Carter is encouraged to call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a vehicle fire and traffic accident this morning.

Crews were alerted to the fire at 3:56 a.m. occurring at the corner of U.S. Highway 199 and Hays Hill Road in Selma. The fire was extinguished, with no spread to any surrounding wildland.

Then at 10:31 a.m., a traffic accident was reported in the 100 block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction.

I.V. Fire, AMR, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision. There were no injuries, and the involved parties exchanged information. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

A woman was arrested following a welfare check for an out-of-county methamphetamine warrant.

Dispatch received calls regarding a woman screaming and crying at Tussing Park, with the first report coming in Sunday around 4:19 p.m. She was walking up and down the foot bridge at the 800 W Park Street location, and it was believed she was under the influence.

The suspect, later identified by Grants Pass Police as Lily Loftis, was described as wearing plaid pajama bottoms, a black hoodie, and having orange hair. Officers soon located her down near the river's edge at the park, and she was taken into custody.

Loftis was wanted on a Douglas County Sheriff's Office warrant for a Dangerous Drugs charge. She was subsequently lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police held a man at taser point before arresting him on a warrant early this morning.

An employee of River City Grill, 150 SE K Street, reported the suspect, Bobby Swearingen, around 1:38 a.m. He was at the restaurant before he started heading towards the Purple Parrot. The employee described him as wearing a black hoodie.

Officers knew Swearingen had a warrant out for his arrest, and soon located him after he entered Resting Site 6 North. Units surrounded the site, and video surveillance was used to locate Swearingen.

He was apprehended by police after being held at taser point, and was taken into custody without incident. Swearingen was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for a Weapons Offense, so he was transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Officers lodged him on his warrant, and he was trespassed from River City Grill.

 

The Board of Commissioners will consider the County Economic Development Grant Advisory Committee establishment during Tuesday's 1:30 p.m. workshop.

The agenda begins with business presented by the Assessor in the matter of participation in the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance (CAFFA) Grant. The Clerk's office will present the board with invoices from Ryder Election Services, LLC, and Clear Ballot Group, Inc.

Finance will present the Grant Advisory Committee establishment order, with airports requesting an FAA Grant Application.

Human Resources has two requisitions and one action regarding a new Probation Officer hire. Pending other board business, the workshop will adjourn.

The Commissioners will hold the workshop in the BCC Conference Room. Those wishing to attend may do so in person or online at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man under a bridge Sunday afternoon.

Two suspects were contacted under the bridge around 1:37 p.m. They were both asked by officers to leave the unspecified Oregon Department of Transportation property. The suspects complied, but one, Nick Trautman, was found to be wanted on three warrants.

He was arrested on his warrants: two from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, and one from the Oregon Parole Board. Trautman's charges included Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Third Degree Escape, Felony and Misdemeanor charges of Elude, and a Weapon Offense.

Officers transported Trautman to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrants.

 

The Josephine Community Library issued a press release regarding the future Grants Pass Library site following an article from Southern Oregon News' Facebook page.

The original article, posted April 15th at 11:23 a.m., reported there were public concerns for the $26 million project, with county residents expressing homelessness concerns, and questions regarding leadership compensation and a physical library's necessity.

A response from the library, in a release, said the project's price was determined through eight public listening sessions and survey input, helping to inform "cost, safety, and long-term sustainability" of the project.

Public transparency was brought up in the Facebook article, to which the library responded saying no taxes are being used for the Library Foundation-led project, and that it is still in the fundraising phase. The library tax rate will reportedly not increase, with that revenue only supporting library operations.

Southern Oregon News posted April 18th in response to the Library's release, reporting "growing scrutiny" following the release, and asking further financial questions.