Local News

Authorities Warn Citizens about New Scam Involving Sheriff's App and Website
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a new scam involving the Sheriff's App and website. Scammers may be using the inmate search feature on the app and website to contact family members, falsely claiming they can help release loved ones for a fee. Sheriff's officials said do not send money or share personal information. Verify any claims with official sources. In addition, the Sheriff's Office is continuing to receive numerous reports of an individual posing as a deputy demanding payment for various things that they are claiming citizens have or haven't done. Officials are reminding everyone that law enforcement does not conduct business in this fashion. They will never call and demand payment over the phone, with gift cards or cryptocurrency. Regardless of what a scammer tells you on the phone, simply hang up.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Man for Repeat Trespassing on Railroad Property in the City
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for trespassing on railroad property near Home Depot this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a trespassing call in the 100-block of NE Mill Street on Monday morning. Police said 34-year-old Ryan Adam Burrows was observed on railroad property after he had been trespassed from it in October. He admitted to trespassing and was placed into custody. During a consent search of Burrows' belongings, a glass bulb-shaped pipe was found with an untestable amount of drug residue. It was seized for destruction. Burrows was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. He and two other men were trespassed from the railroad property.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared Frequent Flyer for Trespassing Again at Downtown Safeway
Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for trespassing at a downtown supermarket this week.. The Police Department reports officers contacted and arrested 30-year-old Dustin Michael Fontana in the Beaver parking lot off SE 7th Street on Monday morning. Police said Fontana was found naked in the bathroom by Safeway staff and he fled the store. It was unclear why he was unclothed, but he had been trespassed from the store before and managers wished to press charges against him. Upon contact with law enforcement, Fontana admitted to being at Safeway so he was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and his trespass warning was updated.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Cited Motorists for Speeding on 7th Street after Twin Traffic Stops
Grants Pass Police cited two motorists for speeding in the north part of the city after separate -- but possibly related -- traffic stops this week. According to GPPD, the first incident occurred on Monday night when officers pulled over the male driver of a Lexus near the corner of NE 7th Street and Midland Avenue. Police had responded to a report of a Lexus and Ford pickup racing on 7th Street. Officers cited the driver of the Lexus for Speeding, but he stated he was not the driver during the racing incident. He'll have the chance to explain that to a judge. About 30 minutes later, police pulled over a vehicle driven by a male subject who was observed doing 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour speed zone. Officers said it was 31 degrees with multiple vehicles around at the time. That driver was cited for Speed Racing and Careless Driving. He was counseled about his driving behavior and he denied being the driver in the earlier incident despite displaying similar behavior. He'll also get the chance to make an argument before a judge.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

BCC to Recognize Sheriff & Consider Administrative Actions at Weekly Session
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office will play a prominent role in today's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. The meeting will open with recognition of Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel who received the Sheriff of the Year honor in December from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider a personal services contract between the Sheriff's Office and FasPsych, LLC, for mental health treatment for adults in custody. There is also approval of a quote to obtain new radios for the Sheriff's Office. In other business, the Commissioners will consider a contract for legal services provided to various Josephine County departments, an indemnification agreement with Boersma Family Farm, LLC, and two out-of-state travel requests. Under Public Comment from Citizens, people will have three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic concerning Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:20AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

Josephine County to Hold Thursday Town Hall on New State Wildfire Hazard Map
News Image
Josephine County leaders are inviting residents to learn more and share feedback about the Oregon Department of Forestry's newly-released statewide wildfire risk map. The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will host a Wildfire Hazard Map Town Hall at the Josephine County Fairgrounds Pavillion on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.. The town hall meeting will include public discussion regarding the map and a question-and-answer session. More information about the wildfire hazard map and the wildland-urban interface can be found at "tools.explorer.info/viewer/wildfire." Property owners with tax lots designated as both high wildfire hazard and within the wildland-urban interface were sent a packet of information by certified mail on January 7th. This packet included an appeal form and information about their rights under the contested case hearing process. Property owners may file an appeal of their property's designation in a particular wildfire hazard zone or wildland-urban interface. An appeal form must be sent to ODF electronically or by mail by March 10th. To assist with questions about the wildfire hazard map designations and what they mean to property owners, ODF has opened a call center to address commonly asked questions. The support line will be staffed Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Residents can call 1-(844)-996-2259 for assistance.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

Little Change in Total Payroll Employment for Josephine County in December 2024
News Image
Total payroll employment in Josephine County was little changed overall with a decline of 20 jobs in December. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 33,597 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.6%, which was the same as in November. Leisure & hospitality lost 60 jobs while private education & health services gained 60 jobs over the month. Retail trade added 20 jobs in December. Local government education employment decreased by 20 jobs and federal government lost 10 jobs. Other published industries showed little change over the month. Over the past year, Josephine County payroll employment increased by 100 jobs, a gain of 0.4%. Industries adding jobs since December 2023 included private education & health services (+500), transportation, warehousing & utilities (+50), financial activities (+40), and leisure & hospitality (+20). Industries with estimated losses were manufacturing (-190), professional & business services (-100), construction (-30), and information (-20). Government employment fell by 160 jobs over the year, mostly due to a decline of 150 jobs in local government education.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

Josephine County Celebrating 169 Years with GP Courthouse Ribbon-Cutting Event
News Image
Josephine County is celebrating its recent birthday and the historic Grants Pass courthouse that many county leaders, offices and departments call home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday on the front steps of the Josephine County Courthouse at 500 NW 6th Street in Grants Pass. The Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting and a representative from the Josephine County Historical Society will present information about the century-old courthouse building. City mayors and state representatives have been invited, and a special surprise is planned following the ribbon-cutting. All Josephine County residents are invited, and all employees of Josephine County are encouraged to attend. Attendees can expect a half-hour ceremony and they should dress appropriately for the weather, with rain in the forecast. Josephine County was established 169 years ago on January 22, 1856, as Oregon's 19th county and the last county created before statehood. Construction on the Josephine County Courthouse began in 1916, and the building was completed in 1917.
Posted on 1/29/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

City of GP Shutttng Down SW G Street Due to Westholm Area Waterline Failure
The City of Grants Pass is responding to a waterline failure on SW G Street in the vicinity of Westholm Avenue. Due to icy conditions, city crews will be closing SW G Street between Westholm Avenue and Western Avenue while repairs are taking place. Staff will detour traffic down Western Avenue and Westholm Avenue and along SW I Street. Time on re-opening the road is still to be determined. Potential local access is only via the west end. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes. Emergency vehicles will not be allowed through. For more information, contact the City of Grants Pass at (541)-450-6110.
Posted on 1/28/25 1:51PM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

BCC to Honor Sheriff and Consider Administrative Actions at Business Session
News Image
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office will play a prominent role in tomorrow's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. The meeting will open with recognition of Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel who received the Sheriff of the Year honor in December from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider a personal services contract between the Sheriff's Office and FasPsych, LLC, for mental health treatment for adults in custody. There is also approval of a quote to obtain new radios for the Sheriff's Office. In other business, the Commissioners will consider a contract for legal services provided to various Josephine County departments, an indemnification agreement with Boersma Family Farm, LLC, and two out-of-state travel requests. Under Public Comment from Citizens, people will have three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic concerning Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 1/28/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

GP Police Arrested Man for Repeat Trespassing on Railroad Property in the City
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for trespassing on railroad property near Home Depot early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a trespassing call in the 100-block of NE Mill Street on Monday around 8:20 a.m.. Police said 34-year-old Ryan Adam Burrows was observed on railroad property after he had been trespassed from it in October. He admitted to trespassing and was placed into custody. During a consent search of Burrows' belongings, a glass bulb-shaped pipe was found with an untestable amount of drug residue. It was seized for destruction. Burrows was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. He and two other men were trespassed from the railroad property.
Posted on 1/28/25 10:23AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

GP Police Snared Frequent Flyer for Repeat Trespassing at Downtown Safeway
Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for trespassing at a downtown supermarket early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers contacted and arrested 30-year-old Dustin Michael Fontana in the Beaver parking lot off SE 7th Street on Monday around 10:20 a.m.. Police said Fontana was found naked in the bathroom by Safeway staff and he fled the store. It was unclear why he was unclothed, but he had been trespassed from the store before and managers wished to press charges against him. Upon contact with law enforcement, Fontana admitted to being at Safeway so he was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and his trespass warning was updated.
Posted on 1/28/25 10:21AM by Sam Marsh
Read more