Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has released additional information about a violent motor vehicle crash that seriously injured two people in the Illinois Valley earlier this week. On Monday at 5:21 p.m., deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 2200-block of Holland Loop Road. The caller reported a vehicle had struck a power pole and that someone was still trapped inside the vehicle. Emergency crews arrived to find the vehicle on its roof, with an occupant trapped inside. Another occupant had been ejected. A nearby power pole had been sheared off at the base and power lines were hanging in trees. According to the report, the occupant trapped inside the vehicle was extricated by IVFD crews. Both occupants were transported to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center -- one by Mercy Flights helicopter and the other by AMR ambulance. Both occupants were reported to be in "stable" condition by hospital staff. Josephine County Sheriff's Sergeant Jason Stanton said witnesses reported the vehicle passed another vehicle in a no passing zone at a high rate of speed, lost control on a corner and crashed into the power pole. He said the crash remains under investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision during a southeast-city patrol check this week. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 44-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles in the 1100-block of Rogue River Highway on Monday afternoon. Police said they were familiar with Knowles from previous law enforcement encounters and knew that he was wanted by Josephine County Community Corrections for Felony Parole Violation. He was contacted and then placed into custody without incident. Knowles was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on two local warrants this week while investigating a report of suspicious activity at the north Dollar Tree store. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to possible drug dealing taking place in a vehicle parked at the store on NW 6th Street on Monday afternoon. Police said witnesses reported several people were walking up to a small white pickup and then leaving. The vehicle contained two men and a woman including 31-year-old Dakota Alan Ree. There was no evidence of narcotics trafficking. A routine records check showed that Ree was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for 2nd-Degree Theft and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

For the second time in three days, rafters getting stuck on the rocks near Argo Park on the Rogue River mobilized rescue crews from multiple agencies. On Monday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to reports that rafters were in distress and one person was possibly missing. Rural Metro officials said everyone was accounted for, there were no injuries and all the rafts were recovered, although some gear was lost in the river. An engine from the Oregon Department of Forestry that regularly patrols the Galice area assisted with the incident. Officials said both rafting mishaps involved miscalculations made by experienced rafters. They said water levels at this time of year are low, exposing more rocks and making some usual waterway paths unsafe.

 

The Board of Commissioners will continue its effort to clean up the Josephine County Code and start the process of forming a rural fire protection district during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will hold four public hearings on ordinances that will either amend or repeal chapters of the County Code. One of them is the second reading and adoption of an amendment relating to emergency medical services. The others are on the first readings of ordinances that would repeal chapters pertaining to ballot measures, genetically engineered plants and loitering near the county jail. The second readings are set for October 2nd. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order that would initiate the formation of a rural fire protection district and set the first public hearing. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is scheduled to consider a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2025 budget during its regular meeting tonight. Following a public hearing, the City Council will vote on a resolution that amends the current budget and makes appropriations. The lone Council Action Item is a resolution awarding funds for the Fall 2024 cycle of the Sustainable Tourism Grant Program. The panel is also slated to appoint two members to the Urban Area Planning Commission. Following the public comment period, the City Council will consider the Consent Agenda which contains items considered to be routine in nature. This one includes a resolution adopting allowable locations for camping in accordance with recently passed ordinance. Mayor Sara Bristol will then adjourn the Council meeting and convene a meeting of the Urban Renewal Agency. As members of the agency, Councilors will mull over a resolution supplementing its current fiscal year budget. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

A former Montessori school teacher in Ashland is now facing a total of 23 charges involving child exploitation. On Tuesday, a Jackson County grand jury convened to consider additional charges against 68-year-old Craig Albert Johnson of Ashland who allegedly exploited students at the Children's World Montessori School. The case came to light on July 19th when the Central Point Police Department received a report of potential sexual exploitation of a 5-year-old girl. The complaint led to the arrest of Johnson and the involvement of the Ashland Police Department. During the course of the investigation, Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara said detectives learned additional instances of child exploitation had occurred at the Montessori school, which is fully cooperating. He said the number of known victims in the Ashland area remains six at this time. Johnson was indicted yesterday on 14 counts of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, six counts of Attempted Use of a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, two counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse and one count of Invasion of Personal Privacy. Chief O'Meara said the investigation is ongoing and additional updates will be provided as deemed appropriate. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact APD Detective Lacie Six.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners and Josephine County Fair Board are hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow evening to hear from members of local agriculture and nutrition organizations. The town hall will take place Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Floral Building at 1451 Fairgrounds Road in Grants Pass. Josephine County Recreation Director Tamra Martin said the goal of the town hall is to provide a platform for the affected clubs and programs to discuss what is needed for support to find a path forward, which may include physical space, financial and/or educational partnerships. That path must be found after the Board of Commissioners defunded the 4-H Extension Service District this summer. Josephine is the only county in the state without services provided by the Oregon State University Extension Service. Designated speakers from area agriculture and nutrition education groups have been asked to share information with board members during the town hall meeting. While the town hall meeting is open to the public, there will not be a public comment opportunity during the town hall.

 

Main Street America has arrived to help revitalize downtown Grants Pass. Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and commercial districts through its signature Main Street Approach framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $101 billion in local reinvestment, rehabilitate 335,000 buildings, create 728,000 new jobs and start 175,000 new businesses in more than 2,000 communities. Grants Pass city staff attended a Main Street Grants Pass steering committee meeting last week. Main Street Grants Pass will hold a community service event on Wednesday, October 2nd, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m..