Local News

From now until April 18th, US Representative Cliff Bentz's local office is accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to serve as an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and acknowledge the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved in the nationwide competition. Bentz encourages high school students in Oregon's Second Congressional District to showcase their creativity by participating in this competition. He said he looks forward to seeing their original designs. If you have any questions about competition guidelines or would like to arrange an in-person delivery, contact Bentz's Medford District Office at (541)-776-4646.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved all items on its agenda during its weekly business session this morning. Following a brief public hearing, the Board voted unanimously to approve four requested annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. The addition of the properties in Cave Junction and Williams increases the physical size of the local library district by more than 21 acres. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners approved an order designating county-owned property in Clatsop County as Josephine County Forest. They also approved a Forest Reserve Fund to generate revenue for the county and a Forest Management Policy for the future. The Board is moving to permanently adjust its weekly business sessions to Friday mornings at 10 a.m. instead of the traditional Wednesday morning schedule. They approved an extension for the Friday morning meetings through April 30th. The Commissioners also approved an order dissolving the Grants Pass and Illinois Valley Airport Advisory boards while establishing a single "Josephine County Airports Advisory Board." The new panel will consist of seven appointed members representing the interests of both local airports. Applications are being accepted. In the interest of increasing housing in Josephine County, the Board approved plat maps for the Kickin' Cattle Company and Buckmaster subdivisions. The Board opened the meeting by proclaiming April 5th-12th as "Rogue Valley Rough Stock Rodeo Days Week." The rodeo is set for April 11th and 12th at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man yesterday for assaulting his girlfriend at a trailer park near Wonder. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 51-year-old Jeffrey Carl Engerseth for the alleged incident in the 13,300-block of Redwood Highway on Thursday at 2:39 p.m.. Deputies said the manager of the trailer park called 9-1-1 to report that a female tenant had told him her boyfriend punched her in the face and gave her two black eyes. The caller said the woman texted him a photo of her injuries and stated that she was too scared to report it herself. The photo was shared with law enforcement. Upon arrival, deputies surveyed the victim's injuries and interviewed both parties before placing Engerseth into custody. The victim was less than cooperative, but confirmed that she had texted the park manager. Engerseth was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for assaulting his girlfriend at a north-city motel late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Thursday around 11:45 p.m.. Police said a motel worker called 9-1-1 to report that a man later identified as 45-year-old Mandell Yazzie came in to the front desk and advised his girlfriend had attacked him. The worker told dispatchers the man and a woman were arguing in the motel parking lot and he would watch them until law enforcement arrived. Upon arrival, officers determined the conflict between Yazzie and his girlfriend started when Yazzie became upset over a poor relationship with his estranged son and he became intoxicated. The man grabbed the woman by the wrist and she punched him to get her hand back. When she reached around him to grab some belongings to leave, he grabbed her again and bit her twice on the arm. Yazzie was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for violating a court order this week following a traffic stop in east Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Toyota Camry driven by a 36-year-old male subject on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Agness Avenue on Wednesday. Deputies said a woman who resides on Monument Drive called 9-1-1 to report her ex-boyfriend was following her as she drove toward Grants Pass. The caller said her ex was arrested for domestic violence and is not supposed to contact her. He continued to follow her on Interstate 5, but she got off the freeway, drove directly to the Sheriff's Office and went into the lobby where she filed a complaint. After pulling over the man identified as Brian W. Domin, Jr., deputies discovered that he was driving with a suspended license and that he had violated a jail release agreement by having contact with the victim. Domin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court and cited for Driving While Suspended. His car was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man yesterday for damaging a government vehicle by drilling a hole in the gas tank to steal fuel for his own vehicle. The Police Department reports officers responded to a vandalism incident at the Grants Pass Veterans Administration Clinic on Williams Highway on Thursday at 12:22 p.m.. Police said they received a citizen report that a male subject later identified as 45-year-old John Joseph Dewitt siphoned gas from a Ford Equinox minivan at the facility and the caller had video surveillance of the incident. The suspect vehicle was described as a white 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup with a blue canopy. Officers tracked down the suspect vehicle heading into Grants Pass on Redwood Highway and stopped it near the South Y intersection. The vehicle was involved in multiple prior criminal incidents in the Cave Junction area. It was impounded. Dewitt was contacted and admitted to the crime. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly trying to swindle a resident out of gold on the west side of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the fraud incident at a home in the 1,000-block of Ironwood Drive on Thursday around 2:15 p.m.. Police said a resident called 9-1-1 to report that a man later identified as 28-year-old Gagan Deep had called her and attempted to scam $20,000 in gold bars from her. Details on the incident were sketchy, but the woman agreed to let the man come to her house to pick up the gold -- but not until she alerted law enforcement. Deep reportedly went to the woman's house to pick up the gold and officers arrived just as the suspect was walking back to his running Honda sedan. He was detained and the would-be victim provided her phone to be downloaded for investigation. Deep was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and he was being held pending a review of the fraud case by the District Attorney's Office. His car was impounded for further investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing food and beer from a local convenience store yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at the A-1 Market & Deli on NE 7th Street on Thursday at 3:32 p.m.. Police said the store clerk called 9-1-1 to report a female subject later identified as 41-year-old Amber Al-Sarf came into the business, stole a beer and was drinking it while sitting in the parking lot. The worker advised the suspect had come into the store multiple times recently to steal items. She had also stolen a green salad, which she ate in front of the business. Total value of the stolen items was $12. Upon arrival, officers found Al-Sarf inside the market engaged in a tug-of-war with the worker over another item she was trying to take. She was detained and admitted to stealing from the store. Al-Sarf was placed into custody and lodged in jail on charges of Petty Theft and Methamphetamine Possession. She was also trespassed from the store.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on two outstanding warrants at a downtown homeless encampment yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 30-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman at the temporary campsite at 6th and A streets on Friday at 12:31 p.m.. Police said Toothman was well-known to them from previous criminal contacts and they knew that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants -- both for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. Toothman was placed into custody without incident and lodged in jail.