Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a Kerby Transfer Station rate increase and late fees proposed by the Planning Department during Wednesday's Weekly Business Session. The board approved a 20% rate increase at the gate, and a $1.80 curbside customer charge for Southern Oregon Sanitation's Kerby station, followed by a 3-0 motion to approve a board order regarding a quitclaim deed for the sale of Winona Road land. The Planning department requested a late fee hearing for April 1st at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The fees, related to the new Marijuana Annual Compliance Ordinance, would charge $250 if an application was 30 days past due, with $500 charged for 60 days past due. A motion to approve passed 3-0, with the fees taking place effective May 1st.

 

Dispatch was alerted to people digging in a dumpster at the Hampton Inn and Suites Tuesday evening around 5:25.

An employee of the 110 NE Morgan Lane hotel reported the two men after receiving third party information, and requested they be trespassed from the premises.

Officers with the Grants Pass Police department arrived and contacted the two suspects, identifying one of them as Thomas Hayes. He was found to have two valid and serviceable warrants out of the police department for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Contempt of Court.

Hayes's identity was confirmed and he was taken into custody by law enforcement. He was transported to the adult jail facility to be lodged on his warrants. His backpack was logged for safekeeping, and both men were trespassed from the premises.

 

The owner of A-1 Market requested a potentially aggressive man be trespassed, leading to the suspects arrest by Grants Pass Police.

The man, later identified as Jacob Reeder, was sitting on the bench in the nearby alley of the 8th Street business. The owner said Reeder was usually aggressive with him, so he requested law enforcement have him trespassed.

Officers responded, recognized Reeder, and promptly took him into custody. He was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant out of the police department for Trespassing.

Reeder was subsequently transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his active and serviceable warrant. He was also trespassed from the market.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police arrested a woman wanted on three extraditable warrants Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect, Whitney Word, was observed by law enforcement at the corner of SW 6th Street and SE L Street around 1:21 p.m. Initial contact was unsuccessful as she ran across the street in front of traffic.

Word was ultimately detained, and confirmed to have three circuit court warrants out of the Medford Police Department. Her charges included Assaulting a Police Officer, Third Degree Robbery, Theft in the Third Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Theft of Services.

Officers placed Word into custody and transported her to the Adult Jail Facility. She was lodged for her warrants, then later taken to be lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

 

A man was arrested at the Josephine Community Library after smoking off tin foil in the nude.

Around 10:31 Tuesday morning, Grants Pass Police were alerted to a suspect who had been in the library bathroom for about an hour. Security initially thought the man was having a medical episode because he wasn't answering the door.

After going inside to check on him, the suspect was found to be smoking something off of tin foil while not wearing any clothes. He was instructed to leave the premises, but refused, so it was requested he be trespassed from the 200 NW C Street location.

When officers arrived to contact the man, he refused to identify himself, but a photo match confirmed his identity as Thomas Downs Jr. He was found to have a valid and serviceable Deschutes County Sheriff's Office warrant out for his arrest.

Officers took Downs Jr. into custody for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, and his warrant for Second Degree Criminal Mischief, DUII, Reckless Driving, and Reckless Endangering. Police then transported and lodged him in jail, but due to a lack of resources, he was released.

 

A man arrived at the Josephine County Jail at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday wanting to turn himself in.

The suspect had no identification, but said he was from Bakersfield and that a detective from California informed him to turn himself in to law enforcement. He was detained in the lobby by Josephine County Sheriff's deputies.

The man's felony warrant for Homicide was confirmed after a call to Bakersfield, with the warrant being faxed over. The suspect, identified as Steven Quick, was then taken into custody following confirmation, and was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Commissioners met for their second workshop at 10 a.m. to consider department business. The board was unanimous in approving the Recreation departments request to sign contracts for Whitehorse Park renovations. The original footprint of the park will remain with power provided to added camp sites. A resolution to adjust terms of the Josephine County Budget Committee members was approved 3-0. A motion to approve a contract for M&M Services, LLC in the removal of old fuel tanks and pumps, funded through public works funds and gas taxes was unanimous. Also approved was a WECO invoice and proceedings to legalize a portion of Cave Camp Road, both covered through gas tax dollars, and ODOT covering 90% of the legalization cost. Before adjourning, the board continued their discussion about the D'Amore Law Group Conflict Waver regarding an opioid case. A motion to approve the conflict waver passed 2-1 with Commissioner Gary Richardson dissenting.

 

The list of 2026 Primary Election local races and measures has been updated as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Seven applicants are running for Josephine County Commissioner Position #1, including former Commissioners Andreas Blech and John West, recently appointed Commissioner Colene Martin, as well as Tracy Thompson, Corey Wilson, Konnor Kirkpatrick, and Alicia Louise Dove. For Commissioner Position #2, Chad Hansen, Matt Eide, Matt Spurlock, James Rafferty, Michael A. Burdge, Mark Seligman, Bill Ertel, Mark Jones, and City Councilor Indra Nicholas are running. Simon Hare, who had previously applied and withdrawn twice for Position #2, is now in the running to be Treasurer, along with Dustin Calvo, and Alexis Smithey. Rhiannon Henkels, Kris Kirby, and Darius Englen are running for the County Clerk and Recorder position. Since only two applicants, Dave Daniel and Jonathan Knapp, are running for Sheriff, that position must be elected at the November General Election, as the race would only appear on the May ballot if there were three or more filed candidates for the position.

 

UPDATE: Kaleb has been located safely.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating a runaway child. Kaleb Paul Diard ran away from his home in Cave Junction today, and is believed to still be in the area. He is a 4'8" white 14-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes, weighing around 105 pounds, and was last seen wearing a maroon hoodie with "Seattle" written on the front and black pants. If you see Kaleb or have information on his whereabouts, please call the Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123, reference case #26-6517.