Local News

A woman put a basketball sized hole through her wall into the neighboring apartment's stairway Wednesday night.

She was the subject of three separate calls for service regarding her violent, threatening, and tumultuous behavior. One of the calls at 9:18 p.m. reported the woman had been yelling, screaming, and banging on the walls all night.

Ten minutes prior to the call, the suspect put a hole through the shared wall in hers and the caller's apartments. The damage was estimated to be under $500 in repair costs.

Grants Pass Police arrived at the scene in the 100 block of Southridge Way and contacted the suspect, Deserae Smith. She was taken into custody, and her father was advised of her dogs left at the property.

Smith was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

 

The Jackson County Oregon USA Board of Commissioners honored Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Captain Josh Aldrich yesterday morning for 25 years of dedicated service.

Over his career, Captain Aldrich has risen through the ranks, led jail operations, and made lasting improvements to corrections and treatment programs locally and statewide.

Captain Aldrich’s strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, and leadership opened new opportunities within the Sheriff’s Office. He served as a field training officer and was promoted to Sergeant in 2006, where he supervised a jail shift and managed the corrections field training program.

In 2010, Captain Aldrich attended the Basic Patrol Academy and obtained his patrol certification before returning to corrections. In 2013, he was selected as the Jail’s Administrative Sergeant, further preparing him for future leadership roles. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2017 and assumed the role of Jail Commander in 2018. In November 2020, he was promoted to Captain of the Corrections Bureau.

For more than 25 years, Captain Aldrich has dedicated his career to serving the residents of Jackson County and strengthening the criminal justice system in the valley.

 

The Josephine Community Library invites children ages 5 to 10 to participate in the 2026 Library Young Writers and Illustrators Contest.

Participants are asked to create a short story and illustration inspired by the prompt, “One day, I planted a magical seed and….” Completed entries must be submitted in person by Saturday, January 17th, at any Josephine Community Library branch.

Contest prompts and submission forms are available at all four branches in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek. Families may also access materials through ParentSquare for elementary students in Grants Pass School District 7 and Three Rivers School District.

All submitted stories and artwork will be displayed during the 2026 Summer Reading Program as part of a community art and writing show at each of the library’s four branches. Up to 15 entries will be selected for publication as part of the 2026 Community Storybook Walk.

For more information about the Library Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, the Storybook Walk, or the 2026 Summer Reading Program, visit josephinelibrary.org.

 

Rob Pell was elected President of the City Council for the calendar year 2026 on a 4 to 3 vote. Rick Riker was voted in as vice-president. The Grants Pass City Council approved an ordinance amending the city’s development code. The amendment allows new residential developments with alley-facing garages to reduce the front setback to a minimum of 10 feet, reducing the minimum of 20 feet. The amendment was passed with the goal of encouraging developers to build more housing units. A second ordinance was passed amending the municipal code to better address public safety risks associated with open flames and flammable materials in parks and exclusion orders. The amendment effectively clarifies the definitions of flammable material and cooking devices, allow the seizure and destruction of flammable materials and devices plus allow officers to designate a first offense a violation and the City Attorney to designate any

 

With the 30-day timeline now expired, a temporary board will fill the vacant Commissioner position. During an afternoon Administration Workshop, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks told the Board of Commissioners that when schedules with the other elected officials lined up, he recommended a meeting of the temporary board, without the Commissioners inclusion. Commissioner Chris Barnett had given Hicks a memorandum, and argued there was a quorum present, notwithstanding a commissioner's recusal. He said a recusal doesn't eliminate quorum nor divest the remaining commissioner of any authority. Commissioner Ron Smith disagreed, arguing there isn't anything to strip him of his discretionary rights, and that there's no point in having an elected official if they don't have said rights. Hicks said, regarding the vacancy filling, the safest route to take would be when the second vacancy occurs.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a trespassing complaint at Safeway Tuesday morning.

An employee of the 115 SE 7th Street grocery store reported a suspect that has been trespassed before was back on the premises begging for change. He wasn't being aggressive but appeared to be under the influence.

The employee wished to pursue a trespass charge. Officers were then able to locate the suspect in the alley behind the nearby G Street Bar and Grill. The man was identified as James Hall, and he admitted to being on the Safeway property.

Hall was taken into custody by officers for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. His parole officer was notified, which led to a detainer being requested. Officers then lodged Hall in the Josephine County Jail.

 

An employee of the 1200 NW 6th Street Dollar Tree reported a shoplifter to dispatch.

Around 6:20 p.m. yesterday, the suspect was reportedly talking to herself while putting about $13 worth of food items from the store into her pockets. She proceeded to bypass all points of sale and left the store. The employee wished to pursue theft and trespass charges if the woman was caught.

Grants Pass Police officers were able to locate and contact the suspect at First Interstate Bank at 1304 NW 6th Street. She was identified as Brittany Adams and found to have a warrant out for her arrest, but she insisted her name was "Hope Adams", even after being informed of her warrant.

Officers confirmed her identity and warrant for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. Adams was taken into custody, transported, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant, Third Degree Theft, and Providing False Information to Police. She was trespassed from the Dollar Tree.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a report of a man smoking meth inside his vehicle Tuesday evening.

Around 5:42 p.m., the suspect was reportedly on 10th Street near the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley at 203 SE 9th Street. An employee of the location told dispatch the man was possibly smoking meth inside his red pickup truck.

Officers arrived and contacted Sergio Trujillo at the scene. He denied using methamphetamine but consented to a search of his person and truck. A clear glass pipe with a white residue was located between the driver and passenger seat cushions.

The residue field tested presumptive positive for meth, after which Trujillo admitted to being a "meth addict". Officers lodged him in the Josephine County Jail on a Parole Violation Detainer and a charge of Meth Possession.

 

A traffic accident occurred on Holland Loop Road at Caves Highway in Cave Junction early this morning.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to the reported incident at 1:08 a.m.

Upon arrival, units discovered a single-vehicle collision, with the vehicle having left the roadway and impacted a group of mailboxes. A thorough search of the area confirmed that no occupants were present at the scene.

The vehicle was subsequently marked for identification, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was informed for removal.