Local News

A woman was taken into custody for shoplifting at the Grange Co-Op, and further investigation by Grants Pass Police led to arrest of a man for a weapon possession charge.

Loss prevention from the 1710 Schutzwohl Lane store had taken the woman into custody for depriving the business of approximately $30 worth of merchandise. She was cooperative, and was identified as Breanna Owens-Smith around 3:14 p.m.

Charges for Theft and possibly Trespass were requested, and officers responded to the scene. Upon arrival, probable cause was found for Felon in Possession of a Firearm against a man named Edgar Ortiz. He was taken into custody, and Owens-Smith was transported by American Medical Response to a hospital for a sudden health incident.

Officers transported Ortiz to jail where he was lodged on his weapon charge.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he caused over $500 in damage to a mobile home Monday morning.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident by the owner of the mobile home in the 1200 block of Rogue River Highway. It was stated a man was sleeping inside around 9:20 a.m., and that there was damage to the skirt of the mobile home inside the storage unit.

The suspect was described as wearing a brown jacket with black pants and brown shoes. The caller told dispatch the suspect would be prevented from leaving until law enforcement arrived.

Officers were able to located and contact the suspect, Keith Nutting, at the scene. He was placed under arrest for Second Degree Criminal Mischief for recklessly causing property damage. Police assisted Nutting to his feet, as he was displaying multiple signs of impairment, and empty alcohol containers were located at the scene.

He was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on his charge.

 

Homeowners who have struggled to make mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic may still be eligible for assistance, but the last chance to apply is coming up.

According to Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), because program funds are running low, they will close the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program to new applications at 8 a.m. June 15th.

Applications are processed in the order they are completed, meaning OHCS has received all required information from both the homeowner and servicer. Applicants are not guaranteed to be funded even if they are eligible. 

In February, OHCS reopened HAF to support eligible homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners must have a primary mortgage with a participating mortgage servicing company that is 90 days or more past due in order to be eligible for assistance.

Eligible homeowners can qualify for up to $50,000 in grant funds, regardless of whether they’ve previously received HAF payments. Payments will be made directly to their servicer to reinstate their mortgage. Homeowners can learn more about eligibility criteria and application requirements at oregonhomeownerassistance.org.

 

A traffic accident occurred yesterday at 3:36 p.m. in Kerby, leading to emergency crew's response.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the reported rollover accident in the 23,000 block of the Redwood Highway.

The patient successfully extricated himself and his dog from the vehicle. A Josephine County Animal Control Officer was also on scene to provide assistance. The vehicle was towed from the scene, and the incident was subsequently handed over to the Sheriff's Department for investigation.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners met to discuss the Southern Oregon Sanitation Franchise Sale this afternoon. At the start of the 1 p.m. meeting in the BCC Conference Room, Commissioner Ron Smith clarified the board had no knowledge of the sale prior to the meeting. It was stated the owners have decided to move on, with the intention of keeping things local. The sale to Waste Connections, with a slated date of August 1st, will include all stock and equipment, and the transfer of franchise agreements. All local managers and staff will remain, and current rates will not change. The same yearly rate process and transparency will be practiced. The board will wait on a resolution from Legal Counsel, then the meeting adjourned. Tuesday afternoon, the board will meet at 1:30 p.m. to consider department business. Property Management will present a monthly update about County Department relocations, and Human Resources will bring requisitions and actions to the board.

 

Mt. Ashland's Windsor and Ariel Chairlifts will be replaced, with construction planned to begin in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

Mt. Ashland Association first launched the Chairlift Replacement Campaign in 2025, but the organization was unable to secure the funding necessary to complete the first installation during the summer of 2026. The organization aims to raise just over $1.87 million before May 2027 to fund the remaining costs associated with the Windsor replacement, while continuing fundraising efforts to support Ariel’s replacement the following year.

Both lifts remain safe and operational for the 2026-27 winter season, but routine inspections have confirmed that a critical component of Windsor Chairlift has reached the end of its service life. Necessary repairs reportedly could exceed seven figures.

The Karen & Sid DeBoer Foundation has pledged a $500,000 matching contribution toward the campaign, providing the community with an opportunity to double the impact of donations made toward the project.

While the original lifts will continue operating until replacements are installed, the new chairlifts will significantly improve the mountain experience by reducing lift lines, improving reliability and operational efficiency, increasing weather resilience, and providing more consistent access to terrain for guests of all abilities.

The upgraded lifts will also be more energy-efficient and better equipped to withstand high winds and winter weather conditions.

To learn more or make a contribution, visit www.mtashland.com.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman wanted on five warrants following a search.

A call to 911 reported a woman's mother was on a property in the 3,000 block of Campus View Drive Sunday at 8:14 p.m. The caller stated her mother was walking on the property and requested a response from law enforcement.

The suspect took off from the scene on foot, but soon texted her daughter saying she was on Helgeson Lane. Deputies attempted to locate the suspect, and soon tracked her down at the corner of Demaray Drive and Sand Creek Road.

She was taken into custody around 9:04 p.m. Deputies knew the suspect was wanted on five warrants out of the Sheriff's Office for charges including First Degree Criminal Trespass, three counts of Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver.

The suspect was additionally charged by deputies with two more counts of Second Degree Trespass, and transported to jail for lodging.

 

A woman was arrested by Grants Pass Police after she attempted to steal merchandise from Fred Meyer.

Loss prevention from the 1101 Grants Pass Parkway store reported to dispatch at 10:04 a.m. Sunday that a shoplifter had been detained. She refused to identify herself, but she was described as having dark hair, thin build, and wearing a white tank top with blue jeans.

She had concealed almost $170 worth of merchandise and passed all points of sale without paying. Loss prevention wished to pursue charges of theft and trespass.

Arriving officers identified the suspect as Kelsie Bare, and she admitted to stealing the merchandise. A consent search revealed a glass pipe on her person that field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, and she was taken into custody.

Bare was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility on charges of Second Degree Theft and Possession of Meth. Due to a lack of jail resources, however, she was released.

 

A man caught urinating on a property management building was taken into custody by Grants Pass Police officers Sunday afternoon.

The suspect was observed via security camera footage urinating on the Rogue Valley Property Management building at 131 NE B Street at 12:18 p.m. Dispatch was then notified that the suspect proceeded to pass out on the front patio of the business, surrounded by beer cans.

According to the reporting party, there was a trespass letter on file for the suspect. Despite telling him to leave, the suspect refused and remained at the entrance. Officers contacted the suspect, identified as Thomas Ehens, who again refused to vacate the premises.

He was taken into custody for a charge of Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and transported to the Josephine County Jail. He was momentarily lodged, but later medically released per jail administration.