Local News

Rural Metro firefighters were alerted by a walk-in report of a flue fire Monday at 8:53 p.m. in South Grants Pass.

The fire occurred in the 2600 block of Williams Hwy. Firefighters arrived and were able to initiate a cooling process of the rapid heat buildup inside the flue. It was confirmed no fire had extended into the structure.

The crew identified that excessive creosote buildup inside the flue contributed to the flare-up. Firefighters were prompted to give a safety reminder to those using wood heating devices, saying it's important to schedule regular flue maintenance and cleaning by licensed professionals.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two suspects over two days, one for Meth and Assault warrants, and the other for a charge of Meth Possession.

A report came in to dispatch Saturday around 1:37 p.m. about a woman looking to be passed out in her vehicle at the Walgreens Pharmacy Drive-Thru. The bluish-green sedan wasn't running at the time and there was no front license plate, and welfare check was requested.

An officer arrived and contacted Alyssa Bradbury. There was no visible paraphernalia but Mark Mislon was observed sleeping in the passenger seat. The officer found Mislon to have four active and serviceable warrants out for his arrest, so he was taken into custody without incident.

He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his Police Department warrants, three charging him with Meth Possession, and one for Fourth Degree Assault.

The next day, around 1:44 a.m., officers contacted the same bluish-green sedan for a possible overdose. A call to 911 reported the vehicle in the parking lot of Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, with the driver leaning out the window being unresponsive.

Tin foil was seen, and a welfare check was requested by the caller. Upon arrival, officers contacted Bradbury, who advised she was sleeping rather than overdosing. While she denied using any drugs, there was burnt aluminum foil with residue within her arms reach.

A glass pipe with white residue was located under a blanket that was on her person. After a positive field test, Bradbury was taken into custody. She was transported to the Josephine County Jail. Law enforcement believed she may have been hiding paraphernalia on her person, and she was lodged for Possession of Methamphetamine.

 

The Medford Police Department is installing photo enforcement traffic safety equipment at the intersection of Barnett Road and Highland Drive following an increase in crashes at the location.

According to crash data, the Barnett and Highland intersection has had a high number of reported collisions in recent years. The photo enforcement system is expected to become operational this month, pending final testing and calibration. March 16th is the tentative go-live date, but this is subject to change.

As with all new photo enforcement sites, a warning period will occur before citations are issued. The warning period is intended to give motorists time to adjust to the new equipment and encourage voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

When the Barnett and Highland system becomes operational, photo enforcement at Stewart Avenue and Barnett Road will be turned off. Traffic safety research and local experience show that photo enforcement often creates a “halo effect,” where improved driver behavior extends beyond the monitored intersection and contributes to safer conditions along nearby corridors.

While enforcement operations will be discontinued at Stewart and Barnett when Highland and Barnett become operational, the equipment will remain in place until completion of an anticipated Oregon Department of Transportation construction project at Barnett and Highland.

The program is intended to improve roadway safety and encourage drivers to follow traffic laws, helping make Medford’s streets safer for everyone.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man wanted on three warrants after contacting him outside Rogue Christian Academy.

The suspect was seen slumped over while standing up in front of the 1121 NE 7th Street school late Sunday night at 11:26. He was wearing a jacket with the hood tightened over his face.

He provided the officer with a false name, then walked off. The officer believed the suspect to be Sean Patrick Mitchell, who was wanted on three active and serviceable warrants.

Mitchell's identity was confirmed, after which he told law enforcement he didn't know he gave a fake name. Each of his warrants, all out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, charged him with Possession of Methamphetamine. Mitchell was taken into custody and lodged on his arrest warrants.

 

Oregon State Police troopers arrested two suspects wanted on outstanding warrants early in the weekend.

Friday at 6:34 p.m., Joseph Haag, 56, of Grants Pass, was contacted by troopers and found to be in violation of a protection order. His warrant was confirmed, and he was arrested.

Haag was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his bench warrant and Contempt of Court.

On Saturday around 6:51 a.m., troopers stopped a grey Nissan driven by Jose Rodriguez-Garcia, 28, of Medford, for speeding. It was discovered he was driving while suspended, and also had a warrant out of Jackson County.

Rodrigues-Garcia was subsequently arrested, then transported to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged on his warrant. The vehicle was picked up by the owner.

 

A woman smoking on Safeway property was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers Sunday.

The suspect, later identified as Ciera Lokken, was smoking out of a glass pipe near the 115 SE 7th Street grocery store at 1:30 p.m. The manager of Starbucks made the report to dispatch, and had attempted to get Lokken to leave, but she went inside the store instead.

The manager requested Lokken be trespassed, and officers responded. They contacted Lokken in the northwest corner of the store and took her into custody. It was confirmed she had an Oregon State Parole Board warrant charging her with a weapon offense.

Lokken was taken to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where she was lodged on her warrant. She was also trespassed from the Safeway.

 

$3.5 million have been secured in direct investments for Grants Pass and Josephine County. In a press release, it was stated the funding was included in a package of legislation passed, and that the funds will help support economic and community development in the city and county. $2 million are being invested for the Spalding Industrial Park wastewater infrastructure upgrade in support of future job creation and industrial development. $1 million will be invested for horse racing infrastructure like track maintenance and event support at the fairgrounds. Additional funding of $500,000 will support other fairground improvements.

 

A Land Use Hearing regarding an application requesting a designation and zoning change to 8980 Monument Drive resulted in unanimous approval from the Board of Commissioners. The existing zone at the property is Farm Resource land. Rose Butte LLC was the applicant, with Rhine Cross Group LLC representing, in a request to change the Comprehensive Plan designation from Farm to Residential. The application also included a zone change from Farm Resource to Rural Residential and goal exception. Rose Butte LLC applied for an application review for an amendment to the comprehensive plan, zone change, and goal exception back on April 25th, 2025. The application was deemed complete on August 6th. The Planning Commission then concluded that the evidence provided by the applicant did demonstrate the area as non-resource, making it suitable for the development of a residential area. There were no opponents to the application during the Hearing, and the board moved unanimously to approve and move forward with the process outlined in the application.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will meet for one of two County Administration Workshops Tuesday.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room, the board will hear from Legal Counsel about an Underground Right of Way Easement with T-Mobile regarding electric distribution and communication lines underground on 370 Bowhill Road.

Legal Counsel will continue with an Extension of a Franchise Agreement with Spectrum Pacific West, LLC, Federal Land Use Coordination Letters, a Conflict Waiver with D'Amore Law Firm, BOLI Case Numbers, and Public Comment on the BLM Western Oregon Timber Plan.

Other departments will present requests to the board like the Airport for an Illinois Valley Airport fueling system, the Information Technology department regarding web-based platforms for county meetings, and the Planning department with Williams Appeal Findings of Fact and Decision.

Following Personnel Requisitions and Actions from Human Resources, and Anne G. Basker Auditorium Rental Applications, the board will adjourn the meeting.

A second workshop is scheduled to take place in the BCC Conference Room at 10 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a 5:30 p.m. Weekly Business Session. All meetings can be attended in person, or streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.