Local News

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.

 

Jackson County experienced the second highest numbers of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in over two decades.

Public health officials are encouraging people to ensure they and their families are up to date on vaccinations and to use other strategies to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

According to the press release from Jackson County Health and Human Services, pertussis often goes undiagnosed. The illness is tricky to diagnose because not everyone with pertussis will have the trademark “whooping" sound when coughing.

In 2025, 63 pertussis cases were reported to Jackson County Public Health. Among reported cases, 65% occurred among school-aged children and adolescents ages 5 to 19, and 19% occurred among children ages 1 to 4.

Vaccination status data indicate that 13% of reported cases were up to date on pertussis vaccination, 24% were undervaccinated, and 63% of the cases were not vaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. As of December 27, 2025, a total of 1,541 pertussis cases were reported in Oregon, and one infant died earlier in 2025.

Jackson County Public Health recognizes pertussis activity may be concerning for families, particularly those with young children, and encourages families to review vaccination records and contact a healthcare provider if they have questions about pertussis vaccination or symptoms.

 

The Eagle Point Police Department served a search warrant in the 400 block of Crystal Drive following a two-year investigation into allegations of animal neglect and animal abuse at the residence, as well as numerous City Ordinance violations. On Tuesday, officers attempted to serve the warrant, but the resident was uncooperative. After negotiations, the resident, identified as Jana Tepper, exited the residence and was detained. A second male occupant then refused to leave the residence. Due to the large number of dogs believed to be inside, officers attempted to remove the occupants without entering the home. When the male occupant continued to refuse to exit, officers entered and safely escorted him outside. Officers from the Eagle Point Police Department, along with Jackson County Animal Control, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Mental Health, and Rogue Valley Emergency Veterinary Hospital, began processing the scene. Investigators estimated that more than 30 dogs were living inside the residence.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved a request for a hearing to review fees associated with the fair, and did not approve the consent calendar during the Weekly Business Session.

The hearing will take place January 28th, and the fees will not go into effect until March 1st. The matter of Rescheduling the Regular Weekly Business Session Meeting of the Board for 2026 was tabled.

While Commissioner Chris Barnett made a motion to approve the consent calendar, Commissioner Ron Smith said he would make a motion to approve the calendar provided the record was amended to show he wasn't absent, but had recused himself from the appointment meetings. Neither motion was seconded.

A motion to approve the Annexation to the Josephine County Community Library District by Petition of Landowner without Election passed, and comments from the public included 2 Guys 1 Truck, meetings per the county code, fairground fees, consideration of pre-teens, and a writ of certiorari.

Before the session adjourned, Barnett told the audience to remain civil, and acknowledged the importance of public service and community engagement in Josephine County.

An Administration Workshop including a Legal Counsel Update on County Circuit Court Cases, and Board Business in the matter of Interviews and Appointments for the vacant Commissioner Position will begin at 1 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room.

 

Applications are now being accepted for four positions on the Budget Committee.

The City of Grants Pass Budget Committee receives and reviews the Recommended Budget and approves a Budget for Council’s consideration.

Half of the City of Grants Pass Budget Committee members are elected officials, and half are applicants from the community at large. The committee representation welcomes divergent views of the community.

Applicants must be residents and electors of the City of Grants Pass to qualify for the positions.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. January 23rd.

Candidates will be interviewed by the City Council on February 2nd, who will then make appointments at the City Council meeting on February 4th.

 

Josephine County Commissioner Chris Barnett has been recalled. The results by 10:30 p.m. election night showed 61.86% voted yes for the recall with 38.14% dissenting. The total numbers as of the latest update were yes 13,350 to the no votes 8,230. The total numbers were similar to the recall results last year of John West. More votes from outlying precincts plus mailed ballots with the correct postmark will be tallied with the results updated by 5 p.m. January 14th. Should contested ballots be needed, that count will be released by 5 p.m. January 23rd. Certified results will be released no later than February 2nd, but no sooner than January 28th.

 

The Board of Commissioners met for their first workshop of the year at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. When designating the Chair and Vice-Chair for the New Year, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks said if no agreement is made, the longest serving member shall be chair. If members are tied for longest continued period of service, the member whose surname comes first in the alphabet would become chair. Commissioner Ron Smith claimed Commissioner Chris Barnett and former Commissioner Andreas Blech "blindsided" him and took the chair from him in a previous meeting. There was an impasse, so Barnett said they would designate Smith as Vice-Chair and him as Chair, per the function of the code requirement. Since the 30-day deadline to appoint a new Commissioner was missed, Counsel will have a discussion with the board tomorrow afternoon at the 1 p.m. workshop. During an update from the Airports Department, Smith asked about the $3 million line of credit and its usage. $1.2 million from the credit was used for the first Knife River balance. Knife River also provided fill from their I-5 project for the Taxiway 'A' extension project coming this summer.