Local News

In two cases early this morning, Grants Pass Police officers apprehended suspects on warrants out for their arrest.

Officers contacted Steven Juergensen at Resting Site 6 on 704 NW 6th Street. He was found to have three separate warrants.

Juergensen was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrants: two for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and one for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

While en-route to the jail with Juergensen, officers spotted another suspect who was known to have a warrant on the corner of NE E Street and NE 8th Street.

Upon contact, Christian Gardner was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine.

 

The Grants Pass Grocery Outlet is hosting their Stuff the Truck event supporting the Josephine County Food Bank this weekend. On Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 350 NE Agness Avenue, everyone is encouraged to stop by and pick up some extra, non-perishable items while grocery shopping to support the Food Bank. You can also purchase a pre-priced "grab and go" bag of food at the front of the store. Stop by the Food Bank booth to see how your support helps fight hunger here in our community. Learn about their mission, volunteer opportunities, and their other programs that help make a difference for those struggling with food insecurity.

 

Thanks to increased containment on the Kelsey Peak Fire, Bureau of Land Management closures will be opened. The BLM Grants Pass Field Office will lift the closure order on BLM Road 32-9-14.2 and the BLM-administered section of the Rogue River Trail from Horseshoe Bend to Marial today. Official assessments determined the road and trail closures are no longer needed. Firefighters continue operations on the Kelsey Peak Fire and are still using portions of BLM Road 32-9-14.2. Additionally, they are using the Grave Creek to Marial Backcountry Byway and the Cow Creek Scenic Byway. People using those routes are cautioned to drive slowly, watch out for firefighting equipment, and drive with headlights on. The BLM Medford District remains in high fire danger.

 

A nationwide pharmaceutical company settlement will pay Josephine County in the coming years. During the Commissioners weekly meeting today, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks presented to the board that a proposed settlement had been reached nationwide with Purdue Pharma. Over the next 15 years, around $1.08 million will go to Josephine County in 16 payments starting next year. These are in addition to amounts available from the Purdue Estate. Overtime these settlements have already accumulated in Josephine County receipt accounts to about $2.3 million. Of that, $484k has been allocated. A projected $3.4 million is still to be paid out overtime. A motion to opt into the proposed settlement with Purdue Pharma and approve the proposed Purdue bankruptcy plan was made. It carried 3-0. During the meeting, Commissioner Blech brought up the Library lease saying there are drafts that need further review. He said to look to next week for further discussion of the Lease on the agenda.

 

Firefighters engaged on the Kelsey Peak Fire are continuing to finish mop-up operations and repairs, bringing the fire to 97% containment. Incident Management Team 1 has been assigned to the fire since September 8, and after 12 days, will be completing their final shift today. Despite steep terrain, dense brush, hazardous trees and rolling debris, firefighters were able to quickly build a control line around this fire and hold it at a final size of 1,039 acres during this timeframe. A Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notice from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office remains in effect for Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and Marial.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a resting site sign yesterday afternoon.

Officers noticed Resting Site 6 on 704 NW 6th Street was missing its rule sign from the fence. After observing security footage, they identified David Wilson as the culprit.

He had taken the sign to his tent, and upon contact, the sign was recovered. Wilson was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Mischief and Third Degree Theft.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a disturbance involving an intoxicated woman yesterday.

Officers arrived at 885 Robertson Bridge Road Wednesday afternoon where they contacted the suspect. She was highly intoxicated and had subjected a 16-year-old to unwanted physical contact by taking her to the ground by her hair.

The woman was detained and charged with Physical Harassment. After being cleared by Three Rivers Medical Center, she was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force worked with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) to execute several search warrants. The operation resulted in two arrests connected to an ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse material being traded online. Preliminary findings indicate more than a thousand images and videos were exchanged over social media platforms. The warrants, carried out in Jackson County, targeted individuals suspected of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first and second degree. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, which will undergo forensic analysis, and the evidence will be referred to prosecutors for review.

 

Grants Pass Firefighters will receive a raise and three local organizations will receive $5,000 dollar grants to promote tourism. City Firefighters will get a raise on January first of next year after the City Council passed a resolution to enter a salary adjustment with the local Union. The current labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3564 permitted a wage opener for wages for January 1st. Management entered negotiations that began on May 7th and, following two meetings, the City and the Union reached a tentative agreement for a wage increase for all positions of 4%. The cost for fiscal year 2026 as compared to the prior year’s salary is approximately $107,251 including all benefits and taxes. This number does not include the six additional positions the Council recently authorized on September 3rd.