Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office announced via Facebook that all Three Rivers School District schools have initiated a closed campus Secure Mode procedure out of an abundance of precaution. During Secure Mode, all students and staff are secure inside the building. Entry onto campus is restricted, and regular activities inside the building continue as normal. The Sheriff's Office reports that while Secure Mode is in place, students are safe and under staff supervision. They are also telling the public to not come to the school or call. Staff are coordinating closely with authorities to reopen the campus as soon as possible.

 

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a woman after she threw a rock at another woman over reported on-going civil issues.

According to the police report, officers were just at the property in the 700 block of NW 5th Street. A woman reported she was gathering her items in a room when the suspect came in and threw a rock, striking the victim, leaving a red mark and a small amount of pain.

Officers were told the victim had filmed the incident, and upon arrival, they detained the suspect, identified as Camille Lattimer. She was taken into police custody for a charge of Harassment, and transported to the Josephine County Jail for lodging.

Lattimer's child was later picked up at the scene by his father.

 

The Board of Commissioners met for a brief Weekly Business Session this morning at 9 a.m., and will reconvene for a General Discussion this afternoon.

Commissioner Ron Smith, during the session, read a proclamation naming Sunday May 3rd, 2026, as Sanctity of Human Life and Respect for Life Day, lining up with the annual March for Life event this weekend.

Both Smith and Commissioner Colene Martin sought to clarify a recent incident involving two Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles. The consent calendar was approved, and the session adjourned.

This afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the board will meet in the BCC Conference Room for a discussion regarding the Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council. The meeting will be livestreamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is searching for a runaway teenager. A report was received by law enforcement Tuesday that Blaine Campbell, 13, left his home in the Merlin area on Thursday, April 23rd around 6 p.m. It is unknown what he is currently wearing but usually dresses in all black. Blaine is described as a white male, 5'7" tall, with brown hair, brown eyes, and weighing 100 pounds. If anyone has information on his whereabouts, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.

 

The Grants Pass Budget Committee met and gave tentative approval of the budget items discussed during their 6 p.m. meeting last night. To start the Tuesday meeting, the committee voted Terry Hopkins as Budget Chair, and Tom Bradbeer as Vice Chair. After the Budget Committee Ground Rules were adopted, City Manager Aaron Cubic presented the Budget message, starting with an overview of the Budget Process. Following yesterday's meeting, two more are scheduled for April 30th and May 5th for the proposal of the budget, followed by approval and adoption of the budget, with changes possible after the adoption. City Council will set policy direction and define levels of service for programs and services, while the committee will ensure the budget allocates resources accordingly. Additions to the 2027 budget include six police and six fire positions, with minor staffing adjustments. The total Fiscal Year 2027 budget was presented to be $297,247,088, with part of the increase over last year's budget coming from the Water Treatment Plant. Next years proposed operating budget is $61.9 million. Potential challenges include city expansion, Caveman Pool, the Water Treatment Plant, health care costs, and continuing in the third year of the five year Public Safety Levy.

 

The Board of Commissioners gave staff direction to move forward with a job offer for the new Emergency Management Director Position, pending the results of further background investigations. Sheriff Dave Daniel told the board that a qualified candidate had been identified for the position, and staff was instructed to move forward without objection. The board then approved the refilling of a recently vacated Department Specialist position in the District Attorney's Office. It was unanimous to appoint Trent Carpenter to the Fair Board. The Commissioners then tabled a JB Steel Change Order pending Legal Counsel review, and directed staff to apply for a 60 day extension on an Oregon Department of Aviation Planning Grant. The board continued by approving 3-0 a Rogue Community College Student and Staff Pass Program Agreement with Josephine Community Transit, as well as a FleetNet Digital Radio Annual Service Agreement. Both incur no cost from the county, and the Service agreement covering 39 handheld radio units.

 

Oregon State Police are attempting to locate a woman suspected of littering on Bureau of Land Management property.

Monday morning around 9:11, troopers encountered a large trash pile dumped at Griffin Park, 500 Griffin Road, during a routine Fish and Wildlife patrol. The trash spread around a radius of twenty five feet, and contained clothing, food waste, medications, and other hazardous materials to the Rogue River and nearby wildlife.

Troopers inspected the pile and found a used medication box with a name and address, pinpointing the suspect to a residence in Grants Pass. OSP responded to the listed location, only to find the residence unoccupied and up for sale.

The real estate agent was contacted, who then stated the suspect had been squatting at the location the previous week, and proceeded to leave the residence and stay at the local Motel 6.

Troopers were unable to get a room number for the suspect from hotel management, but the suspect's vehicle was unoccupied on the property. According to police logs, OSP is still attempting to make contact with the suspect for Depositing Trash within 100 Yards of Water.

 

The Grants Pass City Council and Josephine County Board of Commissioners met for a collaborative discussion at 11:04 this morning.

The meeting began with Council presenting a map showing marked city and county property quadrants. Mayor Clint Scherf wanted to continue the conversation on land swapping for joint ventures and development projects, with the potential end result of more housing in both Grants Pass and Cave Junction.

Another potential discussion topic involved the expansion of parking, with a multi-level parking structure as an option. School and park property expansion was brought up, as well as Dollar Mountain, and the city and county property managers coming together to find space for the Public Health, Facilities, and Community Development departments.

Collaboration between Grants Pass and Cave Junction was brought up, as well as the city and county coming together for a community center at a later date. The discussion continued regarding traffic and park surveys, as well as the country's 250th birthday celebration.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office lodged a man wanted on a criminal mischief and theft warrant following an incident between him and his neighbor's dog.

Dispatch was notified Monday around 12:24 p.m. by the neighbor that her dog had been stabbed. She was trying to take her dog to the vet when she called 911. She reported her dog had somehow escaped into the front yard of the property in the 100 block of South Sawyer Avenue.

The dog proceeded to bite the dog belonging to the suspect, later identified as Morgan Hansen. Dispatch was told Hansen tried to fight the dog off and reportedly stabbed it at the base of its rib cage. The reporting party said she knew her dog was at fault, and that she was concerned for Hansen's dog.

Deputies were soon dispatched to the location where they were able to locate Hansen. He brought out his dog, telling officers where it was bitten. Deputies determined the dog appeared healthy and wasn't suffering. They also identified Morgan as being wanted on a Sheriff's Office Misdemeanor warrant for Second Degree Criminal Mischief, and Theft in the Second Degree.

The warrant informed deputies to not cite and release Morgan, so he was transported to the Josephine County Jail after securing his dog inside his home. Morgan was lodged, and informed he could talk with a jail deputy if further assistance was needed for his dog.