Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man this week for stealing a cell phone from an artist hired by the city to paint a mural near a downtown parking lot. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at the Owl Parking Lot near the corner of SW 5th and H streets early Tuesday. Police said the artist had her phone stolen from the top of her car while she was filming herself painting the new owl mural. Officers were able to track the phone to Kesterson Park where they located 44-year-old Donn Reeves Fincher. He gave back the phone, but was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe. According to the report, Fincher was reported to be accessing numerous vehicles throughout the morning but no callers reported anything stolen. More property that he admitted was not his was found, but he would not say where he took it from. Fincher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft, Meth Possession and the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and Meth Possession. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

A Josephine County Community Corrections client apparently forgot to check the contents of his pockets before meeting with his probation officer this week. Grants Pass police officers arrested 55-year-old Michael Lewis Swift late Tuesday afternoon at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street. Police said Swift arrived at the office to meet with his corrections officer and -- during a consent search -- he was found with three small baggies containing a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. According to the report, the narcotics and baggies weighed in at four grams before they were seized for destruction. Swift was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take care of some real property matters during its weekly business session this morning. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will first consider an order authorizing the sale of county-owned real property by a Sheriff's Sale. Next up are orders authorizing the sale of two properties that were not sold during the November 2024 auction. One is a land sale contract for 153 Krauss Lane and the other is a quitclaim deed for 151 Finch Road. Also on the agenda is a recommendation to award a contract for the runway extension project at the Grants Pass Airport. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when residents are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night approved the negotiated settlement and mutual release agreement to resolve the Disability Rights of Oregon versus City of Grants Pass lawsuit. Once filed in US District Court, the settlement will lift the injunction that currently allows homeless people to reside in city parks. The City's portion of attorney fees is $60,000. Once all the paperwork is done, the City will once again be able to enforce the "no camping" rules in all city parks. The City Council approved the 2025 through 2029 5-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2025 Annual Action Plan. Approving the plan makes the city eligible to receive Community Development Block Grants funds. Funding for the 2025 program year is $351,555, with 20% of it allotted for administration and 15% for public services. At least 70% will benefit low-income residents. The Weatherization and Rehabilitation Program receives the most of these funds. Other recipients include St. Vincent de Paul, the Maslow Project, Hearts with a Mission, the Boys and Girls Club, United Community Action Network and several other organizations. The Council also approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Western Testing, LLC. Following the cancellation of the BRIC grant program by FEMA, this will allow a simplification of the intake design for the new water treatment plant. Tests by an independent agency are required.

 

The Grants Pass City Council -- acting as the Urban Renewal Agency -- approved a resolution awarding a building rehabilitation and restoration grant to the Oregon Center for Creative Learning. The action authorizes the payment of a matching grant in the amount of up to 25% of the total qualifying private project costs not to exceed $50,000 for a fire suppression system for the building at 110 SW 4th Street. The Oregon Center for Creative Learning acquired the former Dutch Bros headquarters to support the expansion of their services into Grants Pass, offering creative play, quality learning and family activities at the new Ivy Preschool regardless of socioeconomic level. A second grant was then approved authorizing a matching grant of up to 25% of the total qualifying costs not to exceed $94,522 for a property at 2249 NE Spalding Avenue to support the expansion of the wholesale distribution company, Magazine Exchange. The project will initially serve a nearly 50,000 square-foot facility and will have the capacity to develop two other industrial facilities. The total award is $144,522 to enhance public infrastructure.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate youth entrepreneurship at its sweetest on Saturday afternoon during "Lemonade Day." The highly anticipated annual event -- which runs from noon to 3 p.m. -- features more than 65 lemonade stands operated by nearly 250 local kids, all launching their own small businesses for a day filled with creativity, confidence and community support. Over the past several weeks, these young entrepreneurs have been hard at work developing business plans, creating marketing strategies, designing stand concepts and testing recipes. With the support of local mentors, families and volunteers, these kids are now ready to open for business and bring their visions to life. As you visit these stands, the Chamber encourages you to vote for the People's Choice Award by texting the KLDR "Leader Line" that will be posted at each stand.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take care of some real property matters during its weekly business session on Thursday. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will first consider an order authorizing the sale of county-owned real property by a Sheriff's Sale. Next up are orders authorizing the sale of two properties that were not sold during the November 2024 auction. One is a land sale contract for 153 Krauss Lane and the other is a quitclaim deed for 151 Finch Road. Also on the agenda is a recommendation to award a contract for the runway extension project at the Grants Pass Airport. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when residents are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Tomorrow's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for stealing just over $15 worth of items from the downtown Safeway at knifepoint yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old Kenneth Daniel Reynolds for the incident at the supermarket on SE 7th Street at 12:35 p.m. on Tuesday. Police said Reynolds stole $15.27 worth of merchandise by concealing the items on his person and bypassing all points of sale without paying. They said he was confronted by loss prevention and he brandished a knife to threaten an employee. The worker told officers they were in fear of being stabbed during the incident, which was captured on video surveillance. Reynolds fled the scene, but he was located in the Grasshopper parking lot and placed into custody with assistance from K-9 "Kick" after he tried to run away. Reynolds was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, 2nd-Degree Robbery and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail. His personal belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Medford man for weapon and drug crimes last night following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. OSP reports troopers pulled over a BMW driven by 43-year-old Matthew Roy Barbosa near milepost 29 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday around 7 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Barbosa for traffic violations and they immediately identified him as a well-known participant in unlawful activities such as stolen vehicles and controlled substances. He was found to be in possession of a knife, several grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. All were seized and placed into evidence. Barbosa was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail. The BMW was released to a family member. According to OSP, a female passenger later identified as 42-year-old Natassia Ann Berger of O'Brien was wanted on local warrants -- but she left the scene before she could be placed into custody.