Local News

At today's Weekly Business Session, the Commissioners moved to approve a board order completing the sale of county land at New Hope Road.

During the 9 a.m. meeting, a motion to approve a resolution for the Josephine County Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 did not pass due to the lack of a second.

Topics during public comment included a request for the Williams Community Forest Project to have a meeting with the board regarding the Pipe Fork Property, the repealing of the clear bag policy, the investigation into Michael Sellers, Emergency Management, the Media Policy, and public school concerns.

The consent calendar was approved, and the meeting adjourned after Commissioner Colene Martin highlighted Public Health's upcoming blood drive Monday, March 30th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

On Tuesday at 10:57 p.m., the 911 dispatch center was notified of a fatal vehicle crash on Three Pines Road near Monument Drive. Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrived and located a single vehicle. The driver, identified as Richard David Johnson, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation shows the vehicle was travelling towards Monument Drive and, for an unknown reason, veered off the roadway and struck a fence and a large tree. Three Pines Road was closed for approximately two and a half hours while deputies investigated the crash and had the vehicle removed from the scene. Next of kin has been notified.

 

On February 2, 2026, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office Human Identification Program confirmed that unidentified human remains found in Josephine County in 1978 were a match to Mark Smith, who had been missing since he was 19 years old.

On May 9, 1978, a logging crew discovered the partial remains near Williams, Oregon, in the area of Holcomb Peak. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the recovery site. Despite investigative efforts, the individual could not be identified.

The recovered remains were examined by a forensic pathologist and odontologist who believed the remains may have belonged to a female between the ages of 16 and 18. Then in 2020, the investigation was reinvigorated, and missing male profiles were searched for a match. Unfortunately, no matches were made.

In the same year, the medical examiner’s Human Identification Program partnered with DNA Labs International (DLI) to pursue forensic genetic genealogy identification services.

Through 2023 into 2024, the first genealogical leads were produced by DLI and forwarded to the Human Identification Program. The program collaborated with a Josephine County medicolegal death investigator who contacted the family of Mark to inquire about any missing relatives. They confirmed he had been missing since 1974.

On February 25, 2026, DLI confirmed the family reference samples and tooth were a sibling level match, identifying the remains as those of Mark Smith. No evidence has been found to suggest foul play; however, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death remains open.

 

The America 250 Oregon Commission is proud to announce the recipients of its third round of grant funding, with Jackson County as one of the recipients.

Nearly $60,000 are being awarded to 21 organizations across Oregon for projects and programs that commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

One recipient includes Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology in Baker, Grant, and Jackson Counties. The funds will support a series of free public programs and pop-up exhibits during SOULA’s summer field school, sharing archaeological research with rural communities through events, performances, and accessible interpretive materials.

In partnership with Oregon Heritage and the Oregon Historical Society, the commission is awarding these grants in addition to the previous two rounds of funding.

The Oregon 250 Grant Program was established to help organizations create inclusive, community-focused projects that highlight Oregon’s diverse histories, traditions, and cultures. These grant awards of up to $3,000 will support programs that align with the mission of America 250 Oregon and one or more of its seven guideposts.

A fourth funding cycle will open on Monday, April 13th, at 9 a.m., and will remain open until all funds are expended. A total of $60,000 in funding is available in this fourth and final cycle, with 50% dedicated to rural communities.

 

The Board of Commissioners moved to send a letter to Simon Hare regarding the 2025 Budget Officer Contract, citing breaches of said contract, then appointed Sheriff Dave Daniel as Interim Emergency Manager at today's workshop. Commencing at 1:30 p.m., the board began with Legal Counsel business, moving 2-1 to sign both Dimmick property documents as presented, with Commissioner Ron Smith dissenting. A decision to transfer 250 E Hanby Lane to Cave Junction was moved to the next Weekly Business Session. A motion passed 3-0 to send out the notice of termination for the 210 Tacoma rental agreement. The board agreed to approve the board order regarding the News Media Attendance Policy, and to have legal counsel move forward with drafting an Administrative Policy change without objection. Public Health presented their Health Assessment and Plan, with a contract needing approval with a business referred to as Exhibit A. Funds would be covered by the Modernization Grant. The board approved the contract, as well as Public Works' WECO invoice and amendment to a Wolf Creek Bridge agreement with ODOT.

 

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a woman wanted on two warrants early this morning.

At 3:58 a.m., law enforcement contacted Bobbie Jo Langdon, who was known to the officer by sight, at the Newman United Methodist Church. She was found to have two warrants out of the police department for her arrest.

Charges against Langdon included Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and Possession of Methamphetamine. After her warrants were cleared, the officer promptly took Langdon into custody and transported her to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility.

 

While traveling with no lights, a cyclist was arrested by Grants Pass Police on warrants and for providing false information.

At 7:57 p.m. Monday, officers stopped a man riding his bike against traffic and with no lights at the corner of NW 2nd Street and NW A Street. When contacted, the suspect's driver's license photo didn't match the name he provided officers.

He was ultimately identified as Brandon Lewis, and found to have two warrants out for his arrest: an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for First Degree Sodomy, and a Linn County Sheriff's Office warrant for Obstructing Police.

Lewis was taken into custody and lodged in jail for his warrants and a charge of Providing False Information to a Police Officer.

 

Law enforcement responded to a disturbance between two individuals Monday afternoon outside the Oregon State Police office.

One Grants Pass Police Department captain, two OSP lieutenants, and an OSP Fish and Wildlife Sergeant responded outside the 1463 NE 7th Street location to contact the suspects. One individual alleged the other, identified as Laurie Momney, took jewelry items belonging to them.

Momney denied the theft and pushed the other person during the argument. When asked for identification, Momney dropped a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine on the ground. She consented to a search of her property, and additional clear baggies plus a pink container were located, all with suspected meth inside.

Momney estimated the total amount at about 10 to 12 grams, and admitted to taking a larger bag and breaking it down into three smaller bags. The substance in the dropped baggie tested positive for meth.

Both suspects refused to press charges for the physical altercation, but Momney was arrested by Grants Pass Police. She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for the Possession, Manufacture, and Distribution of Meth, and a probation violation.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners met with City Council President Rob Pell and City Manager Aaron Cubic during their City and County Monthly Update meeting.

At 11 a.m., the group discussed how meetings like this have gone in the past, being opportunities for the two policy boards to discuss topics of mutual interest and look into group projects.

There were no agenda items for this first meeting, but later discussion points could include, as mentioned in the meeting, a property acquisition for Dollar Mountain, Emergency Management, Firewise, the Bikeways and Walkways Commission, and Dimmick property.

Economic development was mentioned as the main point of the collaboration, as well as being a potential starting point in rebuilding trust in local government.