Local News

An employee of Abby's Legendary Pizza reported two people were actively using drugs outside the restaurant.

On Thursday at 10:29 p.m. the employee, while viewing the suspects remotely inside the closed 250 NE Beacon Drive business, called 911 to report the male and female suspects outside.

The employee said the male kept switching his clothes, and that the two of them unloaded their cart all over the place. A request was made to have the suspects removed and trespassed.

Grants Pass Police arrived and contacted the two suspects. Both were trespassed from the scene. One of the suspects, Esther Huston, was found to be wanted on a warrant charging her with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.

Officers took Huston into custody. She was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man wanted on two warrants Thursday.

At 12:18 p.m., deputies arrived at a property in the 27000 block of Redwood Highway and detained the suspect, Michael Bellah. He was reportedly extremely hostile to responders at the scene.

Deputies took Bellah into custody. He had two warrants out for his arrest. His Sheriff's Office warrant charged him with Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. An Oregon State Parole Board warrant against Bellah charged him with Felony Parole Violation.

Both warrants were confirmed, and Bellah was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Rogue River School District 35 Board of Directors announced the selection of Dr. April L. Harrison as the district’s next superintendent, effective July 1, 2026.

Dr. Harrison brings more than 23 years of experience in public education and a deep connection to the Rogue River community. She previously served the district for ten years as Director of Special Programs and Student Services.

Throughout her career, Dr. Harrison has served as a special education teacher, professor, and district-level administrator. The Board of Directors expressed confidence in Dr. Harrison’s ability to lead the district forward while honoring its strong community roots.

Upon beginning her service in July, Dr. Harrison will implement a 120-day “Leading, Listening, and Learning” entry plan. This plan will focus on strengthening relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners, supporting and empowering staff, and aligning district systems to improve student outcomes.

The Board of Directors looks forward to a collaborative transition process and invites the community to join in welcoming Dr. Harrison back to Rogue River School District 35.

 

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers will decide between 5 applicants for the vacant Commissioner seats. During their special meeting, the board chose five applicants out of 37 potentials. In a release from Human Resources, the applicants are Colene Martin, Lorna Jessee, Gary Richardson, Kirk Brust, and Simon Hare. Interviews for the five will be held Wednesday the 18th starting at 9 a.m., with each interview lasting one hour. The board will send potential questions to the Human Resources department by 9 a.m. this Friday. A meeting will then be held Tuesday the 17th at 9 a.m. to finalize the questions and determine the order of interviews. Before noon that same day, the five applicants will be emailed the questions. The public will be welcome to attend the interviews which will conclude at 3 p.m. on the 18th. Overflow seating will be available in a separate room with a television broadcasting the interviews. The public can also stream the interviews at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Human Resources will conduct background checks. The temporary board will then convene on the 19th at 9 a.m. for a final discussion on the interviewees. The board chair will follow up with the chosen applicants.

 

A woman threatening to shoot people was arrested by Grants Pass Police Wednesday.

At 1:37 p.m., the suspect was reported to be lying on the ground at the corner of NW 6th Street and NW C Street. She was yelling threats and talking to herself, until she got up and began pacing back and forth while heading eastbound on C Street.

Dispatch was notified the woman was possibly intoxicated. Officers were able to locate her in the alley between 5th and 6th Streets, and C and D Streets. The suspect, identified as Cierra Powers, had already been warned twice that same day for disorderly conduct.

While being contacted by officers, Powers continued to make similar statements, and it was clear her threats created public alarm. Officers took her into custody, then transported her to the Josephine County Jail. Powers was lodged for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct.

 

A man trespassing at Quality Mattress was arrested by GP Police on a meth charge.

Wednesday at 9:38 p.m., the owner of the 111 E Park Street store called dispatch while viewing security camera footage remotely. The suspect was viewed actively doing drugs on the front porch under the covered awning.

The owner requested the suspect be removed and trespassed from the property. Grants Pass Police officers arrived at the scene and contacted Michael Carrero. He was warned for trespassing, and while he was gathering his belongings, he attempted to hide a glass bubble pipe with white residue.

Officers noticed the pipe, and conducted a field test. The residue field tested positive for Methamphetamine, so officers took Carrero into custody. He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth.

 

Grants Pass Police officers were accidently notified of a possible crash at 12:10 this morning.

The caller on the line reportedly sounded under the influence. She refused to give her name and location, and didn't want anyone to check on her. She then told dispatch she was going to abandon her car.

Officers were able to track the woman down near the property in the 400 block of SE H Street. She was contacted and identified as Cynthia Martinez-Sandoval. Officers deemed her too impaired to care for herself, so she was taken into custody for public intoxication.

Martinez-Sandoval resisted though, refusing commands and pulling and pushing away from officers. While they attempted to put her seatbelt on in the patrol vehicle, Martinez-Sandoval tried to get out. She placed her foot against the door to keep it open, but officers were able to secure the seatbelt.

Officers transported Martinez-Sandoval to the Josephine County Jail rather than the Sobering Center where she was lodged for Disorderly Conduct.

 

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is hiring seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season and is encouraging local residents to apply.

The Forest Service is recruiting for a variety of entry-level roles, including recreation and trail and facility maintenance, as well as active resource management, with roles in botany, timber, and wildlife biology. These positions are in addition to seasonal fire hire events, already underway.

Bringing on seasonal employees will help improve trails, campgrounds and facilities for safer, reliable and enjoyable recreation experiences for all. Along with mission critical work, these seasonal employees will help accomplish the mission of maintaining recreation sites across the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

For more information about careers with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and the Forest Service, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies were alerted to a trespassing complaint at a property in the 2300 block of Hugo Road in Merlin.

A call came in to dispatch at 6:03 a.m. The caller reported seeing a man on the property via a ring camera. The call was disconnected, but dispatch was able to contact the woman, who then said she was alone while the man was walking around outside.

The suspect was described as having a tan hoodie with a black beanie hat. The woman said there was another tenant in a studio apartment on the property as well, but she hadn't contacted them yet.

At one point she said the suspect may have gone behind to garage where there's access to the studio. Deputies soon arrived and contacted the suspect, Jesse Johnson. He was trespassed from the property, and it was learned he had mail from not only the 2300 block property, but a property in the 1800 block of Hugo Road as well.

Deputies took Johnson into custody for Second Degree Criminal Trespass, Unlawful Entry into a Vehicle, Mail Theft, and a Post-Prison Supervision Sanction. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.