Local News

Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded almost $379,000 in grants to 31 organizations throughout the state.

The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation and access, research, oral history, exhibits, and performance projects. Award amounts ranged $1,656 to $20,000.

Two of the funded projects include Eagle Point's Friends of the Library's digitizing of the Upper Rogue Eagle Point Independent newspaper, and the Medford Southern Oregon Historical Society's effort to make over 6,000 glass plate negatives of photographer Peter Britt available online.

This competitive grant program is for qualifying organizations, and is offered once per biennium for projects that conserve, develop or interpret Oregon’s heritage.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department is reminding the public of the importance of closed doors during house fires.

In a statement on the Rural Metro Fire - Josephine County Facebook page, they said a closed door limits air movement through a home, slowing the spread of flame, heat and smoke.

In a fire situation when seconds count, especially when you are asleep, every action can be the difference between life and death for you, your family, and your pets.

Rural Metro says that if sleeping with a closed door makes you uncomfortable, be sure to have an adequate number of "working" smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout your home.

They also encourage everyone to seriously consider closing all interior doors when you are away from home. A fire when you are gone can be held from getting bigger while waiting for it to be reported and firefighters to arrive.

 

Thursday's Weekly Business Session will include a public hearing in the matter of Library Annexations by petition of landowners without election. Two more public hearings will follow. One being the second reading of an ordinance amending the county code text regarding marijuana businesses, and the other, an ordinance repealing a chapter of the county code relating to marijuana business regulations. The board will then cover administrative actions concerning the 2025-26 VOCA and CFA Non-Competitive Grant, and Fee Changes and Schedules for the BCC, Surveyor, Public Works, Recreation, Animal Shelter, and Public Health. Following Requests and Comments from citizens, the board will approve the consent calendar, and pending other matters, the meeting will adjourn. Thursday's Weekly Business Session will begin at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, 600 NW 6th Street, and will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov. All attendees must comply with the clear bag policy.

 

Southern Oregon University's Small Business Development Center in Medford will close at the end of December after 41 years of service.

The Daily Courier reports that, despite this closure, Rogue Community College's Small Business Development Center in Grants Pass will continue to operate. The centers have provided free advising and low-cost classes on topics like starting a business or selling a company.

RCC's center is, according to Coordinator of the RCC Center Veronica Lambert, expecting to see more Jackson County entrepreneurs using its services when SOU's center shuts down.

According to the university, SOU and the state government were unable to reach an agreement in a plan to maintain U.S. Small Business Administration funding for the center.

 

The Rogue Valley Young Marines Toys for Tots Drive is on in Josephine County. Community members have the opportunity, now through December 20th, to drop off new, unwrapped toys in local drop boxes to help support families and children throughout Josephine County. Toys for babies, toddlers, and teenagers are gladly accepted, and the giveaways are scheduled for Sunday, December 21st from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday, December 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Businesses can register now for a drop box, and you can learn more at www. josephinecounty.toysfortots.org.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trespassing at her ex-husband's and children's home Monday afternoon.

At 3:26 p.m., dispatch received a call from the children's babysitter at the house in the 1000 block of NE 10th Street. She said the previously trespassed mother was inside screaming at her kids.

The babysitter was in the backyard with her own child and told dispatch the mother hadn't been taking her meds and that this happens frequently.

The mother proceeded to threaten the children, then she locked herself in a bedroom. The babysitter was advised to get all the kids out to the front yard.

Officers arrived, located the mother, Dion Cleek, and transported her to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged for First Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

A woman sleeping in her vehicle was arrested at the local Safeway early this morning.

At 1:27 a.m., the night manager of the 1640 Williams Highway store notified dispatch that the suspect had passed out in her running vehicle. She had stopped in the lane of traffic in the parking lot and had been there for about a half hour.

Officers arrived and approached the driver's side window. A tooter was seen in plain view and a lighter was near the suspect.

After being asked to turn off the vehicle and step out, the suspect, Chante Jaworsky consented to a search of her vehicle. Officers identified other pieces of drug paraphernalia inside. The tooter tested positive for fentanyl.

Jaworsky was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Fentanyl Possession.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on a warrant Monday afternoon while he was picking up his vehicle from a towing business.

Officers contacted Charlie Jackson at 3:11 p.m. at Caveman Towing, 2100 NW Vine Street. He was known to have a secret indictment warrant for unlawful manufacture, delivery, and possession of cocaine.

Jackson was taken into custody and lodged on his warrant in the Josephine County Jail without incident.

 

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man sleeping on Asante property for drug and probation violation charges Monday morning.

At 8:42 a.m., officers contacted Steven Robison and a woman while the two of them were sleeping behind the building at 1550 NW 6th Street.

Robison had numerous drug paraphernalia items on his lap, one of them being a small folded piece of foil containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for meth.

Officers took Robison into custody and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth, and a Parole Violation Detainer.