Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department received a report of stolen gold from a local resident through a scam. Because of the value, the case was turned over to the Grants Pass Police Major Crimes Unit. Through a lengthy and complex investigation, Jing Chen, a 35-year-old male from California, was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Theft. Jail logs show he was later released per a court order. The loss to the victim is more than $200,000 in gold. The investigation is still active. No further information will be provided at this time. Police are reminding citizens to be cautious when receiving suspicious phone calls, texts, or emails. It is important to take additional steps to verify the messages' contents before responding or taking action. Should you receive a fraudulent message, please report it to Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260.

 

The Josephine County Commissioners convened their weekly business session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening to hear requests and comments from citizens in lieu of the absence of any action items on the agenda.

Commissioner's heard a proposal for a non-sanctuary resolution in conjunction with Douglas County. Three other citizens, including Grants Pass City Councilor Kathleen Krohn, supported the non-sanctuary resolution. Commissioner Gary Richardson did say he would support some form of letter of intent, knowing it would have no impact on state law.

Opposition was also proposed to strip mining. Commissioners were also encouraged to protect Roadless areas. Commissioner Richardson stated a representative of Cave Junction and himself would be meeting with the Department of environmental quality to discuss protection of the area and the Illinois River. The commissioner continued with the information that roads would allow the cleanup of forest wood waste that can be made into ethanol to be used for jet fuel.

Commissioner Colene Martin stated she would support the state of Oregon being a non-sanctuary state, but that the Commissioners have no power to enforce a non-sanctuary status. Commissioner Ron Smith stated the Sheriff told him the resolution would be posturing.

The consent calendar was passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.

 

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is giving away free wildlife forage seed to Southwest Oregon area landowners Thursday, September 24th.

The seed is free to the public thanks to donations from the Rogue Valley, Curry, Josephine, and State-level Chapters of the Oregon Hunters Association, matched with federal funds granted to ODFW through the Pittman-Robertson Act’s Wildlife Restoration Program.

Interested landowners are eligible for two 15-pound bags of seed which can cover at least one acre of habitat. Seed bags are available first-come, first serve, and can be picked up beginning at 7 a.m. from these locations:

- Denman Wildlife Area ODFW Office, 1495 East Gregory Road, in Central Point.
- Rogue Valley Secure Storage, 3591 Highland Avenue, in Grants Pass.
- ODFW Gold Beach Field Office, 29907 Airport Drive, in Gold Beach .

The forage mix is not suitable for healthy habitats such as woodlands and grasslands dominated by native species and should not be planted on public lands. There will be a small giveaway of a native grass/wildflower seed mixture. Instructions for suitable locations and how to sow seeds will also be available.

 

Grants Pass Police cited two individuals Tuesday and this morning. One for a theft warrant, and the other for suspended driving.

Tuesday around 10:58 a.m., officers observed the first suspect, Lori Cole, walking south on Redwood Highway near E Park Street. She was contacted and found to have a valid warrant for her arrest out of the Police Department.

She was wanted for Theft in the Second Degree, and was taken into constructive custody without incident at the scene. Officers later released Cole and issued her a citation to appear in court for the charge.

The next day at 1:42 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a pickup near NE 7th Street and the Exit 58 on ramp. The driver, identified as Anthony Brown, was stopped for an observed traffic violation. His Oregon driver's license was found to be revoked at the misdemeanor level, and he was not driving for an emergent reason.

Brown was taken into constructive custody, issued a citation to appear in court for Driving While Suspended, and released.

 

Dispatch was alerted to a fight between two men that resulted in knife wounds to the victim, and the suspect's arrest. Tuesday at 7:28 p.m., a call to 911 reported the altercation at Jubilee Park, in which the victim's face was cut by the suspect with a knife. The suspect left the scene towards the woods, despite being told to remain. The victim also left, and was later contacted at the corner of Old Stage Road and Caves Highway by arriving deputies. American Medical Response was dispatched to transport the victim to an area hospital for minor face abrasions. Deputies then contacted the suspect and took him into custody. He was transported by law enforcement to Three Rivers Medical Center, then lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for Second Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Strangulation.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office lodged a man wanted on three warrants Tuesday.

The suspect was detained at 9:13 a.m. in the 100 block of S Redwood Highway. He was observed while driving and reportedly turned quickly to avoid the deputy. The vehicle had expired tags, and the suspect was later seen walking away after parking.

The deputy recognized him as Luke Mulligan, and knew he was driving while suspended. Upon contact with the deputy, Mulligan admitted to being in possession of methamphetamine. He was promptly taken into custody and transported to jail.

Mulligan was not only lodged for Driving While Suspended and Meth Possession, but for three warrants. Two from the Sheriff's Office, and one out of the Grants Pass Police Department. Charges against him included First Degree Theft, Driving While Suspended, and Identity Theft.

A search of his vehicle was conducted. Items located inside were returned to family of Mulligan, and the deputy arranged for the vehicle's removal.

 

Rogue Community College has been awarded two grants totaling $150,000 from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop short-term, stackable credentials in healthcare and electric vehicle safety.

According to a release, the accelerated programs will prepare students for immediate employment while creating pathways to advanced certificates and degrees.

Each $75,000 award supports the development of programs designed in partnership with regional employers and workforce organizations. Curriculum development, equipment purchases, faculty preparation and institutional approvals will take place during the 2026-27 academic year, with the new credentials scheduled to launch in September 2027.

One grant will support the redesign of three existing programs in dental assisting, emergency medical services and medical assisting. The second grant will support development of a new electric vehicle safety credential that will stack into RCC’s quick lube training and broader Transportation Technology pathways.

Both initiatives will incorporate the Oregon Employability Skills identified by regional employers as essential to workplace success, including adaptability, communication, collaboration, digital literacy and safety-focused problem-solving.

Development activities will be completed by June 30th, 2027, with the first students expected to begin the new programs in fall 2027.

 

Rogue Community College is now scheduling appointments for fall term at its Dental Hygiene Clinic, where RCC students can receive services for free, and members of the public can access affordable preventive dental care and treatment.

Fall term runs from September 28th to December 11th. Located at RCC’s Table Rock Campus in White City, the Dental Hygiene Clinic gives dental hygiene and dental assisting students hands-on experience while providing accessible care to the community. Services are provided under the supervision of licensed dental professionals.

RCC students can receive clinic services at no charge. Community members can access a variety of low-cost services, including dental screenings and assessment appointments at no charge, full-mouth X-rays for $30, sealants for $5 per tooth and fluoride treatments for $10.

Free dental X-rays may also be available to qualified participants. Patients must not have had a full-mouth X-ray within the past three years.

Services are available by appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the RCC Dental Hygiene Clinic at 541-955-7577 or email dentalinfo@roguecc.edu. To learn more about the clinic’s services, visit www.roguecc.edu/clinic.

 

Drivers should expect weekday traffic delays south of Canyonville starting Monday, September 14th, as workers remove several dozen fire-damaged trees along Interstate 5.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, tree-cutting operations are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Monday through Friday until the end of September.

Rolling slowdowns will be used in both directions of I-5, affecting southbound traffic from milepost 103 to 95 (Tri City to Canyon Creek) and northbound traffic from milepost 87 to 95 (Azalea to Canyon Creek).

During a rolling slowdown, pilot cars hold traffic to a slow but steady pace to give crews time to cut down trees. This allows the crews to work safely while avoiding lengthy road closures. Emergency vehicles are allowed to pass through, as needed.

Flaggers will briefly hold traffic at several southbound on-ramps, including Exits 103, 102, 101, 99, 98, and Exit 95. Only one northbound on-ramp, Exit 88, will be affected. Most delays will be less than 20 minutes.

Message boards will be placed ahead of the work zone in both directions. Drivers should watch for traffic control devices, workers and construction vehicles, and debris in the roadway.

The trees were damaged by the Milepost 97 Complex Fire in 2019 and many are at risk of falling into the I-5 travel lanes.