Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trespassing Tuesday after she had been released from jail that same morning.

Dispatch was advised the suspect, Christina Nissen, was refusing to leave the caller's home around 7:25 p.m., despite being asked to vacate the premises 15 to 20 times. The caller requested Nissen be trespassed, and believed she was high at the time of the call.

Officers successfully contacted and arrested Nissen at the scene in the 500 block of SE J Street. She was taken to jail for lodging on a First Degree Trespass charge.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a report of items being scattered in a parking lot, leading to the arrest of an out-of-compliance sex offender.

Tuesday afternoon, a 911 caller reported individuals were removing items from a red Hatchback and gray SUV at the corner of NW Clarke Street and NW A Street. The items were being scattered, and the caller requested a police response at 5:53 p.m.

Officers arrived and contacted Orin Swearingen. He was found to be out-of-compliance for his sex offender registration, so he was taken into custody. He was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, but later released on his own recognizance.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a suspect for a parole violation detainer after observing him jay walking.

The officer saw the suspect, later identified as Nicholas Scarnechia attempt to cross the street near the Lucky Duck and Motel 6 Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. He was not within a crosswalk, and upon seeing the officer, Scarnechia entered the 1850 NW 6th Street restaurant's restroom.

Police waited for him, and upon contact, Scarnechia showed multiple indicators of stimulant impairment. The officer entered the bathroom to make sure nothing illegal was discarded, but Scarnechia advised he had drugs on him. After being read his rights, he admitted to using and having meth, cocaine, and what he said was DMT.

His parole officer was contacted, and per request, law enforcement took Scarnechia into custody for a detainer. He was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility, and charges for the drugs were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

 

Oregon’s unemployment rate was little changed at 5.1% in August and 5.2% in July.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, the rate has been within a tight range between 5% and 5.3% for the past 18 months, since March 2025. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in both July and August.

In August, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 800 jobs, following a revised loss of 1,800 jobs in July. August’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-1,100 jobs). Gains were largest in construction (+700 jobs) and retail trade (+500).

In the past 12 months, payroll employment dropped by 10,900 jobs, or 0.5%. Health care and social assistance continued its rapid growth of the past four years by adding 10,200 jobs, or 3.2%, in the past 12 months. Private education (+800, or 2.2%) and other services (+1,300 jobs, or 2.0%) were the only other major industries that added jobs since August 2025. Manufacturing (-6,800 jobs, or -3.8%) cut the most jobs in that time. Most of the other major industries cut jobs by less than 2%.

There were signs of stabilization over the past five months, as total nonfarm payroll employment inched upward by 1,800 jobs, or 0.1%. The gains since March were largest in health care and social assistance (+3,800 jobs); construction (+2,200); other services (+1,700); retail trade (+1,400); and private education (+1,400). These gains were partially offset by losses in manufacturing (-3,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-2,600); and government (-2,000).

 

The Board of Commissioners proclaimed the week of September 14th through the 18th as U.S. Constitution Week before entering a public hearing regarding annexations to the Illinois Valley Fire District during today's Weekly Business Session.

Both petitions were approved unanimously via motions, and following a hearing in the matter of setting fees charged by the County, the board moved 3-0 in approval. The public brought topics to the board including constitutional compliance and education, and after approval of the consent calendar, the meeting adjourned.

The board will meet tomorrow for a Legal Counsel Update in the BCC Conference Room at 10 a.m. An executive session will kick things off covering court cases, Dimmick Campus, a lease agreement, and a Confidential Memo regarding Rogue Workforce Partnership.

Following the session, the board will discuss an AMR Rate Increase, then adjourn pending other matters. Next week, the board will convene for a Continued Land Use Hearing Monday at 10 a.m., and appear on KAJO's Tuesday Talk Show at 9:30 a.m.

 

An economic impact study released last week by the Oregon Community College Association showed Rogue Community College providing a $325.6 million boost to the economies of Jackson and Josephine counties, or about 1.9% of the region’s total gross regional product.

The RCC analysis, published by Lightcast in April 2026, is based on the college’s 2023-24 academic, employee and financial data and examines RCC’s economic impact on Jackson and Josephine counties as well as its return on investment for students, taxpayers and society.

The largest share of RCC’s economic impact comes from alumni who enter the regional workforce with new knowledge and skills. RCC’s total impact also includes $45.3 million from college operations and $8.3 million from student spending. The combined impact was equal to approximately 1.9% of the gross regional product of Jackson and Josephine counties.

The study found that RCC’s activities supported jobs across a range of sectors, including healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, as well as professional, technical, and other services.

RCC contributes to the regional economy through its own operations. It also generated $40.9 million in present-value benefits for state and local taxpayers through increased tax revenue and public-sector savings.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved a grant supporting Continuum Behavioral Health and Recovery Strategies, The Grants Pass Sobering Center, and HIV Alliance through Opioid Settlement funds. During their 1:30 p.m. workshop, the board moved unanimously for over $140,000 in settlement funds be approved for Behavioral Health, over $44,000 for the Sobering Center, and almost $29,000 authorized for HIV Alliance. No cost will be incurred for the county. Information Technology gave an overview of their work with different departments, and provided a final draft of the Strategic Communication plan to the board. All position requisitions and actions from Human Resources were approved, as was the Stonefly Subdivision Plat Map. A motion to approve the Roadless Rule Comment letter be submitted to the federal government passed 3-0, and the meeting adjourned.

 

Three suspects were contacted, with one being cited after a 911 call reporting work being done on a vehicle in a parking lot.

The owner of the property, where multiple businesses are located, called 911 to report someone working on a car in the lot. He was reportedly not a patron of any of the area businesses, and he would leave the vehicle to get parts from Autozone.

The caller requested the suspect be contacted and trespassed. Upon arrival, a Grants Pass Police officer contacted three individuals at the scene. One of them was found to have a valid and serviceable warrant out of Linn County charging her with a Drug Offense.

She was issued a warrant citation and advised of her court date and time. All three suspects were trespassed from the parking lot area.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce is reminding the public that tickets are available for the 2026 Tap Walk.

The valley's premier walking beer tour, this popular event will take place Saturday, October 10th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Grants Pass. Breweries, restaurants, and food vendors will be inside different establishments, where participants can enjoy a stroll from business to business, enjoying brews and food while discovering new local gems.

The Chamber's mission with such events is to create opportunities for commerce, encouraging shopping, dining, and playing local. This is a 21 and older event, and tickets are priced at $50 Pre-Sale and $55 Day-Of.

Tickets are available now online at www.grantspasschamber.org or at the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce located at 1995 NW Vine St. This year, the event will feature 25 participating locations, including several new stops.