Local News

Grants Pass Police detained a woman wanted on a trespass warrant following a welfare check.

Monday at 6:34, Jessica Knowlton was detained by officers at the corner of SE 8th Street and SE L Street. She was seen entering a vehicle in the area of the check, and a traffic stop was conducted. Officers found Knowlton was wanted on an active and serviceable warrant.

She was charged with Second Degree Trespass out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Following confirmation of her identity and warrant, she was transported to the Adult Jail Facility and lodged.

 

The Board of Commissioners and Grants Pass City Council met for their monthly update meeting to discuss public land parking, car camping, and a potential Youth Community Center.

The meeting began at 11 a.m. with a potential joint parking venture discussion. A rough estimate from Mayor Clint Scherf for the venture, with the potential opportunity to increase density, was a few million dollars. Council brought the topic to the board to see if there was interest in the community for such a venture, and will bring a parking study to the board for future discussion.

Car camping on the Urban Growth Boundary or on County property was discussed next, where a venture was proposed to potentially set aside land for parking and car camping, where Sheriff's deputies and Police Department units would have shared access.

Lastly, the mayor wanted further conversation to be considered by the board about a fairgrounds building being utilized as a fulltime community center, saying there was a lack of a community resource for the youth. Following a discussion about board and council planning departments, the meeting adjourned, with the three topics discussed today set to be continued during the next Monthly Update.

 

Rogue Community College has released its inaugural Annual Report to the Community, highlighting a year of record enrollment growth, improved student outcomes, expanded workforce programs and partnerships that are strengthening communities throughout Southern Oregon.

The 2025-26 report provides a look at RCC’s impact on students and the region while sharing the college’s priorities for the future. The report is available at roguecc.edu/about.

RCC served 10,247 students during 2025-26, including 7,851 credit students, as demand continued to grow for career and technical education, workforce training and transfer programs. The college has seen a 30% increase in combined graduation and transfer rates following investments in student success, and has expanded access to healthcare education in Josephine County with the renovation of the Redwood Campus E Building.

In April 2025, RCC became the only public college or university in Oregon to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s Opportunity College and University designation.

RCC’s partnerships with local school districts are creating opportunities for students to begin college before they graduate from high school through its Early College and dual enrollment partnerships with Grants Pass School District.

The RCC Foundation awarded $929,133 in scholarships to 320 students during 2025-26, with an average award of $3,000. The Foundation also made a $650,000 investment in RCC programs during the year. Along with plans for growth, the report highlights the launch of RCC’s redesigned website and refreshed brand identity.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 17-year-old driver Friday, September 18th, following a vehicle crash that killed his passenger and sparked the 15,000-acre East Evans Creek Fire. The 18-year-old male passenger in the involved 2002 Ford Ranger died July 18th at a local hospital from injuries sustained in the crash. The suspect, a 17-year-old male, is charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide, Reckless Driving, and Second-Degree Criminal mischief. Deputies lodged the suspect in the Jackson County Juvenile Detention facility. Friday, July 10th at 2:39 p.m., dispatch received a call for a rollover motor vehicle crash in the 18,000 block of East Evans Creek Road in rural Rogue River. An Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District Type 6 engine with a two-person crew was on patrol in the area and was on scene within approximately 30 seconds. The crew rendered aid, while simultaneously engaging in suppression efforts on the fire. They immediately ordered additional air and ground resources from ODF dispatch, initiating a full response to the incident. Within minutes the fire had spread to dry vegetation in the area leading to evacuation of nearby residences and eventually growing to more than 15,000 acres.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County was unchanged in August over the month and was estimated at 26,830.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, local government education had the largest estimated increase, up by 70 jobs in August. Private education and health services added 20 jobs as well. Job losses were posted in leisure and hospitality (-40), retail trade (-20), and financial activities (-20).

Government had a net gain of 50 jobs with the increase in local government education slightly offset by a loss of 10 jobs in both federal and non-education local government. Over the past year payroll employment in the Grants Pass fell by 70 jobs, a loss of 0.3%. Private education and health services had the largest gain, up by 360 jobs.

Job growth was also estimated in professional and business services (+80), and other services (+30). Job declines were estimated in leisure and hospitality (-220); financial activities (-60); retail trade (-50); manufacturing (-40); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-40); and construction (-20).

Government employment fell by 110 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-130), while state (-20) and federal government (-20) also lost jobs over the year. Non-education local government added 60 jobs since August 2025.

Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 7.0% in August, unchanged over the month and slightly below the August 2025 rate of 7.4%.

 

Containment on the Anderson Butte Road Fire has now reached 40% following another night of great progress by firefighters working to strengthen control lines and extinguish remaining heat. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the fire remains at 78 acres, with no spot fires or slopovers reported overnight as crews continue to hold it within its established perimeter. Firefighters have extended mop-up 50 to 75 feet inward from the perimeter, while snagging operations have now been completed 150 feet into the burned area around the entire fire. Crews will continue gridding for remaining heat and extinguishing hot spots as they work to increase containment. Steep slopes, dense vegetation and dead snags continue to present challenges. Resources assigned to the fire include four 20-person hand crews, one falling module, four Type 6 engines and seven water tenders. Aircraft are also available to support suppression efforts if needed. Temperatures are expected to be cooler today than the previous three days, providing even more favorable conditions for firefighters. The investigation into the official cause of the Anderson Butte Road Fire is ongoing.

 

Firefighters have reached 30% containment on the Anderson Butte Road Fire following another day of strong progress. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire remains at 78 acres, with hose now in place around 100% of the perimeter, and mop-up completed 15 to 20 feet into the burned area around the entire fire. Two small slopovers happened yesterday when fire crossed established control lines and began burning vegetation on the other side. Both were aggressively attacked by firefighters and are now 100% mopped up, with no change to the fire’s overall acreage. Steep terrain continues to challenge suppression efforts, particularly in areas of dense vegetation and dead snags characteristic of the Applegate area. Approximately one-third of the fire burned through grass, allowing crews to make quicker progress with mop-up operations. Hazardous snags have now been addressed around the entire perimeter, allowing firefighters to safely work farther into the burned area toward a goal of 100 feet of mop-up. Resources assigned to the night shift included four 20-person hand crews, one Type 6 engine and two water tenders. The investigation is ongoing for the official cause of the fire.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing woman. Tabatha Jones was last seen near Three Rivers Medical Center September 17th, 2026. Her direction of travel is unknown, however she had been staying in the Cave Junction area. It is unknown if she's with her vehicle, but she has a tan early 2000's Toyota Camry with the grill missing. Tabatha is described as a 47-year-old 5'8" Caucasian woman with brown hair, brown eyes, and weighing 150 pounds. She has a nose piercing and tattoos on her arm and neck. It is possible she has dyed her hair red. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123. Reference Case #26-25832.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched Saturday to a fight between approximately 10 reportedly intoxicated people, with one of them being arrested.

The caller reported the altercation around 10:50 p.m., saying men and women were throwing glass bottles and screaming at each other in a parking lot in the 300 block of S Junction Avenue. Some individuals entered a bus in the lot, while one entered a van on the property.

All of the suspects were in a gated area when law enforcement arrived. During the investigation, one individual, Steve Pendleton, kept interfering. He was detained and told he would be placed in the patrol vehicle. He resisted, and while deputies attempted to place him in a wrap, Pendleton spit on one of their foreheads.

The ten suspects were trespassed from the scene, and Pendleton was transported to and lodged in jail for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Harassment to a Police Officer, and Resisting Arrest.