Local News

During Wednesday's workshop, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners discussed terms for executed county contracts and payments.

Commissioner Andreas Blech said in the past when the board has entered into a contract agreement, they are required to pay and bring the invoice to an admin meeting, then sometimes to a Weekly Business Session for public comment.

Commissioner Blech said moving forward, so there wouldn't be any miscommunication, if the terms required payment on a certain date, obligations would be met in an admin meeting and it wouldn't be taken to a Business Session.

He said it was by no means to make it so the public doesn't know what's going on, but he saw no point in bringing it to the public since the board was already committed to the contract terms.

Other board business included approving an Anne G. Basker Auditorium rental application, and further discussion of county properties not being utilized, with potential for auctioning them off.

The board approved the Sheriff's Office request to move forward with the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program Grant Application to help 18 schools in the district. Community Development Department office hour changes were approved as well.

Human Resources Personnel requisitions and actions were approved, along with a Public Works invoice and the Airports QT Petroleum on Demand LLC contract renewal and invoice.

The Transit Department requested approval for a software renewal, transportation agreement amendment, JCT coordinated public transit plan, Urban Solar proposals for tablets at the HUB station and solar lights for ten bus stops, plus an Optibus Interactive Map Service Agreement showing all stops and buses in real time on their website. The board approved each item 3-0.

 

The Board of County Commissioners discussed Bureau of Labor and Industry case mediation during Wednesday's workshop. During the Legal Counsel Update, the board needed to make a decision on either to go through with mediation in each of the three cases, or decline. In these cases, the state through BOLI offers mediation options to the parties. The board agreed not to dissipate. For the Patrick Timothy Cross v. Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel Case, the board was told the case was litigated by the county previously. Circuit court ruled in favor of the Sheriff, and the case is now moving through the appeals process. The board agreed to settle and dismiss without objection. A board order in the matter of amending an administrative policy regarding preapproval by the board during public meetings for contracts was moved to the Weekly Business Session, and the board approved directing staff to proceed with the investigation of an alleged violation of personnel policy.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a man sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl Tuesday night in a truck parked on the side of Hillcrest Road in Medford. JCSO deputies and Medford Police Department officers responded at 11:54 p.m. and located the suspect’s truck driving away at a high rate of speed on McAndrews Road. JCSO and MPD stopped the vehicle and arrested the suspect, Juan Jose Ramos-Arguella, 22, of Central Point. Ramos-Arguella was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and unlawful delivery of a marijuana item. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Upon further investigation, JCSO deputies learned the suspect met the victim on Snapchat. The investigation is ongoing, and there is no further information available for release at this time.

 

A man turned himself in to Grants Pass Police officers for an out of county warrant Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect, Jeremy Krull, at around 4:47 p.m., entered Grants Pass Police Department Headquarters at 726 NE 7th Street. He turned himself in after being advised to do so by his attorney earlier that afternoon.

Krull had a warrant out of Douglas County for five counts of First Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse. Officers proceeded to take him into custody and lodge him in the Josephine County Jail on his warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police officers contacted and arrested a suspect caught trespassing Tuesday night.

The suspect was reported at 7:02 p.m. to be on private property in the 600 block of NE 8th Street. He was slumped over in front of the laundry room. The caller told dispatch they wanted the man removed and trespassed.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Steven Juergensen. He admitted to possessing drugs and consented to a search of his person. Officers found in his possession a substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Juergensen was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth and a Parole Violation.

 

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.