Local News

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 380 jobs in September.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, the largest increase was estimated in local government education, which added 500 jobs. Manufacturing also gained 60 jobs over the month. Industries posting job losses in September were leisure and hospitality (-120); retail trade (-30); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20).

Over the past year payroll employment in Grants Pass rose by 190 jobs, a gain of 0.7%. Private education and health services had the largest gain, increasing by 300 jobs. Job growth was also estimated in professional and business services (+90), and other services (+30). Job declines were estimated in leisure and hospitality (-70); retail trade (-50); financial activities (-40); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-40).

Government employment fell by 70 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-40), state government (-20), and federal government (-20) over the year.

Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 6.9% in September, little changed over the month and a slight dip from the September 2025 rate of 7.3%.

 

All five Ranger Districts on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are planning prescribed fire projects for this fall. According to the U.S. Forest Service, officials estimate this work may continue into winter, as conditions allow. Highly qualified prescribed fire specialists use prescribed fires to help reduce excess vegetation, improve wildlife habitat, enhance watershed health, and restore fire-adapted ecosystems. Prescribed understory and pile burning is planned in the following areas, and additional locations may be added later. Areas include the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District, Applegate Valley, Ashland Watershed, Wild Rivers Ranger District, Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts, as well as the High Cascades Ranger District. No closures are expected with this planned prescribed fire activity. However, visitors should remain alert and watch for firefighters working in these areas. Smoke may impact visibility along roadways. While smoke may be visible, the Forest Service works closely with air quality specialists and closely monitors smoke during prescribed fires.

 

Officers observed and arrested a woman wanted on a warrant out of the Grants Pass Police Department late Monday.

Units located Brittany Demars near the 305 SE G Street Jiffy Lube around 8:46 p.m. She was known to have an active and serviceable warrant charging her with Larceny, and was stopped.

Officers advised her she was not free to leave, and quickly took her into constructive custody. Her identity and warrant were confirmed, and police released her with a citation to appear in court.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man found trespassing in the downtown exclusion zone.

The suspect, Ronald Spears, was again contacted downtown in the Grasshopper parking lot at 201 NW F Street. He had no lawful reason to be there, and was in violation of two previous exclusion orders.

Officers took Spears into custody at the scene, transported him to the Josephine County Jail for lodging on a Second Degree Trespass charge, and issued him a 180-Day Downtown Exclusion Order. His property was logged for safekeeping.

 

Firefighters are continuing to build on suppression efforts at the West Fork Evans Creek Fire, increasing containment to 48% this morning. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, with established firelines holding well around the 283-acre fire, crews are working toward extending mop-up operations 150 feet into the burned area. Following Monday's progress, firefighters are concentrating on locating and extinguishing remaining areas of heat while continuing to address hazardous trees and difficult terrain. Today's resources include 15 20-person hand crews, one eight-person hand crew, seven Type 6 engines, 10 water tenders and one dozer, supported by task force leaders, heavy equipment bosses, falling resources and additional overhead personnel. Drier conditions are expected today, with temperatures reaching the mid-70s and relative humidity dropping into the mid-20% range. No structures have been lost as a result of the fire, and none are threatened at this time.

 

A traffic accident dispatched emergency crews Monday afternoon to the 200 block of S Redwood Highway in Cave Junction.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the rear-end collision earlier around 1:51 p.m.

Upon arrival, both vehicles involved in the accident were located in the parking lot. One individual from the impacted vehicle was transported by AMR as a precautionary measure.

The Sheriff’s Office assumed responsibility for the investigation.

 

As containment increases on the West Fork Evans Creek Fire to 45%, suppression operations are being adjusted to reflect the changing needs of the 283-acre incident. The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District reports crews completed mop-up approximately 100 feet into the burned area around the entire perimeter. Monday's suppression efforts focused on addressing remaining heat and removing hazards that could interfere with operations. Last night's resources included six 20-person hand crews, six Type 6 engines and five water tenders, supported by three task force leaders, two heavy equipment bosses and two heavy equipment boss trainees. No structures have been lost as a result of the fire, and none are threatened at this time. The cause of the fire is not immediately apparent, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to determine how the fire started.

 

After an Executive Session Monday where counsel was consulted concerning the legal rights and duties regarding current or likely to be filed litigation, Grants Pass City Council met to discuss Fee Schedule Revisions, City Manager evaluation, and Invocation Policy and Procedures. City staff had recommended revisions for the Comprehensive Fee Schedule, including Owl Plaza rates, the cost for background checks, and restructuring of shelter charges. Annual changes are put into effect January 1st, based on the average monthly Consumer Price Index - Urban from November to October. Council agreed to increase the $7 Non-Resident Fee to $10, and implement changes made yesterday with CPI-U adjustments for January 1st. A discussion then took place for the City Manager evaluation process. The current and alternative methods were considered, with the desired outcome including fair and candid discussion, clear council expectations, constructive feedback, and future growth. A motion to adopt the new form including quarterlies, with work to be done on a 2027 360 review, the requirement that all council members fill out an evaluation form in advance, and that the mayor facilitate was discussed. November 4th will be the adoption, with the evaluation scheduled for November 18th.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman wanted on an out-of-county warrant early Sunday morning.

A woman was reported in the 2900 block of Merlin Road around 2:33 a.m. She was screaming and hollering, and was contacted by arriving deputies by 2:45 a.m. It was determined the suspect, Sherryl Parliament, was wanted out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for Driving Under the Influence of Meth.

Deputies cited her to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court November 18th, then released her.