Local News

The Board of County Commissioners discussed a 90-Day Airport Lease Modernization Program, and will proceed with pursuing an Airport Relief Grant Program.

After re-appointing Jean Ann Miles and Mark Jones to the Josephine Housing and Community Development Council, the board considered a Critical Oregon Airport Relief Grant Program in the amount of $150,000. An application is due by Friday the 30th, and pursuit of the grant was approved without objection.

The board's review for Fiscal Year 2026-27 will be refined, then presented next week. The goal for these department reviews is to provide consistency across departments and help the budget process.

Lastly, a request that the board direct the Department of Airports to implement the 90-Day Airport Lease Modernization Program was discussed. No decision was made on the program, but an adjusted lease plan will be brought back to the board in two weeks.

 

The 911 Dispatch Center was notified Monday at 5:07 p.m. of a motor vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality in Murphy. Rural Metro Fire, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police, and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to find a pickup truck rolled off an embankment and the driver had been ejected. The driver Brent Smith, 54, was deceased upon arrival and was the only occupant in the vehicle. The initial investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling towards Spencer Creek on a gravel BLM road. The vehicle left the roadway, and went down an embankment, striking several trees, before coming to rest on its side nearly 500 feet down from the roadway. Josephine County Search & Rescue's Rope Team was activated and successfully recovered Brent. Next of kin has been notified. No further information will be released at this time.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of new patrol vehicles for the Sheriff's Department and an amendment to a Department of Justice Grant Award at the start of today's workshop.

The grant award, with just over $325,000 from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and over $122,000 from the Criminal Fine Account (CFA), was amended to continue for a second year in support of victim assistance following a 3-0 motion from the board.

Sheriff Dave Daniel requested the purchase of five 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles with upfitting for five new deputy positions. Approval was unanimous, and the approximate total of $418,000 would be paid for through the Sheriff's Equipment Reserve Fund.

Further discussion was postponed for new portable patrol radios, but five in-car radios have been approved for purchase. The board then moved in favor of reducing the Fund 26 Animal Control Budget contingency to increase personnel and vehicle expense. The cost is covered by the contingency balance within the fund.

Approval to pay $1,762 in 2027 County Membership Dues was granted unanimously, and the board moved 3-0 in favor of the Tree Planting Contract with Rogue River Forestry LLC for the planting of approximately 173,500 seedlings.

All Human Resources Position Requisitions and Personnel Actions were approved, and the board convened in executive session to discuss real properties in relation to the Flying Lark sale.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District is officially declaring an end to the 2026 fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties, effective Wednesday, October 28th, at 12:01 a.m. Recent rainfall, cooler temperatures and a shift toward consistent fall weather have allowed all fire season regulations and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to be lifted. Since fire season was declared on May 15, ODF firefighters have responded to 210 fires across Jackson and Josephine counties, totaling approximately 17,220 acres burned. Crews successfully kept 95% of fires at 10 acres or less, just below ODF's annual goal of 98%. The termination of fire season removes ODF's seasonal fire prevention regulations on equipment use and debris burning for the public and industrial operations on protected forestlands. However, industrial slash burning remains prohibited. Before burning, residents should check with their local fire department for permit requirements and confirm that burning is allowed in their area. Residents can check daily burning conditions through their county's burn information line:
- Jackson County Burn Line: (541) 776-7007
- Josephine County Burn Line: (541) 476-9663

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies apprehended a trespass suspect wanted on a warrant after he set up a tent on the reporting party's property.

Dispatch received a call Monday at 8:44 a.m. stating the suspect had arrived at a home in the 100 block of Wild Raspberry Circle Sunday night, saying he was waiting for a ride. That morning, the suspect had reportedly put up a tent on the property.

Deputies arrived and contacted the suspect, Neyland Oliver. It was determined he had an active warrant for his arrest for Resisting Arrest, Third Degree Escape, Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree. He was detained, and the warrant was confirmed.

Oliver was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail, before being conditionally released at 3:31 p.m.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department lodged a woman walking on railroad tracks for an active warrant.

Monday at 3:54 p.m., Bobbi Jo Langdon was located walking on the tracks behind Si Casa Express. She had a warrant out of the police department charging her with Possession of Fentanyl, so she was taken into custody at the scene.

Officers arrested Langdon after confirming her warrant, and proceeded to lodge her in the Adult Jail Facility at 4:17 p.m.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman found with drug paraphernalia outside Walgreens last night.

Shani Fedosky was contacted after being observed with a tooter in open view around 10:48 p.m. outside the 111 Union Avenue store. Following field testing, the tooter yielded a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. The officer confirmed items surrounding Fedosky were all her belongings, and took her into custody.

She was transported to the Josephine County Jail for lodging on a charge of Meth Possession, as well as a detainer per her parole officer.

 

Ray’s Food Place and Shop Smart are inviting shoppers to help fight hunger close to home through the Stuff the Truck program.

According to a release, the company-wide food drive begins tomorrow (October 28th), and will run through December 24th at all locations. This year’s goal is to collect more than 6,500 pre-packaged bags of food for local food banks in Oregon and Northern California.

Each bag costs $25 and contains approximately $36 worth of food. All food donations stay in the local community, with each store partnering with a local food bank or community organization.

The public can purchase a pre-filled donation bag at any Ray’s Food Place or Shop Smart location and place it in the designated collection area, or purchase donation bags online at www.stuffthetruck.gives.

Some of the participating cities and their respective organizations include:
- Cave Junction, Merlin, and Selma - Josephine County Food Bank
- Central Point - Salvation Army
- Eagle Point - St. Vincent de Paul
- Gold Hill - Gold Hill Food Bank
- Jacksonville - Food for Friends: Table Rock Fellowship Pantry
- Rogue River - Rogue River Community Center

 

The Mt. Ashland Association (MAA) and the Southern Oregon Ski Education Foundation (SOSEF) announced the development of two new youth ski racing programs for the upcoming 2026-27 winter season.

According to a release, the organizations are working to ensure that young athletes throughout Southern Oregon continue to have opportunities to develop their skiing abilities, build confidence, and participate in alpine ski racing at Mt. Ashland.

Following the announcement that the Mt. Ashland Racing Association (MARA) would not operate its youth ski racing program for the upcoming season, the MAA and SOSEF began working together to develop a solution for the families and athletes affected by the program's absence.

The MAA will introduce a new nine-week Race Development Program designed for intermediate to advanced skiers ages 7 through 10 to develop their foundational skills necessary for alpine ski racing. SOSEF is expanding its offerings to include a new Junior Ski Racing Program for students in 5th through 8th grade.

Enrollment for both programs is limited, and families are encouraged to register early. Learn more at www.mtashland.com/lessons, or www.sosefskier.com.