Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow to unveil Oregon's first incinerator dedicated specifically to law enforcement use.

The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. at 620 Antelope Road in White City. The American-made equipment will provide JCSO and other law enforcement agencies with a safe, efficient way to destroy seized illegal drugs.

The new incinerator was made possible by a generous $275,000 donation from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, at no cost to Jackson County taxpayers.

 

The Salvation Army is inviting the Rogue Valley community to become part of the Volunteer Christmas Carnival Thursday, October 15th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 304 Beatty Street in Medford.

According to a release, the free event will feature carnival games, treats, prizes, and opportunities to discover volunteer options. Each holiday season, The Salvation Army mobilizes hundreds of helping hands throughout Jackson County.

Holiday efforts include providing Christmas gifts to children through Angel Tree, distributing holiday food assistance, and raising critical funds through the Red Kettle Campaign.

 

Oregon’s unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0% in September and 5.1% in August.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, the rate has held to a tight range between 5.0% and 5.3% for the past 19 months, since March 2025 when it was 5.0%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in September and 4.1% in August.

In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,800 jobs, following a revised gain of 2,600 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in construction (+2,000 jobs); health care and social assistance (+1,700); and leisure and hospitality (+1,300). Losses were largest in retail trade (-1,500 jobs).

In the past 12 months, payroll employment rose by 2,600 jobs, or 0.1%. Health care and social assistance continued its rapid growth during the past four years by adding 12,100 jobs, or 3.8%, in the past 12 months. Other services (+1,600 jobs, or 2.4%) and private education (+1,300, or 3.6%) were the other major industries that added the most jobs since September 2025. Manufacturing (-4,300 jobs, or -2.4%) cut the most jobs in that time, followed by government (-4,000 jobs, or -1.3%).

Construction employment drifted upward during April through August, then jumped higher by 2,000 jobs in September. In the past 12 months, each of the three component industries expanded: construction of buildings (+900 jobs); specialty trade contractors (+500); and heavy and civil engineering construction (+100).

Several industries rebounded over the most recent two months. Government added 1,300 jobs since July, following losses in prior months. Nonetheless, it has cut 4,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Manufacturing added 1,700 jobs since July, partially reversing steady declines during the past three years. Leisure and hospitality's September gain reversed losses in June and July.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man outside the Post Office, lodging him for methamphetamine possession and trespassing Tuesday.

James Hall was contacted by arriving officers at a concrete bench outside the 132 NW 6th Street building. He had been previously warned for trespassing at that location, and then attempted to leave behind a glass pipe with a white, crystalline residue inside.

Field tests determined there was the presumptive presence of meth in the pipe, and Hall was taken into custody. After contacting his parole officer, law enforcement transported Hall to the Josephine County Jail to be lodged for a detainer, and charges of Meth Possession and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

He was also issued a 30-Day Exclusion Order from the Downtown area.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man sitting outside Udders for possessing fentanyl.

The suspect, Michael Guidotti, was located by officers Tuesday around 12:05 p.m. He was sitting on the curb in front of the 1893 NE 7th Street business, slumped over, and had a lighter, burnt foil, and tutor below his lap.

Officers awakened Guidotti, who advised he had recently used fentanyl. His Jackson County Parole Officer was notified, and a detainer was placed on Guidotti. Police then arrested him for both the detainer and a charge of Fentanyl Possession.

A bike in Guidotti's possession was transported to the police department, where garbage items found in the area were also disposed of.

 

Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO 911) successfully completed the cutover and go-live of its new public safety radio system on October 6th. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the modern digital network is now fully operational, providing enhanced radio communications between the ECSO 911 dispatch center and law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel in the field. For clarity, the project upgrades the radio system used by dispatchers at ECSO 911 to communicate with first responders. It has no impact on the ability of citizens to call or text 911. ECSO 911 serves as the primary public safety answering point for all of Jackson County and Crater Lake National Park. The new system’s public safety radio coverage footprint includes Jackson County and parts of Josephine, Curry, Douglas, Klamath, and Siskiyou Counties.

 

The Board of Commissioners today moved to approve the denial of a non-farm dwelling appeal, and extended an application suspension for 90 days.

The workshop, beginning at 1:30 p.m. began with Findings of Fact and Decision regarding the appeal of a director's decision denying a non-farm dwelling on Lower River Road. The request for the dwelling was denied, and a motion approving the findings of fact and decision to deny the appeal passed 2-0, with Commissioner Colene Martin abstaining.

During Board Business, a board order in the matter of continuing the suspension of acceptance of applications was considered. Commissioner Ron Smith said he wanted to continue the suspension of accepting Mineral Exploration Permits and Mining Leases applications, or start the repeal process. The board decided on a 90 day continuation of the suspension. An ordinance will be drawn up by Legal Counsel, and a motion to amend the board order passed 3-0.

A letter to be sent to Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Mike Crapo, and James Risch, and Congressman Cliff Bentz in support of Continued Secure Rural Schools Funding was approved without objection, and the board approved the appointment of Daniel Wilson to the Property Value Appeals Board for a two-year term.

The Transit Department requested approval to sign an amended contract with BC Electronics, LLC for maintenance and installation of IT equipment on their vehicles. The extension of the term to December 31st, 2027 and an increased hourly rate from $100 to $125 was approved by the board 3-0. Also approved was the extension of a Square Labs Inc. invoice in the amount of an annual payment of $31,500, with funds included in the transit budget.

 

Fred Meyer loss prevention staff reported a theft suspect Monday at 3:38 p.m., leading to the man being cited by police.

Dispatch was informed the suspect was detained at the 1101 Grants Pass Parkway store by staff after bypassing all points of sale with no intention to pay for items he had stolen. He was being cooperative despite yelling, and the stolen merchandise worth almost $42 was recovered.

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department contacted the suspect, Gerard Hyatt, and arrested him. He was issued a criminal citation for Third Degree Theft, and trespassed from the property.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies lodged a woman following an incident at a property she had been trespassed from.

Dispatch was notified that the complainant had purchased a property in the 5,100 block of Williams Highway in a foreclosure, and she was disposing of things on the property. At the time of the call, 12:05 p.m., the previous owners were reportedly harassing the caller, and wouldn't leave her property.

A man was refusing to identify himself and leave the area, while the female suspect was in her vehicle parked outside of the gate on the property. Per the police report, she had been trespassed from the property in September.

No threats were made, and deputies arrived to trespass both suspects. Kary Miller was identified and taken into custody for Driving While Suspended and Second Degree Trespass. The vehicle was towed from the scene, and she was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility before being released due to a lack of resources.