Local News

The Jackson County Cultural Coalition has awarded $38,493 in grants to 24 local non-profit organizations for 2027 projects and activities that support and promote arts, heritage and humanities in Jackson County.

According to a release, the grant funding will underwrite projects that include concerts, theater productions, youth art education, historic preservation, and more. Many of these projects benefit local schools and students, augmenting their cultural offerings. All enrich the community and enhance the local economy.

The Jackson County Cultural Coalition is the local affiliate of the Oregon Cultural Trust, a statewide trust that raises and invests significant new funds in Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities. Funds for local grants are made possible by a Cultural Participation Grant from the Trust.

Taxpayers donating to a recognized local cultural organization and then making a matching donation to the Cultural Trust, up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for a couple filing jointly, can deduct the amount of their donation to the Trust from any taxes they owe the State. Oregon taxpayers still have until December 31st to make the donations that qualify for the Cultural Trust tax credit on their 2026 returns.

 

An ordinance annexing four separate properties on Hudson Lane into the city limits was approved. The applicant requested the annexation to facilitate a future subdivision and development to the City's urban development standards. Then Council approved a second ordinance in conjunction with the Hudson Lane properties changing the zoning from County Rural Residential, RR-5, to City Single Family Residential, R-1-8. Then a resolution approving a fee waiver for a medical hardship permit application on Annabelle Lane. The applicant submitted a planning application requesting the medical hardship permit so he and his family can provide on-site care for his mother at her residence. The fees waived were a total of $1,525.25. The City was scheduled to vote on a 3-year labor contract with the Teamsters Local #223, however the needed resolution was pulled from the Action portion of the agenda at the request of the Teamsters. It will be considered in the future. John Chmelir was appointed to the Development Code Review Task Force.

 

Following the November 3rd General Election, the County website shows a participation rate of 59.2%.

As of the latest report, a total of 40,645 ballots have been accepted of the 41,627 received. The next update for local results is scheduled to be posted on the County website Tuesday, November 10th by 5 p.m.

Other scheduled updates include November 18th and the 25th, with results to be posted both days by 5 p.m. The final certified results will be released no later than Monday, November 30th, again by 5 p.m. Results can also be kept up with at results.oregonvotes.gov, or our station websites.

 

Dispatch was notified of a woman trespassing near the Old Town Antique Mall Tuesday, leading to her arrest for Fentanyl Possession by Grants Pass Police.

The suspect was reportedly leaning on a rock and twitching in the alley way next to the 324 SW 6th Street business around 2:07 p.m. She was described as having black hair, and wearing a cream sweater with blue jeans and black shoes.

The manager of the antique store requested a welfare check and that the suspect be trespassed. Upon arrival, officers contacted the woman. She was identified as Bobbie Jo Langdon, and was found to be in possession of a lighter, short green straw, and piece of foil with a burnt residue.

Field testing of the residue showed positive results for the presence of fentanyl. Langdon's parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was requested. Police took Langdon into custody at the scene, transported her to the Josephine County Jail, and lodged her for Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance and the detainer. She was also trespassed from the store.

 

Open burning in the Jackson County Air Quality Maintenance Area (AQMA) has been extended through November 15th.

According to a release, the Jackson County Air Pollution Ordinance specifies that, due to the limited number of burn days since fire season ended on October 28th, the Ordinance was temporarily amended to allow for the extension by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

Therefore, burning is prohibited inside of the AQMA from November 16th, 2026 through the end of February 2027. Areas outside of the AQMA are allowed to continue open burning on days when the Ventilation Index is determined by the National Weather Service to be adequate.

Jackson County residents can follow these four guidelines for successful open & barrel burning: Obtain a burn permit from your local Fire Department, call the open and barrel burn advisory every day before burning at 541-776-7007, determine if you are inside of the AQMA or city limits, and never burn prohibited materials.

 

Grants Pass Police tased and arrested the suspect in two subsequent trespassing complaints beginning Tuesday night. The first call to 911 reported she heard the sound of her window breaking around 11:47 p.m. When she contacted the suspect as he was walking away from the home in the 400 block of SW H Street, he reportedly approached her, pushed her to the ground, and punched her twice. He continued eastbound towards 4th Street screaming. By 12:38 a.m., another call to 911 reported the same suspect on a property in the 700 block of SW I Street. The caller thought the suspect was under the influence, and she said he thought the residence was his Airbnb. Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Hunter Hatfield. He was determined to be the same suspect as reported before, and law enforcement advised that he was being detained. He told them he wasn't, and attempted to get away before being taken to the ground. Hatfield resisted by kicking at officers. He was ultimately tased and placed into handcuffs. Following a medical examination, he was transported to the Adult Jail Facility for Assault of a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest, First Degree Criminal Trespass, Second Degree Criminal Mischief, and Assault in the Fourth Degree.

 

Two individuals were lodged in the Josephine County Jail Tuesday for outstanding warrants.

Deputies with the Sheriff's Office located the suspects, Lee McGhee and Andrea Cripps, on W Watkins Street around 2:50 p.m. during a patrol check. The two had warrants out of the Parole Board and Josephine County Sheriff's Office respectively. Cripps was wanted for First Degree Criminal Trespass, and Lee was wanted for a traffic offense.

Law enforcement transported both suspects to the Adult Jail Facility for their warrants.

 

Commissioner Colene Martin read a proclamation starting today's 9 a.m. Weekly Business Session, declaring November 4th through the 11th as Operation Green Light for Veterans, and encouraging citizens to display green lights in honor of our veterans.

The board moved to approve the proclamation 2-0, as Commissioner Ron Smith was absent. An order in the matter of the canceling the November 11th meeting of the board in observance of Veterans Day was approved as well.

The public expressed concerns and for the recent election, encouraged the community to reach out to local veterans, and shared appreciation for the board. A motion approving the consent calendar passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned.

 

An allegedly intoxicated man was reported to dispatch after he appeared to crash his truck into a ditch.

A call to 911 at 7:13 p.m. said a white truck appeared to have crashed in a ditch on Merlin Road. The driver was actively trying to get his vehicle out, and he appeared to be intoxicated. The caller told dispatch the driver proceeded southbound on Jaime Lane, and had hit a stop sign.

Another caller reported she almost hit the sign that was laying in the roadway. Josephine County Sheriff's deputies responded to the reports and located the suspect at the registered address of his vehicle.

He was identified as Robert Dean, and it was confirmed he was intoxicated. His vehicle had front end damage consistent with hitting the stop sign, despite his denial. Deputies placed Dean under arrest for Hit and Run, and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.