Local News

During a Powder Puff game at Gilbert Creek Park, a reportedly intoxicated man was arrested for a drug charge and parole violation.

A call to 911 Thursday at 4:33 reported the man was talking to himself and making comments about the girls playing. He was described as having brown hair, wearing a black jacket, a gray jacket, and walking around barefoot.

He had walked on the field where the game was being played at one point, and as the girls were being moved off the field, he walked towards the tennis courts. Grants Pass Police were dispatched to the scene and took Brandon Stradford into custody.

Officers issued him a 30-Day Exclusion from the park, and after being read his rights, Stradford was found to be in possession of a pipe and bag of meth. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a Meth Possession charge and parole violation.

 

Grants Pass Police reported to KFC where a trespassing woman was arrested after being reported smoking in the bathroom.

The manager of the 280 NE Beacon Drive business called 911 saying the woman was in a stall with clothes laid out in the bathroom Thursday around 11:47 a.m. She was mumbling, and had left tin foil with what was believed to be either methamphetamine or fentanyl on the floor.

It was believed the suspect, determined to be Shani Fedosky, had been trespassed before, and upon officer's arrival, she had already left the scene. The manager still wished to pursue for trespassing, and described Fedosky as wearing a brown blanket and black and white striped hat. Her parole officer was advised of the situation.

Fedosky was soon located and taken into custody. She admitted to being at the KFC, and she was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man Thursday after he drank beverages at Starbucks without paying.

The suspect, Gregory Butler III, was reported to 911 by an employee of the 201 NE Terry Lane cafe at 8:04 a.m. Butler had walked in and consumed drinks without paying, began banging his head on a trash can by the front door, then proceeded to lay on the floor and take his shoes off.

It was requested he be trespassed, and that police conduct a welfare check. Law enforcement arrived to find Butler in a sleeping bag, still on the floor. He was trespassed from the Starbucks, then lodged in jail for a Post-Prison Supervision Sanction, and Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

A man wanted on two warrants was arrested after he was reportedly sitting and walking in the middle of the road with a loose dog and bottle of alcohol.

Dispatch was alerted to the suspect Thursday around 12:54 p.m. The caller said the man and dog were in the road at the corner of Galice Road and Thornbrook Drive. The dog was not on a leash, and the suspect proceeded to walk towards Hog Creek.

He was reportedly irate and flipping people off. Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrived and contacted the suspect, Joshua Faulkner. His dog was taken to the shelter by animal control, and deputies learned Faulkner had two warrants, one from the Sheriff's Office, and one from the Grants Pass Police Department.

His misdemeanor warrants charged him with two counts of DUI, and three counts of Reckless Endangering. Deputies transported Faulkner to jail where he was lodged.

 

Swerving to miss a deer was reportedly the cause of a driver losing control and rolling off Azalea Drive near Carter Drive at 12:07 this morning.

According to Rural Metro Fire, the driver was extricated by firefighters, and then transported to the hospital by ambulance with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Deer are frequently present near roadways in the rural areas, especially at night, and especially this time of year when the rut alters their instincts. Motorists are urged to be mindful of deer and other critters while traveling at all times, and to mentally prepare for the next encounter.

Don't swerve, apply firm braking, and stay straight in your lane. If impact should occur, the damage to a vehicle and injury to occupants, is statistically less severe than the alternative.

 

The City of Grants Pass has sent a release providing clarification regarding the ownership, management, and operation of Parker’s Place Village in response to questions received from community members.

The Grants Pass City Council approved a grant award of $1,179,000 to Elk Island Trading Group, LLC, to construct a shelter site capable of accommodating up to 150 beds on November 19th, 2025. The project received approval for its full 150-bed capacity on August 7th, 2026.

According to the release, recent public discussions have created some confusion regarding the City’s role in the facility. The City’s role is limited to providing grant funding for the capital expenses to construct the facility, and monitoring compliance with the terms of the grant agreement. The grant was intended to support the development of shelter capacity and was not awarded for ongoing operations or service delivery.

Elk Island Trading Group owns Parker’s Place Village and is responsible for operating and managing the shelter, including site administration, staffing, resident management, policies, maintenance, and securing operational funding.

In addition, the group is responsible for ensuring residents have access to services through partnerships and service providers. The City does not provide shelter operations, case management, behavioral health services, addiction treatment, or other resident support services at the site.

The City also does not provide ongoing funding for daily operations. Operational expenses, staffing, maintenance, utilities, and service-related costs remain the responsibility of the site operator. Community members with questions or concerns regarding the operation of Parker’s Place Village should contact Elk Island Trading Group directly. Instances of criminal conduct should be reported to the Police Department.

 

A legal open burn outside of the Rogue Valley Burn Control Area got out of control west of Merlin Thursday.

According to Rural Metro, the fire, pushed by a light breeze and reported around 12:44 p.m., spread into adjacent leaf-covered grass approximately 1/10th acre up the hillside. Firefighters were summoned to assist with containment and full extinguishment of the flames.

Despite the end of fire season and subsequent lack of rainfall, open burning, when and where approved, should be done with caution. The following safety tips need to be applied at all times:

- Keep pile a manageable size, preferably no larger than 4x4.
- Clear ground vegetation down to bare dirt around the burn pile to prevent creeping.
- Burn in the morning when air and vegetation moisture is highest.
- Remain in attendance of the burn, with a charged cell phone to call 911 if needed.
- Have a tool and charged garden hose easily accessible to take action while waiting for firefighters to arrive.
- Fully soak the ash pile after completing the burn.

 

Following a trespassing complaint Wednesday, Grants Pass Police lodged one of the reported suspects for an out-of-county warrant.

Dispatch was alerted to the individuals that had knocked on the door of a residence in the 300 block of Bayard Drive around 2:36 p.m. The caller, who wasn't home at the time, said the male and female suspects were snooping around the car port after asking for work.

It was thought a bag in the suspect's possession was from the property, and the caller wished to pursue for theft and trespass. The two had left the scene a few minutes prior to the report, and headed down New Hope Road.

Police officers arrived and contacted the suspects in front of Allendale Elementary. Both were trespassed from the residence, and the bag was determined to have been in their possession prior to the report.

One of the suspects, Hanna Fierro-McGarry, was found to have a warrant out of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for two counts of DUII, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. She was taken into custody and lodged in jail.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire, and American Medical Response reported to a structure fire in Cave Junction this morning.

Upon arrival around 10:40 a.m., firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and prevent further damage to the residence in the 29,000 block of Redwood Highway. The fire has since been extinguished, and crews have completed mop-up operations.

Animals reported to be at the residence were located and confirmed to be safe. The American Red Cross has been requested to assist the affected family.
Pacific Power was also contacted to provide assistance with the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.