Local News

Emergency crews were alerted to a traffic accident that occurred at 12:10 p.m. today.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident at the intersection of Schumacher Street and S Hussey Avenue in Cave Junction. Upon arrival, it was determined there were no injuries.

The vehicle was removed from the scene, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation.

 

A man called 911 to report a man sleeping on his property Monday morning.

Dispatch was alerted to the trespassing at 4:16 p.m. at a property in the 300 block of SE H Street. The suspect was reportedly on the grass to the side of the house, and the caller wasn't sure if it was the same suspect from a previous trespassing complaint, Thomas Ehens.

Grants Pass Police arrived and confirmed it was Ehens. The property owner wished to pursue charges, and Ehens was taken into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be wary of romance scams and so-called “relationship investment scams,” a fast-growing form of fraud that blends emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities.

DFR says in a release that relationship investment scams are a recent and damaging type of fraud, causing reported losses in the billions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses in 2024, a figure that has tripled in just three years.

Relationship scams often begin on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, or through unexpected “wrong number” text messages. Criminals use fake profiles, photos, videos, and even artificial intelligence-generated voices to appear attractive, credible, and successful.

Once contact is made, scammers send frequent messages to build trust and emotional attachment before asking for money. What often starts as a small request can quickly escalate into devastating financial losses. In other cases, they often claim to have made significant profits trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency thanks to special knowledge or insider help.

These scams do not discriminate. People of all ages and backgrounds have been victimized, though people who live alone or spend significant time on social media or online discussion groups may be more vulnerable.

State regulators are increasingly seeing complaints involving digital assets and artificial intelligence. If you believe that you have been a victim, or have any questions, call DFR at 1-888-877-4894.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department were alerted to a trespassing complaint at a property in the 100 block of SW I Street.

On Monday around 9:49 a.m., following a quickly disconnected call, dispatch was notified by the owner of the Air B&B property that someone had broken into the detached garage. The suspect wasn't being violent and was gathering her items to leave.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and met with the owner, then contacted the suspect, Brooke Mack. She admitted, after being read her rights, to entering the garage and having no right to the property. She told the officer that she had entered the garage Sunday evening and stayed overnight due to being cold and tired.

Mack also reportedly wanted to retrieve her items from a previous burglary case at the same location. She admitted to using a portable electric heater to stay warm, which reportedly cost the Air B&B owner $10 in power.

Mack was trespassed from the property. Her Parole Officer was contacted and a detainer was requested. The officer subsequently transported and lodged Mack in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Burglary, Theft of Services, and the detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police initiated a traffic stop on a man found to be a convicted felon.

After observing multiple people contact the suspect driver through his vehicle's window at Seven-Eleven, law enforcement pulled the man over at the corner of SE I Street and SE 7th Street.

The suspect, David Anderson, had committed two traffic violations, failure to obey a traffic control device, and an unsignaled turn. Upon contact, the officer found Anderson to be a convicted felon with a weapon offense warrant out for his arrest.

During the stop, brass knuckles were found in plain view on the driver's seat floorboard. The officer conducted a search of the vehicle, and found Anderson to be in possession of a firearm and spring assisted knife. He also had about 5 grams of a white powdery substance distributed into small baggies.

A field test showed the substance to be fentanyl. During the search, the officer found a scale along with other drug-related items, plus around $280 on Anderson's person.

Law enforcement took Anderson into custody and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for three counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, the Manufacture, Distribution, and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and his warrant according to jail logs.

 

Oregon State Police is asking for any potential witnesses to a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred January 31st at 7:20 a.m.

OSP responded to the report of a person down on the northbound shoulder of Interstate 5 near the Exit 24 on ramp. The preliminary investigation indicated the pedestrian, Anthony Jonathan Byam, 34, of Phoenix, had been struck by a vehicle that did not stop.

Byam was declared deceased at the scene. Investigators believe he was struck sometime between 9:45 p.m. on January 30th, and 7:20 a.m. on January 31st.

An investigation into the hit-and-run crash is ongoing. Any potential witnesses or anyone with information is encouraged to contact OSP Dispatch at 800-442-2068 or dial *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Please reference case number SP26-035245.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman at the Rays Food Place in Selma.

Deputies took Andrea Cripps into custody Saturday at 11:27 p.m. at the 110 Deer Creek Road grocery store. She was wanted on a Sheriff's Office warrant charging her with First Degree Criminal Trespass.

Cripps was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant. However, she was later released on her own recognizance.

 

The City of Grants Pass is beginning the annual process for developing and adopting the 2026-2027 Year 2 Annual Action Plan.

This plan will fund activities and projects to address the priorities identified in the 2025-2029 5-Year Consolidated Plan. Every fifth year, Grants Pass adopts a 5-Year Plan that guides the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds over the next five years.

Each year the City prepares a 1-Year Action Plan to allocate annual grant funds for specific activities to address identified needs, and the time has come for next year's plan.

This process follows timelines specified in the City's Citizen Participation Plan and federal law. As in past years, Grants Pass has prepared a survey to complete that will ascertain community needs and priorities. These ideas and suggestions will help develop the 2026-2027 Year 2 Plan.

The deadline for completing the survey is March 16th, and the link can be found at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

The Josephine Community Library is teaming up with Josephine County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers to help community members with their federal and state taxes at no cost.

Starting February 10th and running through April 3rd from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays, citizens can set up appointments through the VITA program at the Grants Pass branch at 200 NW C Street.

Walk-in assistance for tax forms or general tax-related questions are accepted Fridays. Participants are reminded to bring proof of identity, their tax forms, a Social Security card, and last year’s tax return. Certified VITA volunteers will prepare and file returns, which are typically available for pickup within approximately one week.

The program is designed for individuals with simple tax returns, such as income from wages, Social Security, or retirement (1099 forms). To schedule an appointment, call VITA at 541-223-9597 or visit joco-freetaxes.com.

For more information about library programs and services, visit josephinelibrary.org, email info@josephinelibrary.org, or call 541-476-0571.