Local News

The Medford Police Department has made an arrest in its April 25th homicide investigation. Last Friday at about 2 a.m., MPD officers responded to a report of a person down near Lowe's Home Improvement store located on Delta Waters Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered 36-year-old Rory James Pomeroy suffering from life-threatening traumatic injuries. He was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital by Mercy Flights ambulance. Officers and detectives immediately began investigating the incident and quickly identified a possible suspect who was located and detained in the vicinity. Both the victim and suspect are believed to be experiencing homelessness and were staying in the area. Due to insufficient evidence, the suspect was interviewed and released. Later on Friday, MPD was notified that Pomeroy had died from his injuries. A forensic autopsy was conducted by the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday which determined the cause of death to be homicide. On Tuesday, MPD detectives recovered what is believed to be the weapon used in the homicide from a nearby storm drain. On Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m., detectives located and arrested 34-year-old Christopher Shane Boyce at a residence on Upton Road in Central Point. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for suspicion of 2nd-Degree Murder and 1st-Degree Manslaughter. The case was referred to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. This remains an active investigation.

 

An Illinois Valley man is in custody for four felony-level crimes after he allegedly fired several shots at two people and stole a quad from a Cave Junction area home. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Blaine Matthew Case for the incident in the 5200-block of Dick George Road on Tuesday evening. Deputies said they initially received a report that a male subject came onto the property looking for the owner, got into a verbal argument with the caretakers and fired five or six rounds at them. They said five bullet casings were recovered from where the shots were fired and four of the bullets struck the garage very close to where the victims were standing. The shooter fled the scene. A short time later, Case returned to the property and stole an Arctic Cat ATV from the victims. An investigation determined the suspect was a former employee of the property owner who lives nearby and his vehicle was identified as a GMC Yukon. Deputies located the stolen quad in the garage of Case's residence, but he was not there. They tracked him down at or near Illinois River Forks State Park and placed him into custody. Case was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges including two counts of Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle plus a misdemeanor charge of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing an expensive cell phone from the vehicle of a city contractor this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the crime near the temporary resting site at the corner of 6th and A streets on Tuesday. Police said the victim's vehicle was parked in a dirt area near the unhoused camp across the street from City Hall when the incident occurred. They said the victim contracts with the City to clean up the resting site. Further investigation revealed that 42-year-old Christopher Davis was captured on video stealing the Samsung phone valued at $1,200 after entering the victim's vehicle. Davis was located and contacted. He admitted to the theft, but the phone had already changed hands and it was not recovered. Davis was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police have arrested a resident of a downtown temporary resting site on arson-related charges. On Monday at about 5:10 p.m., GPPD and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a fire at the 6th and A Street homeless encampment. Upon arrival of police, unhoused campers were observed pouring water bottles on a tarp that was on fire. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and determined that it had destroyed approximately eight feet of city-owned privacy screen that was attached to the fence. No injuries were reported. Grants Pass Police Sergeant Nieminen who supervises the Community Response Team investigated and determined that Jack Doak, a 35-year-old resident of the resting area, had intentionally set the fire. On Tuesday, Doak was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

 

With assistance from its partners, Grants Pass firefighters saved a downtown area home from being destroyed by fire last night. On Wednesday evening, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a backyard fire that extended to a home in the 200-block of NE 8th Street near B Street. Several engines were dispatched to the structure fire along with mutual aid from Rural Metro Fire Department. Before the arrival of firefighters, Grants Pass police officers were first on scene and took quick action to help slow the spread of the flames to the house. Their efforts were key in buying precious time. Thanks to the rapid response of all involved, crews were able to contain the fire and save most of the home. Everyone made it out safely and only minor injuries were reported. Firefighters also worked alongside the occupants to rescue multiple animals from the residence. Grants Pass officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider grant agreements, a purchase request and intergovernmental agreements during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will open the meeting with a proclamation declaring May 4th to be "Sanctity of Life and Respect for Life Day." Josephine County Right to Life will hold its annual public protest of the Roe v. Wade decision on Sunday. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. Also on the agenda is a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase Request. In other business, the Board will decide whether to renew intergovernmental pacts with the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Youth Authority. Requests and Comments from Citizens allows participants to address the Board for up to three minutes on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

May is "Wildfire Awareness Month." Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires can occur any time of the year including spring. Keep Oregon Green -- in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local fire and emergency response agencies -- will be spreading the word about the steps we can all take to prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires this summer while encouraging Oregonians to create defensible space around homes and outbuildings. Each year, over 70% of Oregon's wildfires are started by people. Many are a result of escaped debris burn piles or gas-powered equipment and vehicles casting sparks or catching on fire. During the 2024 fire season, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported that people were directly responsible for sparking 723 wildfires that burned more than 92,000 acres. Any spark can gain traction in dry vegetation, spread quickly and impact lives, personal property and the many benefits provided by Oregon's scenic natural areas. Before heading outdoors this summer, be sure to contact the agency or landowner who manages the land at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Everyone should be familiar with these restrictions before building open fires or using equipment that could ignite a wildfire.

 

The Josephine County Food Bank has announced that is has received a generous $20,000 grant from Fred Meyer and Kroger's Hunger Zero Waste Foundation to support its hunger relief efforts across this area. Executive Director Josephine Sze said the funding comes at a critical time as food banks across the nation are grappling with increased demand, rising costs and reductions in federal food supplies. Sze said the funds will allow Josephine County Food Bank to continue directing resources where they are needed most, helping to ensure that healthy, nutritious food continues reaching the more than 21,000 people served each month through its network of over 40 local partner agencies. In addition to their financial support, Fred Meyer has long been a leader in addressing food insecurity through the Fresh Alliance program, donating over 218,000 pounds of food between 2021 and 2024 to Josephine County Food Bank. With continued support from partners like Fred Meyer, Josephine County Food Bank remains committed to its mission "ensuring that no one in Josephine County goes hungry." For more details, visit "jocofoodbank.org" or call (541)-479-5556.

 

Southern Oregon's premier venue for "live" music and arts -- Britt -- announced its new brand and website on Wednesday. Following a year of work with local community members, staff, board members and UK-based design firm Fiasco Design, Britt unveiled its brand new logo and website ahead of its 2025 season. The new Britt logo features a hand-carved woodblock illustration of Gentner's Fritillary, a rare and beautiful flower that only grows in Jackson and Josephine counties and is in bloom right now. The largest concentration of the wildflowers is found on the Britt hill behind the fenceline. The public is reminded that these endangered flowers are a treasure and should not be picked. The relaunched website prioritizes accessibility, technology upgrades and patron reliability. The project was funded by the Murdock Charitable Trust and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Patrons can still access the site from "brittfest.org" as well as "britt.org."