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BCC Approves Library Annexations and Budgets following Five Public Hearings

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two library annexation requests and four budgets following five public hearings this morning. The Board opened the public meeting by approving annexations to the Josephine Community Library for properties on Riverbanks Road and Cienega Lane. The annexations increased the size of the library district by more than 13 acres. After public testimony and Board deliberations, the Commissioners unanimously adopted an approximately $182 million budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year. Next year's spending plan includes 435.87 full-time equivalent employees with a tax rate of about $1.63 per thousand dollars of assessed value. Commissioner Ron Smith first made a motion to approve the budget and tax rate with amendments to eliminate 12% cuts to most departments and to give Sheriff Dave Daniel all the money he requested. It died for lack of a second. Vice-Chair Chris Barnett then made a motion to approve the budget and tax rate with changes that included reducing the 12% cuts to 5%, excluding the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, Community Justice, Veterans Services and Property Reserve from the cuts. Smith seconded that motion, which was approved unanimously. The Board also unanimously approved a $1.6 million budget for the Rural Fire Protection District and a $5.79 million budget for the Law Enforcement Service District. The 4-H Extension Service District was approved by a 2-1 vote, with Board Chair Andreas Blech dissenting. The Extension District was reinstated without a tax rate for the next fiscal year. It will be funded with $230,000 in reserves in the account that were not disbursed last year when the program was halted by former Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and John West. In other business, the Board approved the results from the May Special District Election.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:53AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Pointing Gun at another Man inside Ross Dress 4 Less

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for pointing a gun at another man in a clothing store yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 60-year-old Paul Leon Rumer on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. for the alleged incident at Ross Dress 4 Less in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Police said Rumer brandished a gun and pointed it at another man inside Ross after a disagreement about moving out of the way in a store aisle. They said the other man left the area and Rumer followed him, pulled out the loaded pistol and pointed it at him while acting in a violent and tumultuous manner. According to the report, the victim called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers that Rumer's actions placed him in fear of serious injury or death. Responding officers located Rumer, placed him into custody and seized the firearm as evidence. Rumer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Woman for Attempting to Break into CJ Home and Fighting Them

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for attempting to break in to a Cave Junction residence and then fighting with deputies when they tried to arrest her. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 40-year-old Leah Marie Wise on Tuesday morning for the alleged incident at a home in the 28,000-block of Redwood Highway. Deputies said a resident called 9-1-1 to report that Wise was trying to force entry into their house and was banging on their front door. When the resident opened the door, the woman tried to push her way inside. The suspect then fled the scene, but told the resident she would be back. Responding deputies found Wise about a block away from the incident location and tried to place her into custody. However, Wise actively fought with deputies and had to be placed in a body wrap after she was subdued. Wise was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man Wanted on State Warrant near Downtown Resting Site

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant near a downtown resting site late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 43-year-old Daniel Jack Freitas near the 6th and A Street homeless encampment on Tuesday at 5:18 p.m.. Police said they spotted Freitas riding a bicycle on 6th Street and they knew that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past burglary conviction. The suspect initially tried to elude them by cutting through the parking lot of the Hong Kong Restaurant, but he quickly stopped and was detained. Freitas was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His bicycle was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:13AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Arrested Man Wanted on Local Theft Warrant at Baker Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who was wanted on a local warrant at a city park last night. The Police Department reports officers contacted 36-year-old Daniel Earl Myers at Baker Park on Tuesday around 7 p.m.. Police said they were looking for Myers because he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for 1st-Degree Theft. They were able to identify him by his name, date of birth and a tattoo, but he refused to provide the last four digits of his Social Security number. After his identity and the warrant were confirmed, Myers was placed into custody and lodged in jail. He was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Outstanding Warrant after Collision in SE Part of City

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after responding to a non-injury crash in the southeast part of the city early today. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the collision near the intersection of SE N and M streets at 1:27 this morning. Police said an investigation indicated an unplated Nissan Maxima was being towed illegally when it broke loose and collided with a fence in the 900-block of SE M Street. They said 43-year-old Matthew Roy Barbosa was at the scene when they arrived and he initially denied any involvement with the accident. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Barbosa was given permission by the registered owner to tow the inoperable vehicle. The suspect said the driver of the truck towing the car fled and he refused to provide that person's name. Barbosa was placed into custody when officers discovered that he was wanted on a Douglas County misdemeanor warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. He was lodged in jail and the damaged Nissan was towed to a local impound yard.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Department Identifies 8th Street Home as "Chronic Nuisance Property"

The Grants Pass Police Department has identified a home near the downtown area as a "nuisance property" after citing the property owner last week. According to GPPD, officers have responded to multiple complaints about the home in the 700-block of NE 8th Street. On June 5th, the property owner was cited for Scattering Rubbish. She said the mess in her driveway belonged to someone who was moving out and someone who was moving in. The items had been in the driveway for several days. The property owner was provided with a copy of the city's Chronic Nuisance Property Ordinance for review. Officers explained the property has met criteria for the ordinance based on the high number of complaints. Officers plan to recheck the property on June 23rd.

Posted on 6/18/25 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Fatal Punch at Bar

A Josephine County man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after being convicted of throwing a fatal punch at a Grants Pass bar in December 2022. Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Brandon Thueson sentenced 43-year-old Todd Andrew Heckers to 100 months in prison for the incident at the Wonder Bur in downtown Grants Pass. Heckers was convicted of 2nd-Degree Manslaughter and 2nd-Degree Assault for fatally punching 75-year-old Claude Hayes and head-butting another 75-year-old man during the same incident. Heckers was an off-duty bartender at the Wonder Bur, which was shut down by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) shortly after the fatal attack. It has since reopened under new management. Following sentencing, Heckers was lodged at the Josephine County Jail, pending transfer to the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Posted on 6/18/25 6:32AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Wolf Creek Man for Violating Court Order in RR Area Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man for violating a court order this week following a traffic stop near the City of Rogue River. According to OSP, state troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by 40-year-old Sonny Hurt, II, on Foothill Boulevard near Dove Place on Monday night. Troopers said they made the traffic stop after observing both parties of a no-contact order -- Hurt and a 31-year-old Grants Pass woman -- inside the car. They said the driver had a suspended license and the vehicle was impounded. After further investigation, troopers developed probable cause of Hurt tampering with a witness. Hurt was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court and two felony counts of Tampering with a Witness. He was being held without bail. The female passenger was the protected party and she was transferred to the care of family members.

Posted on 6/18/25 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Destructive Behavior at The Lodge at Riverside

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for his destructive behavior at The Lodge at Riverside this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Ryan Kelly Hale at the riverfront motel on SE 7th Street on Monday. Police said the manager of Cartwright's Tap Rock NW Grill called 9-1-1 to report that Hale was throwing large rocks at the nearby motel before he crossed 7th Street and entered the restaurant parking lot. The caller said it appeared the man was having a mental breakdown and they wanted him trespassed from their property. Before officers arrived on scene, Hale fled under the 7th Street Bridge and that's where he was placed into custody. Hale was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on an out-of-county warrant. His corrections officer was contacted and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/18/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant and for Violating Terms of Probation

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant and for violating terms of his probation this week in an encounter near the Parkway Public Safety Station. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 64-year-old Timothy Carl Ferguson at the intersection of the Grants Pass Parkway and East Park Street on Monday. Police said they observed Ferguson and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct. After he was placed into custody, he made numerous statements about harming law enforcement once he was released from jail. Ferguson reportedly told the arresting officer that he would burn down his house, and drop rocks off overpasses onto police cars while wearing a black hoodie and riding around on a bicycle. He also mentioned going around town and cutting wires at buildings as a means to express his hatred toward everyone. Ferguson was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and the resulting Probation Violation. He was also flagged for his threats to local law enforcement and the community.

Posted on 6/18/25 6:20AM by Sam Marsh

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