Local News

The Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding residents and motorists about bridge replacement projects on Rogue River Highway in western Jackson County. ODOT officials said the $11 million project is replacing three 1920s-era bridges on Highway 99 with structures that are better able to withstand earthquakes. The bridges are located east of the City of Rogue River at Birdseye Creek, Foots Creek and Millers Gulch. Foots Creek Bridge is being closed this week for approximately 30 days. Please use an alternate route and watch for workers in the roadway. The contractor has provided a pedestrian transport vehicle that can accommodate at least two ADA passengers and a maximum of 10 able-bodied passengers during the closure. The vehicle can also transport up to three bicycles with a secured rack. Other current ODOT projects in Jackson County include utility work on Rogue Valley Highway 99 from Glenwood to Coleman Creek and construction at the Big X intersection in north Medford. There are no scheduled ODOT projects this week in Josephine County.

 

The Grants Pass Daily Courier is once again the newspaper of record for Josephine County. The Board of Commissioners this morning approved an order designating the Daily Courier as the newspaper of record for publication of county notices. The former Board designated the Illinois Valley News as the paper of record, primarily because former Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and John West were unhappy about a perceived bias against them in the Daily Courier. Board Chair Andreas Blech -- who served with Baertschiger and West in 2024 -- voted against the order. The Commissioners approved orders appointing James Black as the new Planning Director and Frank Wharregard as the new Building Official. The Parks Advisory Board was dissolved following a recommendation by Commissioner Blech. In other business, the Board approved the acceptance of $23,000 in rebate funds from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality as well as a DEQ Authorization form for a recycling modernization and enhancement program. Public Works Director Rob Brandes said the DEQ rebate is intended for solid waste mitigation purposes. The Commissioners unanimously approved a letter of support for the Animal Shelter Capital Improvement Request. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett said the letter will be submitted to the Oregon Legislature for potential funding for the $2.5 million improvement project. In Requests and Comments from Citizens, former Public Health Director Mike Weber expressed his frustrations with being fired without notice. He said he received 93 calls from concerned citizens and thanked them for their support. Other people had complaints about solid waste, controversial library books and the religious invocation at the beginning of weekly business sessions.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Cave Junction woman for an outstanding felony warrant and drug possession following a short foot pursuit yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 30-year-old Carly Brooke Jensen in the 400-block of South Redwood Highway on Thursday at 12:37 p.m.. Deputies said they spotted Jensen and knew that she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2022 conviction for 3rd-Degree Robbery. They said she took off running, but they tracked her down and placed her into custody near the Grocery Outlet store. During a consent search, Jensen was found to be in possession of a glass pipe and a small baggie of a crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. She also admitted to smoking the narcotic stimulant earlier in the day. Jensen was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for his violent behavior at two convenience stores on Rogue River Highway yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Shane Codyglen Weidman at the Market & Deli in the 1,000-block of Highway 99 on Thursday around 3:45 p.m.. Police said Weidman generated multiple calls for service by engaging in violent and tumultuous behavior at that store and the Why Not Market. Customers and employees reported that he threatened multiple people and raised an ash can above his head in order to frighten others. Officers tracked Weidman down at Morrison Centennial Park and placed him into custody without further incident. Weidman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from the two convenience stores.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Gladiola High School student for possessing drug paraphernalia on campus yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the alternative school on SE Gladiola Drive on Thursday at 1:10 p.m.. Police said an 18-year-old male student was found to be in possession of a marijuana pipe, marijuana grinder and a lighter. They said he displayed signs of recent marijuana use and admitted to it. The paraphernalia was seized. The student was cited to appear in court for Minor in Possession of Marijuana and then released.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted three people from a city park after citing them for repeat ordinance violations early yesterday. GPPD officers contacted Caleb Rossiter, Kelcey Cummings and Lori Signs at Tussing Park on West Park Street on Thursday at about 8:30 a.m.. Officers said Rossiter and Cummings were cited for Utilization of Park Space and Violation of Park Rules after they staked their tents to the ground. Both men were trespassed from the park for 30 days and given until 5 p.m. to leave the facility. Signs was also cited for Utilization of Space and she was issued a 30-day exclusion order. She had been trespassed from the NE 7th Street campsite for the same reason on Wednesday.

 

No one was injured when two vehicles collided on Redwood Highway in Selma yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of US Highway 199 and Deer Creek Road on Thursday at 1:21 p.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Toyota Tundra driven by a 33-year-old Eureka, California, man was heading south on the highway while a Ford Escape driven by a 55-year-old Albany man was crossing the highway from Deer Creek to Illinois Valley roads when the incident occurred. No one injured. Both vehicles sustained damage, but neither was towed. According to OSP, the investigation did not determine who was at fault so no citations were issued.

 

Grants Pass Police cited a man for two traffic violations following at least one citizen complaint on the east side of the city early yesterday. GPPD officers responded to the incident in the 2,000-block of NE Fairview Avenue on Thursday around 9:45 a.m.. Police said they were alerted to a vehicle parked more than two feet away from the curb, with trash on the sidewalk and in the gutters. There were tarps covering the vehicle's windows and it appear the man and his girlfriend were living there. The man -- identified only as "Retamoza" -- was allowed to clean up the trash and told officers he would move the van when his girlfriend returned with the keys. He was cited for No Operator's License and No Insurance. He was also warned for Offensive Littering. The vehicle was towed to a local impound yard.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client for using an artificial device to falsify a drug test this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 22-year-old Tyler Jacob Forni-Howard at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street late Wednesday afternoon. During a meeting with his corrections officer, police said Forni-Howard admitted to wearing an artificial bladder containing the urine of another person on his leg and using the device in an attempt to falsify the results of a required drug test. The device was found when Forni-Howard was patted down after the test. It was seized as evidence and the suspect was placed into custody. Forni-Howard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Falsifying Drug Test Results and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.