Local News

Oregon State Police Arrested Man on Warrant out of Del Norte County
The Oregon State Police made a traffic stop on US Highway 199 Wednesday night.

Officers contacted the driver, identified as Steven Cooke, and found him to have an active and extraditable warrant out of Del Norte County, California.

Cooke was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His vehicle was left with his passenger.
Posted on 9/25/25 10:43AM by Alex Bauer
 

JMET Executes Search Warrant on Cave Junction Marijuana Grow Site
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The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant on an illegal marijuana grow site in the 5000 Block of Dick George Road in Cave Junction. The warrant was executed September 18th with assistance from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), United States Postal Inspector Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. During the execution of the warrant, over 2,500 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, 14 firearms, 30 grams of Ketamine, 8 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of Methamphetamine were seized on scene. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Christopher Faustino, Veronica Gardner-Dyer, and Brian Enney were all taken into custody and lodged in The Josephine County Jail. All three suspects were charged with Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of Marijuana.
Posted on 9/25/25 10:21AM by Alex Bauer
 

JoCo Sheriff's Office Arrested Man Wanted on Misdemeanor Warrant
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man with a warrant out for his arrest Wednesday afternoon.

The deputy recognized the suspect, Justin Calderon, at the corner of West Watkins Street and South Hussey Avenue. After contacting Calderon, the warrant was confirmed and he was taken into custody.

Officers lodged Calderon in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant, plus additional charges of Second and Fourth Degree Assault.
Posted on 9/25/25 5:21AM by Alex Bauer
 

Non-Affiliated Candidate Pledges Local Solutions in Run for Oregon State House District 3
Community advocate and foster care lived-experience leader Cobey Giesler officially announced his candidacy for the Oregon State House of Representatives, District 3. Running as a non-affiliated candidate, Giesler pledges to put people before party and deliver practical, bottom-up solutions for Southern Oregon. Giesler’s campaign will focus on fixing the broken foster care system, protecting our kids by opposing any legislation that harms them or strips away essential protections, addressing addiction, affordable housing, transportation & infrastructure, and government transparency & accountability. In addition to his advocacy work with FosterClub and leadership as a peer navigator for youth transitioning out of foster care, Giesler has experience as a campaign manager and field director for a State Senate candidate in 2024. Giesler’s campaign is building a grassroots movement powered by small donations.
Posted on 9/25/25 4:59AM by Alex Bauer
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IVFD Awarded Nearly $97,000 from Federal Grant to Enhance Firefighter Safety
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The Illinois Valley Fire District has been awarded nearly $97,000 in federal funding through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. This grant will provide critical safety equipment for all district firefighters, strengthening IVFD’s ability to protect lives and property across more than 200 square miles of Southern Oregon. The funding will allow the district to purchase complete sets of NFPA-compliant structural turnout gear, ensuring that firefighters are properly equipped to respond safely to structure fires, wildfires, and other emergencies. Each year, applications far exceed available funding, making this award especially significant for the Illinois Valley community. The district will also contribute a required local cost-share of $4,857. For more information about the Illinois Valley Fire District, call their headquarters at (541) 592-2225.
Posted on 9/25/25 4:43AM by Alex Bauer
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Oregon Turns Over Medicaid Personal Data to Federal Government to Avoid Losing Funding
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Oregon health officials have turned over personal data about some Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending probe, according to The Oregonian. This move follows months of debate over privacy and potential federal misuse of health data. Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report with data on every adult who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June. The information included Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid eligibility categories tied to citizenship status, but not immigration status or patient names or addresses. State officials had resisted turning over the data since CMS requested it in June, citing distrust over how federal officials might use the information and highlighting concerns about privacy for Oregon’s immigrant communities.
Posted on 9/25/25 4:35AM by Alex Bauer
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GP Police Apprehended Trespassers at Two Local Parks After Hours
In two separate cases, Grants Pass Police officers arrested two suspects during park checks.

On Tuesday just before midnight, officers contacted Robert Tiefenback at Kesterson Park, 109 NE Evelyn Avenue. He was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Tiefenback was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his Meth Possession warrant.

Early the next morning, during an area check at Morrison Centennial Park, 1187 Rogue River Highway, officers contacted three people for staying in the park after closure hours. One suspect, identified as Sabrina Willett, was discovered to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Willett was taken into custody and lodged in jail on her Second Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle warrant. The other subjects were warned for staying after hours and vacated the premises without issue.
Posted on 9/24/25 1:36PM by Alex Bauer
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Illinois Valley Fire District Responded to Early Morning Vehicle Accident
The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a traffic accident in Selma early this morning.

Emergency services, including IVFD, American Medical Response, and the Oregon State Police, attended to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 199 near Wild Park Lane around 1:42 a.m.

One individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical attention. The vehicle was subsequently removed from the scene by Jerry's Towing.
Posted on 9/24/25 1:21PM by Alex Bauer
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GP Police Respond to Wal-Mart Shoplifting Complaint, Arrest Suspect for Theft and Warrant
Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department apprehended a shoplifter Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was stopped by Wal-Mart loss prevention after passing all points of sale with merchandise concealed in a large water jug. The total value of the items was $104.34.

Officers contacted the suspect in the GamesStop parking lot. He was identified as John Johann, and was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Johann was trespassed from the Wal-Mart, taken into custody, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Second Degree Theft.
Posted on 9/24/25 12:47PM by Alex Bauer
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GP Police Arrest Man on Extraditable Warrants after Pinnacle 365 Theft
Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man after a theft complaint at a local convenience store early this morning.

Officers arrived at Pinnacle 365 at 1044 NW 6th Street after a call from an employee who had the suspect held down.

The suspect, identified as Cristopher Lokken, had attempted to steal three Twix bars from the store. After being contacted by law enforcement, Lokken was found to have extraditable warrants out of Douglas and Lincoln County.

The worker requested Lokken be trespassed from the store, but didn't press charges. Officers lodged Lokken in the Josephine County Jail on his warrants which included charges of reckless burning, Second Degree Trespass, and Third Degree Theft.
Posted on 9/24/25 11:45AM by Alex Bauer
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JoCo Sheriff's Office Reported to Burglary in Progress, Arrested Man on Multiple Charges
Josephine County Sheriff's Office deputies received a call about a burglary in progress Tuesday morning.

The caller reported shortly after 4 a.m. that the suspect and another male stole items valued at over $100 out of two storage units at American Storage, 5017 Williams Highway. The two then cut a hole in the fence causing over $200 in damage and headed towards the Murphy area.

Officers heard back from the caller two hours later saying one suspect returned, and the caller's husband had him detained. Officers arrived, contacted Justin Stephens, and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.

Stephens was charged with two counts of Second Degree Trespass, three counts of Second Degree Criminal Trespass, two counts of Second Degree Burglary, Possession of a Burglary Tool, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Menacing.
Posted on 9/24/25 11:29AM by Alex Bauer
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Groundbreaking Tomorrow for New JoCo Affordable Veteran Housing Community
A new affordable housing community, the first in Josephine County specifically designed to serve veterans, will break ground in Grants Pass Thursday.

Known as Hillcrest Village, the community will provide 36 units of affordable housing. All of them will be veteran-preferred, but a minimum of 18 will be set aside specifically for veterans.

The project comes from the Mid Rogue Foundation, with Home First Development serving as a consultant on the project. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place tomorrow at 2 p.m. at 952 N.E. Hillcrest Drive. Construction should be completed in late 2026.

The new community will feature one- and two-bedroom units in three buildings, plus a separate community services building. Units will include in-unit washers and dryers, air conditioning, luxury vinyl plank flooring, quartz countertops and efficient fixtures.

Funding for the project comes from Oregon Housing and Community Services, People’s Bank, AllCare Health, the Carpenter Foundation, Four Way Community Foundation and American Rescue Plan Act funds issued by Josephine County.

In a separate project, the city of Grants Pass provided funding to bring water and sewer infrastructure to the site, helping to make the development possible.
Posted on 9/24/25 11:05AM by Alex Bauer
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