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GP Police Nabbed Woman on Warrants after Trespassing Complaint at Church

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on two outstanding warrants while looking into a trespassing complaint at a church on Thursday evening. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 50-year-old Clarice Renee White at New Song Christian Fellowship on NE Evelyn Avenue at 6:15 p.m. yesterday. Police said the church pastor called 9-1-1 to report a female subject sitting in their landscaping which is near resting sites at Kesterson Park. Church staff requested the woman be told to leave and trespassed from their property. Upon arrival, officers contacted White and discovered that she was wanted on a Coos Bay Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Assault and Resisting Arrest as well as a Washington County Sheriff's Office warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. White was placed into custody and lodged in jail on the warrants. She was also trespassed from the church property.

Posted on 7/25/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD & ODF Crews Extinguished Unattended Campfire at State Park near CJ

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry knocked down an illegal open burn at a state park just outside Cave Junction early today. At 7:26 this morning, IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to the fire near the bridge at Illinois River Forks State Park. Upon arrival, units entered the park and discovered an unattended campfire that had ignited a small vegetation fire. The fire was quickly extinguished. IVFD officials said no one was found near the campfire and it was most likely due to transient activity in the area.

Posted on 7/25/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff Withdraws All Evacuation Notices Due to Progress on Board Shanty Fire

Due to steady progress on the Board Shanty Fire, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office has withdrawn all evacuation notices. The Oregon Department of Forestry reported Thursday that containment of the 469-acre wildfire had increased to 37%. In most areas, the fire has been mopped up more than 200 feet from the containment line into the interior of the incident. Last night, 105 personnel were assigned to the fire to continue mopping up. By methodically extinguishing all hot spots, the overall line built around the fire is strengthened and containment increases. ODF officials said aircraft remain available if needed, but the majority of the remaining work must be done by firefighters on the ground. A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire to create a safe airspace for fire-related aircraft. Any and all drone use will be reported to law enforcement. The Board Shanty Fire erupted on July 17th at the end of Board Shanty Road, burned up the backside of Mount Bluey near Grants Pass and threatened residents in the Savage Creek area. At the height of the incident, three Josephine County zones were under a Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice. During the Tuesday Talk Show on KAJO Radio, Rural Metro Fire Department Operations Chief Austin Prince confirmed that the fire started when a structure fire at the top of Board Shanty Road spread into the surrounding wildland.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Threatening Girlfriend while Breaking Vehicle Window

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his girlfriend while breaking a window on her vehicle in the south part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Jeremy Douglas McGhee for the incident at an Independence Drive residence on Wednesday night. Police said McGhee's girlfriend called 9-1-1 to report that he was intoxicated after drinking a bottle and a half of liquor and was "smarting off" when he told him to "shut up." McGhee then flipped over a tray table containing food and threw a small dog toy at the woman, striking her. She was frightened, but not hurt. According to the report, the victim tried to leave the home because she was in fear McGhee would seriously injure her. While seated in her car, McGhee used his fist to shatter the front driver-side window of the vehicle before she was able to drive away and call for law enforcement assistance. Officers arrived on scene and placed McGhee into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:44AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Woman for Breaking into Attached Garage of CJ Area Residence

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for breaking into the garage of a Cave Junction residence this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 34-year-old Meghan Melissa Gomez for the incident in the 200-block of Nolan Lane late Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said the male occupant called 9-1-1 when he returned home and found Gomez inside the attached garage going through his belongings and removing some items. The victim said the female subject took a seat at the south end of his driveway and refused to leave. She also refused to identify herself. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gomez and she admitted that she did not have permission to be inside of the garage. A consent search of her backpack revealed $300 worth of stolen items along with a glass pipe and a small baggie of a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Gomez was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and Possession of Meth. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman on Warrants after She Shoved Security during Theft

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for shoving employees while stealing a small amount of merchandise from WinCo Foods this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the supermarket on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday night. Police said a female subject was captured on video surveillance as she bypassed all points of sale and exited WinCo with just over $17 worth of unpurchased items. When she was confronted by loss prevention, she intentionally shoved them in an attempt to flee. Officers arrived on scene and found her with some fentanyl. The female suspect refused to identify herself and appeared to be having a medical emergency, so she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. She was cleared by the hospital and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Robbery, 3rd-Degree Theft and Fentanyl Possession. A few hours later, "Jane Doe" was identified through fingerprints as 26-year-old Mahdi Kohl Eider. Eider was found to be wanted on two Jackson County warrants and one Medford warrant -- all charging her with Probation Violation related to arrests for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She was held without bail on the warrants and additionally charged with Furnishing False Information to Police.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff Still Seeking Help Finding Woman Last Seen in Area of Structure Fire

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was still seeking assistance in locating a woman who was first reported missing last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, 42-year-old Sarah Caron was last seen on July 17th between 2 and 3 p.m. in the area of a Josephine County structure fire. The specific address of the structure has not been disclosed. Sheriff's officials said they were attempting to locate Sarah Caron to check on her welfare. She was misidentified in the initial release as "Sharon Caron." Caron is described as a white female adult, 6-feet-tall and 160 pounds, with red hair and unknown eye color. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Sarah Caron is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

Main Entrance to Josephine County Public Works to Close Early Next Week

Josephine County Public Works has announced that the main entrance to its facility behind the Fairgrounds will be closed Monday and Tuesday for a sewer project. The main gate on River Heights Way will be inaccessible due to the construction work. The secondary gate on Ringuette Street will be open to all traffic. Public Works understands this is an inconvenience for all visitors and officials appreciate your patience and cooperation during the project. For more information, contact Josephine County Public Works at (541)-474-5460.

Posted on 7/25/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

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