Local News

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that Roland Renfro, known as Rolly, has been found safe.
Rolly was located stuck in his vehicle on a rural road off of East Evens Creek. He is safe and was taken to a local hospital buy a Mercy Flights Ambulance for medical treatment. He had been reported missing out of Gold Hill since the evening of July 14. The 73-year-old “Rolly” left his house in the 1500 block of Rogue River Highway in Gold Hill and was last seen driving east.

 

Thursday morning the Board of County Commissioners approved the loaning of general fund dollars for the Grants Pass Airport runway extension. The airport manager reported the project will be funded from a federal grant yet to be approved to the tune of $3 million dollars. The grant monies will be distributed next year. The Board was scheduled to execute an agreement with Oregon State University to return the Extension Service District and the 4-H to Josephine County. Commission Chair Adreas Blech stated the agreement was not yet ready to be voted on and tabled the agreement for a future meeting.

 

After more than four decades after the disappearance of a Josephine County woman, a man has been returned to Oregon to face a murder charge connected to this long-unsolved case. Mark Sanfratello, 72, was arraigned yesterday in Josephine County Circuit Court following his arrest in Chico, California, and extradition to Oregon. On June 27, 2025, a Josephine County Grand Jury indicted him for Murder in the Second Degree, in connection with Teresa Peroni’s disappearance and death.The investigation began in the summer of 1983, when Peroni, then 27, was reported missing shortly after attending a party in the Selma area. She was last seen walking into the woods with Sanfratello, who was her boyfriend at the time. Her disappearance was deemed suspicious, but despite an initial investigation by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, there was not enough evidence to move forward with charges.In 1997, a human skull was discovered on nearby private property, but no other remains were found. In 2024, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office reopened the case, with support from the Oregon Department of Justice, the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, and Chico Police. Investigators re-interviewed witnesses, collected new DNA evidence, and used modern forensic testing to obtain new evidence. Sanfratello was arrested on June 28 by Chico Police. Investigators continue to seek information from anyone who may have attended the party near Illinois River Road in July of 1983. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.

 

Wednesday night what appeared to be a landlord tenant issue escalated to a menacing call with, allegedly, a shot fired with Josephine County Deputies and the Oregon State Police both responding to a residence on Harley Lane. There were no injuries and one was jailed. Wednesday night at 11:47 a 911 call was received by Sheriff’s dispatchers with the caller advising of a person trespassing, saying the woman comes to his house every night threatening and cussing him. It was stated she was sleeping in the bunkhouse and is not allowed to be there anymore. It was known from previous calls the reporting party had over 60 weapons. He told dispatchers he was on his porch with a 9-millimeter. A separate call from the woman relayed the man was on the porch with a gun and she just wanted to get to her room to retrieve her property and then leave. The situation continued to escalate and the woman, still on the phone with dispatch, stated she was in her car, off the property, and he shot at her. Troopers stated they were moving up to the residence and attempting to hail the suspect, now identified as 71-year-old Robert Eugene Wiggins. Wiggins answered, agreed to talk and was taken into custody. Wiggins was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of menacing and unlawful use of a weapon.

 

One stop of a 1999 Ford F250 and a 2006 Ford Fusion netted a Josephine County Deputy two arrests on out of county warrants. At 3:05 Wednesday afternoon the Deputy ran the plates on the two vehicles encounters on Lower River Road along with the identities of the two drivers beginning with Christopher Lee Rymer, 33. Then 37-year-old Sarah Dawn Rutan. Siskiyou County, California immediately confirmed a warrant for Rutan for possession of a controlled substance plus a federal warrant with the National Park Service for driving while suspended and failure to pay the required fees. Douglas County confirmed a valid warrant for Rymer for failure to comply with terms of probation. Both Rymer and Rutan were arrested, transported to and lodged in the Josephine County jail. Both remained in custody Thursday morning.

 

The City of Grants Pass will break ground on the replacement water treatment plant at 755 SE J Street this morning at 10 a.m.Parking at the site will be limited. Once the parking area is full, people will need to park on the street. The distance from the area of limited parking to where the groundbreaking will take place is approximately 100 yards. The site is currently dirt and gravel; closed-toed footwear is required.
The remarks and ceremonial first shovel turn should last no longer than 30 minutes. Touring the site afterwards should take no longer than 90 minutes. The site will close to visitors at 12 PM.

 

The County Commissioners are slated to sign an agreement with Oregon State University to return the extension service and 4-H to Josephine County during their Weekly Business Session this morning.
The Board will first consider a resolution to loan general fund dollars to the Grants Pass Airport. The Board will hear requests and comments from citizens before voting on the Consent Calendar. The meeting will be held in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium at 600 Northwest 6th Street at 10 a.m.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission due to a vacancy. This position expires on December 7, 2026. The committee’s purpose is to review proposed alterations to any Historic District or designated structure in the Urban Growth Boundary; to promote the community historic preservation; to advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation; and to identify areas of archeological significance and buildings of historic or archeological significance. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. This position is for a representative from local historical societies in Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or by following the link below to apply online. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Thursday, August 14, 2025. The Council will interview applicants at the Council Workshop on Monday, September 15, 2025, and make appointments at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

 

A Medford man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for using Snapchat and Kik Messenger, online social media and messaging platforms, to coerce and sexually exploit an Oregon child online.
Nicholas James Shaw, 38, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution to his victims.According to court documents, in March 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received CyberTips regarding child sexual exploitation materials uploaded to their platforms between October 2021 and April 2022. Investigators traced the accounts to Shaw and learned that, for approximately eight months, Shaw had engaged in sexually explicit communications with a minor online and coerced the victim into producing and sending him sexually explicit photos and videos. On June 28, 2022, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant on Shaw’s residence and seized several electronic devices which contained child sexual abuse material. On June 29, 2022, Shaw was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transportation, receipt, distribution, possession, and access with intent to view child pornography.On January 21, 2025, Shaw pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. As part of the plea agreement, Shaw agreed to pay restitution in full to his victims and forfeit criminally derived property used to facilitate his crimes.This case was investigated by Homeland Security with assistance from the Medford Police Department. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.