Local News

The Board of Commissioners failed to approve an invoice for renewing Josephine County's membership in the Association of O&C Counties this morning. Board Chair Andreas Blech expressed his concerns about the $68,642.40 invoice being too high for the services provided by the organization, which represents 18 western Oregon counties that host around 2.1 million acres of timberlands. Commissioner Ron Smith made a motion to approve paying the invoice, stating that the Association of O&C Counties provides a lobbyist in Washington, DC, who advocates for sustained yield timber management for its members. However, Vice-Chair Chris Barnett did not second the motion and it expired without a vote. Smith reminded his colleagues that more than two-thirds of the land in Josephine County is federally-managed and not subject to taxation, which generates revenue to provide essential services and protect the local economy. He said he was very disappointed by the outcome. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard from one man who was in favor of continued membership in the O&C Counties, a man who said the amount paid by the Civil Air Patrol for leasing a county-owned building near the Grants Pass Airport is too low, two women who supported the immediate renewal of the lease for the Grants Pass library branch and a man who continued to press for the sale of the Pipe Fork property near Williams.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a dirt bike rider who attempted to elude deputies in the Merlin area last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually caught up to and arrested 26-year-old Cole Raymond in the 11,200-block of Lower River Road shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies said the incident began when they spotted two men riding dirt bikes on a public roadway and they refused to stop. One of the riders took off on Azalea Drive while the other continued down Galice Road. They followed one bike down Azalea to Robertson Bridge Road where it turned right and made several U-turns, stopping long enough to "flip-off" law enforcement. According to the report, Raymond went into a residential yard during the pursuit and then continued on until the final stop on Lower River Road. Raymond was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. His Kawasaki dirt bike was impounded and towed away.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Coos Bay man for two crimes yesterday after an investigation into a road rage incident on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. According to OSP, state troopers were flagged down by a 60-year-old Oak Harbor, Washington, man who reported that the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup pointed a firearm at him while they were heading south on I-5 near milepost 63 around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers tracked down the Ford and placed the driver -- 57-year-old Jason Regis Hill -- into custody. Hill was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Menacing. His vehicle was impounded and a cat in the pickup was taken to the Animal Shelter.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for allegedly attacking her husband at their northwest city residence late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 100-block of NW Sinclair Drive around 10:55 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his 28-year-old wife punched him twice during an argument over family issues. The man said this had happened before, but he never reported it. There were three children in the home at the time of the incident, but the man said he didn't believe they witnessed any violence. Upon arrival, officers contacted Emillie Rose Thompson and she told them she had been drinking when the fight started. She claimed her husband was screaming at her and she pushed him away. After officers observed redness and swelling on the man, she was placed into custody. Thompson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault.

 

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation of suspicious activity led to the arrest of a man on an outstanding warrant early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at a home in the 300-block of NW 3rd Street on Wednesday shortly after 4 a.m.. Police said the resident called 9-1-1 to report a couple with a dog ringing their doorbell and asking if it was their dog. The caller believed it was a scam and the couple left on foot toward I Street. The caller wanted officers to check the area. A short time later, officers contacted 42-year-old William Lee Asbury and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. According to GPPD, Asbury's female companion was not arrested.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman on outstanding warrants yesterday after she tried to steal beer from a Selma area market. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a theft complaint at the store in the 18,300-block of Redwood Highway on Wednesday at 1:24 p.m.. Deputies said a store manager reported that 41-year-old Amber Al-Sarf came inside and tried to buy beer, but she didn't have enough money. The caller said she opened the beer and took it anyway. They wanted her trespassed from the store. Upon arrival, deputies located Al-Sarf and discovered that she was wanted on three Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Petty Theft, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and Methamphetamine Possession. Al-Sarf was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrants. She was also trespassed for one year from Ray's Food Place and Speedy Mart.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on local warrants and evicted at least four people from a downtown resting site last night. According to the Police Department, officers were on special detail watching the surveillance cameras at the NW 5th Street resting site on Wednesday evening. Police said they immediately spotted 32-year-old Whitney Ann Word who was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest and Escape. She was lodged in jail on $25,000 bail. Officers said they also observed three vacant tents near the center of the homeless site that had trash strewn about along with bicycle parts and rotting food. They also saw oversized tents at the resting site and moved in. David Rodriguez, Samantha Crutcher, Joseph Wilder and Krystal Wilder were all cited for Scattering Rubbish. All four were trespassed from the site for 30 days and given until 9 a.m. today to vacate the premises.

 

An open burn west of Sunny Valley got out of control yesterday when flames moved beyond reach of a garden hose. On Wednesday at 2:37 p.m.. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded to the reported fire in the 5600-block of Lower Grave Creek Road. Rural Metro officials said crews converged on the fire and quickly contained it to just under 1/10th of an acre. The Oregon Department of Forestry announced this morning that the 2025 fire season in Josephine and Jackson counties will begin on June 1st. Anyone opting to continue using fire as a tool to reduce combustible hazards around their property is urged to follow all basic requirements for safe burning. Construct a vegetation-free ring down to the dirt around any burn piles. Have a reliable water source on site. Have a shovel or other tools on site. Carry a charged cell phone to call 9-1-1 quickly in case of spread. Stay in attendance with the burn. Fully extinguish remaining ash with water and then check for heat using bare hands to prevent the chance of rekindling and escape.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Wolf Creek man while investigating a rolling domestic assault call in south Grants Pass this week. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by 40-year-old Sonny Hurt, II, near the intersection of Redwood and Rogue River highways late Tuesday afternoon. Troopers said they stopped Hurt to investigate possible domestic violence that occurred between the male driver and 31-year-old female passenger. They said they also observed some traffic violations. Upon looking into the matter, troopers developed probable cause to arrest Hurt for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. Upon being notified that he was under arrest, Hurt resisted being placed into custody and had to be overpowered by law enforcement. Hurt was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Contempt of Court and the assault charge. He was being held without bail. The vehicle was impounded and two cats were taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter.