Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has announced that the Rogue River will be closed in designated areas and during designated times during Boatnik races. Marine deputies said all spectators must remain off the water until the races are over. All spectators must remain 50 feet from the waterway at all times. The Rogue River will be closed on Friday from 6 to 10:15 p.m. from Baker Park to Caveman Bridge. The river will closed in the same area on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.. On Memorial Day, the Rogue River will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon from Baker Park to Caveman Bridge, and from noon to 3 p.m. from Baker Park to Robertson Bridge. Movement on the water during these times is restricted to law enforcement, rescue personnel and authorized race officials. Private boats are not allowed to assist with crash or rescue operations. Any unauthorized boats on the water during the closures may be cited for Reckless and Unsafe Operation and are subject to a $440 fine. Law enforcement will be patrolling the waterway during race events.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 180 jobs in April. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,930 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.7%, which was down sharply from 7.1% in March. Leisure & hospitality gained 80 jobs in April. Other industries posting estimated employment increases were private education & health services, and construction. Government employment slipped by 10 jobs due to a slight decline in local government education. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County was down by 640 jobs, a loss of 2.3%. The local jobless rate in April 2024 was 5%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries. The most notable declines occurred in retail trade (-190), financial activities (-150), leisure & hospitality (-110), construction (-70) and wholesale trade (-50).

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for violating his probation by trespassing at a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 38-year-old Steven Carsten Juergensen at the Grants Pass Skate Park on Monday at 8:34 a.m.. Police said officers spotted Juergensen at Baker Park from which he had been trespassed on May 10th. After he saw officers, he took off running across the Debbs Potts Memorial Bridge and into the Water Treatment Plant. He fled from there to the Skate Park where he was placed into custody. Juergensen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass plus the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for theft and drug possession after a shoplifting incident at Grange Co-op yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Monday at 1:17 p.m.. Police said 31-year-old Elza Derado Yost intentionally deprived Grange Co-op of two hats and a shirt valued at $88 by passing all points of sale without paying. He was confronted by employees and fled the area, leaving behind his bicycle and backpack. A photo of the suspect was sent out to patrol teams who later contacted him at his residence and confirmed he was the theft suspect. He denied any involvement. During a search of his person, a small amount of methamphetamine was located. Yost was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of 3rd-Degree Theft and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for starting a fight and vandalizing a vehicle while moving out of a residence last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at a home in the 1400-block of Playford Lane on Monday at 9:10 p.m.. Police said 18-year-old Noah Moore and another man were moving out of the house when Moore instigated a physical fight with a now-former roommate. They said he also used grease to vandalize a woman's vehicle. The incident was partially captured by video surveillance and Moore was detained. Moore was charged with Attempted 4th-Degree Assault and Disorderly Conduct. He was cited to appear in court and then released from custody.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for returning to a city park from which she had been trespassed. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 42-year-old Rachel Annette Beeman on Monday shortly before 9 a.m. during a patrol check at Baker Park. Police said Beeman had been trespassed from the city park on May 7th, but she unlawfully returned to the facility on the Rogue River. She was placed into custody without incident. Beeman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was released on Monday evening, but warned not to return to Baker Park.

 

A Sunday night crash near Cave Junction claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman -- it was one of two fatal Illinois Valley crashes that occurred in less than one day. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on Rockydale Road near Idlewild Drive on Sunday at 8:18 p.m.. Deputies said the initial investigation indicated a vehicle driven by Myrtle Grace Thogmartin was traveling toward Redwood Highway on Rockydale when -- for an unknown reason -- the vehicle left the roadway and struck a power pole with enough force to shear the pole in half. IVFD and AMR arrived to find the vehicle in a ditch and Thogmartin had been ejected. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin was notified. On Monday at 10:45 a.m., deputies, IVFD, AMR and the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Waldamar Road. IVFD officials reported one fatality and said extrication was required for the OSP investigation, which caused significant delays on US Highway 199. No other information will be available until OSP sends out a press release.

 

The Oregon State Police has provided the details about two fatal accidents that occurred last week on Interstate 5 in Jackson County. On Monday, May 12th, OSP and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 near milepost 4 near the Siskiyou Summit. OSP said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford F-150 driven by 69-year-old Michael Kasser of Issaquah, Washington, left its travel lane and struck the trailer of a parked Volvo commercial vehicle driven by a 62-year-old Moreno Valley, California, man. Kasser and his passenger -- 68-year-old Linda Kasser -- were declared deceased at the scene. The California man was not injured. On Tuesday, May 13th, OSP and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 near milepost 25. OSP said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound BMW 3S driven by 20-year-old Justine Castaneda of Medford was in the fast lane when a northbound Honda Accord driven by 45-year-old William Gann of Yreka, California, came up from behind at a reportedly high rate of speed. The BMW attempted to move to the slow lane when it was struck by the Honda, causing the Honda to roll and eject its driver. Gann was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and declared deceased at the scene. Castaneda sustained minor injuries.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman with an active warrant and found her to be in possession of both fentanyl and methamphetamine. On Sunday at 3:48 p.m., an officer recognized 33-year-old Hope Susan Hoover and knew she was wanted on an outstanding warrant. After confirming the warrant and Hoover's identity, the officer observed the tip of a small, clear baggie in her left pants pocket. The baggie was removed and contained a chalky white substance that Hoover admitted was fentanyl. The fentanyl had a gross weight of 7.9 grams. Hoover was transported to the Josephine County Jail where -- during the booking process -- two more baggies were removed from her buttocks. One tested positive for fentanyl and the other tested positive for methamphetamine. At that time, Hoover told deputies she swallowed four grams of fentanyl during her initial contact with officers. She was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation and then returned to the jail where she was lodged on charges of Fentanyl and Meth Possession plus the out-of-county warrant. She was being held without bail.