Local News

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 510 jobs in July led by seasonally typical declines in local government education. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,861 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 6.8%, which was up from 6.6% in June and from 5.9% in July 2024. Government employment decreased by 660 jobs with a small gain of 30 in state government. Leisure & hospitality, private education & health services, and construction added jobs over the month. Other published industries showed little change. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County was down by 950 jobs, a sharp loss of 3.5%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries. The most notable declines occurred in private education & health services (-300), financial activities (-160), retail trade (-150), leisure & hospitality (-120), manufacturing (-80) and wholesale trade (-50). Government employment fell by 30 jobs over the year.

 

The heat is on again for southwest Oregon. The National Weather Service has posted another Extreme Heat Warning for Josephine, Jackson and eastern Curry counties -- this one from 1 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Monday. The warning is for the valleys of Josephine and Jackson counties including the cities of Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Williams, Rogue River, Gold Hill, White City, Shady Cove, Medford, Jacksonville, Talent and Ashland. Very hot conditions with high temperatures of 100 to 107 degrees are expected. Overnight temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees will provide little relief from the daytime scorchers. The unusually hot temperatures will increase the risk for heat-related illnesses. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors -- especially the elderly. Do not leave children and pets in unattended vehicles. Vehicle interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

 

A pilot project designed to address the ongoing child care shortage in Josephine County is already seeing early success. With the support of this pilot program, one new child care business has been launched and one child care business has expanded their capacity to serve more children. This initiative brings together funding, training, technical assistance to help individuals start or expand licensed child care businesses. The effort is made possible through a collaboration between Southern Oregon Early Learning Services (SOELS), Child Care Resource Network (CCRN) and Rogue Community College's Small Business Development Center. Business grant contributions from the SOREDI Foundation and the City of Grants Pass have helped new or expanding businesses in Josephine County with purchasing equipment, furniture and supplies.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing, finish a public hearing and conduct a public consideration during its weekly business session on Thursday. The Board will first hold a public hearing for three requested annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider re-appointments to the Josephine County Dog Board. After the meeting, the Board is set to continue a hearing on a lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch library that was abruptly halted last week before a decision could be rendered. Under public consideration is an American Mining Research lease application for the St. Peter Mine Property located east of Wolf Creek. Tomorrow's public meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

An abandoned two-story home near Schroeder Park burned early this morning, drawing a response from Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. At 2:03 a.m. today, Rural Metro and Grants Pass crews were dispatched to the fire in the 800-block of Schroeder Lane. A Grants Pass engine from the nearby Redwood Station arrived quickly and knocked down the flames, preventing spread to adjacent structures, a recreational vehicle and vegetation. Rural Metro officials reported a subject known to frequent the location was seen leaving the area by responding firefighters. The unidentified man was picked up by law enforcement and was being questioned about the fire. Officials said the Oregon State Fire Marshal has been notified about the incident.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry and its partners extinguished two grass fires that broke out in western Jackson County yesterday. On Tuesday afternoon, ODF and Jackson County Fire District #3 responded to a grass fire near the intersection of Lane Creek and Old Stage roads between Gold Hill and Central Point. Crews engaged in an initial aggressive attack that included two helicopters and an air attack platform. Firefighters had the majority of the fire knocked down by 3:40 p.m.. By 4:05 p.m., crews had knocked down all the flames and were working on mop-up operations. The cause of the two-acre fire was under investigation. Late Tuesday afternoon, ODF and Jackson County Fire District #1 responded to a grass fire in the 4,000-block of West Evans Creek Road north of the City of Rogue River. Numerous resources were deployed including a Type 2 helicopter out of Grants Pass. Due to fast progress on the incident, the helicopter was canceled. The blaze was knocked down at 1/10th of an acre and the cause was under investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended two men wanted on statewide felony warrants during separate incidents yesterday. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 2:04 a.m. when officers arrested 40-year-old Glen Everett Porter during a traffic stop at SE M and 8th streets. Police said Porter was riding a bicycle with no light. They placed him into custody when it was discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for 4th-Degree Assault. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident occurred on Tuesday at 11:53 a.m. when officers contacted 38-year-old Christopher Michael Anthony at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway. Police said Anthony was working on his truck in the park and a routine records check showed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a 2023 conviction for Larceny. He was placed into custody and also lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant late yesterday during a patrol check at a city park. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 38-year-old Jordan Ellis Haas at Morrison Centennial Park on Tuesday around 4:20 p.m.. Police said they spotted Haas and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to a 2024 conviction for Forgery. He was placed into custody without incident. Haas was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on local warrants yesterday after a traffic stop in the north part of the city. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Buick Regal driven by 60-year-old Clint Edward Robertson near the intersection of NE 7th Street and Morgan Lane on Tuesday at 12:38 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Robertson for traffic violations and learned that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was also wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for an unspecified criminal allegation. Robertson was lodged at the Josephine County jail on the warrants. His 62-year-old female passenger was forced to find another ride when his car was impounded.