Local News

Dispatch was notified of a theft complaint at the 1640 Williams Highway Safeway Saturday afternoon.

The caller reported the suspect, believed to be Sean MacDowell, the suspect from a previous call who had stolen a liquor bottle the night before, was just inside despite having been trespassed. He appeared to leave with a jacket full of items. The manager was going through security footage to see what was taken.

MacDowell was last seen heading towards a Little Caesars, but his bike was still parked between the Safeway and CVS. The caller wanted to pursue charges of theft and trespass.

Grants Pass Police officers found MacDowell outside a nearby massage parlor. He was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for First Degree Trespass and Theft in the Third Degree.

 

Mt. Ashland Ski Area announced it will open for the 2025-26 winter season today, with limited terrain available. Guests will notice several exciting upgrades this season, including additional LED night lighting on the Lithia Chairlift and the expansion of Twilight Skiing terrain to include Lupine and Poma in preparation for Twilight Skiing beginning January 8, as well as the newly paved Karen & Sid DeBoer Lodge guest plaza and new directional signage inside The Lodge. The Sonnet Chairlift, Lithia Chairlift, and the First Act Learning Carpet will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A limited-time $18 Sonnet single-day lift ticket, which includes access to Sonnet Chairlift, Lithia Chairlift and First Act, is available. Open terrain will include Sonnet for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Poma and Lupine will be open for

 

Grants Pass Police observed a suspect in front of Resting Site 6 South Wednesday morning.

Officers contacted the man, Aleksandr Uchytil, around 11:55 a.m. at the 704 NW 6th Street site, and subsequently detained him. He was known to be wanted on three active and serviceable warrants out of the Grants Pass Police Department.

Uchytil's warrants charged him with First Degree Theft, Escape in the Third Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance. He was positively identified, and then transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrants.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man after he struck an employee of Cartwright's Taprock Northwest Grill.

On Wednesday at 5:50 p.m., the suspect, Derek King, followed an employee of the 971 SE 6th Street restaurant into the kitchen and punched him in the face causing injury. Other employees then pinned the suspect to the ground by Caveman Bridge.

Prior to the assault, King was told by employees to leave the premises, but he refused to do so. A witness reported to dispatch that King, after striking the employee, ran outside, was tackled by employees, and then held down by the two managers.

Emergency Medical Services were declined, and King was detained by arriving law enforcement. During a consent search, a cylindrical glass pipe, which field tested positive for Methamphetamine, was located on King's person. His parole officer was advised, and a detainer was placed on King.

Officers then transported and lodged King in the Josephine County Jail for the detainer, Fourth Degree Assault, Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Trespass in the Second Degree, and Possession of Meth.

 

Grants Pass Police were notified that a man's mother had locked herself in her bedroom Wednesday morning.

At 6:30 a.m., the man told dispatch his mother texted him about the situation, and that the man's brother was at the property in the 600 block of SE J Street with their mother as well.

Dispatch was told that the brother has a history with drugs, could be aggressive at times, and was refusing to leave the location, after having been there the last three days.

Officers were given permission to check the residence, and contacted the brother. He was found to have a valid Sutherlin Police Department warrant out for his arrest charging him with Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Aggravated Theft, and Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

After a positive identification, he was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

A fight between two women in the 1200 block of Rogue River Highway warranted a response from Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch was notified the intoxicated women were yelling and fighting with each other while causing public alarm. A firearm was mentioned in the report, and a man was trying to separate them. There had been prior reports from the same location regarding one of the women.

The parties were separated but still screaming at each other before officers arrived. Both women were contacted by officers and arrested for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct. They were transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police contacted an uncooperative suspect at Riverside Park Thursday afternoon.

At 2:41 p.m., the suspect, Travis Davenport, was seen walking towards Caveman Bridge. He walked up the stairs towards 6th Street then across the bridge. The officer advised him to stop and that he was under arrest, but he was not compliant.

Davenport used expletives and flipped the officer off while continuing to walk away towards Evergreen Federal Bank. He was advised he was under arrest multiple times and was eventually taken into custody.

The officer positively identified Davenport and transported him to the Josephine County Jail. He had two warrants for Unlawful Possession of Meth out for his arrest, and law enforcement lodged him on a charge of Third Degree Escape as well.

 

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Oregon State Parks will no longer accept Jackson County parking permits at state parks in Jackson County.

The impacted parks include TouVelle State Recreation Site and Valley of the Rogue State Park.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is projecting a $14 million budget shortfall this biennium due to decreasing lottery revenue, increasing costs and a long-standing need for more sustainable funding. Oregon State Parks does not receive general-fund tax dollars for operations.

OPRD is also discontinuing its participation in the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport starting Jan. 1, 2026. It is part of several changes for 2026 to help increase revenue and decrease costs.

In addition to these changes, the agency is streamlining internal costs and looking for new partnerships and sponsorships to help build a more sustainable funding future.

 

The Salvation Army in Jackson County has wrapped up its annual Angel Tree Christmas distribution.

According to KDRV, officials said the organization delivered holiday gifts to more than 703 local families and over 1,900 children during a three-day effort.

Operating from its warehouse on Stevens Road, hundreds of volunteers worked long hours to match children’s wish lists and prepare Angel Tree packages. The coordinated effort ensured gifts were organized and distributed in time for Christmas across communities throughout the county.

The Salvation Army said the volunteers’ dedication and generosity helped make the season brighter for local families, with each package prepared thoughtfully to ensure children felt seen, valued and celebrated during the holidays.