Local News

There's still time to get free tax preparation with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

Josephine County VITA continues to offer free income tax preparation for qualifying individuals and families in the community. Their IRS-trained volunteers are available to help ensure your return is filed accurately and that you receive any refunds or credits you may be entitled to.

If you worked, received Social Security, pensions, or other income during the year, you may still need to file a return. You may also qualify for valuable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or some new deductions from the Big Beautiful Bill passed last July.

Appointments are filling quickly for weekdays, evenings, Saturdays, as well as Tuesdays and Fridays at the Grants Pass branch of the Josephine Community Library. To schedule your free tax preparation appointment, call 541-223-9597 or go to jocovita.org.

Please bring your photo ID, Social Security cards for everyone listed on the return, and all income documents such as W-2s or 1099s to your appointment.

 

The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) along with the Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant in Talent Thursday. SOCET responded after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas. After discovering Child Sexual Abuse Material images were uploaded from the residence on Taylor Street, investigators served the search warrant. They interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing. During the warrant, digital devices were seized which investigators are continuing to examine, as well as interviewing witnesses. No further details will be released at this time.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man wanted on felony and misdemeanor warrants following a foot pursuit.

At 12:20 Wednesday afternoon, the suspect ran from law enforcement towards the back of Cave Junction Jubilee Park.

Despite having no probable cause for his arrest, the suspect ran back by the amphitheater and into the men's restroom of the 309 S Junction Avenue park. He was soon detained by deputies who identified him as Jordan Haas.

He was wanted on two warrants: a Josephine County Felony warrant for First Degree Forgery, and a Grants Pass Misdemeanor warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine. Deputies took Haas into custody, transported him to the Josephine County Jail, and lodged him on the warrants.

 

A woman trespassing at a trailer park was arrested by Grants Pass Police Wednesday afternoon.

At 2:40, a call to 911 reported the suspect, Jessica Cook, was inside a trailer park unit talking to someone and taking her clothes off in the 100 block of NW Morgan Lane. The caller said Cook wasn't allowed in the park and wasn't invited in the trailer.

Upon arrival, officers contacted Cook, who had been trespassed from the park back on March 6th. She had no lawful reason to be there so officers took her into custody. Cook was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for First and Second Degree Trespassing.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man and woman at Resting Site 6 South Wednesday in separate cases.

Around 2:09 p.m., law enforcement located Kyle Palomino and took him into custody, despite his refusal to cooperate with commands. Officers confirmed his Police Department and Josephine County Sheriff's Office warrants, both for Possession of Meth.

Palomino had several drug paraphernalia items on his person at the time of his arrest, but none of them tested positive during field tests. Officers lodged him on his warrants in the Josephine County Jail.

Then at 4:32 p.m., officers took Jennifer Condon into custody at the 704 NW 6th Street site. Her tent exceeded the permitted footprint and she had been staying there longer than 96 hours. She was cited for the violations, then issued a 90 day exclusion.

During contact with Condon, officers observed a city-owned resting site rule sign inside her tent, which she took in early January. Condon was taken into custody for Second Degree Theft, and then found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

Officers transported and lodged Condon in the Josephine County Jail for the Meth Possession and Theft charges. Her tent and property were removed from the site.

 

Grants Pass tech company Rentec Direct has been named as one of Oregon's Best Workplaces.

According to a release, the Southern Oregon-based tech company has maintained a 97% employee retention rate over the past two years, and has earned its third consecutive recognition as one of the Best Companies to Work For by Oregon Business Magazine.

The 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon is an annual list published by the magazine based on a confidential survey of employees about workplace satisfaction. Employees provide feedback in categories including benefits, management, work environment, and career development.

The company owns its headquarters in downtown Grants Pass, and its entire 20-person team lives and works locally. To learn more about the company, visit RentecDirect.com.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is alerting the public to a set of phishing scams coming from senders claiming to be ODOT and the DMV.

If you receive an unsolicited text message from ODOT or the DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it is a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information.

These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information. ODOT reports seeing messages sent from an unknown phone number using urgent language such as, “Evasion Notice for Oregon Traffic Court” or “Final Notice Toll Violation".

The messages demand payment by a certain date to avoid enforcement actions and penalties. The texts may cite a fake Oregon State Administrative Code and urge you to click on a fraudulent URL that includes ODOT, DMV or oregon.gov.

You can report scams and suspicious communications like these to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Include the sender’s phone number and any links included in the text.

ODOT and the DMV will never request payment through an unsolicited text message, email, phone call, or third-party website. You can always verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and the DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655.

For more information about fraud prevention, visit oregondmv.com

 

Medford Police officers responded to a report of gunshots near W 8th Street and Hamilton Street Wednesday at 9:28 p.m. A witness reported to officers that gunshots were heard in the area. The witness then saw a white pickup leaving the area. Officers located and recovered evidence consistent with shots being fired. While on the scene, a vehicle matching the description provided by the witness was observed by officers. A traffic stop was conducted and two occupants were detained. Additional individuals believed to be involved in the incident were later identified and contacted by officers. There is no indication that anyone sustained injuries during the incident. Investigators believe an altercation occurred between several individuals, and at some point during the confrontation a firearm was produced and discharged into the air. It has not yet been determined who fired the weapon. This case is under investigation, and there is no known threat to the public. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Medford Police Department’s Detective Division at 541-774-2230.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman after she wiped feces all over the North Safeway bathroom.

Dispatch was notified around 1:03 p.m. of the incident in the 115 SE 7th Street grocer. An employee requested the woman be trespassed from the business, and wished to pursue a charge of Criminal Mischief as well.

Officers arrived and contacted Leischa Quaale. She was detained, and it was confirmed by phone that she had two warrants out of Deschutes County charging her with Second Degree Theft and Offensive Littering.

Law enforcement learned Quaale had an Oregon Parole Board warrant charging her with a Second Degree sex offence, and was out of compliance with her sex offender registration since 2018.

Quaale was trespassed from the Safeway and transported by officers to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged.