Local News

Officers with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a suspect Wednesday night wanted on three warrants.

At 10:21 p.m., the suspect, Ian Berry, was contacted at the Post Office at 102 S Hussey Avenue in Cave Junction.

Officers learned Berry was wanted on two Josephine County Sheriff's Office warrants for Furnishing False Information, First Degree Theft, and Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

Berry was also wanted on a Grants Pass Police Department warrant for Meth Possession and Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

Officers took Berry into custody and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail on his warrants and a new charge of Giving False Information to a Peace Officer.

 

Hunters and recreationists who plan to use the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area (TMA) can download the newest version of the georeferenced map updated on Oct. 14 at www.myodfw.com

There have been major changes this year, so users should double check where they plan to access. These maps can be easily read using your smart phone and a free mapping software called Avenza.

Paper maps are still available at the ODFW Rogue Watershed District Office, 1495 E Gregory Rd. in Central Point, and at sign kiosks at arterial roads that enter the TMA throughout the hunting season.

The Jackson TMA is in effect every year from October 15 through April 30 with seasonal road closures and arterial travel roads, known as the “green dot” roads open to travel by motor vehicle.

The TMA was significantly expanded with new landowners allowing public access to their lands for hunting and other recreation through an Access & Habitat Program agreement.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the new agreement that runs through June 2028 at their June 13 meeting.

 

An officer-involved shooting occurred Wednesday at 12:13 p.m. in Eagle Point. The armed suspect is deceased. Eagle Point Police Department is the agency involved. An EPPD officer was injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Initially, EPPD officers responded to a domestic disturbance. The suspect was contacted near the Covered Bridge. There are no additional suspects and no threat to the public. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency. No additional information is available for release at this time. Further information will come from OSP or the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

 

Join millions of individuals throughout Oregon and across the globe today at 10:16 a.m. as they practice Drop, Cover and Hold On for the Great ShakeOut.

Known as the world’s largest earthquake drill, this annual event provides an opportunity for people in homes, schools, and businesses to assess their disaster preparedness, improve their emergency safety plans, and practice what to do in the event of a real earthquake.

In conjunction with the Great ShakeOut, Jackson County will be conducting a test of the new Jackson Alerts notification system. This service provides critical information quickly for a variety of emergency situations.

Those registered with Jackson Alerts will receive a test alert through all listed delivery methods -- call, text, and email -- between 10 am and 2 pm. It is vital to be prepared. Register, update your Jackson Alerts account, and learn more at JacksonAlerts.gov

For more information and resources to plan your drill, visit shakeout.org/Oregon, and remember, shake out, don’t freak out!

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night passed a resolution authorizing raises for non-bargaining employees.The action authorizes the City Manager to adjust the current management, supervisory and confidential non-bargaining employee salary schedules by the October 2024 consumer price index of 3.02 percent and apply it retroactively to July 1st of this year. This is an intermediate step to approve a cost of living adjustment for inflation to the current non-bargaining employee salary schedules. Those employees last received a COLA increase on July 1st of 2024. The total cost for the increase is $270,481. The funds for the increase were already included in the budget. The Council will continue to discuss a complete overhaul of the non-bargaining compensation and classification structure. The Council passed 10 resolutions authorizing the sale of easements to the Oregon Department of Transportation to allow for the improvement of ADA curb ramps within the city. The total revenue to the city is $27,150. Also passed was a resolution authorizing the payment of $50,000 to Main Street Grants Pass to assist with startup costs associated with the formation of the downtown association including the hiring of an executive director and support staff. Performance metrics are in place to determine any further funding.

 

A man refused to leave Rogue Roasters and was promptly arrested by Grants Pass Police Tuesday morning.

The suspect, later identified as Robert Smith, had been trespassed from the coffee shop at 610 SW 6th Street back on September 21st. He had been there for 15 minutes and was refusing to leave.

Officers contacted Smith, who seemed to be under the influence, and found he had a meth pipe in his possession. He was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Trespass and Possession of Meth.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Paradise Gardens Road in Grants Pass, regarding an illegal marijuana grow site. During the execution of the warrant on October 9th, approximately 130 marijuana plants and 50 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, one firearm, approximately 38 grams of cocaine, and approximately 1 gram of heroine were located and seized on scene during the search. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Julian Amani Hall, Jamie Marie Smith, Melvin Magee, and Keith Eric Pedrick were all taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of Unlawful Manufacturing and Possession of Marijuana. Hall has also been charged with Unlawful Possession of Cocaine.

 

A man turned himself in to Grants Pass police Tuesday morning for an outstanding warrant.

At 10:26 a.m., the suspect, Leif Bjornsen, arrived at the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at 726 NE 7th Street. He told officers he was turning himself in on a Curry County Sheriff's Office warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Officers confirmed his identity and proceeded to transport and lodge Bjornsen at the Josephine County Jail for his out of county warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police officers responded to a woman littering on the railroad tracks near Competitive Athletics Tuesday afternoon.

At 12:38 p.m., officers were told the suspect with a shopping cart and puppy was throwing items on the sidewalk and tracks around 105 NE 7th Street. She was stumbling around and the caller was concerned she may be hit by a train.

Upon contact, officers identified the suspect as Julie Hatt. She was charged with Offensive Littering, lodged in the Josephine County Jail, but then released due to lack of resources. Her dog was transported to the Josephine County Animal Shelter.