Local News

Josephine County has been recognized by a national association for its current budget. The Government Finance Officers Association announced last week that the county earned the association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its spending plan for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. According to the GFOA, the award "reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting." To receive the award, Josephine County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, communications device and operations guide. Josephine County Finance Department Director Sandy Novak said she is honored "to work with such a highly-skilled and professional team that consistently performs at a level that serves to ensure compliance with strong internal controls and effective reporting." She mentioned Assistant Finance Director Ruth Nelson and Accountant Trevin Mikels by name.

 

National nonprofit Wreaths Across America has announced that Eagle Point National Cemetery has once again joined the mission to "Remember, Honor and Teach" as an official location for 2024. This is the 15th year that the local military cemetery will participate in the national program. Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national, year-long movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation's fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the value of freedom. This year, there will be more than 4,500 participating locations placing veterans' wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day -- Saturday, December 14th -- with more than three million volunteers. Those interested in volunteering for Wreaths Across America or sponsoring a wreath for interred veterans at Eagle Point National Cemetery are invited to visit
"WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/OREPNE" to learn more.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant while investigating a motor vehicle accident in the Fort Vannoy area that sheared off a power pole and cut off electricity to nearby properties. On Thursday at 4:32 p.m., the Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash in the 3200-block of Lower River Road. Deputies said a Mercedes driven by 39-year-old Randy Quinton Araque went off the roadway and sheared off a power pole, dropping electrical lines across the road and cutting off electricity to local residents. Crews shut down the road to prevent other motorists from running into the lines that remained energized. No one was injured, but another vehicle swerved onto the shoulder to avoid the downed lines. According to the report, Araque got out of his vehicle, went up a private driveway and then starting walking toward Grants Pass. He was contacted by deputies and found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past conviction for 3rd-Degree Assault. He was arrested without incident. Araque was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Additional charges were pending further investigation by the Sheriff's Office. A road closure between 3290 and 3294 Lower River Road was lengthy as Pacific Power crews worked to make repairs and restore electricity to affected properties.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a California fugitive warrant during a traffic stop near the Parkway early today. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a bicyclist identified as 45-year-old Martin William Mitchell, Jr., in the 900-block of SE M Street at 2:04 this morning. Police said they stopped Mitchell because he entered the paved public roadway on a bicycle without the required safety equipment. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on a San Luis Obispo, California, Corrections warrant for Felony Parole Violation. During a consent search, Mitchell was found to be in possession of a substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Mitchell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. After being warned for the traffic violation, he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police incarcerated a man on a local felony warrant yesterday after receiving a tip that he was at his mother's residence. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 32-year-old Nicholas Leo Yeley at the Royal Trailer Park on Lewis Avenue on Thursday at 11:50 a.m.. Police said they were looking for Yeley who was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an unspecified arrest in 2015. He was ordered to come out of the trailer, he complied and was placed into custody. After the warrant was confirmed, Yeley was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man yesterday for assaulting a co-worker at a business in the Spalding Industrial Park According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 43-year-old Zakary Frederick Lard for the incident that allegedly occurred in the 2100-block of Spalding Avenue on Thursday at 12:06 p.m.. Deputies said they were investigating a case where Lard was alleged to have used some sort of tool to assault a co-worker. He was placed into custody after being questioned about the incident. No other details were available, but the tool was returned to Lard's boss. Lard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist on a local warrant yesterday following a traffic stop in the north part of the city. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford Taurus driven by 38-year-old Matthew Gary Beard near the corner of NE 6th Street and Evelyn Avenue on Thursday at 12:41 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Beard for traffic violations and quickly discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Driving While Suspended. He was also found to be driving with a suspended license on a violation level. Beard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Driving While Suspended. His vehicle was left at the scene of the traffic stop.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a silver Toyota Tacoma driven by a 27-year-old male subject on US Highway 199 near Dowell Road on Thursday at 9:48 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the pickup for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests, a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. The suspect was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

 

An investigation into allegations of sex abuse has led to the arrest of an employee of the Eagle Point School District. After a month-long investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) arrested the suspect yesterday when she turned herself in. The suspect -- 38-year-old Amanda Rose Leonardo of Eagle Point -- is charged with three counts of 3rd-Degree Sex Abuse, Luring a Minor, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Providing Liquor to a Person Under 21. She is lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Detectives said the identified victims were of high school age, but the charges are unrelated to Leonardo's position with the school district. SVU detectives are looking for the public's assistance in the ongoing investigation. If you have any information on the suspect and/or other possible victims, call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541)-774-8333.