Local News

Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara arrested former City Councilor Eric Navickas during a council meeting last week, moments after Navickas allegedly objected to the chief's claim that Navickas' earlier public comments were "racist." The Oregonian reports Navickas had spoken at the council meeting to denounce a proposal that would allow police to ban people from specially designated parts of the city if they've been charged, but not convicted, with certain violations -- a measure he characterized as "a draconian infringement of civil rights." In his comments, Navickas appeared to ask councilors to consider how the ordinance might be abused. Minutes later, Navickas and O'Meara were leaving the council chambers -- the chief trailing behind -- when O'Meara told him the comment had been racist. Once in the lobby, just outside the chamber doors, Navickas turned and shoved the chief with both hands, accusing him of calling him a racist, O'Meara said. The chief then arrested Navickas, with help from a deputy chief who was nearby. The scuffle could be heard in the chambers, interrupting the meeting, footage of the meeting shows. Navickas could not be reached for comment. He served on the city council for one term from 2006 to 2010. He was an unsuccessful candidate for council in the 2024 election.

 

Applications are still be accepted for seven positions on the new Grants Pass Development Code Review Task Force. An eighth position is being filled by a member of the Urban Area Planning Commission. Appointments are for the duration of the task force, which is anticipated to be no more than 12 months from the date of appointments. The purpose of the new task force is to review and evaluate the Grants Pass Development Code to help simplify and streamline the City's land use process and various development standards. The desired outcome is a written recommendation to the City Council containing specific actions to modernize the code to reduce ambiguities and barriers to new construction investment and development projects within the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary. Special qualifications and experience for these positions includes a licensed engineer or architect, local builder, residential developer, commercial developer, land use attorney, real estate agent/broker and an at-large citizen representative. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 27th.

 

Nonprofits tackling Southern Oregon's most pressing challenges are receiving a boost. The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has distributed new grants to organizations making progress on housing, child care, hunger, substance abuse, arts and culture, and those serving immigrants, refugees and others. The new investments come from two funding sources at OCF. The Reed and Carolee Walker Fund has supported 71 Southern Oregon organizations with $2.3 million. Each of the grants is given in memory of Bill Thorndike, a Southern Oregon business and community leader who passed away in February. In addition, OCF's 2025 Spring Cycle of Community Grants is distributing $516,000 to support the work of 26 Southern Oregon nonprofits. Funding is flexible, allowing organizations to invest the money where it is needed most. One organization that is receiving funding from both programs is Freedom Farms, which uses the therapeutic experience of gardening, farming and land conservation management to help men and women re-enter local communities following incarceration.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for assaulting a woman and preventing her from calling for help in the North Valley area yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a house inside a mini-storage facility on San Francisco Street on Monday shortly after 2 p.m.. Deputies said 46-year-old Neil Frederick Morris prevented the female victim from calling 9-1-1 after he threatened to get a gun and shoot himself. They said he bear-hugged the woman from behind and took her phone away. He also threw the victim to the ground at least twice during the incident. The victim's juvenile daughter heard the commotion, jumped out of her bedroom window and hid in a porta-potty before calling 9-1-1. She told dispatchers Morris was throwing her mother around and that he had been drinking alcohol. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the victim had fled the house and was at Rural Metro Fire Department's Monument Drive Station. She refused medical treatment and was advised to seek help from the Women's Crisis Support Team. Morris was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Interfering with Making a 9-1-1 Call. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant after he caused a disturbance at the downtown Safeway yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the parking lot at the supermarket on SE 7th Street on Monday around 3:50 p.m.. Police said 42-year-old Gabriel Feliciano generated numerous calls for service by trespassing, yelling at customers and throwing rocks at staff. Store managers did not wish to pursue any charges, but they wanted him trespassed from the business. Officers contacted Feliciano and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. He had given them a false name, but they were able to determine his true identity. Feliciano was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant at a residence near Grants Pass last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 37-year-old Alejandro Soto at a home in the 300-block of Cherokee Lane on Sunday at 12:35 p.m.. Deputies said Soto was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2023 conviction for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was staying in a camper on the property and the owner left the gate open for deputies to enter. Soto was placed into custody at Taser point. Soto was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man last weekend for causing disturbances at the north Dollar Tree and a nearby neighborhood. According to the Police Department, officers responded to an incident involving 64-year-old Timothy Carl Ferguson at a home in the 700-block of NW 3rd Street on Sunday around 2:40 p.m.. Police said a resident reported Ferguson was cursing and yelling as he was walking up and down their street. The caller said he also tried to enter their backyard. He was hostile toward the reporting party and neighbors when they told him to leave their properties. Further investigation revealed that Ferguson had earlier obstructed traffic on NW 6th Street near Dollar Tree and pounded on a car in the store parking lot. He was located and placed into custody. Ferguson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Probation Violation related to an arrest for 1st-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police warned a Grants Pass motorist after he caused a weekend crash on Williams Highway near Murphy. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 238 at Fields Home Improvement Center on Saturday at 4:12 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated that 76-year-old Brett Lee Mickelson was driving a GMC Sierra pickup when he pulled out of the Fields parking lot in front of a Honda motorcycle ridden by 37-year-old Zachary Charles Tatom. According to the report, Tatom suffered minor injuries from the crash and his motorcycle was heavily damaged. Mickelson was not hurt and his pickup had minor damage. Neither vehicle required towing. Following the investigation, Mickelson was warned for Failure to Yield the Right of Way.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway near the Applegate River. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Honda Fit driven by 41-year-old Chance Garrett Milburn on US Highway 199 near Riverbanks Road at 12:09 a.m. Sunday. Troopers said they stopped Milburn for a traffic violation and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was well over the legal driving limit. Milburn was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded.