Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for stealing a phone from another woman at a local sports bar the night before. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported theft at Joe's Sports Bar & Grill in the Grants Pass Shopping Center on Tuesday around 11:50 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report his girlfriend's iPhone 15 valued at $800 was stolen at the sports bar and it was "pinging" at Jack's Landing RV Resort in the north part of the city. They went to that location and contacted 44-year-old Jennifer Leann Lunsford who was found to be in possession of the phone. Lunsford admitted to taking the phone from the bar and she was placed into custody on Wednesday at 12:26 a.m.. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail. Lunsford was also warned for Driving While Suspended and her driver's license was seized.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on a statewide felony warrant this week. The Police Department reports officers placed 35-year-old Kristen Kay Rawlings into custody at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said a corrections officer alerted them that Rawlings was in the office lobby and she was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous drug conviction. Rawlings -- who was unaware that she was about to be arrested -- was placed into custody without incident. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Deputy Supervisor Michelle Holman recently signed a closure order for a section of the Butte Fork Trail located in the Red Buttes Wilderness. The Butte Fork Trail was officially closed to the public on November 9th of this year through November 9th of 2025, unless rescinded sooner. This temporary closure is in conjunction with the Butte Fork Bridge Closure that is already in place. It was implemented on October 9th due to catastrophic failure associated with decayed substructures under the bridge. The section of trail that is being temporarily closed is a small piece west of Horse Camp Trail and east of Shoofly Trail. The reason for this proposed action is because without a designated safe water crossing, it is in the best interest and safety of the public to explore other trails within the Red Buttes Wilderness. Access to Azalea Lake is still open from Shoofly Trailhead, heading west on Butte Fork Trail. Echo Lake will also be accessible via Horse Camp Trail.

 

Despite the testimony of more than 30 citizens who requested the cancellation or postponement of today's auction of around 1,800 acres of timber properties in the Williams area -- including Pipe Fork -- the Josephine County Board of Commissioners were still planning to move forward with the sale. The Board moved quickly through four Administrative Action items on yesterday's meeting agenda, which was followed by nearly two hours of public testimony from dozens of local residents including at least three children. The Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $500,000 for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program. County Property Manager Helene Lulich said the program is aimed at low- and moderate-income residents who live outside the City of Grants Pass, with a maximum of $25,000 available for eligible homeowners to repair their homes. A related CDBG subrecipient agreement with Home Bridging to help administer the program was also approved by the Board. In other business, the Board approved a service contract with Push Enterprises, Inc., for a bull-riding event during the 2025 Josephine County Fair.

 

A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the US Forest Service's Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026 has been unanimously approved by the US Senate. But it still must be passed by the US House and signed by President Joe Biden. US Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mike Crapo of Idaho were joined by US Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Jim Risch of Idaho in reintroducing the bill earlier this year. SRS was authored by Wyden and enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. Nearly two-thirds of Josephine County lands are federally-managed and not part of the local tax base that provides services. The US Forest Service and US Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. SRS funds are critical to maintain education programs and law enforcement for many rural counties that contain federal lands that are exempt from property taxes.

 

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, The Salvation Army in Southern Oregon is preparing for an unprecedented increase in requests for holiday food boxes from families in need. In light of this demand, The Salvation Army is appealing to the community for donations of turkeys and funds to help ensure that every family can experience the joy and comfort of a holiday meal this season. In Grants Pass, The Salvation Army anticipates distributing 200 Thanksgiving Food Boxes, a significant increase over previous years. Captain Yohani Ortiz, Corps Officer for Josephine County, called the need in this community "greater than ever." He said they're seeing more families who are struggling to make ends meet, and they're committed to providing hope and sustenance to as many families as possible. The Salvation Army in Medford is also witnessing a sharp rise in need, with a 40% increase in requests for services this year alone. The Medford Corps expects to provide over 475 turkeys to families who would otherwise go without a holiday meal.

 

Despite the testimony of more than 30 citizens who requested the cancellation or postponement of tomorrow's auction of around 1,800 acres of timber properties in the Williams area -- including Pipe Fork -- the Josephine County Board of Commissioners still plan to move forward with the sale. The Board moved quickly through four Administrative Action items on today's meeting agenda, which was followed by nearly two hours of public testimony from dozens of local residents including at least three children. The Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $500,000 for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program. County Property Manager Helene Lulich said the program is aimed at low- and moderate-income residents who live outside the City of Grants Pass, with a maximum of $25,000 available for eligible homeowners to repair their homes. A related CDBG subrecipient agreement with Home Bridging to help administer the program was also approved by the Board. In other business, the Board approved a service contract with Push Enterprises, Inc., for a bull-riding event during the 2025 Josephine County Fair. Recreation Director Tamra Martin said one of the advantages of moving the fair up one week next year is adding rodeo-style events such as this one to the mix of entertainment. The Board also approved a Workers Compensation Non-Disabling Reimbursement Statement of $24,500, which Finance Director Sandy Novak said is designed to keep the County's workers compensation rates low.

 

Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) arrested two men last week for trafficking methamphetamine from California into Southern Oregon. Following a long-term investigation, MADGE made contact with several people and a vehicle in Ashland on November 5th. After executing a search warrant on the vehicle, detectives seized approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Two men -- 62-year-old Randall Banks of Sonora, California, and 42-year-old Gabriel Calderon of Madera, California -- were arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Felony Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Meth. The MADGE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force focused on identifying, disrupting and dismantling local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations. MADGE works in coordination with the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). MADGE includes members from the Medford Police Department, Eagle Point Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Jackson County Parole & Probation, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for being aggressive with his ex-wife at a home they still share. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 32-year-old male subject for the incident at a residence on Dyer Road on Tuesday at 8:06 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-husband grabbed her arm with brute force, causing a red mark. She stated that she and her ex are divorced, but they still live together for their children. Fortunately, the children had left for school and were not present when the incident occurred. Upon arrival, officers contacted the man and he admitted to aggressively taking a cigarette away from his ex-wife and current roommate while she was smoking. The woman's arm was red and had a half-inch abrasion from where he grabbed her. She did not require medical attention. After the victim advised she wished to pursue charges, the suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment. He was being held without bail.