Local News

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has issued a "Sex Offender Notification" to the public on a man who has been convicted for sex abuse and attempted rape. The Sheriff's Office reports 46-year-old Uriah Shawn Strauss was released from custody by court order on Wednesday. Strauss is a Level 3 Sex Offender which means he has been labeled as having the highest risk of reoffending. He may not knowingly communicate in any manner with a person under 18 years of age with the intent to commit a crime and he may not knowingly enter or remain in or upon premises where persons under 18 years of age regularly congregate such as schools, childcare centers or playgrounds. In the past, Strauss has requested assistance from women unknown to him and stalked them. He targeted females in public places where he detained and tried to sexually assault them. Targeted victims were adult and juvenile females. Strauss has contacted women through various means and stalked them at their place of work, school, by phone, mail and e-mail. He also attempted to contact women through social media, phonebook records and advertisements. Report any misconduct or violations to your local law enforcement agency.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 200 jobs in February. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 99,252 people working in Jackson County in February for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.9%, which was down from 6.1% in January. The largest decreases were estimated in retail trade, private education & health services, and financial activities. Industries posting job gains over the month included professional & business services and manufacturing. Government employment rose by 50 jobs in February, with a gain of 70 in local government education slightly offset by a loss of 10 in federal government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County slipped by 110 jobs or .01%. Since February 2024, Jackson County industries adding jobs were private education & health services (+520), retail trade (+300) and other services (+140). Industries with over-the-year losses included leisure & hospitality (-350), financial activities (-140), professional & business services (-130) and construction (-50).

 

The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has closed BLM Road 38-2-29.1 through April 30th for public safety. The road provides access to the East Applegate Ridge Trailhead from Sterling Creek Road. A private landowner is exercising a right-of-way to haul timber across the BLM Road. The timber is being removed from private lands in the area. These actions create significant safety risks to the public. BLM officials said the operator has blocked off the road, so do not hike past the closure. Members of the public have hiked through the timber operation, slowing down the project and requiring an extended closure. BLM Ashland Field Manager Lauren Brown said this closure is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and the heavy equipment operators. She said obeying the closure will allow the operator continue working without interruptions. The western access to the East Applegate Ridge Trail on Highway 238 will remain open.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is slated to make decisions on several action items during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. After proclaiming April 13th-19th as "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week," the Board will consider a total of seven Administrative Action items. The Commissioners will first consider Annual Department of Environmental Quality Rebate Funds followed by a DEQ Authorization Form. There is also a Letter of Support for the Animal Shelter Capital Improvement Request. In other business, the Board will consider an order designating a newspaper of record for publication of county notices. The current newspaper of record is the Illinois Valley News -- not the Grants Pass Daily Courier. Also on the agenda are appointments of the Josephine County Planning Director and Building Official as well as an order dissolving the Parks Advisory Board. Friday's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client for using an artificial device to falsify a drug test late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 22-year-old Tyler Jacob Forni-Howard at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday at 4:27 p.m.. During a meeting with his corrections officer, police said Forni-Howard admitted to wearing an artificial bladder containing the urine of another person on his leg and using the device in an attempt to falsify the results of a required drug test. The device was found when Forni-Howard was patted down after the test. It was seized as evidence and the suspect was placed into custody. Forni-Howard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Falsifying Drug Test Results and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

A Cave Junction man was arrested for impaired driving and more after he crashed into a Josephine County Sheriff's Office vehicle on Redwood Highway and fled the scene yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the incident on US Highway 199 near Hogue Drive on Wednesday around 2:45 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that 29-year-old Karl Cody Arnold was driving a Toyota Solara when he wrecked into a Sheriff's Chevrolet Silverado patrol pickup driven by a 35-year-old male deputy. No one was hurt and the suspect took off after the crash. Arnold was tracked down and pulled over a short time later. He showed strong signs of impairment and was determined to be impaired at the time of the crash. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he provided a breath sample that was 2-1/2 times the legal driving limit. Arnold was jailed for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Recklessly Endangering a Highway Worker and Public Indecency. His wrecked car was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police cited an elderly motorist after he struck a Josephine County Sheriff's patrol vehicle on Redwood Highway near Hayes Hill yesterday. According to OSP, troopers responded to the two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near milepost 15 on Wednesday at 5:21 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated that a 90-year-old Kerby man was driving a Mazda MZ3 and a 53-year-old male deputy was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicle when the wreck occurred. The deputy was passing the slower Mazda sedan when its driver made an unlawful lane change and hit the deputy's vehicle. No one was hurt and neither vehicle required towing. Following the investigation, the Kerby man was cited for Unlawful Lane Change and Driving While Suspended. He was also warned for No Insurance.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department continues its recent focus on citing motorists for traffic violations. Between 6 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, GPPD officers pulled over a total of seven motorists in different parts of the city. The traffic stops occurred at SE 6th and J streets, the 100-block of NE Mill Street, Redwood Highway at Tussey Lane, Grants Pass Parkway at NE Beacon Drive, Harbeck Road at SE Aztec Drive, and NE 6th and A Streets. In one incident, a Door Dash worker was observed using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle and driving through a red light. He was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and Distracted Driving. In another incident, a female motorist was observed swerving in her travel lane and making a left turn from the right lane without a signal. She was cited to appear in court for No Operators License. A licensed driver took possession of the vehicle.

 

Grants Pass Police cited three people and trespassed one of them during a patrol check at a temporary homeless campground early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers cited Holly Long, Jeffery McPeake and Lori Signs for Utilization of Space at the NE 7th Street campsite on Wednesday. Officers said they trespassed Signs from the campsite for 30 days due to repeat violations. Signs was also issued a trespassing warning at Newman United Methodist Church.