Local News

"Buckle Up" for Day 2 of the 2025 Josephine County Fair in Grants Pass. The Fairground gates will be open between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., with free admission plus free parking and a shuttle at Rogue Community College. The Caveman Kiwanis is offering parking at the Fairgrounds for $10. The featured entertainment at the Fair today is a country music concert at the Grandstand with Ned Ledoux at 7 p.m. followed by Rodney Atkins at 8:30. It's brought to you in part by KRRM Radio and Grants Pass Broadcasting. "Live" on the Pavilion Stage, it's Bridge 222 at 6:30 p.m. followed by No-Bodies Ghost at 8. Daily entertainment includes Exhibit Halls, Selfie Fair, Rockin' Rentals, Kidz Alley, Bingo and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show plus strolling entertainers on the Midway. The carnival opens at 2 p.m.. In the barns, see local kids with their livestock including swine, sheep, goats and beef. That's in addition to numerous vendors and great Fair food options. For more information about the Fair, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

 

The City of Grants Pass will once again be offering three free Movies in the Park in August. The schedule includes "Cool Runnings" on August 8th at Reinhart Volunteer Park, "The Wild Robot" on August 15th at Riverside Park and "A Minecraft Movie" on August 22nd at Redwood Park. The Friday film series starts at dusk. The free movies are brought to you by Grants Pass Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Rogue Credit Union.

 

Four people were injured -- three of them seriously -- in a motor vehicle accident that occurred on Redwood Highway in Selma yesterday. On Tuesday at 3:25 p.m., the Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response rushed to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of US Highway 199 and Lakeshore Drive. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a red sport utility vehicle made an unsafe turn and a white sedan was unable to stop before crashing into the SUV. The vehicles were identified as a Scio XB and a Toyota Venza. The drivers were identified as 49-year-old Brian Scott Tibbils of Central Point and 65-year-old Kandy Kay Velasquez of The Dalles, but it was unclear in the report which vehicles they were driving. According to OSP, three passengers in the Toyota were transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with serious injuries while the driver of the Scio was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Both vehicles were towed to Cave Junction. It was also unclear in the OSP report if any citations were issued.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his post-prison supervision early yesterday after he caused a disturbance at Grocery Outlet. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the store off NE Agness Avenue on Tuesday around 9:25 a.m.. Police said the Grocery Outlet general manager called 9-1-1 to report that 49-year-old Kenneth Daniel Reynolds was screaming and threatening to kill people while acting aggressively to both employees and customers. A landscaper intervened and the suspect fled the area. The caller said it appeared the man was holding a knife when he threatened her. Responding officers located Reynolds in an open field on NE Fairview Avenue. He was placed into custody and found to be in possession of a glass pipe with a crystal residue that tested positive as methamphetamine, but no knife was found. His corrections officer was called and requested that his client be detained. Reynolds was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested two motorists for impaired driving in separate traffic stops in the Grants Pass area yesterday. OSP reports the first incident occurred at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday when state troopers pulled over a blue Toyota driven by 25-year-old Alejandro Gaona-Valdovinos of Farmersville, California, near milepost 62 of northbound Interstate 5. Troopers said they stopped Gaona-Valdovinos for speeding and he displayed strong signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, he refused to provide a breath sample. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded. The second incident happened at 10:34 p.m. Tuesday when troopers pulled over a silver Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 62-year-old James Alexander Simms of Grants Pass near the corner of 6th and L streets. Troopers said they stopped Simms for multiple traffic violations and he displayed strong signs of impairment. After performing 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 a high level of intoxication. Simms was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony DUII, Felony Driving While Suspended, Felony Methamphetamine Possession, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was being held without bail and his SUV was towed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed into a parked vehicle near the downtown area last night. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 500-block of NW A Street on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.. Police were alerted to an incident in which the male driver of a Jeep Wrangler collided with a parked vehicle and was trying to take off. Witnesses reported the driver seemed to be impaired. He was lone occupant and no one was hurt. Upon arrival, officers contacted 26-year-old Brendan Scott Hobgood who admitted to consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana before driving and crashing. They said he consented to field sobriety tests, but was unable to complete them due to his high level of impairment. Hobgood was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center where he provided breath and urine samples. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and released to his mother.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a petty theft suspect at a downtown resting site early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 24-year-old Alycsander Truel Morgan at the 6th & A Street homeless encampment on Tuesday shortly before 7 a.m.. Police said they were performing a patrol check at the site when they spotted Morgan and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. He was placed into custody without incident. Morgan was lodged in jail on the warrant and his bail was set at $5,000.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested an Illinois Valley man while raiding an illegal cannabis growing operation near Cave Junction last week. Last Wednesday, JMET -- with assistance from the US Marshals Service, US Homeland Security Investigations, US Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and Rogue Area Drug Enforcement -- served search warrants on separate properties in the 4,000- and 5,000-blocks of Holland Loop Road. During execution of the warrants, approximately 5,000 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. Four firearms were also seized on one of the properties. Both sites had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in civil forfeiture of the properties. JMET detectives said 34-year-old Joseph Aaron Barany was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. According to JMET, the investigation is ongoing and no further details about the incident are being released at this time.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Merlin early yesterday. On Tuesday at 1:27 a.m., the Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash on Merlin Road at Ort Lane. Rural Metro officials reported the collision occurred between a motorcycle and an automobile. They said the driver of the vehicle was not hurt, but the condition of the motorcyclist was unknown because they fled before the arrival of emergency services. Deputies said the motorcycle had been reported stolen and they were investigating in order to identify and locate the suspect. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call (541)-474-5123.