Local News

The County Commissioners are slated to sign an agreement with Oregon State University to return the extension service and 4-H to Josephine County during their Weekly Business Session this morning.
The Board will first consider a resolution to loan general fund dollars to the Grants Pass Airport. The Board will hear requests and comments from citizens before voting on the Consent Calendar. The meeting will be held in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium at 600 Northwest 6th Street at 10 a.m.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission due to a vacancy. This position expires on December 7, 2026. The committee’s purpose is to review proposed alterations to any Historic District or designated structure in the Urban Growth Boundary; to promote the community historic preservation; to advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation; and to identify areas of archeological significance and buildings of historic or archeological significance. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. This position is for a representative from local historical societies in Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or by following the link below to apply online. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Thursday, August 14, 2025. The Council will interview applicants at the Council Workshop on Monday, September 15, 2025, and make appointments at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

 

A Medford man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for using Snapchat and Kik Messenger, online social media and messaging platforms, to coerce and sexually exploit an Oregon child online.
Nicholas James Shaw, 38, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution to his victims.According to court documents, in March 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received CyberTips regarding child sexual exploitation materials uploaded to their platforms between October 2021 and April 2022. Investigators traced the accounts to Shaw and learned that, for approximately eight months, Shaw had engaged in sexually explicit communications with a minor online and coerced the victim into producing and sending him sexually explicit photos and videos. On June 28, 2022, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant on Shaw’s residence and seized several electronic devices which contained child sexual abuse material. On June 29, 2022, Shaw was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transportation, receipt, distribution, possession, and access with intent to view child pornography.On January 21, 2025, Shaw pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. As part of the plea agreement, Shaw agreed to pay restitution in full to his victims and forfeit criminally derived property used to facilitate his crimes.This case was investigated by Homeland Security with assistance from the Medford Police Department. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is searching for a man missing out of Gold Hill since the evening of July 14. Roland “Rolly” Renfro left his house in the 1500 block of Rogue River Highway in Gold Hill and was last seen driving east in his Silver 2015 Ford F-350 with a personalized license plate of ELK-RNR. Roland is described as a 73-year-old man with fair skin, standing 6’1” tall, weighing 320 lbs., bald with hazel eyes. He is accompanied by his small pug/terrier mix dog. Roland has existing medical issues which require daily medications and it is unknown if he has those with him. He frequents the outdoors and is likely in a rural part of Jackson County.JCSO, Family, and friends have searched the Gold hill/Butte Falls/Prospect areas and have been unable to locate him or his vehicle. If you see Roland or his vehicle, call ECSO Non-Emergency Dispatch at (541) 776-7206 and reference JCSO Case 25-3740.

 

Fire lines across the Grizzly Complex are holding strong as firefighters work to finalize containment and extinguish remaining hot spots. The overall containment across the complex reached 58%, with all fires individually at least 50% contained. Over half of the fires reached 90% or more containment and are being actively patrolled for potential flare-ups, although none have been found to date. Today, continued progress is expected, with day crews aiming to complete 300 feet of mop-up into the fire perimeters, extinguishing all fire or heat throughout these areas. This progress will allow repair work to begin and enable some resources to be released from the fire line. Initial attack resources from ODF CIMT 3 remain ready to respond to any new flare-ups or fire starts in the area alongside the ODF Southwest Oregon District. Some smoke may still be visible from the center of fire perimeters. Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notices remain in place for zones JAC-542, JAC-558, and Zone JAC-536. For the latest updates on evacuations, visit: https://protect.genasys.com. All lanes on Interstate 5 are now open, but firefighters are still working in the area. Please be aware and use caution when traveling near any fire zones.

 

The City Council approved the annexation of a property at 600 Roguelea Lane into the city limits. The south edge of the property abuts the city limits at the north end of Larch Lane. The parcel already has city zoning of R-1-8. The general plan from the developer is a 20-lot residential subdivision with 5 parent parcels for 69 middle housing units. The council approved a resolution authorizing the city’s Floodplain Manager to execute the FEMA required pre-implementation compliance measures on a permit by permit basis. This allows homeowners within the 100-Gpyear flood plain to access flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program. The permit by permit plan allows the community to evaluate compliance with the Environmental Species Act through the use of a Habitat Assessment report.

 

Multiple 911 calls sent Grants Police Officers hurrying to the South Y intersection to investigate a white male adult walking east in the middle of the road during prime afternoon drive time. The first call at 5:14 p.m. described the man and stated he was walking in and out of traffic, attempted to enter the caller’s vehicle and attempted to get into other vehicles as well. Other callers stated the man was knocking on other car’s windows when they were stopped at traffic lights. An officer reported having eyes on the suspect at 5:17 and being out with the subject at 5:19. The subject was identified as 28-year-old William Gene Bruhnsen-Studzinski and was officially arrested at 5:31p.m. He was lodged in the county jail on a charge of disorderly conduct II. He was previously arrested on July 12th for criminal trespass and on June 23rd for resisting arrest, interfering with a police officer, criminal mischief II and reckless burning.

 

An anonymous 911 call Tuesday night just after 11 p.m. alerted Grants Pass City Police to a suspected intoxicated driver with a distressed infant in the back seat sending Officers northbound on Hawthorne Avenue. A license plate number returned to a Trevor Janssen and Officers located the vehicle at the registered address in the 1700 block of Hawthorne Avenue with the driver’s door left open and the infant alone in the back seat. According to the police report Janssen came out of his residence several minutes later and showed signs of impairment. He consented to field sobriety tests and a breath test. He was arrested and lodged in the county jail on charges of driving under the influence, child neglect and recklessly endangering. He remained in custody Wednesday morning. The child’s mother responded to take the infant into her care.

 

The Oregon State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash near milepost 8 on the Redwood Highway Tuesday morning about 6:30 that resulted in road blockage and serious injuries. All occupants were transported to medical centers for treatment. The at-fault driver and passenger received the greatest injuries with both taken into surgery and were still being treated in the intensive care unit Wednesday morning. The other driver had minimal injuries. Few other details were available other than one vehicle was a Ford Focus and one was a GMC Pickup. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.