Local News

The Board of Commissioners approved a Whitehorse Park change order, Information Technology storage request, and Sheriff's Department position requisitions from Human Resources.

During their 1:30 p.m. workshop, Commissioners Ron Smith and Colene Martin met to consider department business requests. Commissioner Gary Richardson is currently on vacation.

The Parks Department was reported to be under budget with the Whitehorse Park project, prompting the Aegis Asphalt Construction change order in the amount of $86,499.95. Funding is provided by the Parks Capital Fund and Land/Water Conservation Fund. A motion to approve the signing of the order passed 2-0.

The board approved without objection a BCC Ordinance amending a Comp Plan Zone Change and Goal Exception. The first reading is set for August 19, with the second for September 2nd.

A motion to approve IT's request to purchase data storage for the County passed 2-0, as did their request for employee email access, amended to include two mentioned employees. The board moved in favor of signing off on a collective bargaining agreement, and position requisitions for the Sheriff's Office were approved.

Vacancies for Corporal Patrol and Deputy Patrol will be filled, as will two Deputy Major Crimes positions, and Eight Deputy Patrol positions, all of which were approved in the 2026-27 budget. A motion to approve Association of Oregon Counties dues in the amount of $41,329.93 passed 2-0.

The board discussed County Communications. They have approved $85,000 for a patch to the system which is eight weeks out, to later be completely remodeled.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged two suspects on warrants in separate cases Monday afternoon.

The first suspect, Dereck Fry, was stopped by law enforcement for illegal display around 2:38 p.m. at the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Hillcrest Drive. Upon contact with Fry, he was reportedly hostile and had a loaded firearm sitting in front of him.

The officer recognized Fry and knew he was wanted on a Josephine County Sheriff's Office warrant for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. His arms were restrained at the scene until additional units arrived. Officers took Fry into custody and lodged him in jail for his warrant.

Not long after, police took Cody Lutrell into constructive custody at the Oilstop Drive-Thru around 2:54 p.m. He was known by the officer to have a warrant out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for Driving Under the Influence, so he was taken into custody.

His parole officer requested a detainer, and law enforcement proceeded to lodge Lutrell in the Adult Jail Facility for his warrant and detainer.

 

A Grants Pass Police officer located and arrested a man wanted on a warrant while on a welfare check for a different individual.

A call to 911 Monday around 8:28 p.m. reported someone was sitting on a bench in Tussing Park who appeared to be under the influence and may need checking on. The caller also reported seeing three other individuals wandering in the 800 W Park Street area using drugs.

Upon arrival and while attempting to locate the initial subject, the officer came into contact with Trevor Bowen. He was known to be wanted on a serviceable misdemeanor warrant out of the police department for a dangerous drugs charge.

Dispatch confirmed the warrant, and Bowen was arrested. He was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant. No other individuals contacted appeared to be under the influence.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department completed a thorough investigation into the recent gel-bead incident in which a female juvenile was victimized.

According to the department's Facebook page, several arrests were made as a result of the investigation. Three juveniles were lodged at the Juvenile Justice Center for Assault in the Third Degree, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Criminal Conspiracy.

Two other juveniles will have the same charges referred to the Juvenile Department.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged one and warned another during a contact near The Laughing Clam this morning.

Three suspects were located in the alley by the 121 SW G Street restaurant around 3:08 a.m. One of them, Angela Smith, was found to be wanted on two warrants out of the Grants Pass Police Department.

Her charges included Possession of Fentanyl and Failure to Comply. Officers confirmed the warrants and took Smith into custody. She was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility and lodged. One of the other three suspects was warned for sleeping in the alley.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 170 jobs in June. According to the Oregon Employment Department, job gains were estimated in leisure and hospitality (+100); state government (+30); and local government (+20). Other published industries had little or no employment change in June. Over the past year payroll employment in the Grants Pass MSA (Josephine County) decreased by 70 jobs, a loss of -0.3%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries, excluding private education and health services, which gained 300 jobs. Job declines occurred in retail trade (-60); construction (-50); manufacturing (-50); financial activities (-40); information (-30); and leisure and hospitality (-30). Transportation, warehousing, and utilities employment decreased by 50 jobs since June 2025. Government employment fell by 120 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-100) while federal government also lost 20 jobs over the year. Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 6.8% in June, little changed over the month and down slightly from the June 2025 rate of 7.2%.

 

Local business leader Kaycee Miller has been elected President of the Board of Directors of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI).

In her new role, Miller will help cultivate partnerships, programs and services that support local entrepreneurs and businesses as they launch, expand and relocate across Southern Oregon. A Grants Pass resident, she has served on the SOREDI Board since 2020, spent the past two years as Vice President of the Board and is co-owner of Rentec Direct.

She will lead a board of more than 20 members serving 15 jurisdictions, supporting SOREDI’s work to advance regional economic growth and opportunity through community services including business counseling, administrative support and a network of member organizations.

Established in 1987, SOREDI is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing business prosperity and economic vitality in Jackson and Josephine Counties.

 

Overnight crews on the East Evans Creek Fire took advantage of cooler conditions to strengthen containment, expand mop-up, and reinforce control lines. Containment is at 17% for the 15,705 acre fire. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports crews remain vigilant as triple-digit temperatures, lower relative humidity, a lifting inversion, and the potential for isolated thunderstorms could increase fire activity. Crews are further addressing remaining areas of unburned vegetation to reduce fuel and strengthen containment of the Board Mountain spot fire. On the Canyon Creek spot, firefighters continue extinguishing scattered pockets of heat where the fire burned unevenly. Structure protection crews are extending mop-up in the Long Branch area outside Shady Cove, where fire previously encroached on homes, while proactive protection remains in place throughout the Shady Cove, Trail, and Dry Creek communities. In the Dry Creek and Shiloh areas, firefighters are advancing farther into the fire interior.

 

Progress continues to be made on the East Evans Creek Fire as crews caught new spot fires and breaches of control line today. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports firefighters continued adding depth to mop-up operations throughout the day. Cloud cover helped to naturally decrease fire behavior and resources pushed forward on connecting and strengthening fireline. Wind created new spot fires, all of which were caught at small sizes, and containment on the main fire has increased to 17%. The Board Mountain spot fire remains the most active portion of the incident. Resources assigned to the southern portion caught fire crossing the control line using heavy equipment and helicopters. Structural resources continued suppression efforts by providing a continuous water supply. On the Canyon Creek spot fire, aircraft and firefighters quickly responded to new spots in the area and will continue to do so throughout the night. Crews are nearing 100-feet mop-up into the spot fire interior northwest of Hull Mountain.