Local News

Josephine County Public Works has announced that the main entrance to its facility behind the Fairgrounds will be closed Monday and Tuesday for a sewer project. The main gate on River Heights Way will be inaccessible due to the construction work. The secondary gate on Ringuette Street will be open to all traffic. Public Works understands this is an inconvenience for all visitors and officials appreciate your patience and cooperation during the project. For more information, contact Josephine County Public Works at (541)-474-5460.

 

The Board of Commissioners on Thursday made a proclamation on behalf of Josephine County Community Corrections. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett read the proclamation naming July 20th-26th as "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week." Community Corrections Director Scott Hyde thanked the Board for the positive endorsement of the work done by the department's approximately 80 employees. Conspicuously absent from the meeting was an agreement between the Oregon State University Extension Service and Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech postponed consideration of the agreement last week, stating that the pact was "not ready." With less than one week before the County Fair, no action was taken. It should be noted that Blech cast the lone dissenting vote when the Board recently reinstated the 4-H Extension Service District. During the public comment period, former Juvenile Justice Director Jim Goodwin spoke in favor of increased transparency by the Board when it comes to personnel decisions. Former Grants Pass City Councilor Vanessa Ogier spoke about what she called the "dismantling" of Josephine County Emergency Management operations.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 310 jobs in June, with private education & health services posting the largest drop. The Oregon Employment Department reports there were 100,850 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.3%, which was up slightly over the 5.2% mark recorded in May. Private education & health services was down by 460 jobs. Employment in Jackson County also declined in professional & business services and other services. Industries with estimated job gains in June were leisure & hospitality, retail trade, wholesale trade and construction. Government employment slipped by 80 jobs last month. Local government education shed 100 jobs while slight gains were posted in state and federal government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County climbed by 360 jobs, or 0.4%. Payroll employment in neighboring Josephine County fell sharply by 2.8%. Since June 2024, Jackson County industries adding jobs included private education & health services, leisure & hospitality, retail trade, and professional & business services.

 

The Redwood Foundation for Education has announced $385,000 in grant awards to nine organizations serving the youngest members of our community through the Coalition for Kids Fund. The Coalition for Kids Fund was established in 2020 to support programs that strengthen protective factors in families and the community while increasing health outcomes for children in their earliest years of life. Each year, local community-based organizations serving children from birth through age 5 in Josephine County are eligible to submit grant applications to be reviewed by the C4K Fund Advisory Committee. In the largest grant, Oregon Center for Creative Learning was awarded $250,000 to support the capital campaign for the Grants Pass Children's Museum and Ivy School. Siskiyou Community Health Center was awarded $30,000 to support Project Baby Check -- a free and voluntary home visiting program that focuses on healthy child development. Scholarships and grants are made possible through the generosity of our local community.

 

The Board of Commissioners this morning made a proclamation on behalf of Josephine County Community Corrections. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett read the proclamation naming July 20th-26th "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week." Community Corrections Director Scott Hyde thanked the Board for the positive endorsement of the work done by the department's approximately 80 employees. Conspicuously absent from the meeting was an agreement between the Oregon State University Extension Service and Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech postponed consideration of the agreement last week, stating that the pact was "not ready." With less than one week before the County Fair, no action was taken. It should be noted that Blech cast the lone dissenting vote when the Board recently reinstated the 4-H Extension Service District. To date, Blech has yet to vote against any of the controversial measures approved by the former Board of Commissioners that included Herman Baertschiger, John West and him. During the public comment period, former Juvenile Justice Director Jim Goodwin spoke in favor of increased transparency by the Board when it comes to personnel decisions. Former Grants Pass City Councilor Vanessa Ogier spoke about what she called the "dismantling" of Josephine County Emergency Management operations. Several people spoke in favor of programs offered by the Josephine Community Library District including dog handlers involved in K9 Reading Buddies.

 

The 469-acre Board Shanty Fire south of Grants Pass continues to be mopped up by firefighters around the clock. Resources during Wednesday's two work shifts pushed forward and brought containment up to 37% by this morning. Firefighters planned to continue this work today, with 204 personnel assigned to the wildfire including eight 20-person hand crews, two engines, five water tenders, a set of tree fallers and various overhead positions. Oregon Department of Forestry resources will spend the day searching for hot spots and areas with remaining heat or embers that could flare up in the hot conditions and reignite the fire. By methodically extinguishing these areas, the overall line built around the fire is strengthened and containment increases. In most areas, the fire has been mopped up 200 feet from the line into the interior of the fire. These areas will continue to be checked, with the goal being further progress on the incident. Tonight, 105 personnel will be assigned to the fire to continue mopping up. Aircraft remain available if needed, but the majority of the remaining work must be done by firefighters on the ground. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area to create a safe airspace for fire-related aircraft when needed. Any and all drone use will be reported to law enforcement. Josephine County Zones 436, 437 and 448-A remain under a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice until further notice.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his girlfriend while breaking a window on her vehicle in the south part of the city last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Jeremy Douglas McGhee for the incident at an Independence Drive residence on Wednesday at 9:17 p.m.. Police said McGhee's girlfriend called 9-1-1 to report that he was intoxicated after drinking a bottle and a half of liquor and was "smarting off" when he told him to "shut up." McGhee then flipped over a tray table containing food and threw a small dog toy at the woman, striking her. She was frightened, but not hurt. According to the report, the victim tried to leave the home because she was in fear McGhee would seriously injure her. While seated in her car, McGhee used his fist to shatter the front driver-side window of the vehicle before she was able to drive away and call for law enforcement assistance. Officers arrived on scene and placed McGhee into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for breaking into the garage of a Cave Junction residence late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 34-year-old Meghan Melissa Gomez for the incident in the 200-block of Nolan Lane on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m.. Deputies said the male occupant called 9-1-1 when he returned home and found Gomez inside the attached garage going through his belongings and removing some items. The victim said the female subject took a seat at the south end of his driveway and refused to leave. She also refused to identify herself. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gomez and she admitted that she did not have permission to be inside of the garage. A consent search of her backpack revealed $300 worth of stolen items along with a glass pipe and a small baggie of a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Gomez was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and Possession of Meth. She was being held without bail.

 

For the third time this week, Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by contacting a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports officers arrested 54-year-old Jason Mecham for the latest incident in the 2500-block of SW Keagan's Court on Tuesday at 8:52 p.m.. Police said Mecham violated a valid restraining order within five hours of being released from jail for the second time in two days. This time, they said he sent the protected woman two text messages telling her how sorry he was and begging for forgiveness. Instead, she call 9-1-1 and officers searched for the suspect. Mecham was observed near the South Y intersection by an officer who contacted him and placed him into custody. He readily admitted to sending repeated texts to the victim. Mecham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for five counts of Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.