Local News

An officer-involved shooting occurred Wednesday at 12:13 p.m. in Eagle Point. The armed suspect is deceased. Eagle Point Police Department is the agency involved. An EPPD officer was injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Initially, EPPD officers responded to a domestic disturbance. The suspect was contacted near the Covered Bridge. There are no additional suspects and no threat to the public. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency. No additional information is available for release at this time. Further information will come from OSP or the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

 

Join millions of individuals throughout Oregon and across the globe today at 10:16 a.m. as they practice Drop, Cover and Hold On for the Great ShakeOut.

Known as the world’s largest earthquake drill, this annual event provides an opportunity for people in homes, schools, and businesses to assess their disaster preparedness, improve their emergency safety plans, and practice what to do in the event of a real earthquake.

In conjunction with the Great ShakeOut, Jackson County will be conducting a test of the new Jackson Alerts notification system. This service provides critical information quickly for a variety of emergency situations.

Those registered with Jackson Alerts will receive a test alert through all listed delivery methods -- call, text, and email -- between 10 am and 2 pm. It is vital to be prepared. Register, update your Jackson Alerts account, and learn more at JacksonAlerts.gov

For more information and resources to plan your drill, visit shakeout.org/Oregon, and remember, shake out, don’t freak out!

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night passed a resolution authorizing raises for non-bargaining employees.The action authorizes the City Manager to adjust the current management, supervisory and confidential non-bargaining employee salary schedules by the October 2024 consumer price index of 3.02 percent and apply it retroactively to July 1st of this year. This is an intermediate step to approve a cost of living adjustment for inflation to the current non-bargaining employee salary schedules. Those employees last received a COLA increase on July 1st of 2024. The total cost for the increase is $270,481. The funds for the increase were already included in the budget. The Council will continue to discuss a complete overhaul of the non-bargaining compensation and classification structure. The Council passed 10 resolutions authorizing the sale of easements to the Oregon Department of Transportation to allow for the improvement of ADA curb ramps within the city. The total revenue to the city is $27,150. Also passed was a resolution authorizing the payment of $50,000 to Main Street Grants Pass to assist with startup costs associated with the formation of the downtown association including the hiring of an executive director and support staff. Performance metrics are in place to determine any further funding.

 

A man refused to leave Rogue Roasters and was promptly arrested by Grants Pass Police Tuesday morning.

The suspect, later identified as Robert Smith, had been trespassed from the coffee shop at 610 SW 6th Street back on September 21st. He had been there for 15 minutes and was refusing to leave.

Officers contacted Smith, who seemed to be under the influence, and found he had a meth pipe in his possession. He was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Trespass and Possession of Meth.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Paradise Gardens Road in Grants Pass, regarding an illegal marijuana grow site. During the execution of the warrant on October 9th, approximately 130 marijuana plants and 50 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, one firearm, approximately 38 grams of cocaine, and approximately 1 gram of heroine were located and seized on scene during the search. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Julian Amani Hall, Jamie Marie Smith, Melvin Magee, and Keith Eric Pedrick were all taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of Unlawful Manufacturing and Possession of Marijuana. Hall has also been charged with Unlawful Possession of Cocaine.

 

A man turned himself in to Grants Pass police Tuesday morning for an outstanding warrant.

At 10:26 a.m., the suspect, Leif Bjornsen, arrived at the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at 726 NE 7th Street. He told officers he was turning himself in on a Curry County Sheriff's Office warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Officers confirmed his identity and proceeded to transport and lodge Bjornsen at the Josephine County Jail for his out of county warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police officers responded to a woman littering on the railroad tracks near Competitive Athletics Tuesday afternoon.

At 12:38 p.m., officers were told the suspect with a shopping cart and puppy was throwing items on the sidewalk and tracks around 105 NE 7th Street. She was stumbling around and the caller was concerned she may be hit by a train.

Upon contact, officers identified the suspect as Julie Hatt. She was charged with Offensive Littering, lodged in the Josephine County Jail, but then released due to lack of resources. Her dog was transported to the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

 

Grants Pass Police were called out to the MINT Navigation Center where a woman was causing a physical disturbance Tuesday afternoon.

At 2:41 p.m., dispatch was notified of a woman swinging and throwing a metal chair at the caller and another victim in the 218 Redwood Highway facility.

The chair hit the victim, and the caller said the suspect brandished and began swinging a silver folding knife, attempting to stab them. The suspect then ran towards the Lucky Lizard at 261 Rogue River Highway, swinging the knife at a motorcyclist and a FedEx driver delivering packages.

The suspect barricaded herself inside the Lucky Lizard, where officers tracked her down and identified her as Kirsten Sparacino.

Officers took Sparacino into custody and lodged her in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Attempted Assault, and two counts each of Menacing and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

 

The Josephine County Department of Recreation announced Tuesday updated renovation plans for Whitehorse Park's Upper Loop will proceed with completion expected by August 30, 2026. Whitehorse Park's team took feedback from the community and modified the renovation plans after years of discussion. Updates include the expansion and widening of existing campsites, adding water and electricity for partial RV hookups and 5 full hookup sites, improved traffic flow, and a new restroom facility set up within twelve months to begin Phase 2. Partial funding for the project comes in part from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, with the remainder supported by the Parks Capital Improvement Fund. For more information, call 541-474-5285.