Local News

A man refused to leave Grocery Outlet Monday morning, leading to a call to 911.

The suspect was reportedly yelling at customers while employees tried to get him to leave the 350 NE Agness Avenue grocery store. He eventually did leave on foot towards to former Big Lots.

The caller reported the suspect had shoulder length gray hair and a beard. He was wearing a brown sweatshirt, black shirt, and blue jeans. A trespass request was made, and Grants Pass Police located a man fitting the description by the Big Lots.

Officers contacted the man, Jacob Reeder, and contacted his Parole Officer. A detainer was requested, so he was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

The manager of Grocery Outlet advised officers that Reeder wasn't the trespasser. Donn Fincher was then identified by officers as the suspect and was warned trespass from the store. Reeder was not trespassed.

 

A call to the 911 Dispatch Center reported an indecent exposure incident at the Grants Pass Pharmacy Monday evening.

The caller advised dispatch at 5:12 p.m. that she was walking by the 414 SW 6th Street pharmacy when she reportedly saw a man in the doorway exposing himself.

Officers arrived to search the area and found the suspect, identified as Jake Thompson, at 420 SW 6th Street. Probable cause was not established for indecent exposure, but officers did contact his Parole Officer, who requested a detainer.

Thompson was taken into custody, transported, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Board of Commissioners will convene for their Weekly Business Session Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.

A public hearing in the matter of Library Annexations will start the meeting, followed by administrative actions in consideration of rescheduling Weekly Business Session Meetings for 2026, and the procedure for setting fees charged by the County and setting public hearings.

The board will hear requests and comments from citizens, approve the consent calendar, then, pending other matters, adjourn the meeting.

Wednesday's 9 a.m. Weekly Business Session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, 600 NW 6th Street, will be livestreamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Those in attendance must comply with the clear bag policy.

At 1 p.m., the board will meet in the BCC Conference Room for an Appointment for Josephine County Commissioner Position 1 meeting.

 

The Grants Pass City Council concluded their workshop Monday with unanimous approval of a motion for the Parks Department to explore designs for a natural playground at Reinhart Volunteer Park.

A motion failed to increase the number of members on the Committee on Public Art from 9 to 11, and a request was made for a short executive session Wednesday to give the council updates on an HR position.

A Strategic Planning Meeting will convene January 15th and 16th, and a special meeting for the non-bargaining taskforce will meet January 20th at 11:45 a.m.

The Council will next convene Wednesday for their meeting in Council Chambers, beginning with a Public Hearing regarding an ordinance amending Development Code for Zoning Districts.

Council action will follow with an ordinance to municipal code providing clarification to better address public safety risks associated with open flames and flammable materials in parks and exclusion orders.

Appointments will be made to the Committee on Public Art and the Bikeways and Walkways Commission, followed by Public Comment and the Consent Agenda. After comments from the Mayor, Council, and Staff, the meeting will adjourn.

An Urban Renewal Agency Meeting will then convene for a resolution designating the City Manager as the Budget Officer.

Wednesday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street.

 

Applications are being accepted for three positions on the Tourism Advisory Committee due to term expirations.

These are three-year positions. The goal of the Committee is to encourage visitors and residents to engage in community activities while enhancing the positive image of our City through marketing, promotions, and destination management.

The purpose of the Tourism Advisory Committee is to review and advise the work of the City’s Tourism Contractor. This includes reporting findings and recommendations to the City Council as needed.

One member will represent lodging properties within the City of Grants Pass, and two members will represent river guides, area attractions, realtors, restaurants, the media, marketing, and citizens-at-large.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on February 27th.

Applications will be reviewed by the committee March 3rd. Appointments will be made by the Council during their meeting March 18th.

 

The Grants Pass City Council was unanimous in a motion to move forward with gathering more information on a proposed project for Riverside Park's Caretaker's Cottage at the start of today's workshop. Bradley Clark with Community Development presented in consideration of Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) regarding the cottage. A previous community survey result showed 75% of participants wanted to save the building. Six yurts were proposed to go next to the cottage, with a Riverside Maintenance Yard Expansion. The purpose of the RFEI is to attract an investor to help with the cost. Exterior and foundation work costs would be incurred on the city. Bernie Woodard, representing Elk Island Trading in a yurt proposal for the site providing overnight lodging at the facility, had said staff haven't come to a site layout configuration that would accommodate the needs of both Elk Island and the Parks Division. He has stated lodging only in the cottage without the yurts isn't financially feasible. Council direction was needed on a potential Municipal Code to allow overnight camping in a public park.

 

Grants Pass Police officers, while patrolling the Grants Pass Shopping Center, contacted two suspects sitting in a concealed area between Aaron's and Petco Saturday night.

One of the suspects refused to identify themselves and walked off west on NE D Street. Another officer recognized the suspect as Gabriel Feliciano, known from previous contacts.

He was known to have two serviceable warrants out of the police department charging him with First Degree Criminal Mischief, Second Degree Meth Possession, and Burglary in the Second Degree.

Feliciano was stopped and contacted by officers, who then took him into custody. After confirming Feliciano's identity, a consent search was conducted, revealing a glass pipe with burnt residue of a white crystallized substance in his jacket pocket.

The pipe tested presumptive positive for the presence of Methamphetamine, so a charge of Meth Possession was referred to the District Attorney's Office. Feliciano was then transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for his warrants.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners Tuesday workshop will begin with an order in the matter of Appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners for 2026, per the county charter. Following the order, the board will cover business from the Clerk, Sheriff, Information Technology, Community Justice, Forestry, Public Health, Transit, Airports and Human Resources Departments. After board business concerning Josephine County Airports Advisory Board Bylaws and pending other matters, the workshop will adjourn. Tuesday's County Administration Workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room. Those wishing to attend in person must abide by the clear bag policy. The meeting will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Grants Pass Police contacted a suspect with two dogs at the South Y early Sunday morning.

At 2:28 a.m., the suspect, Carrie McCoin, was found to have an active warrant out for her arrest from the Medford Police Department charging her with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.

McCoin was detained by officers, and she initially agreed to give her two dogs and belongings she had with her to an acquaintance to watch until she was released. While enroute to the Josephine County Jail, McCoin became highly uncooperative and began making threats.

She claimed she never gave officers permission to give her dogs to the acquaintance. Officers subsequently lodged McCoin in jail for her Out of County Hold Warrant.