Local News

A young boy from Selma is facing a challenging road to recovery after a tragic accident left him with severe burns over much of his body. KDRV reports Oli, 6, is now in the PICU at Randall Legacy. His mother, Natasha, said Oli will undergo multiple surgeries over the coming weeks. The accident occurred a week ago when Oli and his father were involved in a burn pile incident. Both suffered significant burns, with Oli facing a 60 percent chance of survival. Natasha said his dad is in the burn center next door and will be having surgeries on his hands. To assist with the mounting medical expenses, Oli's family has started a GoFundMe page aimed to help him and his family now, and in the future. You can donate by going online to www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-oli-and-jeffs-burn-recovery.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will meet for a General Discussion Friday regarding Commissioner Vacancy Position number 1.

After the discussion, and pending other matters the board may introduce, the meeting will adjourn.

Friday's discussion will begin at 9 a.m. in the BCC Conference Room and will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Those who would like to attend in person must abide by the clear bag policy.

 

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation to help wildfire survivors in Oregon and nationwide.

The legislation would permanently ensure wildfire survivors are not taxed on compensation they receive for losses and damages suffered during a wildfire.

The Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation after Fire Extension Act would extend and make permanent the protections signed into law last year within the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which excluded wildfire-related settlement payments from federal income tax calculations.

This includes payments that cover living expenses, lost wages, or compensation for injury, death, or emotional distress.

However, this exclusion is set to expire at the end of 2025. Failure to extend this provision means any wildfire-related settlement payments beginning in 2026 will again be subject to federal income tax obligations.

More and more states have qualifying settlements or active litigation related to wildfires. This bill would allow wildfire survivors to put the full amount of their settlement money toward recovering from devastating losses.

Additionally, the bill would allow victims to claim the exemption in the year they receive payments rather than to amend prior tax returns for a refund.

 

On Tuesday, Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on four warrants.

A mandatory reporter called dispatch saying she saw two elderly women outside a property in the 1000 block of SE Park Plaza Drive. They said they were trying to get their niece out of the building, claiming she was being abused by her boyfriend.

The caller said she hadn't heard any disturbances and stated it looked like the women had gotten inside the apartment. She would call back if she heard any disturbance.

Officers had responded to the location previously regarding the niece, and, upon arrival, contacted and detained her. She was wanted on four warrants: Two out of the Medford Police Department, and one each from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, and the Oregon State Parole Board.

Her warrants charged her with Parole Violations on original charges of First Degree Theft, Second Degree Burglary, and Assault in the Second Degree, plus Initiating a False Report. She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Just days before Mt. Ashland's December 13th target, it was announced that opening day would be delayed indefinitely.

An email sent to the newsroom said Mt. Ashland needs about 2.5 feet of snow on the ground and about 3 days of preparation before the mountain can open.

While Mt. Ashland does have access to 5,000 gallons of water every day and a snow gun that uses 100 gallons of water per minute, it isn't able to do any snowmaking.

The email said they have enough water in their Ski Area that they would only be able to run a snow gun for a very short amount of time per day. Not nearly enough time to make snow that would allow for them to open.

 

Josephine County is proud to announce the dedication and opening of the newly certified Forest Therapy Trail at Fish Hatchery Park.

Officially recognized by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), the EcoRECOVERY Trail is now the first certified Forest Therapy Trail in Oregon and the only certified trail in the entire Pacific Northwest, said a news release from Recreation Director Tamra Martin.

ANFT-certified trails are evaluated for safety, biodiversity, accessibility, and features such as gentle slopes, diverse plant life, and access to natural water.

This project was led by community member and EcoRECOVERY founder, Dawn Cogliser. To learn more about EcoRECOVERY, visit www.ecorecovery.health.

Guided forest therapy walks are offered on the last Sunday of each month, inviting the community to explore the sights, scents, and calming atmosphere of Fish Hatchery Park.

 

An employee at Bestway Inn requested a woman be trespassed Tuesday morning, leading to an arrest by Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch received the call at 11:10 a.m. regarding the suspect not checking out of the 1253 NE 6th Street inn, and hiding in her room.

Officers arrived, but the woman refused to answer any announcements they made at the door. With permission from the manager, the room was searched, and the suspect was found hiding in the shower.

The suspect, Shelley West, was contacted. The manager elected to only have her warned for trespass, but West was known to have a warrant for Meth Possession, so she was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police officers were alerted to a break in at The Depot Eatery Tuesday evening.

At 6:27 p.m., the 577 NE F Street restaurant's motion detector went off in the dining room. An officer arrived on the scene and requested law enforcement to watch the second and third sides of the building.

Evidence of forced entry was found on the backside of the restaurant where there was a broken glass door. The suspect was observed inside the restaurant. After commands were issued, he was detained and identified as Michael Sherer.

Officers cleared the interior with K9 Unit Maro, and a recovered sweatshirt owned by Sherer was submitted into evidence.

While inside the restaurant, Sherer had eaten from multiple pre made cakes. He had punched the glass to make entry, and photos were taken of his hands and jacket. Damage to the door was estimated at $3,500. The stolen food was $64.

Sherer was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for First Degree Criminal Mischief, Second Degree Burglary, and Third Degree Theft.

 

Today, the Oregon Employment Department released monthly employment and unemployment data for September 2025, after a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in September and 5.0% in August, after increasing for much of the past two years from the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in August and 4.4% in September.

In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,500 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,300 jobs); construction (+700); and professional and business services (+700). Losses were largest in financial activities (-700 jobs).

Health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion of the past several years, adding 11,400 jobs, or 3.7%, between September 2024 and September 2025.

Construction employment was down slightly this summer compared with the two prior summers. September employment totaled 116,100 jobs, which was 1,600 jobs, or 1.4%, below its level in September 2024.

Professional and business services added 700 in September but lost jobs since early 2023. Since its peak of 268,900 jobs in March 2023, it has declined to 253,700 jobs in September (-15,200 jobs, or 5.7%). Each of the three component industries trended downward since early 2023. Over the last 12 months, there were cutbacks for administrative and waste services (-4,900 jobs or -4.8%); professional and technical services (-2,300 jobs, or -2.1%); and management of companies and enterprises (-1,000 jobs, or -2.0%).

Manufacturing slipped by 200 jobs in September and is down 9,600 jobs, or 5.1%, since September 2024, with both durable goods manufacturing and nondurable goods manufacturing each down close to 5%.