Local News

The National Association of Letter Carriers will be conducting the nation's largest single-day food drive Saturday, May 9th, to help Stamp Out Hunger.

The United States Postal Service said in a release that, each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. These donations then go straight to local food pantries, providing food to people in need.

It's easy to participate, just leave your non-perishable, unexpired food donations in a bag by your mailbox on the 9th in time for your mail carrier to pick up.

Over the course of its 34-year history, the drive has collected over 1.94 billion pounds of food.

 

The Board of County Commissioners held an Open and Executive Session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium Thursday afternoon on the topic of the Airports Manager. According to the agenda, the sessions, beginning at 3 p.m., were held to consider the dismissal or discipline of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent. Following the Executive Session, no decision was made. Staff was directed to take next steps, and the meeting adjourned.

 

The Josephine County 4-H and Oregon State University Extension Service presented their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 to the Board of Commissioners. Regional Director Jamie Davis discussed how funding through the service district supports the organization. The planned investment in FY 2027 is over $400,000 in dedicated salaries for the faculty. It was proposed that 4-H Youth Development, Community Relations, and Master Gardner Program Manager Frank Boothby would move into the role of

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department responded Wednesday to a suspicious activity report, resulting in the arrest of the complainant.

Tyler Hutchinson reported the incident at his residence in the 700 block of NE 8th Street around 12:20 p.m. He told dispatch he had heard a woman had been hurt upstairs, but he didn't know the name of the person who told him.

According to the police report, Hutchinson wouldn't give any details about her condition. He stated a man was following her, and that he was worried his son was going to get hurt.

Dispatch heard Hutchinson angrily talking to another male during the 911 call, and attempted to tell him to stay outside the location. When officers arrived, they took Hutchinson into custody, knowing he was wanted on an Oregon Parole Board warrant. No medical attention was needed at the scene.

He was charged with Intimidation, and during the arrest, was found to be in possession of a substance that field tested positive for Methamphetamine. Officers lodged Hutchinson in the Adult Jail Facility on his warrant and a charge of Meth Possession.

 

A man was arrested by Grants Pass Police after he was reported to be stepping into traffic Wednesday morning.

The suspect, James Hall, was walking north on the intersection of NE 7th Street and NE D Street. Dispatch was notified he was stepping into traffic and staying around the nearby Vietnamese restaurant.

Law enforcement contacted Hall at Wells Fargo, where he was displaying indicators of recent stimulant usage. His parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was requested.

Officers conducted a consent search, and found a glass pipe with a white, crystalline residue. Hall told police the substance was Methamphetamine, which field testing later confirmed.

Hall was subsequently taken into custody and transported to jail. He was lodged on a charge of Meth Possession and his detainer.

 

An erratic driver was reported to dispatch, and his passenger was later arrested by Grants Pass Police Wednesday afternoon on a warrant.

A call to dispatch around 4:15 p.m. reported the driver in a black truck with a green stripe pulling a small trailer. He had driven up on the sidewalk at one point near the corner of NE 6th Street and NE Evelyn Avenue, and had run a red light at Hillcrest.

Officers were soon able to contact both the driver and passenger, Jayden Poledna, in the parking lot of the North Safeway. According to the police report, there was no concern for intoxication with the driver, but Poledna was wanted on a Grants Pass Police Department warrant.

Charges against him included First Degree Burglary, and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. Officers arrested Poledna, and transported him to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged.

 

Rogue Community College is seeing results from its efforts to address critical regional nursing shortages, supported by continued investment through the Workforce Ready Grant.

According to a release, RCC was awarded $970,000 to expand its nursing program capacity in 2023 through strategic partnerships with Asante Health System and Providence Medford Medical Center. The program has since received additional funding, including a recent award of $225,000.

These investments have contributed to significant program growth. Nursing cohort sizes have increased from an average of 56 students in 2023 to 128 students in the current spring term, with plans to reach 144 students in the fall.

Beyond state funding, philanthropic support has created new opportunities for RCC to grow its nursing program and advance regional simulation-based education.

RCC says it remains committed to working closely with healthcare partners and community supporters to meet the evolving needs of the region, ensuring the college can respond effectively to workforce demands.

 

The County Commissioners met for a Legal Counsel Update in the BCC Conference Room at 10 a.m. today.

The first agenda items were potential Administrative and Personnel Policy Revisions. No decisions were made during the meeting.

Potential changes included updated limits for Contract Signing Authority and clearer language for Commissioner Liaisons. Regarding Advisory Bodies, a change could be made where all removals and appointments are effectuated by resolution of the board. Requisitions and Actions would only go to the board if they were outside the budget.

Revisions to Personnel Policy included Article 5, Section 5 Workplace, Service or Working Animals, stating ADA animals are specifically allowed, while the Travel approval process would be modified for employee or department heads, for either in or out of state travel.

The Facilities Monthly Update focused on the relocation of three County departments. Different properties have been considered, but no decisions have been made. The board then determined to make their final decision on a Quitclaim Deed for cabin property on Powell Creek when they make a board order.

A motion passed to authorize Legal Counsel Wally Hicks to sign off on the engagement letter between Barran Liebman Attorneys and Josephine County. The board also moved unanimously for the completion of services with Ogletree Deakins, with a change that all matters are brought to a legally recognizable completion.

Regarding the Executive Session Attendance by the County's co-defendants, Hicks recommended there be a change to the confidentiality agreement where decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by the board.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a passenger wanted for Hit and Run during a traffic stop.

A red SUV was pulled over early this morning at 1:59 on the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Hillcrest Drive. The driver was stopped for an improper left turn, and was found to be driving while suspended. She was cited and later released.

Her passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, was identified by officers as Michael Inch. He was found to be wanted on a Marion County Sheriff's Office warrant for Hit and Run Causing Property Damage, so officers took him into custody.

Inch was transported to the Josephine County Jail for his warrant, and was subsequently lodged.