Local News

Grants Pass tech company Rentec Direct has been named as one of Oregon's Best Workplaces.

According to a release, the Southern Oregon-based tech company has maintained a 97% employee retention rate over the past two years, and has earned its third consecutive recognition as one of the Best Companies to Work For by Oregon Business Magazine.

The 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon is an annual list published by the magazine based on a confidential survey of employees about workplace satisfaction. Employees provide feedback in categories including benefits, management, work environment, and career development.

The company owns its headquarters in downtown Grants Pass, and its entire 20-person team lives and works locally. To learn more about the company, visit RentecDirect.com.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is alerting the public to a set of phishing scams coming from senders claiming to be ODOT and the DMV.

If you receive an unsolicited text message from ODOT or the DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it is a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information.

These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information. ODOT reports seeing messages sent from an unknown phone number using urgent language such as, “Evasion Notice for Oregon Traffic Court” or “Final Notice Toll Violation".

The messages demand payment by a certain date to avoid enforcement actions and penalties. The texts may cite a fake Oregon State Administrative Code and urge you to click on a fraudulent URL that includes ODOT, DMV or oregon.gov.

You can report scams and suspicious communications like these to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Include the sender’s phone number and any links included in the text.

ODOT and the DMV will never request payment through an unsolicited text message, email, phone call, or third-party website. You can always verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and the DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655.

For more information about fraud prevention, visit oregondmv.com

 

Medford Police officers responded to a report of gunshots near W 8th Street and Hamilton Street Wednesday at 9:28 p.m.

A witness reported to officers that gunshots were heard in the area. The witness then saw a white pickup leaving the area. Officers located and recovered evidence consistent with shots being fired.

While on the scene, a vehicle matching the description provided by the witness was observed by officers. A traffic stop was conducted and two occupants were detained. Additional individuals believed to be involved in the incident were later identified and contacted by officers.

There is no indication that anyone sustained injuries during the incident. Investigators believe an altercation occurred between several individuals, and at some point during the confrontation a firearm was produced and discharged into the air. It has not yet been determined who fired the weapon.

This case is under investigation, and there is no known threat to the public. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Medford Police Department’s Detective Division at 541-774-2230.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman after she wiped feces all over the North Safeway bathroom.

Dispatch was notified around 1:03 p.m. of the incident in the 115 SE 7th Street grocer. An employee requested the woman be trespassed from the business, and wished to pursue a charge of Criminal Mischief as well.

Officers arrived and contacted Leischa Quaale. She was detained, and it was confirmed by phone that she had two warrants out of Deschutes County charging her with Second Degree Theft and Offensive Littering.

Law enforcement learned Quaale had an Oregon Parole Board warrant charging her with a Second Degree sex offence, and was out of compliance with her sex offender registration since 2018.

Quaale was trespassed from the Safeway and transported by officers to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged.

 

Oregon State Police arrested a man following a motorcycle chase on U.S. Highway 199.

Wednesday around 5:56 p.m., troopers attempted to pull over a black motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver continued speeding toward Grants Pass and refusing to yield. Out of concern for the public and the motorcyclist, the traffic stop was discontinued.

The motorcycle was later located and the driver, Jacob Jump, was arrested without further incident. He was charged with Attempt to Elude by Vehicle, DUII, Reckless Driving, and Criminal Mischief.

Troopers transported Jump to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged. His motorcycle was towed from the scene.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office tracked down and lodged a suspect on serious charges Wednesday.

The suspect, Kerry Lattimer, was located off of Fields Road camping with a woman. He was taken into custody at the site on charges of strangulation, Fourth Degree Assault, and Second Degree Kidnapping.

Law enforcement transported and lodged Lattimer in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility on his charges. The woman with him was advised to contact the Women's Crisis Center.

 

A Josephine County Sheriff's deputy arrested a man after he was pulled over for a PVC pipe dragging behind his vehicle.

The traffic stop occurred in the 27000 block of Redwood Highway around 3:51 p.m. Wednesday. The pipe was breaking apart, and the driver pulled over into a driveway.

The deputy witnessed the suspect throwing items on the ground from his pockets during the stop. Both he and his passenger were contacted, identified as Paul Greco and Ashaurena Carrier respectively.

Greco was found to have a meth pipe in his pocket, and during a search of his vehicle, law enforcement found several grams of methamphetamine belonging to him. A bag of meth belonging to Carrier was located as well. She was cited for Meth Possession and then released.

Deputies contacted Greco's parole officer, who then requested a detainer be placed on him. Greco was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth and the detainer.

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a public meeting to share updates and gather feedback on a proposed timber harvest and hazardous fuels reduction project near Gold Hill.

According to a release from BLM, the Queens Gold Project proposes commercial thinning and hazardous fuels reduction on approximately 4,000 acres of BLM-administered lands. The project is designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and to contribute to the Medford District’s timber quotas mandated by the O&C Act.

The estimated 4.5 million board feet of timber produced by this project will also provide critical supplies for construction, support local jobs, and provide revenue to O&C counties for essential services.

The meeting will take place Thursday, March 19th at 5:30 p.m. at the BLM Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road.

At the meeting, the BLM will share updates, including proposed hazardous fuels reduction units, haul routes and timber sale plans.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a Kerby Transfer Station rate increase and late fees proposed by the Planning Department during Wednesday's Weekly Business Session. The board approved a 20% rate increase at the gate, and a $1.80 curbside customer charge for Southern Oregon Sanitation's Kerby station, followed by a 3-0 motion to approve a board order regarding a quitclaim deed for the sale of Winona Road land. The Planning department requested a late fee hearing for April 1st at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The fees, related to the new Marijuana Annual Compliance Ordinance, would charge $250 if an application was 30 days past due, with $500 charged for 60 days past due. A motion to approve passed 3-0, with the fees taking place effective May 1st.