Local News

Oregon State Police troopers conducted two traffic stops Saturday, leading to the arrest of two suspects wanted on outstanding warrants.

At 5:42 p.m., troopers stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee for traffic violations on U.S. Highway 199 at milepost 15. The driver, Miguel Bronze, 32, of Medford, was found to be wanted on a bench warrant for Property Damage.

He was subsequently lodged in the Josephine County Jail. His vehicle was towed from the scene, and his dog was transported to the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

Then at 10:52 p.m., the driver of a silver Toyota Avalon, Jerit Hartford, 47, of Grants Pass, was pulled over for traffic violations at the corner of Fruitdale Road and Gaffney Way.

Upon contact, troopers found Hartford to be wanted on a warrant. Following verbal confirmation of the warrant, Hartford was placed under arrest. He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his arrest warrant.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies responded to Sushi Asian Cuisine late Sunday night and arrested a suspect on an Out-of-County Warrant.

At 11:38 p.m., deputies contacted Daniel Zumwalde at the 406 S Redwood Highway restaurant and found he was wanted on an extraditable Del Norte County Traffic Warrant.

Zumwalde was taken into custody by deputies. After his warrant was confirmed, he was transported to the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police were alerted to a trespassing at the 1949 NE 7th Street Super 8 Motel.

On Saturday at 2:44 p.m., an employee of the motel reported James Atto, having been trespassed the day prior, had returned and was smoking in the gazebo area. The employee wanted to pursue charges.

Officers were notified Atto had walked from the Super 8 and was headed towards Quality Inn. Upon arrival, law enforcement took Atto into custody.

He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and was again advised that he was not allowed on the Super 8 property.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will meet for their Administration Workshop Tuesday for Department and Board Business.

The board will hear requests from Community Justice regarding a Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley Grant Agreement and an Out of State Travel Request.

Human Resources will present the board with Personnel Requisitions and Actions, then the Commissioners will consider approval of the Watts and Topping Subdivision Plat Map, and Anne G. Basker Auditorium Rental Applications.

Tuesday's County Administration Workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room, and will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Today's meeting of the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers has been cancelled. In a statement from Josephine County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, he says, "Pursuant to state law, the Josephine County Clerk is still tabulating the results of the January 6, 2026, recall election. The election result remains unofficial until the election is certified. The Clerk is eligible to participate in the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers only after certifying the election, which can occur on January 28, 2026, at the soonest. The Josephine County Charter requires the inclusion of the Clerk as a member of the Temporary Board. To comply with that requirement, the January 12, 2026, meeting of the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers has been canceled. The meeting will be scheduled for a date and time following the certification of the election."

 

Emergency crews responded to two vehicle incidents over the weekend.

On January 10th, a traffic accident involving a single vehicle occurred at the intersection of Caves Highway and Holland Loop Road in Cave Junction.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR-Josephine County, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene around 11:36 p.m.

No injuries were reported, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation into the incident.

Then, on January 11th, at 5:39 am, a traffic accident occurred on Caves Highway at Chapman Creek Road.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to the reported incident in Cave Junction.

Upon arrival, responders found a vehicle in a ditch. The occupants had independently arranged for towing services. No injuries were reported.

 

After two years of planning and collaboration, Medford City Council unanimously approved the ordinance establishing the Economic Improvement District (EID).

The approval marks an important step toward long-term, sustainable investment in downtown services, activation, and economic vitality.

Alongside this milestone, the Downtown Medford Association (DMA) is launching its Storefront Activation Program, a complementary initiative designed to reduce vacancies and support business growth in the downtown core. Funded by $25,000 from the City Council Community Initiative Fund, the program will focus on filling three to five vacant storefronts with businesses that align with downtown’s character and economic goals.

As part of the Storefront Activation Program, DMA will host a series of Reimagine Tours, which bring together property owners, prospective business owners, and community partners to explore available properties and discuss potential uses.

The upcoming Reimagine Tours will take place Thursday, January 29, Tuesday, February 24, and Thursday, April 9 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. RSVPs are required.

The next step in the EID process is a public hearing anticipated in mid-February, providing an opportunity for community members and property owners to share input on the proposed district before final consideration.

 

Nearly 200 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally welcomed home Sunday during a demobilization ceremony at South Medford High School.

The ceremony, presided over by Brigadier General Alan Gronewold, Oregon's adjutant general, honored the unit's nine-month deployment to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula as part of the Multinational Force and Observers mission.

The 205-soldier battalion, designated USBATT 74 during the deployment, served alongside military forces from 14 other nations supervising the implementation of security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace.

Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, battalion commander, said the mission provided security for two camps in the Sinai while operating remote observation sites monitoring key routes and airfields between Egypt and Israel.

The battalion worked most closely with forces from Fiji, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Uruguay, and Japan, participating in combined training exercises and sporting tournaments that built international relationships. The deployment also provided extensive training opportunities.

The battalion was mobilized Oct. 20, 2024, during a ceremony in Ashland and returned to Oregon on Oct. 3, 2025. Approximately 150 soldiers returned to Medford while about 50 service members arrived in Portland.

While most soldiers came from the 1-186th Infantry Regiment based in Southern Oregon, the deployment also included National Guard members from the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment and other Guard units across multiple states for specialized positions.

 

A rental home owner contacted 911 saying the short term renters of his property saw a woman trespassing in the backyard Thursday night.

At 9:39 p.m., the owner reported the guests, having just checked in that day, said there was a woman, Brook Mack, living in the detached garage on the property in the 100 block of SW I Street.

The renters had told the owner that Mack was washing her laundry in the machines inside the home. The owner requested Mack be trespassed from the property, and wished to pursue all applicable charges.

Grants Pass Police officers arrived and located the makeshift living space in the garage. Along with a running space heater, food, and other supplies, officers located an outbuilding next door being used as a bathroom, with feces piled up and toilet paper.

While back at the patrol vehicle, law enforcement was advised by the renters that Mack had returned. She, along with another suspect, Gabriel Feliciano, were contacted upon their arrival. Mack said she had been living in the garage for three weeks.

She was arrested for Burglary in the First and Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and Theft of Services. Feliciano was arrested on two warrants charging him with First Degree Criminal Mischief, Second Degree Burglary, and Unlawful Possession of Meth.

Mack and Feliciano were both lodged in the Josephine County Jail.