Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man in possession of fentanyl after he was detained by his parole officer.

The suspect, Matthew Montgomery, was detained Wednesday at 4:54 p.m. at 202 Redwood Highway. A consent search had taken place, and inside Montgomery's red El Camino was a puck full of what was believed to be fentanyl.

He hadn't yet been questioned, and law enforcement's response was requested. Upon the officer's arrival and after being read his rights, Montgomery admitted to the possession of fentanyl.

He was transported to jail, and lodged by his parole officer on a Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance charge and detainer.

 

A man waving an axe and jumping around downtown was arrested by Grants Pass Police after being contacted at Debo Park.

A report came in to dispatch Wednesday around 1:50 p.m. about a man outside with an axe near the Grants Pass Museum of Art at 229 SW G Street. The caller said the man was jumping up and down and swinging the axe around before walking down by the Herb Shop.

The suspect was located by officers in Debo Park. He was with a group in the north east corner, and was identified as Michael Carrero. Officers took him into custody for a charge of Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, as well as a Parole Violation Detainer.

He was promptly transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response responded to two traffic accidents yesterday and this morning with the help of law enforcement.

Wednesday at 8:19 p.m., crews joined the Josephine County Sheriff's Office in responding to a vehicle vs. motorcycle incident that occurred in the 25,000 block of Redwood Highway in Cave Junction.

One person was transported with non-life-threatening injuries, and deputies conducted the investigation.

I.V. Fire and AMR were again dispatched to a two-vehicle traffic accident at the 17 mile marker of U.S. Highway 199 this morning at 8:18 a.m.

Along with the Oregon State Police, crews responded to find none of the occupants of the involved vehicles sustained injuries. The scene was subsequently transferred to the Oregon Department of Transportation and OSP troopers. The vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

City Council began their 6 p.m. meeting with unanimous approval of a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The resolution would change appropriations to the water fund for the creation of the special payments category. This used for returning previous Urban Renewal contributions. Council then approved a resolution for the City Manager to enter an agreement with Allenwood Homes, LLC, to construct a residential development on Allenwood Drive. The closing date for the sale set in the agreement is on or before July 1st, with the option for an extension. Revenue for the site comes from surplus property sales. A resolution consenting to the change in assignment of Southern Oregon Sanitation to Waste Connections passed unanimously, as did approval of a real property purchase at 124 NW Midland Avenue, Suite M. The City Manager was authorized to adjust the salary schedules on a 7-1 vote, implement the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) of 2.71% for the Non-Bargaining Cost of Living Adjustment affecting about 52 employees. Councilwoman Indra Nicholas was the lone dissenting vote. Council was unanimous in approving the consent agenda, and a motion passed to amend the downtown public restrooms hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a warrant and for failing to register as a sex offender after he was found in possession of someone else's phone.

A man called 911 to report his wife's phone was pinging at the Parker's Place warming shelter. Law enforcement was advised the couple believed the phone was dropped in the Donut Land parking lot at 2 o'clock this morning, and it was possible a transient took it from there.

Officers arrived at where the phone had been pinging and contacted Brandon Lewis. He was found to be in possession of the phone, and told officers he had been given the phone earlier in the day.

Upon further investigation, Lewis was found to be both wanted on an Oregon Parole Board warrant, and out of compliance with his Sex Offender Registry. Officers arrested Lewis and transported him to jail. He was lodged on his warrant and for Failing to Register.

 

The 911 Dispatch Center received multiple calls Tuesday afternoon regarding a man in the nude causing public alarm.

One of the calls reported the suspect was playing with himself and pretending to pull up pants that he didn't have outside Dan'l Boone's Trading Post at 470 Redwood Highway. Other callers reported the same suspect was throwing rocks at passing vehicles.

He was soon contacted and taken into custody by arriving officers at Parker's Place around 1:42 p.m. Law enforcement identified him as Jake Thompson, and arrested him for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct. He was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility on his charge and a parole violation detainer.

 

The Josephine Community Library invites teens ages 13 through 17 to join the Summer Reading Program Teen Bad Artists Club at participating library branches this summer.

During each club session, participants make themed craft projects and new friends. The program, including craft activities and promotional materials was developed by teen volunteers, who will lead each session. Snacks will be provided while participants listen to music, collect weekly stickers, and create art.

Activities include DIY Comics and Bookmarks, Terracotta Pot Painting, Clay Art, Teen Lego Challenge, and Mini Art. Teen participants are welcome to attend as many or as few sessions as they want.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information about specific dates and activities for the club, and about the Summer Reading Program, visit josephinelibrary.org

 

Legal Counsel presented orders of Administrative Policies and Procedures, and their proposed changes, to the Board of Commissioners. For Approval Authority Thresholds and Criteria, the policy will be repealed and replaced, with the main change being the lack of a liaison system. Changes to Advisory Bodies included removal of a line saying the board, when practicable, would be expected to communicate with the person no longer involved with the Advisory Committee. A line saying all appointments and removals to said committee prior to the end of the term shall be effectuated by board resolution was added. For Position Requisitions, if the position is budgeted, it will be considered approved. Personnel Actions will be delegated to department heads, Travel will be delegated to the finance director, and Animals in the Workplace will be approved on a discretionary basis. Motions in favor of all actions passed 3-0. The consent calendar was approved, and Commissioner Richardson gave a 5 Year Budget Projection Plan presentation. A graph showed Recurring Revenue and Operating Expenditures balanced for Fiscal Year 2027, but expenditures rose about 5% more each fiscal year than revenue, which showed 2.5% yearly growth.

 

The Board of County Commissioner held public hearings regarding meeting rules and budgets, and approved administrative actions for a property transfer and change of assignment for Southern Oregon Sanitation at today's Weekly Business Session.

Legal Counsel presented three sections of a rule pertaining to Non Routine and Executive Sessions considered for deletion in order to maintain flexibility and legality. The ordinance amending the County Code relating to meetings of the board was moved to the second reading of July 2026.

The board then held public hearings regarding budgets for the Josephine County 4-H/Extension Service District and Josephine County Law Enforcement District. Both budgets will be formally adopted June 24th.

Administrative actions approved by the board included an order in the matter of transferring county property at 710 Upper Powell Creek to ARFG Metals Trading Bonanza, LLC, and a resolution consenting to the change in assignment of Southern Oregon Sanitation. It was reiterated that rates would not increase with the change.