Local News

The Josephine County Commissioners met for their second workshop at 10 a.m. to consider department business. The board was unanimous in approving the Recreation departments request to sign contracts for Whitehorse Park renovations. The original footprint of the park will remain with power provided to added camp sites. A resolution to adjust terms of the Josephine County Budget Committee members was approved 3-0. A motion to approve a contract for M&M Services, LLC in the removal of old fuel tanks and pumps, funded through public works funds and gas taxes was unanimous. Also approved was a WECO invoice and proceedings to legalize a portion of Cave Camp Road, both covered through gas tax dollars, and ODOT covering 90% of the legalization cost. Before adjourning, the board continued their discussion about the D'Amore Law Group Conflict Waver regarding an opioid case. A motion to approve the conflict waver passed 2-1 with Commissioner Gary Richardson dissenting.

 

The list of 2026 Primary Election local races and measures has been updated as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Seven applicants are running for Josephine County Commissioner Position #1, including former Commissioners Andreas Blech and John West, recently appointed Commissioner Colene Martin, as well as Tracy Thompson, Corey Wilson, Konnor Kirkpatrick, and Alicia Louise Dove. For Commissioner Position #2, Chad Hansen, Matt Eide, Matt Spurlock, James Rafferty, Michael A. Burdge, Mark Seligman, Bill Ertel, Mark Jones, and City Councilor Indra Nicholas are running. Simon Hare, who had previously applied and withdrawn twice for Position #2, is now in the running to be Treasurer, along with Dustin Calvo, and Alexis Smithey. Rhiannon Henkels, Kris Kirby, and Darius Englen are running for the County Clerk and Recorder position. Since only two applicants, Dave Daniel and Jonathan Knapp, are running for Sheriff, that position must be elected at the November General Election, as the race would only appear on the May ballot if there were three or more filed candidates for the position.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating a runaway child. Kaleb Paul Diard ran away from his home in Cave Junction today, and is believed to still be in the area. He is a 4'8" white 14-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes, weighing around 105 pounds, and was last seen wearing a maroon hoodie with "Seattle" written on the front and black pants. If you see Kaleb or have information on his whereabouts, please call the Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123, reference case #26-6517.

 

During today's workshop, the Board of Commissioners approved moving forward with a Right of Way Easement for T-Mobile and the Airport's Fueling System construction process. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the County Administration Workshop began with discussion of the easement for additional power for two cell towers at 370 Bowhill Road. The board moved 3-0 for the underground power line to follow up the forestry road. Further discussion will take place at a later date regarding the extension of the Spectrum Pacific West, LLC franchise agreement, and the board moved a decision on the Conflict Waiver from D'Amore Law Firm to tomorrow morning's workshop. A motion passed 3-0 to send out letters out to federal agencies for Federal Land Use Coordination, as did a motion to approve Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) cases. Commissioner Ron Smith will meet with Legal Counsel Wally Hicks to draft a letter to then be approved by the board regarding Public Comment on the BLM Western Oregon Timber Plan.

 

The Board of County Commissioners will meet for their second workshop of the week and the evening Weekly Business Session Wednesday.

At 10 a.m. in the BCC Conference Room, the board will hear presentations and requests from departments including Finance, Public Works, and Recreation. The Commissioners will then consider a resolution in the matter of reappointing the Josephine County Law Enforcement Service District Advisory Committee.

The meeting will adjourn afterwards, then the board will convene at 5:30 p.m. for their Weekly Business Session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

At the start of the meeting, there will be a public hearing in the matter of two petitioner's annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. Afterwards, the board will consider a rate increase for Southern Oregon Sanitation's Kerby Transfer Station.

Other board business includes orders regarding the sale of county land on Winona Road, left unsold following a Sheriff's auction, and the procedure for setting county charged fees and public hearings for Community Development.

The public may speak during Requests and Comments from citizens, and the board will consider approval of the consent calendar before adjourning the meeting. The public may attend in person or stream both Wednesday meetings at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Grants Pass Police officers, along with the help of a 911 caller, apprehended a man trespassing at New Song Christian Fellowship early this morning.

The owner of the property at 111 NE Evelyn Avenue reported to law enforcement around 12:40 a.m. that the suspect was observed via security cameras entering the building. Nothing was seen in the suspect's hands, and the owner wanted to pursue charges.

Officers were permitted to enter the building as the owner continued using cameras to keep track of the suspect's whereabouts. K-9 Units were announced as law enforcement created a perimeter. An entry team formed on the east side of the building.

The suspect ultimately exited the building on the west side where perimeter units took him into custody without incident. The owner requested the building be cleared of any other possible intruders. No other suspects were located.

The suspect, Michael Hood, advised officers that a man in a black truck, whom he reportedly did not know, told him Monday to break into the church and "boost" items, leaving them outside for the man to take later.

Hood didn't have any church items on his person, and officers learned he entered the building through an open bathroom window. Hood was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a charge of Burglary in the Second Degree.

 

A man with a wheelchair was trespassed from and arrested at Abby's Legendary Pizza after refusing to leave the premises.

Grants Pass Police were notified by the associate manager of the 205 NE Beacon Drive restaurant that the suspect had been asked to leave numerous times. Officers arrived and located the suspect outside the building actively smoking from a glass pipe.

The pipe had a white crystallized substance inside, which field tested positive for methamphetamine. The suspect, identified as Donn Fincher, was taken into custody, and officers attempted to contact his parole officer. A voicemail was left instead, and Fincher was trespassed from Abby's.

Officers took Fincher to jail where he was lodged on a charge of Meth Possession, as well as a probation violation. His wheelchair and black backpack were logged for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman outside Walmart after she gave them a false name.

Dispatch was notified of a verbal dispute between a man and the woman in the 135 NE Terry Lane store's parking lot. Upon arrival, officers contacted both individuals, with the woman identifying herself as Deana Burton.

Her true name, confirmed by the man and jail booking photos, was revealed to be Felicia Burton. Officers learned she had a serviceable, out-of-county warrant for her arrest. After confirming the warrant, law enforcement took Burton into custody.

She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for her warrant.

 

The Josephine Community Library Foundation is inviting the community to the Teen Library Design Showcase.

Saturday, March 14th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Josephine Community Library, this exhibit will highlight Girls Rock youth designs facilitated by ZCS Lead Architect Jessi Russell. The artwork is on display now through the end of the month.

The showcase is an extension of Girls Rock’s “Design Your World” workshop, where youth explored careers in architecture and reimagined what a teen-focused library could include. During the March 14th showcase, youth designers will share what shaped their choices and how their ideas reflect the needs of teens in library spaces.

Russell is a registered architect in Oregon and California with more than 13 years of experience and will share how architects turn big ideas into real places by solving practical design puzzles while encouraging youth to see architecture as a possible career path.

Food and refreshments will be provided. A library card is not required to attend the meet-and-greet or view the exhibit.