Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man swinging a knife around in a Safeway parking lot Monday night.

A woman called 911 at 7:12 p.m. to report the knife-wielding suspect yelling at someone across the street from the 115 SE 7th Street grocer. He began walking towards the tracks then running towards the man he was yelling at. He was then reported to be heading towards the alley way by Grants Pass Liquor.

Officers soon contacted the suspect, James Hall, and detained him. He consented to a search of his person, and his knife and a glass pipe with residue were found. The pipe field tested positive for presumptive Methamphetamine, and he admitted to having the knife out at the time of the report.

Hall claimed it was in self-defense from the unknown man he was yelling at that he was wielding the knife in the parking lot. Officers contacted Hall's parole officer, who advised a detainer be placed on him.

He was then transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Meth Possession, and the detainer.

 

A man arrived home from vacation to find someone had been living in his home.

Dispatch was notified by the man that he had been gone for a week, and it was possible squatters had been living in his home during that time. The residence in the 17000 block of Water Gap Road was for sale, and the caller said it looked like someone had broken in.

A deputy with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrived and was given permission by the homeowner to enter the residence and a camper on the property. The door was shut, and the deputy made announcements before entering the home. Nobody was found inside, and while the house was messy, there were no signs of forced entry.

The camper was also cleared and found to be empty. Law enforcement spoke with the man, who stated he believed someone broke into his home. While he had no proof of the residence being entered unlawfully, he wanted to make a report so there would be a paper trail.

The deputy then took the man, identified as Tucker Baskin, into custody. Prior to arriving at the scene, the deputy was informed the homeowner had probable cause for charges of First Degree Burglary and Second Degree Unlawful Use of Mace.

Baskin was taken into custody, transported, and then lodged in jail for his charges.

 

The inaugural cohort of the Rogue Leadership Training Experience is entering its capstone phase and seeking a local nonprofit or community organization to serve as its first community-impact partner.

According to a release from the Chamber of Commerce, the Rogue Leadership Training Experience was created to strengthen the region by investing in people, built on the belief that economic development and community development go hand in hand and that sustainable growth requires leaders who understand both.

Over the past five months, 30 participants have engaged in an intensive curriculum spanning personal, relational, organizational, civic, and community leadership. The program guides participants through monthly sessions, accountability partnerships, and applied leadership challenges designed to translate theory into practical action. Youth participants in the cohort received support through the Rogue Workforce Partnership's Southern Oregon Youth Works program.

As the cohort enters its final three months, participants are turning their attention to the capstone phase. The cohort will serve as an accelerator for an existing nonprofit or community. The selected organization will receive the collective focus and expertise of 30 trained leaders committed to producing measurable, lasting impact in Josephine County.

Nonprofits and community organizations interested in being considered for the capstone partnership are encouraged to apply at www.cohort.unbreakablegp.org.

 

Applications are being accepted for a vacant position on the Urban Tree Advisory Committee, with the term expiring September 30th, 2027.

The purpose of the committee is to review, develop, and implement programs and activities that promote, protect, and enhance the urban forest as a part of the Tree City, USA program.

Those with an interest in promotion and enhancement of the urban forest are encouraged to submit an application, found at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. April 8th. They will be reviewed by the committee April 13th, with the appointment being made by the Council during their May 6th meeting.

 

The Medford Fire Department responded to the scene of a confirmed structure fire in the 2200 block of Fairbanks Avenue Monday.

Multiple units arrived and actively worked to contain the incident. The fire was soon knocked down, and crews remained on the scene around 7:15 p.m. extinguishing hotspots and conducting overhaul operations.

Investigators worked with the occupants and fire crews to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The garage sustained heavy fire damage, which extended into the kitchen area of the home. There were no reported injuries.

 

A motion to have a hired professional gather information and provide pain point alleviation for the Non-bargaining compensation schedule passed during today's City Council workshop. A presentation to potentially adjust the Non-bargaining Compensation and Classification was brought to the board. Full implementation has already been included in the current budget for these market and equity adjustments in order to recruit and retain quality employees. The council previously approved a 3.02% Cost of Living Adjustment to the current salary schedule. The council was then presented with a 90% of Taskforce Recommendation Option that could be applied to the current schedule. 13 positions would see a reduction of their maximum pay at the tenth step of the schedule, impacting 21 employees. 14 employees would be placed at a higher step than their current step to avoid a pay reduction. Options and risks were presented to the council. The 90% option would be cheaper and resolve legal pain points, but not recruitment and retention pain points.

 

Applications are being accepted for five positions on the new Small Business Taskforce.

The sixth and seventh positions are being filled by a member of the Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Main Street Grants Pass.

Appointments are for the duration of the task force, anticipated to be no more than 12 months from the date of appointment. The purpose of the task force is to establish a group of local business owners and advocates to explore local business conditions, consider strategies for stabilization, and identify key topics for a long-term business support plan.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A St., or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 10th. Appointments will be made by the Council at the March 18th meeting.

 

Oregon State Police were notified of a potential hazardous vehicle at milepost 80 southbound on Interstate 5 due to people changing a tire.

Troopers arrived at the scene around 5:11 p.m. and found two separate vehicles about 100 yards apart. One was a white van, and the other a black Jeep. No one was inside the van, but troopers noticed two occupants at the rear of the Jeep.

Upon contact, both individuals admitted to stealing gas from the black Jeep that had previously crashed and was abandoned on February 26th. They were advised that they had committed a crime and were detained.

The Jeep's registration hadn't been updated since 2024, and troopers hadn't had any prior contacts with the vehicle or owner prior to it being abandoned. Since there wasn't a victim for the crimes of Third Degree Theft and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, both individuals were released.

The stolen gas was returned. Both were told where the nearest gas station was, and were warned for their crimes.

 

In separate cases, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Grants Pass Police Department arrested suspects both wanted on Out-of-County Hold warrants Sunday.

Grants Pass Police officers contacted Brittanie Miller at the Motel 6, 1800 NE 7th Street around 6:53 p.m. Her parole officer was contacted and advised she would place a detainer on Miller.

Police logs show officers took her into custody and lodged her in the Josephine County Jail on an out-of-county warrant.

Then at 8:24 p.m., deputies with the Sheriff's Office contacted Timothy Krueger at the corner of Highland Avenue and Merlin Road. There were no prior contacts with his vehicle, and deputies detained him.

Krueger's Klamath County Misdemeanor warrant for Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle was confirmed, and he was transported to the adult jail facility where he was lodged on the warrant.

Klamath County called after the warrant confirmation and said they would not extradite Krueger. With the jail being low on resources, he was later released.