Local News

The Josephine County Recreation Department is pleased to announce a new program available for the local veterans community. Josephine County residents who are service-connected disabled are now being offered one three-night camping trip per year for free in any county campground. Josephine County Parks and Veterans Services worked with Commissioner Chris Barnett to create the program to continue the effort to honor local veterans. The Board of Commissioners approved the new program last Friday. This new program will be offered as a pilot program for the 2025 camping season and it's in addition to the annual park pass program that is currently being offered. Service-connected disabled veterans interested in booking their camping trip or receiving their free annual parking pass should go in person to the Josephine County Parks Office located at 125 Ringuette Street in Grants Pass. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Please feel free to contact the Josephine County Parks Office at (541)-474-5285 with any questions.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved three Administrative Action items during its weekly business session this morning. Board Chair Andreas Blech was absent, so Vice-Chair Chris Barnett ran the 30-minute meeting that was held today instead of its traditional Wednesday time-slot. The Commissioners first approved an order assigning transfer authority to the Recreation Director for moving money from the Fairgrounds Permanent Fund to the Recreation-Fair Fund. The permanent fund contains proceeds from the sale of The Flying Lark and the Fairgrounds is permitted to spend the interest on projects. The Board also approved an order that establishes a Josephine County Veterans' Camping Program. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified that this is a "pilot program" based on the success of free annual passes provided to local veterans for access to county parks. Between 400 and 500 passes are distributed each year. Martin explained that the new program will provide free three-day camping passes to local veterans for recreational vehicle, tent or yurt camping in county parks. She said this does not include group sites or holiday weekends and it will be based on availability. At the end of the year, the program will be evaluated for continuation. In other business, the Board approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the ODOT Middle Rogue Metropolitan Planning Organization. Transit Director Scott Chancey testified the amendment codifies and extends the current agreement, with no money coming from the county's General Fund.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a motorcyclist yesterday for his dangerous escapades on Williams Highway and North Applegate Road between Grants Pass and the Jackson County border. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 40-year-old David Somers in driveway near the county line on Thursday at 12:02 p.m.. Deputies said Somers was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle at a high rate of speed when they attempted a traffic stop on Williams Highway near Morris Lane. They said he refused to yield and sped south on the highway, running a red light and traveling to Murphy where he turned onto North Applegate Road. According to the report, Somers sped through a construction zone, endangering the workers, and he was spotted by workers at the Noble Dairy. A garbage service worker saw the suspect go up a dirt road at Padre Properties Winery and he kept going until he eventually stopped before crossing into Jackson County. Somers was placed into custody and lodged the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was also cited for Speed Racing plus Refusing to Obey a Flagger and Careless Driving in a Construction Zone as well as Passing in a No Passing Zone, Failure to Drive Within Lane and No Motorcycle Endorsement. He was being held without bail and his Harley with California plates was towed.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon on three outstanding warrants late yesterday after a traffic complaint at the Northgate Shopping Plaza. The Police Department reports officers arrested 60-year-old Anthony Brent Clymens at the Taste of India restaurant on NW 6th Street at 5:40 p.m. Thursday. Police said they received a call about a possibly intoxicated driver who swerved to the opposite side of 6th Street and jumped the curb into the plaza. The caller said the trunk of the vehicle was open when the male driver entered the restaurant. That's where officers located Clymens and discovered that he was wanted on felony warrants out of Medford, Josephine County and Humboldt County, California. Charges listed in the warrants included multiple counts of Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Clymens was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was not impaired at the time of the arrest. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to Eureka, California.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant and for narcotics possession during a welfare check at a local gas station/convenience store. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male subject who was passed out in a vehicle parked at the Arco AM/PM on NE Terry Lane around noon on Thursday. Police said they contacted 38-year-old Ryan Craig Moon after a citizen reported that he was passed out with drug items -- including a pipe and tin foil -- in plain view. The man admitted to fentanyl use. Residue of that plus methamphetamine was found on drug paraphernalia located in his vehicle. It was also discovered that Moon was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Probation Violation. Moon was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant as well as Fentanyl and Meth Possession. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. A dog in the vehicle was seized and transported to the Animal Shelter.

 

A Josephine County Jail inmate is facing additional charges after he was served with three warrants this week. The Sheriff's Office reports jail deputies served 30-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder with two warrants out of Grants Pass and one out of Coos Bay on Wednesday. The Grants Pass warrants contained two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass while the Coos Bay warrant listed a charge of Disorderly Conduct. Reeder had been arrested on a statewide felony warrant earlier in the week after he overdosed on drugs at a temporary homeless campsite in Grants Pass. He was wanted for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for 4th-Degree Assault. Reeder remains in custody on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant early yesterday after he was caught trespassing at a former restaurant on the north end of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the former Denny's on NE Morgan Lane on Thursday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said a citizen called 9-1-1 to report a possible drug deal taking place with three male subjects, one of them wearing a mask. The caller said the men were standing in the dumpster area and there was a red Jeep Liberty parked nearby. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the men including 36-year-old Ian Siewell Hogue. Hogue had an active trespass letter on file and a records check showed that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Methamphetamine Possession. Hogue was lodged at the Josephine County Jail in lieu of posting $10,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for petty theft after she stole an item from Grange Co-op yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Dowell Road on Thursday around 1:30 p.m.. Police said the 35-year-old female subject admitted to concealing some chicken medication valued at $14 and walking past all points of sale without paying for it. Grange Co-op loss prevention officers told GPPD the suspect was cooperative. The suspect was cited to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft and then released. She was also trespassed from the store.

 

Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz will be in Grants Pass on Saturday and he is scheduled to appear "live" on KAJO Radio at approximately 9:15 a.m. tomorrow. According to the Congressman's staff, Bentz wants to bring his constituents up to speed on what is happening in Washington, DC. The Congressman's time in Grants Pass is short, but we expect at least a 15-minute conversation. Chuck Benson will host.