Local News

Nearly a year after a decades old wood bridge outside of Butte Falls was burned, the structure has been replaced and the road is reopened to the public.

The Fredenburg Bridge has been rebuilt into a 45’ long by 23’ wide concrete deck bridge with steel support beams anticipated to hold strong well into the future.

The unanticipated expense to replace the bridge was nearly $1 million. The Roads and Parks Department ensured adequate reserves in the County Road fund, which was able to cover the cost.

Steve Lambert, the Jackson County Roads and Parks Director says, “With over 900 miles of county roads and 331 bridges in our county road system, anything can happen. This is why we budget conservatively to enable us to deal with the unexpected.”

 

A man smoking meth outside a local business was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers Wednesday.

Deputies contacted a man smoking outside Rogue Valley Tax Service, 1454 NW 6th Street, after receiving a complaint from an employee. The suspect, identified as Sean Mitchell, had a broken glass pipe on the ground next to him.

The pipe had a burnt residue inside. After detaining Mitchell and during a consent search, officers found another pipe in his rear pants pocket. It had a bulb end and contained a burnt crystalline substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Mitchell was trespassed from the business and taken to the Josephine County Jail. He was released that afternoon due to limited resources at the jail.

 

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners presented a Lifesaving Award to FedEx driver Chris Matthews Wednesday for saving a girl from a dog attack.

While delivering packages in Jacksonville around noon December 6, 2024, Chris saw a girl being mauled by two Cane Corso dogs inside a pen. Without hesitation, he ran toward the danger, shouting to draw the dogs’ attention and calling for help.

With the aid of nearby workers, he entered the enclosure, distracted the dogs, and pulled the critically injured child to safety so she could receive emergency medical care.

The girl has since made a full recovery. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is proud to honor Chris for his extraordinary courage and life-saving actions on that day, saying Chris’s heroism reflects the best values of courage, compassion, and responsibility.

 

Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

The Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District will receive over $2.3 million

This project actively engages private landowners, provides technical assistance, and expands prescribed fire training opportunities, strengthening community resilience while reducing hazardous fuel loads.

The other ODF proposal selected for funding is the South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction receiving over $2.6 million.

In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, and becoming a Firewise USA site.

 

Grants Pass Police officers apprehended a man wanted on a felony warrant after a lengthy bicycle chase Wednesday evening.

Officers contacted Daniel Myers and told him he had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Myers fled on his bicycle, and a chase ensued.

After a lengthy pursuit around the Wal-Mart and WinCo areas, officers were able to subdue Myers on NE F Street by pushing him to the ground. He refused to put his hands behind his back, but officers were able to take him into custody.

Myers was found to be in possession of meth and a modified flare gun loaded with a 357 magnum round. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail and lodged him on his First Degree Theft warrant, plus charges of Third Degree Escape, Resisting Arrest, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Meth Possession.

 

With no administrative actions on the agenda, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of their Weekly Business Session today. Moving straight to Public Comment, with five minutes allowed to speak due to the light agenda, members of the community brought up topics including accusing the commissioners of violating the constitution, support for the library, usage of the Dimmick Property, and those for and against the recalls against Commissioners Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett. After comments, Commissioner Ron Smith encouraged community members to bring ideas and solutions to the Public Comment period, Commissioner Barnett called for unification in the county, and Commissioner Blech invited people to reach out and talk with him about their concerns.

 

The Oregon State Police made a traffic stop on US Highway 199 Wednesday night.

Officers contacted the driver, identified as Steven Cooke, and found him to have an active and extraditable warrant out of Del Norte County, California.

Cooke was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His vehicle was left with his passenger.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant on an illegal marijuana grow site in the 5000 Block of Dick George Road in Cave Junction. The warrant was executed September 18th with assistance from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), United States Postal Inspector Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. During the execution of the warrant, over 2,500 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, 14 firearms, 30 grams of Ketamine, 8 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of Methamphetamine were seized on scene. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Christopher Faustino, Veronica Gardner-Dyer, and Brian Enney were all taken into custody and lodged in The Josephine County Jail. All three suspects were charged with Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of Marijuana.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man with a warrant out for his arrest Wednesday afternoon.

The deputy recognized the suspect, Justin Calderon, at the corner of West Watkins Street and South Hussey Avenue. After contacting Calderon, the warrant was confirmed and he was taken into custody.

Officers lodged Calderon in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant, plus additional charges of Second and Fourth Degree Assault.