Local News

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley announced it has been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. This funding will go directly toward the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley's free Teen Program, which is designed to build life and workforce readiness skills -- ensuring that local middle and high school youth have access to a safe, supportive environment where they can grow, learn and thrive. Jessica King, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, said their goal is to keep the Teen Program free and accessible to all youth. She said this grant helps them expand their reach and provide more teens with tools, experiences and the mentorship they need to build a strong foundation for their future. The Taco Bell Foundation awarded a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants this year to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a contract to extend the runway at the Grants Pass Airport. The Board voted 3-0 this morning to award the contract to Knife River Materials, which will be paid $2,764,539 to lengthen the runway in order to attract more aircraft and potential commerce to Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech said all of the funding is coming from grants through the Federal Aviation Administration, with no dollars from the General Fund. New Airport Director Chris Foley testified the runway extension project has been 10 years in the making. He said the project will get underway in the next two weeks. In other business, the Commissioners approved an order authorizing the sale of 18 county-owned properties for a Sheriff's Sale on September 17th. Property Manager Helene Lulich said the properties are listed on the county website and sealed bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. on September 16th. The Commission also approved the sale of two properties outside of the auction process. One of them is 153 Krauss Lane, a 14.22-acre parcel that sold by a land sale contract for $199,900. The other is a tiny, nonbuildable parcel at 151 Finch Road that sold via quitclaim deed for $2,501. During the public comment period, the Board heard from several supporters of the Josephine Community Library District who urged the Commissioners to quickly approve the Grants Pass branch lease. In a surprise announcement, Commissioner Blech said the Board will consider the lease agreement during a public hearing that will be held after the August 14th weekly business session.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department reports the driver of a vehicle that took out two utility poles and caused a widespread power outage on the west side of the city on Wednesday likely suffered a medical event just prior to the crash. Grants Pass police officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on SW G Street near Oak Street at 1:21 p.m. yesterday. GPPD shut down a portion of G after the motorist lost control of their vehicle and sheared off at least one utility pole. The street closure was extended as two poles had to be replaced as a result of the incident. The unidentified driver was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. It is believed the crash occurred as a result of a serous medical event. Pacific Power reported an estimated 3,000 customers temporarily lost electrical service after the crash.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man last night for violating a court order by returning to the scene of a crime he committed the day before. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Logan Tyler Hunt for the incident in the 4,000-block of New Hope Road on Wednesday at 7:12 p.m.. Hunt had been arrested on Tuesday for intentionally pouring pink nail polish on his roommate's motorcycle and causing about $2,000 in damage to the bike. He was arrested for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and lodged in jail. Deputies said Hunt returned to the residence after his release and was in violation of a no-contact order obtained by the victim after Hunt was arrested. The victim called 9-1-1 to report his now former roommate was there. The caller also stated that the suspect attacked him with a golf club in addition to vandalizing his bike. Hunt was placed into custody and lodged in jail again -- this time for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for violating his probation by harassing a beauty shop employee while highly intoxicated yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 45-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles at Shear Bliss Studio on NW 6th Street on Wednesday at about 1:15 p.m.. Police said a female employee of the salon called 9-1-1 to report that Knowles appeared to be intoxicated while fighting with himself, grabbing at the air and pulling on the door of the business. The caller said she was alone and had locked the door, but the man kept pulling on the door while pacing back and forth. Officers arrived on scene and found Knowles to be highly intoxicated by alcohol, which is a direct violation of his probation for alleged crimes including Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Methamphetamine Possession and Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. Knowles was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a local warrant in Cave Junction yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted and arrested 38-year-old Jordan Ellis Haas near the corner of North Redwood Highway and West Lister Street on Wednesday around 11:15 a.m.. Deputies said they spotted Haas and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County Community Corrections warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for 1st-Degree Forgery. Haas was placed into custody without incident. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of fondling himself in public near a city construction project early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at the corner of Martin Park Lane and SW 5th Street on Wednesday around 7:15 a.m.. Police said a construction worker called 9-1-1 to report that 41-year-old Brian William May was fondling himself near the work site while staring at a local apartment building. Officers arrived on scene, contacted May and discovered that he was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Indecent Exposure. May was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Indecent Exposure. He was being held on $25,000 bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Medford man on an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop on Interstate 5 near Grants Pass late last night. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota RAV-4 driven by 31-year-old Paul Arthur Ingraham in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 54 at 10:29 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers said they stopped Ingraham for a traffic violation and learned that he was wanted on a misdemeanor bench warrant for failing to appear in court for an alleged crime that was not disclosed. Ingraham was cited to appear in court and released from detainment.

 

No one was seriously hurt after a crash at a Redwood Highway intersection in Kerby this week. On Tuesday evening, the Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Holton Creek Road. IVFD officials said all the occupants were evaluated by AMR and none required medical transport to the hospital. Both vehicles were towed to Cave Junction. OSP was managing the investigation.