Local News

Law Enforcement Agencies Conducting Seat Belt & Child Restraint Campaign
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office -- along with other local law enforcement agencies -- are conducting a high-visibility seat belt and child restraint enforcement campaign from now until February 9th. The campaign aims to encourage drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and use proper child restraints. Federally-funded overtime will increase police presence on city and county roads throughout the Rogue Valley. This effort is made possible by grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The latest research from the NHTSA shows motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children and that 46% of child car seats are misused. Common issues include children being in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size, and car seats being installed improperly -- both of which leave children vulnerable to injury or death in a crash. Every day in 2022, three children ages 14 and younger were killed in traffic crashes while another 429 were injured.
Posted on 1/30/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh
 

Five People Hurt in 2 Crashes that Occurred on Icy Roads in Josephine County
A total of five people were injured in two motor vehicle accidents that occurred in Josephine County late yesterday. On Wednesday at 3:46 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Southside Road near Murphy. Rescue crews were able to quickly extract everyone after a vehicle went out of control and struck a tree, likely due to ice. One adult and three juveniles were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. On Wednesday at 8:42 p.m., Rural Metro and AMR responded to a single-vehicle rollover wreck in the 900-block of Jumpoff Joe Creek Road near Hugo. Few details were available, but the driver was transported to the hospital. Ice may have been a factor, but law enforcement was investigating the cause of the crash. First responders are reminding motorists that some roads remain icy all day if they are shaded from sunlight. Please drive with caution.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed Man for Parole Violation after He Led Deputies on Hugo Pursuit
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for leading deputies on a pursuit in the Hugo area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 41-year-old Kyle David Thier at Taser point in the 900-block of Hitching Post Road on Tuesday morning. Deputies said they attempted a traffic stop on Thier, but he refused to yield and led them on a chase that ended when he bailed out of the vehicle, jumped a fence and started running down a hill. He was placed into custody a short time later. Thier was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was additionally charged with Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Escape. Thier was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:32AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Motorist for DUII & More after He Fled Scene of Traffic Crash
Grants Pass Police jailed a motorist for impaired driving and more after he crashed into another vehicle on Williams Highway and fled the scene. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested 27-year-old Zachary Justin Woodruff at his residence on Tuesday night. Police said Woodruff was driving a Toyota 4-Runner that crashed into the back of a Toyota minivan near the corner of Highway 238 and Union Avenue. They said he fled the scene without exchanging information with the other driver after a collision that caused more than $2,500 in damage. No one was hurt. According to the report, the other driver recited the 4-Runner's license plate by memory which allowed officers to identify the suspect and his home address. Woodruff was contacted at his residence and he reportedly showed several signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that confirmed impairment. Woodruff was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested GP Man on Local Felony Warrant after Fish Hatchery Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on a local felony warrant this week following a traffic stop in the Fish Hatchery area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford Escape driven by 48-year-old Jack Thomas Conklin near the corner of Fish Hatchery and Southside roads on Tuesday night. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that Conklin was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation. There was no information available on the underlying charge or charges. Conklin was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His car was turned over to a friend at his request.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Pedestrian Injured and Cited after Getting Hit by Car on Williams Highway
A Grants Pass pedestrian was both injured and cited after he ran across Williams Highway and was struck by a vehicle this week. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel responded to the collision near the corner of Highway 238 and Harbeck Road on Tuesday evening. Police said a motorist was driving a Ford Escape and preparing to turn east onto Harbeck Road when a male pedestrian walked into the middle of the highway from the west. They said the pedestrian ran in front of the car while it was moving and it collided with the man. According to the report, the pedestrian was laying on the highway when officers arrived on scene. Details were sketchy, but witnesses said the man had a head injury and may have broken some bones. He was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. ODOT crews assisted with traffic control. Following the investigation, police cited the man at the hospital for Improper Positioning of a Pedestrian in a Roadway.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:27AM by Sam Marsh
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Applications Being Accepted for 5 Seats on GP Urban Tree Advisory Panel
Applications are being accepted for five positions on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee. These positions are two-year terms. The purpose of the committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest in Grants Pass as part of the Tree City USA program. The special qualification for these positions is having an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 28th. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, March 10th. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council during its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19th.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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Board of Commissioners Honored Sheriff Dave Daniel at Weekly Business Session
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The Josephine County Sheriff's Office played a prominent role in Wednesday's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. The Board started the meeting by presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel who received the "Sheriff of the Year" award from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association in December. Sheriff Daniel thanked his staff and said he was "humbled and honored to serve this community." Several items were approved under Administrative Actions including an agreement to indemnify Boersma Family Farm, LLC, from liability at Lathrop Boat Landing, which is owned by the corporation. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks said the agreement has been in the works for some time and it protects both parties. The Commissioners also approved a personal services contract with Cauble, Furr & Beguin, LLP, to provide legal services to Planning, Building Safety, Solid Waste and Code Enforcement for $81,000 per year as well as a personal services contract with FasPsych, LLC, to provide mental health services to inmates at the Josephine County Jail for a base price of $1,750 per month. The Board also approved a Sheriff's Office quote of just over $19,000 for the purchase of new radios to replace the outdated models. Sheriff Daniel said the radios will be paid for with proceeds from drug bust forfeitures.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
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Total Payroll Employment in Jackson County Fell by 200 Jobs in December 2024
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Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 200 jobs in December, with several industries posting monthly declines. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 100,398 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.7%, which was the same as in November. Leisure & hospitality showed the largest drop, down by 210 jobs. Others with estimated employment losses included manufacturing, construction and wholesale trade. Government employment slipped by 60 jobs, with losses in federal and state government. A couple Jackson County industries added jobs in December. Health care & social assistance employment rose by 270, and transportation, warehousing & utilities gained 50 jobs over the month. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County edged up by 20 jobs. Since December 2023, industries adding jobs were private education & health services, professional & business services, transportation, warehousing & utilities, and mining & logging. Industries with over-the-year losses included retail trade, manufacturing, financial activities, construction, and wholesale trade.
Posted on 1/30/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
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Generosity of People in GP Helped Provide Joy to Children in Need around World
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The overwhelming generosity of the people of Grants Pass helped provide joy to children in need through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this season. Across the United States, the Samaritan's Purse project collected 10.5 million shoebox gifts in 2024. Combined with those collected from partnering countries, the ministry is now sending over 11.9 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide. Shoebox packers brought joy and hope to children around the world through fun, full, personalized gifts. For many children, this is the first gift they have ever received. It's a tangible expression of God's love, given to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. These simple gifts, packed with love, remind children around the world that they are loved and not forgotten. For more information visit "samaritanspurse.org."
Posted on 1/30/25 6:08AM by Sam Marsh
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BCC Approves Several Administrative Action Items in Weekly Business Session
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office played a prominent role in today's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. The Board started the meeting by presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel who received the "Sheriff of the Year" award from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association in December. Sheriff Daniel thanked his staff and said he was "humbled and honored to serve this community." Several items were approved under Administrative Actions including an agreement to indemnify Boersma Family Farm, LLC, from liability at Lathrop Boat Landing, which is owned by the corporation. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks said the agreement has been in the works for some time and it protects both parties. The Commissioners also approved a personal services contract with Cauble, Furr & Beguin, LLP, to provide legal services to Planning, Building Safety, Solid Waste and Code Enforcement for $81,000 per year as well as a personal services contract with FasPsych, LLC, to provide mental health services to inmates at the Josephine County Jail for a base price of $1,750 per month. The Board also approved a Sheriff's Office quote of just over $19,000 for the purchase of new radios to replace the outdated models. Sheriff Daniel said the radios will be paid for with proceeds from drug bust forfeitures. In other business, the Commissioners approved out-of-state travel requests from the Community Corrections and Veterans Assistance departments. Both directors testified that members of their departments will attend these conferences with pass-through funding and no money coming from the Josephine County General Fund.
Posted on 1/29/25 11:35AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Man for Parole Violation after He Led Deputies on Hugo Chase
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for leading deputies on a pursuit in the Hugo area early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 41-year-old Kyle David Thier at Taser point in the 900-block of Hitching Post Road at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Deputies said they attempted a traffic stop on Thier, but he refused to yield and led them on a chase that ended when he bailed out of the vehicle, jumped a fence and started running down a hill. He was placed into custody a short time later. Thier was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was additionally charged with Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Escape. Thier was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 1/29/25 11:33AM by Sam Marsh
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