Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for breaking into a house on the southwest side of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Austin Lee Buell for the incident in the 3100-block of Redwood Avenue on Monday night. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a male subject inside her house. She said she did not know the man and he fled on foot on Redwood Avenue before turning onto Hubbard Lane and heading toward Redwood Highway. The victim followed the suspect in her vehicle while maintaining contact with dispatchers. Buell reportedly stopped near Elmer Nelson Lane and that's where he was placed into custody. No stolen items were found in his backpack. Buell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Burglary and Attempted 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client who turned himself in on a statewide felony warrant this week. The Police Department reports officers were called to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday afternoon. Police said 39-year-old Patrick Henry Hermes was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a prior conviction for Felony Assault. They said he voluntarily surrendered to his corrections officer. Hermes was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry knocked down a grass fire near O'Brien early yesterday. On Tuesday at 7:49 a.m., IVFD and ODF crews responded to reports of a quarter-acre fire in the 35,000-block of Redwood Highway near Arrowhead Drive. IVFD officials said firefighters got the jump on the small blaze and quickly put it out. It was unclear in the report if the fire originated from lightning strikes that sparked several incidents throughout southwest Oregon on Monday night. On Tuesday afternoon, IVFD investigated reports of smoke in the 200-block of Raintree Drive in Cave Junction at the intersection of Waldo Road and a BLM road. Officials said they would provide updates as they became available.

 

Throughout July, Josephine Community Library is featuring an original exhibit panel at the Grants Pass branch honoring the global impact of the Declaration of Independence. Sponsored and donated by Grants Pass native and renowned historian James Basker, the exhibit will be made available for lending to schools, agencies and nonprofits beginning this fall. The panel -- curated by Dr. Basker and historian Sandy Trenholm of the Gilder Lehman Institute of American History -- presents a storyline offered nowhere else. The exhibit traces the ripple effect of the Declaration's principles -- freedom, equality and representative government -- through key moments in American and world history. Library Director Kate Lasky said this unique exhibit captures how the ideals of 1776 echoed far beyond our borders and across generations. She said they are grateful to Dr. Basker for this generous contribution to the library and community. Following its July run at the Grants Pass library branch, the new exhibit will be catalogued for circulation and made available for loan to partner schools, government agencies and nonprofit organizations through the region for the 2025-26 school year.

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services is awarding more than $8.7 million to eligible organizations representing 27 counties to support veterans through down payment assistance and home repair funds. Eleven organizations from Portland to Josephine County were awarded down payment assistance funds. Eligible veterans and their families at or below 100% of area median income can qualify for up to $60,000 depending on specific program guidelines. In addition, an amount up to 10% of the down payment assistance can be used for lender-required repairs. Six organizations also were awarded home repair funds, which assist homeowners who are veterans and are at risk of living in unhealthy homes or who are subject to potential displacement due to health and safety concerns. This allows veterans to enjoy the benefits of living in habitable, safe, healthy and sustainable homes. Homeowners who are veterans can apply for these resources to address issues such as accessibility/adaptability modifications, updates to code compliance, emergency repairs and repairs for structural integrity. OHCS acknowledges those families of veterans who helped shoulder the weight of war and the burdens of sacrifice, so these resources have been expanded to include serving the spouse of a deceased veteran. Community in Action is one of the organizations that received funds for both down payment assistance and health and safety repairs. For more information, please visit "oregon.gov/ohcs."

 

Serving as the regional planning organization for Jackson and Josephine counties, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) has completed a draft update of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for 2025-2030. Titled "One Rogue Valley -- Reimagined," the CEDS is a locally-developed, regionally-driven strategy that identifies priorities for economic development and resilience in Southern Oregon. In accordance with US Economic Development Administration requirements, SOREDI is providing this notice to invite public review and comment. The draft CEDS is available for public inspection and comment for a period of 30 days ending July 30th. The draft CEDS is available online at "soredi.org." Hard copies are available by request at the SOREDI Office, 100 East Main Street, Suite A, Medford, OR 97501 or by calling (541)-773-8946. All comments received during the public comment period will be reviewed and considered prior to submitting the final plan to the EDA. SOREDI officials thank you for contributing to the future of economic prosperity in this region.

 

The Rogue River School District has announced that it has received a $15,000 grant from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation to support the development of a Student Health Center at the district's Early Learning and Wellness Center. The generous award -- the Foundation's maximum grant amount -- reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to affordable, community-centered health care for the local school district's youngest and most vulnerable students. Rogue River Superintendent Patrick Lee said they are grateful to the Cow Creek Foundation for their investment in the well-being of their children and families. He said the partnership helps ensure that health care is not a barrier to learning, growth and success for students in Rogue River and Wimer. The Student Health Center will serve as vital resource for local children, providing accessible medical and behavioral health services in a convenient setting. It's slated to open and begin serving students in September.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry responded to 53 reports of smoke and fire following thunderstorms that moved through Jackson and Josephine counties last night. Of the 53 reports, ODF said 17 were found to be duplicates -- resulting in 22 confirmed fires across its Southwest District and an additional 14 reports that are pending. Resources were engaged on these 22 incidents last night and, as a result, seven are already 100% lined and mopped up, leaving 15 active and staffed. ODF firefighters remained engaged on three major fires this morning: the Heppsie Mountain Fire off Highway 140 north of Lake Creek, which was estimated to be 50 acres; the Poole Hill Fire south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire across South Fork Little Butte Creek, which was estimated to be 3-5 acres; and the Pompadour Fire located in the hills east of Ashland, which was halted at 38 acres. Other staffed fires were estimated to be between 1/10th of an acre and 6 acres. Two reconnaissance flights launched this morning to cover all strike areas across the district. These daytime flights will provide better information on current fires and allow the agency to get eyes on pending reports, confirm duplicate reports, and provide oversight to be strategic with ordering and dispatching resources. Last night, a strike team of five engines from the ODF Southern Oregon Area arrived and were dispatched to fires. This morning, another five-engine strike team is mobilizing from the ODF Northwest Area. The district had also ordered two more 20-person hand crews, seven engines, one water tender and one bulldozer to be available where needed. A total of 266 personnel were assigned to fires today. ODF resources are continuing to work with its federal partners at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Medford BLM District in response to these fires as well as local and county structural fire departments.

 

An early morning structure fire in NE Grants Pass yesterday mobilized multiple agencies and forced the evacuation of nearby homes. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the fire in the 1300-block of NE 9th Street on Monday at 1:38 a.m.. Arriving units found a detached carport, storage units and multiple vehicles fully-involved in flames. Crews engaged in aggressive fire suppression to stop spread of the blaze to neighboring homes and vegetation. A second alarm was sounded to summon additional resources. The Grants Pass Police Department assisted with evacuations, securing a water supply, providing information and traffic control. There was some damage to an adjacent home that was quickly mitigated. No injuries were reported and no other structures were damaged. The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Grants Pass Fire Prevention Bureau.