Local News

A traffic accident occurred Thursday around 12:55 p.m. on Redwood Highway at Kerby Mainline Road in Kerby.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to a single-vehicle incident where the vehicle reportedly reversed into a hillside near the waste disposal facility, resulting in injuries to one occupant.

The vehicle then proceeded to the intersection to await the arrival of emergency services.

One individual was transported with minor injuries.

 

The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team and Medford Police Department served a search warrant Thursday after discovering images of child exploitation were uploaded from an apartment complex in Medford. Just before 8 a.m. in the 200 block of Beatty Street, SOCET began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. During the search, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force for further evidence of child exploitation. This investigation is active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads.

 

Dispatch received a call from a victim in the 200 block of West Park Street stating an unknown male had broken a window and was crawling into the residence Thursday.

Around 2:38 a.m., the victim described the male as being naked with tattoos and talking about saving them from Hermes and goddesses. Grants Pass Police officers responded and found the suspect had fled the residence with a stolen blanket, but the adult victim and two children were unharmed.

The male suspect had reportedly been injured by the broken window when he entered the residence.

A police search with K9 partner Maro located the suspect hiding in the hedge of a neighboring yard. The suspect, who initially refused to identify himself, surrendered and was placed under arrest before being transported to the Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of his wound.

Officers subsequently identified the suspect as Patrick Hermes, 39, of Merlin. Following medical clearance, Hermes was transported to the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged on charges of Burglary in the First Degree, Third Degree Theft, Harassment, and a felony warrant for Parole Violation.

 

The Medford Police Department has arrested a juvenile male suspect following an armed carjacking Thursday.

At 11:33 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of North Riverside Avenue after receiving a report that a male suspect approached a woman while armed with a handgun and demanded she get out. The female exited the vehicle unharmed. The suspect then fled the area in the vehicle.

At about 11:40 a.m., officers located the vehicle unoccupied near Riverside Avenue and McAndrews Road. MPD immediately issued an initial suspect description and all available units responded, establishing a perimeter throughout the area. Officers also notified Rogue Valley Mall security and conducted searches of the mall and surrounding businesses.

Video surveillance later showed the suspect entering Target, where he discarded evidence. This evidence, along with an image captured on surveillance footage, was distributed to responding units.

Officers recovered the firearm and additional items inside the business. Shortly afterward, MPD officers observed the suspect walking eastbound on McAndrews near Royal Avenue and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, a juvenile, was interviewed by MPD Detectives with the assistance of the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. He was lodged at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center for First Degree Robbery, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

 

The Britt Festival Orchestra has announced its 2026 season, with three weeks of outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville.

From June 18 through July 3, 2026, and under the leadership of Music Director Norman Huynh in his inaugural season at Britt, the Orchestra’s 64th season highlights orchestral favorites that showcase the power, beauty, and thrill of live symphonic music.

The season features four guest artists: Pianist Olga Kern, soprano Janai Brugger, Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three, and violinist William Hagen.

Performances include Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Holst's The Planets, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and Time For Three, and Richter’s Four Seasons and Copland 3.

Britt will also be featuring a film live with orchestra for the fourth year in row. The movie selection will be announced in December.

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night approved a resolution to create a low barrier homeless shelter at 210 Redwood Highway. The resolution authorized a notice of intent to award and execute a grant agreement from the city of Grants Pass to Elk Island Trading group to create a managed shelter with a capacity for up to 150 homeless in renovated Conex containers. The grant is for up to $1.2 million to be dispersed on a reimbursement basis. Elk Island has met all the requirements the city put forth and their provisions for repayment should Elk Island fail to meet all portions of the agreement. The resolution passed on a 5 to 3 vote with Councilors Marshall, Schloegl and Krohn dissenting. Earlier, the Council upheld the appeal of the Urban Area Planning Commission’s decision to deny changes to the approved site plan for Bowman’s Choice Auto at 899 Rogue River Highway. Council felt the changes, although in conflict with city code, were minor and created no adverse situations for the city. Councilors approved an ordinance creating a reimbursement district for the Harbeck Meadows Subdivision.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department responded to two vehicle fires early this week

On Monday at 11:25 a.m., a diesel pusher suffered significant damage after a fire broke out in the 200 block of Sky Way.

Quick suppression and mop-up actions by Rural Metro Fire and Grants Pass Fire minimized fire spread. Firefighters identified the origin area near the on-board generator and hydraulic components. No injuries were reported.

Then on Tuesday at 1:06 p.m., an excavator clearing property for new construction in the Mountain Pine Drive neighborhood suffered a melt down after a hydraulic system failure.

The operator was able to escape the cab before it was consumed by flames.

 

Pacific Power is reminding customers to be vigilant about fraudulent communications from scammers posing as utility representatives before activity ramps up during the holidays.

In a release, Pacific Power said customers can protect themselves from these types of schemes by being aware that scammers will often tell you that your service is scheduled to be interrupted in the next 30 to 60 minutes.

Pacific Power will not contact any customer demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnecting their service the same day. Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you demanding on-the-spot payment.

Fraudsters may also ask you to purchase a prepaid card and tell them the card information over the phone. Pacific Power does not ask customers to make payments that way. If you receive one of these calls, ask the caller to state your account number and compare it with the number listed on your bill.

Scammers have increasingly used text messages as a means of targeting victims, but Pacific Power will not demand payment via text message.

Scammers can make it appear to caller ID systems that the call is coming from Pacific Power when it is not. Hang up if you receive a suspicious or concerning call, then get in touch with customer service at 1-888-221-7070.

Pacific Power is asking customers to report information about any scam call received, including the phone number the person is calling from and any information that may help to track down the fraudsters.

 

Oregon State Police conducted a traffic stop and arrested the passenger on a bench warrant Wednesday night.

Around 7:29 p.m., troopers pulled over a BMW for a traffic violation on 6th Street near Morgan Lane. The driver, Sean Silva, was suspended and his vehicle was uninsured.

Silva's passenger, Andrea Fitzsimmons, was found to have a misdemeanor warrant out of Jackson County. Troopers took her into custody and lodged her at the Josephine County Jail.

The BMW was towed from the scene. During a search of the vehicle, meth was found inside. Charges of Meth Possession and Supplying Contraband for Fitzsimmons were referred to the District Attorney's office.