Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished a propane tank fire in Cave Junction early yesterday. On Monday at 4:09 a.m., IVFD crews responded to the incident in the 200-block of Caves Highway. Firefighters found a propane tank ablaze and they rapidly contained it. There were no injuries reported and no spread to surrounding structures or vegetation. According to IVFD, the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

Do you have what it takes to kick off summer shows at Concerts in the Park? The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications to sing the National Anthem at this year's concerts. This is a fun, volunteer opportunity for individuals or small groups who love to perform and want to be part of an incredible community tradition. Did you know "The Star Spangled Banner" was written during a battle in 1814, but it wasn't officially adopted as the national anthem until 1931? There's something special about standing together under the summer sky and hearing those first few notes. It unites us, inspires us and kicks off an evening of music with meaning. Applicants must be willing to audition or submit an audio sample for review by the Chamber's Concerts in the Park Committee. Visit the Chamber of Commerce website at "grantspasschamber.org" to apply.

 

A library volunteer and Grants Pass Friends of the Library member has asked the Josephine County District Attorney to file misdemeanor charges against the three members of the Board of Commissioners. Matthew Hoff filed a petition for redress of grievances to Commissioners Andreas Blech, Chris Barnett and Ron Smith on April 22nd, stating that "the actions and inactions of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners regarding the lease of the Grants Pass Library facility constitute a significant breach of public trust and governance obligations, and violate the County Charter's mandate for library support and public accountability." According to the Josephine County Charter, "Josephine County government officials that are petitioned for redress of grievances shall be required to respond within five days, and to resolve the problem in question within 60 days. To date, Hoff said he has received no response. In addition to providing a mechanism for the redress of grievances, the Charter also provides a means of enforcement which includes citing persons charged with violating the Charter Amendment by issuing a Class B Misdemeanor Citation. It states "no person shall be immune from such citation regardless of any personal or official capacity whatsoever. Judicial proceedings regarding such citations shall follow the same as in the issuance of any other misdemeanor citation." In addition, Hoff has now filed a second petition that delineates means of resolving the conflict.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 200 jobs in March, with health care & social assistance leading the way. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 99,548 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.9%, which was the same as in February. The return of workers who were on strike at a major health care provider contributed to the jobs added in health care & social assistance during March. Other industries adding jobs over the month were leisure & hospitality, construction, and professional & business services. Small employment declines were estimated in retail trade, transportation, warehousing & utilities, financial activities and manufacturing. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County slipped by 80 jobs or 0.1% Since March 2024, industries adding jobs were private education & health services (+560), retail trade (+230), and other services (+110). Industries with over-the-year losses included leisure & hospitality (-340), financial activities (-110), professional & business services (-30). Government lost 300 jobs since March 2024,

 

The Three Rivers School District has recognized four local firefighters for their heroic actions in limiting damage to a Grants Pass area elementary school during a heavy rainstorm last month. On Sunday, March 16th, flood waters threatened to cause significant damage to Fort Vannoy Elementary as a result of a sudden break in the levee holding in the swollen creek behind the school. Three Rural Metro firefighters were nearby dealing with a stranded motorist stuck in the middle of a submerged Upper River Road. Recognizing the imminent threat to the unoccupied school, the Rural Metro trio rushed to divert water from entering the building under the doors. A firefighter from Grants Pass Fire & Rescue joined the effort by bringing out sandbagging supplies. As a result of these efforts, damages were minimized and Fort Vannoy students were allowed to return to class a few days later, with full recovery from the damage by April 1st. The four firefighters were recently recognized for their actions by the Three Rivers School District and the Safer Josephine County Foundation.

 

A Josephine County woman is facing a total of 34 criminal charges related to fraud -- 26 of them felonies -- following her arrest late last week. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Brittany Maree Brown in an unspecified location on Friday at 10:31 a.m.. The Sheriff's Office has released no details about the investigation that led to Brown's arrest. She was lodged in the Grants Pass jail facility on one count of Felony Aggravated Identity Theft, 25 counts of Felony 1st-Degree Forgery and eight counts of misdemeanor 2nd-Degree Forgery. Brown was initially being held without bail, but she was released from custody for medical reasons on Friday night.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on a local warrant and added new charges to his criminal bill after he tried to run away from officers at a city park. The Police Department reports officers spotted 46-year-old Floyd Terry Rose at Baker Park on Saturday at 7:55 a.m.. Police said they knew Rose was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for drug possession. When he saw the patrol car, he ran across the Texas property toward the Grants Pass Parkway. He was located a short time later hiding under a staircase and tarp at a home on Mystic Drive. When Rose was advised he was under arrest, he took off again over a steep river embankment where he was placed into custody without further incident. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center after he complained of pain. After being medically cleared at the hospital, Rose was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Resisting Arrest and Escape. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he decided to take a drug-fueled weekend swim in a pond at a city park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Reinhart Volunteer Park on Webster Road on Saturday around 8:30 a.m.. Police said 21-year-old Robert Simon Taylor Darcy was reported to be swimming in a pond at the All Sports Park while screaming curse words and scaring children who were playing at the playground and preparing to play Little League baseball. Darcy had numerous lacerations on his body when he was retrieved from the pond and initially refused to identify himself. He took off his socks and threw them in the pond directly after being told that what he was doing was a crime. While being arrested, he admitted to officers that he had consumed a large amount of cocaine. Darcy was taken to the Sobering Center, but he fled out the front door and was brought back to the facility where ankle restraints were applied. He was then taken to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged without bail for Resisting Arrest, Offensive Littering and Depositing Trash within 100 Yards of a Waterway.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a California man for felony drug possession following a weekend traffic complaint on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area. OSP reports troopers made contact with a Dodge Ram pickup occupied by 47-year-old Daniel Paul Ellis of Bakersfield along the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Saturday at 11:19 p.m.. Troopers said they responded to multiple calls regarding a driving complaint in which the driver of a pickup had multiple traffic violations. They said Ellis was found passed out behind the wheel. Upon further investigation, they discovered that he was in possession of a felony amount of methamphetamine. It was seized. Ellis was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Meth Possession. His pickup was towed to an impound yard.