Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a vehicle fire and traffic accident this morning.

Crews were alerted to the fire at 3:56 a.m. occurring at the corner of U.S. Highway 199 and Hays Hill Road in Selma. The fire was extinguished, with no spread to any surrounding wildland.

Then at 10:31 a.m., a traffic accident was reported in the 100 block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction.

I.V. Fire, AMR, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision. There were no injuries, and the involved parties exchanged information. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

A woman was arrested following a welfare check for an out-of-county methamphetamine warrant.

Dispatch received calls regarding a woman screaming and crying at Tussing Park, with the first report coming in Sunday around 4:19 p.m. She was walking up and down the foot bridge at the 800 W Park Street location, and it was believed she was under the influence.

The suspect, later identified by Grants Pass Police as Lily Loftis, was described as wearing plaid pajama bottoms, a black hoodie, and having orange hair. Officers soon located her down near the river's edge at the park, and she was taken into custody.

Loftis was wanted on a Douglas County Sheriff's Office warrant for a Dangerous Drugs charge. She was subsequently lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police held a man at taser point before arresting him on a warrant early this morning.

An employee of River City Grill, 150 SE K Street, reported the suspect, Bobby Swearingen, around 1:38 a.m. He was at the restaurant before he started heading towards the Purple Parrot. The employee described him as wearing a black hoodie.

Officers knew Swearingen had a warrant out for his arrest, and soon located him after he entered Resting Site 6 North. Units surrounded the site, and video surveillance was used to locate Swearingen.

He was apprehended by police after being held at taser point, and was taken into custody without incident. Swearingen was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for a Weapons Offense, so he was transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Officers lodged him on his warrant, and he was trespassed from River City Grill.

 

The Board of Commissioners will consider the County Economic Development Grant Advisory Committee establishment during Tuesday's 1:30 p.m. workshop.

The agenda begins with business presented by the Assessor in the matter of participation in the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance (CAFFA) Grant. The Clerk's office will present the board with invoices from Ryder Election Services, LLC, and Clear Ballot Group, Inc.

Finance will present the Grant Advisory Committee establishment order, with airports requesting an FAA Grant Application.

Human Resources has two requisitions and one action regarding a new Probation Officer hire. Pending other board business, the workshop will adjourn.

The Commissioners will hold the workshop in the BCC Conference Room. Those wishing to attend may do so in person or online at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man under a bridge Sunday afternoon.

Two suspects were contacted under the bridge around 1:37 p.m. They were both asked by officers to leave the unspecified Oregon Department of Transportation property. The suspects complied, but one, Nick Trautman, was found to be wanted on three warrants.

He was arrested on his warrants: two from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, and one from the Oregon Parole Board. Trautman's charges included Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Third Degree Escape, Felony and Misdemeanor charges of Elude, and a Weapon Offense.

Officers transported Trautman to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrants.

 

The Josephine Community Library issued a press release regarding the future Grants Pass Library site following an article from Southern Oregon News' Facebook page.

The original article, posted April 15th at 11:23 a.m., reported there were public concerns for the $26 million project, with county residents expressing homelessness concerns, and questions regarding leadership compensation and a physical library's necessity.

A response from the library, in a release, said the project's price was determined through eight public listening sessions and survey input, helping to inform "cost, safety, and long-term sustainability" of the project.

Public transparency was brought up in the Facebook article, to which the library responded saying no taxes are being used for the Library Foundation-led project, and that it is still in the fundraising phase. The library tax rate will reportedly not increase, with that revenue only supporting library operations.

Southern Oregon News posted April 18th in response to the Library's release, reporting "growing scrutiny" following the release, and asking further financial questions.

 

Oregon work zone crashes hit a five-year high in 2024, 621 crashes, according to the latest data from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

All of the serious injuries and deaths in work zones in 2024 were to drivers or their passengers.

To encourage safe driving through work zones, ODOT announced April 20th through the 24th is National Work Zone Awareness Week. It highlights the workers who risk their lives to keep our roads safe, clear and flowing smoothly.

Work zones are a shared space between drivers and road workers. Your decisions behind the wheel matter. Pay attention, slow down, move over, and plan ahead. As summer nears, drivers will see more work zones statewide. But work zones aren’t just orange barrels and lane closures. If you see someone working along the road, that’s a work zone; slow down and move over.

Work zones are still active even if you don’t see anyone working when you drive through it. Fines double for speeding and other unsafe, unlawful behaviors in work zones.

 

This is the final week to contribute to the 20th Annual Community Baby Shower.

Soroptimist International River Valley is hosting the shower Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fred Meyer, 1101 NE Grants Pass Parkway. Before the event takes place, the public can donate new or handmade gifts to contribute to the shower.

The deadline to donate is April 24th. Suggested items to donate include disposable diapers, baby wipes, bottles, toys, blankets, quilts, shampoo, lotion, and new clothes from sizes infant to five years.

There are five collection centers around the community where items can be dropped off. Stop by the Grants Pass Museum of Art, 229 SW G Street, Plaza Sewing, Quilting and Vacuum Center, 311 SE 6th Street, both Evergreen Federal Bank locations, 969 SE 6th Street and 1329 NE 6th Street, and Grants Pass Broadcasting at 888 Rogue River Highway.

Donate now for the 20th Annual Soroptimist Community Baby Shower. For more information, call 541-218-3564, or visit soroptimistsirv.org.

 

A deputy with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office pulled over and subsequently arrested a man for driving while suspended Saturday.

The suspect, driving a white Chevy S10, was stopped by law enforcement outside the Los Taquitos at 304 NE Agness Avenue around 9:46 p.m. The deputy observed the driver, identified as Chad Bauer, make an improper turn.

Bauer was contacted and it was learned he was driving while felony revoked. He consented to a search of his vehicle, which located a scooter. The deputy took Bauer into custody and transported to the Adult Jail Facility.

He was lodged for Felony Driving While Suspended, and his vehicle was towed from the scene to be impounded.