Local News

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night approved a resolution implementing the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program that was established by Senate bill 1537 to expand housing for very low and moderate income households. There are no cost implications for the City. The state program funding includes new housing or the conversion of non-residential structures into housing with a zero percent loan for developers. The resolution allows the City to sign an agreement with the state. The City could receive up to 2% for administrative costs. All program funding must be directed to projects serving residents at or below 120% of the area median income. The Council also approved a resolution amending the city's classification plan to create the position of Community Development Block Grant program coordinator. The Coordinator would be responsible for the administration, oversight and reporting of the CDBG program in accordance with HUD regulations. This position historically has been staffed through a temp agency, part time, with a 35% markup. That worker is retiring and staff is looking to bring the position back in house. Anticipated funding from HUD for fiscal year 2027 is $350,000 with 20% of the funds available for administration of the program. If the anticipated funding is received, up to $70,000 could be used to fund this position. The program is spending approximately $60,000 this year. The position would be part-time, limited to 29 hours weekly, with a maximum salary at $64,000.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested the subject of a traffic complaint for on an out-of-county warrant.

A call to 911 at 4:43 p.m. reported the suspect drove a sky blue Honda sedan past the sand courts at Reinhart Volunteer Park at about 30 miles per hour. He was also honking the horn and appeared to be chugging a beverage.

It wasn't clear if the drink was alcohol, and dispatch learned the suspect proceeded to exit the vehicle and walk around the 1690 Webster Road property. He was described as wearing a red shirt, and possibly heading down towards the river.

Officers contacted the suspect and took him into constructive custody. He was identified as Jacob Merwin, and found to be wanted on a warrant out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for DUII Cannabis.

His vehicle was released to an arriving friend, and Merwin was taken to the Adult Jail Facility for lodging on his warrant. He was then released due to a lack of resources.

 

A trespass call to 911 resulted in the arrest of a man by Grants Pass Police Tuesday night.

Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of NW B Street regarding a man laying down outside between the home and a shed. The neighbor of the homeowner made the report, saying the suspect has been seen going into the shed in the past, and that the suspect was seen just before 9:30 p.m. after he used his phone in the dark.

Law enforcement had been dispatched to the same location previously to trespass the suspect, but all previous attempts had been unsuccessful. Upon arrival, officers were able to contact the suspect, Andrew Reich. He admitted to police that the homeowner had told him not to return to the property before.

Reich's parole officer was contacted, leading to a detainer request. Officers transported Reich to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Second Degree Criminal Trespass and his detainer. He was also trespassed from an additional property on the same block.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division detectives are investigating the death of a 2-year-old child in rural Central Point. Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit detectives responded to assist. Dispatch received a call at 4:30 a.m. for a missing child in the 9900 block of Blackwell Road in rural Central Point. Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers arrived on scene and immediately began searching for the child. The child was located deceased at 5:41 a.m. Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. This case is open and ongoing with detectives following additional leads. There is no further information available for release at this time.

 

A man sleeping in an alleyway was lodged for trespassing by Grants Pass Police, and given a 30 day exclusion order.

Early Tuesday morning, the officer contacted the suspect, Johnnathon Adams, sleeping near the Red Canary Mercantile in an alley. Police had previously trespassed him from the downtown zone for 30 days due to a citation he was issued.

The officer arrested Adams at 4:51 a.m. for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. A new downtown exclusion order was issued to him for 90 days, and he was transported to jail for lodging.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he and a woman were contacted in Debo Park after hours Tuesday at 11:52 p.m.

James Hall and Brooke Mack were both cited for violating park hours, with Mack being issued a 30 day park exclusion after she had been cited back in June at the park.

Hall's parole officer was then contacted, and it was requested police lodge Hall on a detainer. He was taken into custody and lodged on the detainer in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility.

 

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,100 jobs in July, following a revised gain of 1,300 jobs in June.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, losses were largest in professional and business services (-1,800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-900), and government (-700). Gains were largest in retail trade (+500 jobs).

In the past 12 months, professional and business services was on a slightly downward trend, declining by 2,500 jobs, or 1.0%. Most of the decline was in management of companies and enterprises, which cut 2,200 jobs, or 4.6%. The other two component industries saw little change during that period.

Leisure and hospitality employed 203,800 in July, 3,500 jobs below its average of 207,300 from 2023 through 2025. It cut 3,800 jobs since January. Its component industry arts, entertainment, and recreation added 200 jobs in July to reach a record high of 31,300.

Oregon’s government sector lost 4,500 jobs, or -1.4%, since July 2025. All components cut since July 2025. Federal government dropped 1,600 jobs, or -5.7%; state government lost 200 jobs, or -0.4%; and local government job counts declined by 2,700, or -1.1%.

Retail trade added 500 jobs in July, but that follows a consistent long-term trend of job declines during the past four years. It employed 198,000 in July, which was a drop of 12,700 jobs, or 6.0%, since July 2022.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in July. It has been 5.2% each month since January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in June and 4.1% in July.

July's county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data is set to be released Tuesday, August 25th.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved the first public hearing regarding a Monument Drive property and scheduled the second hearing for September 2nd, 2026.

The Weekly Business Session began at 9 a.m. with the hearing for an ordinance amending the comprehensive plan of Josephine County from farm to residential, and amend the zoning map of the County from farm resource to rural residential and goal exception.

The property owner of 8980 Monument Drive property is Rose Butte LLC. Approval was recommended to the board back in 2025. A motion to approve the first reading, and schedule the second passed 3-0. The consent calendar was approved, and the meeting adjourned.

The board will meet Friday at 9 a.m. in the BCC Conference Room for their rescheduled Executive Session. Consideration and decision will take place regarding the dismissal or discipline of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent.

 

Despite critical fire weather on Tuesday, the 53% contained Fielder Mountain Fire remained inside firelines and had minimal fire behavior. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, crews continued mop-up activities along the fire edge, reaching 200 feet interior across most of the incident. Today, firefighters will continue this work, pushing deeper into the fire, as well as checking areas previously mopped up to ensure there is no threat of rekindling fire. Unneeded equipment and hose are being backhauled from the fireline to be cleaned and refurbished for use on the next incident. As firefighters progress further into the fire interior, they remain vigilant for overhead hazards and ash pits. Critical weather conditions are expected again today with temperatures in the low 90’s, slightly improved humidity in the mid-20’s, and winds with gusts to 15 MPH. Repair work is beginning in the fire area, as crews are constructing water bars along the fireline to divert water during rainy periods, mitigating soil erosion and impacts to water quality.