Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by being caught on his sister's property early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at a home in the 1,000-block of SW I Street on Thursday shortly after midnight. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her 55-year-old brother just got out of jail and he was on her property, which was in violation of an active restraining order. The caller said she saw her sibling leaning on her car, but he left and went in to her backyard. That's where officers located him and placed him into custody. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation and he was being held without bail.

 

Creosote buildup contributed to a flue fire at a home in the Hugo area this week. Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call from a residence in the 500-block of Jack Pine Road on Wednesday afternoon. Visible flames shooting out of a stovepipe mobilized engine companies from Rural Metro's Monument Drive Station. Arriving units extinguished the flames and confirmed the structure was not damaged. No injuries were reported. Rural Metro officials said flames that travel inside a chimney or stovepipe are not a problem, but flames that escape into the attic or wall are a problem. In fact, that is one of the leading causes of house fires this time of year. Certain tools carried by firefighters like thermal imaging cameras allow crews to detect hidden fire in the attic and walls. Specialized suppression equipment can provide cooling of the pipe without causing damage. Firefighters and chimney sweep professionals recommend regular cleaning and inspections to confirm your wood heating devices are in good working order -- and always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each level of your home, especially near sleeping areas.

 

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded well over 1,000 emergency calls during the first full week of 2025. According to the agency's most recent post on Facebook, a total of 1,083 9-1-1 calls were received from January 2nd to January 8th. The Grants Pass Police Department received the majority of the calls with 793, followed by American Medical Response with 295 and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue with 89. Rural Metro Fire Department received 55 calls during the same time period while the Illinois Valley Fire District received 22, the Williams Rural Fire Protection District received 4, and both the Oregon Department of Forestry and Wolf Creek Fire Protection District got 3. In addition to the emergency calls, local dispatchers received a total of 361 internal calls and they made 579 outbound calls.

 

Josephine Community Transit services were unaffected by a fire that engulfed an electric bus at the Public Works charging area this week. No one was harmed in the fire and similar vehicles have been taken out of service as a precaution. JCT program supervisor Scott Chancey said the 35-foot low-floor Gillig Battery Electric Bus was not scheduled for service Wednesday when a transit operator saw a fire emerging from the vehicle's roof. The operator immediately called 9-1-1 and other operators followed existing protocol to move other vehicles away. Chancey said their team's quick actions prevented further loss of equipment and ensured the safety of everyone at the charging area. He said he's thankful no one was hurt and that they were able to continue serving residents without interruption. Chancey said the incident is categorized as a runaway thermal event, which happens when a battery cell shorts out or is damaged, causing it to discharge its electrical energy. Grants Pass firefighters aided in the emergency by keeping the thermal event from spreading from the battery packs on the top of the bus to those at the back. Fleet maintenance crews disconnected the remaining undamaged battery packs right after firefighters stopped their operations.

 

The Josephine Community Library Foundation has pledged its full support for the library district in response to the Board of Commissioners' January 6th vote to terminate the lease for the Grants Pass branch library. Library Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Stoltz said the Board's decision raises serious concerns about the legality and process of the termination. She calls on the Commissioners to reverse their vote and honor the library's lease agreement, which is set to run through December 31st of this year. Stoltz said the library is a vital community resource, and decisions about its future should reflect thoughtful collaboration and input from the public. Library donors, volunteers and patrons have expressed frustration and a desire to support the library during this critical time. The foundation has provided tools to make that possible including contact information for the Commissioners and a customizable letter template on its website. These resources empower residents to voice their concerns and advocate for the library. The lease termination is scheduled to take effect in 30 days following written notification, potentially disrupting access to critical library programs and services relied upon by thousands of Josephine County residents.

 

Every pet parent's worst nightmare is having their furry family member go missing. In 2025, getting a license for your pet to help them return home is easier than ever. Online pet licensing is now available on Jackson County Animal Services' website. Jackson County Animal Services requires that all dogs over six months old be licensed. This helps ensure compliance with vaccinations and helps keep the whole community safe. If a licensed pet gets loose and ends up with Jackson County Animal Services, they offer a free ride home if it is the pet's first incident in 12 months. This means that your four-legged friend will be returned to you at no charge. In 2024, 55 dogs were returned using the Free Ride Home Program. If a dog is brought to the shelter without a license and the owner is located, they are required to pay the redemption fees along with purchasing a license. The new online system makes it easier than ever for pet parents to protect their pets and keep them safe all year. Make safety for the family your 2025 resolution.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman on a statewide felony warrant after an early morning contact today on the west side of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 39-year-old Ciera Michelle Lokken near the corner of SW J and Alder streets at 4:34 this morning. Police said they spotted Lokken pushing a shopping cart at that location and they were familiar with her from frequent law enforcement contacts. She was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a 2021 conviction for an unspecified weapon offense. Lokken was placed into custody without incident and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Community service officers returned the cart to the business from which it was taken. Jail records indicate Lokken has been arrested for violating her post-prison supervision at least nine times in the past year.

 

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation into a violent crime resulted in the arrest of a man last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 39-year-old Sean Patrick Mitchell in the 200-block of NW 4th Street on Wednesday at 10:04 p.m.. Police said they contacted Mitchell in his parked vehicle at that location and they knew he was a suspect in a criminal investigation. While he was being placed into custody, a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue was found in plain view near the front driver-seat. The pipe was seized for destruction. Mitchell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Menacing plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by being caught on his sister's property early today. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at a home in the 1,000-block of SW I Street shortly after midnight. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her 55-year-old brother just got out of jail and he was on her property, which was in violation of an active restraining order. The caller said she saw her sibling leaning on her car, but he left and went in to her backyard. That's where officers located him and placed him into custody. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation and he was being held without bail.