Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire Department, American Medical Response, and Oregon State Police reported to a traffic accident Wednesday afternoon.

According to IVFD, the incident occurred at 5:23 p.m. at the intersection of Caves Highway and North Old Stage Road in Cave Junction. Crews were dispatched to the scene of the two-vehicle collision.

OSP reported a brown Mercedes was traveling eastbound when a white Chevy pickup made an abrupt stop. The driver of the Mercedes was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear of the pickup.

No injuries were reported. The Chevy sustained minor damage while the Mercedes had front end damage, requiring a tow from the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was warned for following to close.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 130 jobs in March, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

Notable job changes to private-sector industries were private education and health services (+40), and leisure and hospitality (+30). Government employment added 60 jobs over the month. Gains were posted in local education (+30), federal government (+20), and non-education local government (+10).

Over the past year payroll employment decreased by 80 jobs, a loss of -0.3%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries, excluding private education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, which gained 190 and 60 jobs, respectively. Job declines occurred in retail trade (-100), professional and business services (-50), wholesale trade (-40), manufacturing (-40), and information (-30).

Government employment fell by 80 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-90) while state government added 10 jobs over the year.
Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 6.8% in March, little changed over the month and slightly above the March 2025 rate of 6.3%.

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night renewed a contract with the Josephine County Visitors Association, awarded a contract for a study on non-bargaining salaries and approved waivers of park fees for two non-profits. Councilors reconsidered a resolution passed March 30th in a special meeting authorizing an agreement with the Josephine County Visitors Association including the addition of the Downtown Welcome Center operations. The Association does business as the Downtown Business Association and Visit Grants Pass. The move would potentially save the City $45,000 because the City would no longer be responsible for the salaries for the four employees at the Welcome Center. The tourism services provided with this agreement are funded at 28% of the City's annual lodging tax revenue. An hour's long parade of business owners testified in favor of the agreement prior to the Council unanimously passing the resolution. The Grants Pass City Council approved a resolution authorizing notice of intent to award the non-bargaining salary and compensation study proposal. City staff had gathered proposals five proposals, one of which was declared non-responsive to questions. Cost of the proposals ranged from $25,500 to $35,000. Council awarded the contract to Logic Compensation Group for $27,500 with the caveat their information be delivered in a more understandable format. The resolution passed on a 4 to 3 vote.The council did approve to waive the City's permit fee of $1,150.75 for the 2026 Frog O'Faire event while also allowing commercial activity in the park for the event being staged by Legacy Family & Leadership organization on June 6th.Councilors then approved the waiver of a park reservation fee of $440 for the Gazebo for 2026 Kids Day scheduled for June 26th. The request came from Park Watch GP.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged two suspects in separate cases on Second Degree Criminal Trespass charges.

Tuesday morning at 7:01, an employee of The 238 Bar called 911 to report a man sitting out front that wasn't leaving. He kept trying to get in the door despite being asked twice by employees to leave.

An officer arrived at the 1620 Williams Highway bar to find the suspect, Jeffrey Richards, sitting on a bench outside the premises. He was taken into custody for his Criminal Trespass charge, then found to be wanted on a valid and serviceable felony warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Richards was wanted on a Probation Violation for Criminal Mischief. The officer transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrant and Second Degree Trespass charge.

Early this morning at 4:08, law enforcement then contacted a man sleeping under the awning of the Horny Goat Gastro Pub at 207 SW K Street. The officer recognized him as Christian Peckham due to a previous interaction at the same location where he had been trespassed.

Police took Peckham into custody for Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and lodged him in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

The Budget Committee approved the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Supplemental Budget, reinstating Solid Waste operations at 1:30 p.m. today. Commissioner Gary Richardson was voted in as Chair, with Marc Kirby being chosen as Vice Chair of the Committee. Commissioner Ron Smith was absent. The supplemental budget was then presented, with the item for consideration regarding the Solid Waste Division. The Board of County Commissioners had agreed to bring back the Solid Waste Department under Public Health. With the Supplemental Budget being approved, operations will be reinstated before the end of Fiscal Year 2026. This will be funded by a $31,000 transfer from the general fund, covering the program for until July 1st. The annual cost of the program will be about $176,000, this including personnel costs, materials, and services. A grant to help minimize the use of general funds, as discussed in the previous Commissioner workshop, will provide $155,000 each year if approved.

 

A man was pulled over for defective lighting, then arrested on a Del Norte County, California warrant.

A Grants Pass Police officer observed the driver, Blaine Case, driving a dark colored X-Terra with no headlight or license plate light around 12:38 this morning. He was pulled over in front of the 7-Eleven at 790 SW 6th Street, where the officer learned Case was wanted on a valid and serviceable warrant.

The officer took Case into custody, during which time a knife was observed by the driver's seat. Case consented to the officer opening it, which showed a white coated substance on the knife. The officer also located a black pouch in the driver's side door, which Case opened to show a digital scale, crack pipe, and a white, flaky, crystal like substance.

He told law enforcement he had used crack three days prior to the incident, and was subsequently taken to jail. Case was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his Del Norte County Sheriff's Office warrant for a weapons offense. A charge of Crack Cocaine Possession was referred to the District Attorney's office.

 

Evergreen Elementary, as well as Lorna Byrne Middle School, Illinois Valley High, and SOSA West Cave Junction Campus were on Secure Status following a phone threat this morning. As of the latest report on the Josephine County Sheriff's Office Facebook page at 11:50 a.m., all internal operations at Evergreen occurred as normal, with outdoor activities being restricted. The schools remained on Secure Status until the end of the school day. Deputies remained on scene at the Illinois Valley schools. Parents and/or Guardians were encouraged to contact the schools in order to make arrangements to pick up their students. The initial report at 10:21 a.m. stated Evergreen Elementary received a phone call threatening the school, leading to the response from law enforcement.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department conducted a welfare check, leading to the arrest of a man in possession of drugs.

A call to 911 around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday reported a man on NW 5th Street and NW F Street. The caller requested a welfare check as he rode by the scene on a skateboard.

The suspect, Steven Hughes, was contacted by officers and appeared to be under the influence. He denied any medical care and was able to answer law enforcement's questions appropriately.

Hughes consented to a search of his person, and officers located a Methadone prescription. The drugs had not been prescribed to him, however, so he was taken into custody.

Officers transported Hughes to the Josephine County Jail where he was subsequently lodged for Methadone Possession.

 

Pacific Power has filed a general rate case with the Oregon Public Utility Commission.

According to Pacific Power, the plan would be to keep rates stable in the near-term, deliver lower rates in early 2027, and delay a minimal residential rate increase until the third quarter of 2027.

Under the proposal, residential customers would see stable bills in 2026, followed by decreases in the first half of 2027 and a minimal net rate increase in July 2027. If approved, interim rates would take effect June 5th, 2026, and remain in place while regulators review the full general rate case.

The company’s proposal addresses the rising costs of doing business and ensures critical investments in the grid, while keeping rates stable for customers. More information is available on the company’s Oregon rate proposal page.

While reflecting Pacific Power’s commitment to affordability, the proposal also acknowledges several cost pressures affecting the delivery of safe and reliable electric service, including higher cost of materials needed to maintain and replace power lines, poles and other equipment, as well as rapidly rising insurance costs for wildfire risk.