Local News

Officers with Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on five warrants Monday afternoon.

An officer on patrol observed the suspect, Travis Davenport, walking near the corner of SW 6th Street and SW G Street around 2:08 p.m. He was seen wearing a black hoodie and black jeans, and the officer knew Davenport had five valid and serviceable warrants out for his arrest.

He was later contacted at the Wonder Bur Steakhouse, 116 SW H Street. Police detained Davenport for his Grants Pass Police Department warrants, four charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine, and one for Third Degree Escape.

His identity was confirmed, and he was subsequently transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 50 jobs in February.

According to a release from the Oregon Employment Department, this was mostly due to losses in leisure and hospitality (-20) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20). Other sectors showed little employment change in February.

Over the past year payroll employment dipped by 150 jobs, a loss of -0.6%. Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries but increased in private education and health services (+190) and leisure and hospitality (+40).

Job declines occurred in retail trade (-110), wholesale trade (-50), information (-40), manufacturing (-30), and professional and business services (-20).

Government employment fell by 110 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-90) and federal government (-20). State government added 10 jobs over the year.

Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 7% in February, little changed over the month and up slightly from the February 2025 rate of 6.1%.

 

The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regarding Library annexations and a fire season workshop Wednesday.

Two annexations to the Josephine Community Library District by petition of the landowners will be considered during the 9 a.m. Weekly Business Session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. Following approval of the consent calendar and other potential matters, the meeting will adjourn.

That same day at 1:30 p.m., the board will again meet in the 600 NW 6th Street auditorium for a general discussion covering the 2026 Fire Season. The public may attend both Wednesday meetings either in person, or online at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Medford Police responded to a report of a person in mental distress in the 600 block of South Oakdale Avenue at 4:55 this morning.

A call to 911 reported a neighbor in an adjacent apartment was screaming and behaving erratically. Additional information indicated that the individual was attempting to break into a neighboring apartment using an axe.

The occupant of that apartment discharged a firearm, striking the suspect. Officers arrived and located the suspect, 22-year-old Julian Moon Haight, suffering from a gunshot wound to an extremity.

Officers provided emergency medical aid until he was transported to a local hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. No other individuals were injured during the incident.

This case remains under investigation. Additional information, including any potential criminal charges, will be released as it becomes available.

 

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is reminding Oregonians that the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming statewide election is April 28.

It is also the deadline to change an existing voter registration, including declaring for a political party to participate in the closed primary election races across the state.

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Oregon, and at least 16 years old. Oregonians must be 18 years old to vote. Creating or updating your voter registration can be done online at OregonVotes.gov or at your local county elections office.

Prospective voters registering online will need documentation to prove citizenship and eligibility. They will also have to affirm, under penalty of law, that they meet all eligibility requirements and that the information provided on the registration form is true. 

 

The Medford Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Broad Street Monday morning.

Crews found smoke in the second story of the apartment complex. The fire sprinkler system had been activated, extinguishing the fire and preventing its spread, potentially saving the lives of the neighboring occupants and the structure itself from a larger incident.

Crews remained on scene to help get water out of the structure and salvage the belongings of the two families affected by the incident. Jackson County Fire District 3 and The Red Cross assisted at the scene.

An investigation determined the cause of the fire was accidental, starting from a candle left unattended near combustible materials.

 

He has been located and is safe.
Grants Pass Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing juvenile. Carter Harwood is described as three feet tall, fifty pounds and nine years old. He was last seen around 11 p.m. last night in the area of Lincoln Road. He has a bike and may be wearing a red Adidas shirt. Anyone with information on Carter is encouraged to call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260.

 

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.