Local News

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Medford man with illegally possessing and selling explosives and drugs. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon announced that 56-year-old Wesley Allen Armstrong, Jr., was charged yesterday with Distributing Explosives by a Non-Licensee, Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. According to court documents, detectives from the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team (MADGE) notified special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in March of Armstrong's alleged possession and desire to sell explosives. On March 27th, Armstrong was arrested after selling eight cast explosives, seven non-electric shock tube detonators and a small quantity of fentanyl. Investigators executed a search warrant on Armstrong's vehicle, locating and seizing a loaded pistol and an additional quantity of fentanyl. On March 28th, Armstrong was charged by federal criminal complaint with dealing explosives without a license, possessing stolen explosives, possessing explosives as a convicted felon, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Armstrong made his first appearance in federal court in Medford on Thursday. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings and will be arraigned at a later date.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for old and new drug crimes during patrol checks on the same night on separate sides of the city. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 10:14 p.m. when officers arrested a 34-year-old woman who was sitting in a vehicle in the 1600-block of SE N Street. Police said they contacted the woman and discovered that she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from convictions for Manufacture and Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance as well as Possession of Methamphetamine. She was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 10:26 p.m. when officers arrested a 46-year-old man who was sitting in a vehicle in the 100-block of NW Booth Street. Police said they observed the man with drug paraphernalia on his lap and in plain view. The man admitted it was fentanyl and it weighed approximately 3.7 grams. He was also identified as the suspect in a theft investigation, so he was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Possession of Fentanyl and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a "frequent flyer" this week for violating her post-prison supervision by scuffling with officers who arrested her for trespassing. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the north Safeway supermarket on SE 7th Street around midday Wednesday. Police said the 33-year-old woman returned to Safeway after previously being trespassed from the store. Callers reported she appeared to be under the influence while pushing an empty baby stroller and intentionally stopping traffic in the parking lot. Officers contacted the woman at the corner of 6th and G streets, advising her she was under arrest. She physically resisted officers placing her into custody and continued to be hostile toward law enforcement while banging her head in the patrol vehicle. She was not seriously hurt. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespass and the resulting Parole Violation stemming from previous convictions for Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Offensive Littering. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Her property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a violent disturbance at Three Rivers Medical Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday shortly before 1 a.m.. Police said they responded to reports of a male subject fighting with hospital staff members. Witnesses reported the man refused to leave the property and he pushed a security guard in the face while being escorted out of the medical facility. TRMC Security was able to subdue the 41-year-old man and he was being detained when law enforcement arrived on scene. He was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Harassment and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man this week who was harassing female workers at a downtown restaurant. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint at Thai BBQ in the 400-block of SW 6th Street on Wednesday night. Police said the man had returned to the restaurant after being issued a trespass warning earlier in the evening. The manager advised officers that he was having to walk his waitresses out to their vehicles because they were afraid of the intruder. Officers searched the area and spotted the 24-year-old man in a nearby alley. He took off running, but was placed into custody in short order. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and he was being held without bail.

 

Rural Metro Fire Department is pleased to introduce 10 new members to their team in 2024. Six of the new recruits recently graduated from the Rogue Interagency Training Association NFPA Firefighter Level 1 Academy. The additional four recruits come to Rural Metro with prior experience and training. Rural Metro identified the recruits as Morgan Mealy, Justin Strandquist, Rustin Nelson, Rick Reuter, Josh Carson, Ethan Elzy, Brian Carlton, Harland Browman, Matthew Hagerty and Evan Jackson. They bring the team to 65 local employees dedicated to serving Josephine County.

 

Jackson County Public Health has issued an alert for accidental overdoses or poisoning related to illicit opioids -- specifically fentanyl. Health officials said this alert has been issued based on an increase in law enforcement and emergency medical service responses as well as emergency department admissions related to opioids from March 24th-March 29th. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl started to become more common in the Rogue Valley beginning in 2018. In early 2021, fentanyl became the predominant illicit opioid sold and used in Jackson County. Fentanyl can be sold as counterfeit pills such as oxycontin or in a powder form which can look like other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. It can be mixed with other opioids such as heroin. The increased presence of fentanyl in the local drug supply increases the risk of poisoning or overdosing for people who are experimenting with drugs, who use recreationally and are not intentionally using it. Jackson County Public Health is encouraging the medical community, community partners, parents, family and friends, people who occasionally use recreational drugs and people with an active substance abuse disorder to be aware of the increase in overdoses associated with illicit opioids.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 30 jobs in February, with little change over the month in most industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 33,895 people working in Josephine County in February for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.3%, up from 5.1% in January and down from 6.4% in February 2023. Construction added 20 jobs over the month, but had virtually no change over the year. Retail trade was the only other published industry to show change, down by 20 jobs in February. Government employment was flat over the month as well. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County slipped by 100 jobs, a decrease of 0.4%. Local employment is now 670 jobs below the February 2020 total prior to the pandemic. Industries adding jobs since February 2023 included private education & health services, and transportation, warehousing & utilities. Industries with estimated losses were retail trade, leisure & hospitality, professional & business services, other services, manufacturing and wholesale trade.

 

April is here, so it's once again time for the Mount Ashland Season Pass Sale. Take advantage of the year's lowest prices for Mount Ashland season passes. Buy now and save up to $200 per person. As usual, the local ski resort is offering a five-month, interest-free payment plan to give people all summer to pay off their pass. The resort's ski area partners in eight states offer pass-holders free tickets and discounts. Season pass prices during the month of April are $499 for adults age 20-69, $374 for teenagers, $249 for youth age 7-12, $50 for kids through age 6, and $50 for seniors age 70 and up. Invest in next winter today! Mount Ashland is your local mountain playground, dedicated to family winter fun along with quality skiing and snowboarding for everybody. For more information, visit "mtashland.com."