Local News

Grants Pass Police responded to a disturbance where the suspect made idle threats and refused to leave the premises late Monday night.

Officers were called out to the Lil' Pantry at 5030 Monument Drive. The suspect, later identified as Jeffrey DeYoung, had been asked to leave five times.

DeYoung was walking back and forth between his vehicle and the store, had asked what year it was, changed his clothes in the parking lot, and threatened to rob the business. He did not appear to be intoxicated.

Upon arrival, officers contacted and trespassed DeYoung from Lil' Pantry. He was then lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grand, Inc., a care provider for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals throughout Oregon, announced today the finalization of comprehensive settlement agreements with the State of Oregon. The agreements conclude outstanding claims without the imposition of any financial fines or penalties on the company. The care organization said in a statement the settlement agreement was approved by Judge Brandon Thueson of the Circuit Court for Josephine County. The move stems from an alleged failure to disclose a manager during a provider renewal in October 2021, under the company’s prior ownership. Crucially, under the terms of the settlement agreement, Rever Grand will pay no fines or penalties. The company has agreed to implement several forward-looking compliance measures, including adding a new, independent board member and engaging an outside monitor to confirm that the company’s prior owners have no ongoing role in its affairs. The agreement resolves a single misdemeanor charge, allowing the company to operate without disruption or conviction.

 

Grants Pass Police officers apprehended a man shoplifting at a local dollar store Monday afternoon.

At 2:51 p.m., a report came in of a man leaving The Dollar Tree at 1200 NW 6th Street. An employee confronted the suspect who had put merchandise worth about $8 in his backpack.

The suspect denied the theft, then left the premises. The employee requested officers trespass the man from the store.

Officers tracked down and apprehended the suspect, Brandon Ginger. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Third Degree Theft as well as a Meth Possession charge. Due to lack of jail resources, Ginger was released.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a dispute early Monday morning.

The caller reported the suspect and a woman were having a verbal altercation and had been drinking. The argument became physical when the suspect grabbed the victim and dragged her into the bedroom where he hit her.

The roommates of both the suspect and victim tried to help but the bedroom door was locked. The suspect began threatening the roommates, then threw the victim outside on the deck of the property in the 100 block of Pugetville Road.

Emergency units with AMR arrived and transported the victim to Three Rivers Medical Center to be evaluated.

Deputies contacted the suspect and transported him to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged on charges of Fourth Degree Assault, and two counts of Menacing.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to two incidents within 10 minutes of each other Monday night.

At 8:47 p.m., units responded to a small vehicle fire at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Reeves Creek Road in Selma.

The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames and the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Then at 8:57 p.m., a traffic accident occurred at the intersection of Redwood Highway and West Hanby Lane in Cave Junction.

Concurrently with the previous incident, the Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision.

Two individuals were transported by AMR with injuries that were not life-threatening.

 

Thanks to contributions from the Josephine County Cultural Coalition and Rogue Gateway Rotary Foundation, four of five art pieces are being installed as part of the Utility Art Box Project.

Installation began on October 23, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, weather permitting.

The Utility Art Box Project was established by the Committee on Public Art, which has identified 35 utility boxes for the project. There will then be 17 completed vinyl wraps from selected artists on utility boxes downtown along the 6th and 7th street corridors, celebrating public art and beautifying the City.

The Economic Development Division received 21 submissions that were sent to CoPA for review. At CoPA’s regular monthly meeting on September 9, 2025, members voted for their top five selections.

The selected artists and utility box locations scheduled for installation are Amelia Gladbach at 7th and "A" Streets, Ash Wissler at 6th and Savage Streets, Hannah Burrows at 6th and F Streets, Lisa Link at 4th and E streets, and Michelle Ava at 7th and Savage Streets.

 

The Salvation Army in both Jackson and Josephine Counties is seeing an unprecedented number of families, seniors, and individuals turning to its doors for help.

In a press release, the organization said, over the past year, requests for food and basic assistance in Jackson County have increased by 51%, and the number continues to grow daily. Josephine County has also seen a surge in requests for services.

The Salvation Army expects demand to rise even further in the coming weeks.
Major Randy Mulch, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army Medford, said. “We will not turn anyone away, we are committed to serving all who come to us, but the need is unlike anything we have seen in recent years. We’re asking our community to stand with us so that no one goes hungry.”

The Salvation Army is urgently calling on the community to help volunteering, donating, or hosting a food drive. Learn more by calling the Grants Pass center at (541) 955-1017, or the Medford center at (541) 773-6965.

The need is particularly critical among seniors and families with children. The Salvation Army continues to provide emergency groceries, meals, and comfort for those who have nowhere else to turn.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners have the May 2026 election and county property on their Tuesday workshop agenda. Along with the election, the Legal Counsel update includes approval of a quitclaim deed regarding a Lower Grave Creek Road property from the September auction, as well as Flying Lark properties, and an invoice and case number mediation. Following department business from Community Justice, Forestry, Airports, Recreation, Facilities, Public Works, IT, and HR, the board will discuss the county property proposed by Pathways to Stability as a potential homeless shelter. After appointments to the Rural Planning Commission and the Josephine County Mining Advisory Committee, as well as advisory questions for the May 2026 ballot, the meeting will adjourn pending other matters of discussion. The County Administration Workshop will be held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room, and will be streamed live at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

The City of Grants Pass will be performing more smoke testing on Wednesday, October 28.

From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. between 9th & 10th Street, starting at Wharton, working north to include a small portion of NE Josephine and up to NE Cedar, the purpose of the test is to determine the condition of sewer laterals.

The following information will be placed on the doors of all residents in the test area: "These tests will assist us in locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. During the test, you may see smoke coming from vent stacks on buildings or from holes in the ground. Don’t be alarmed. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard, and will dissipate in a few minutes."

Before conducting the smoke test, the city reminds those in the area to please pour water into your basement floor drains and into any unused sinks. This will seal the drain traps so that smoke will not enter your building through the drain.

If smoke should enter your building during the test, it's possible that there are defects in the plumbing that could allow dangerous sewer gas to enter. Note the location of the smoke and call 541-450-6115. Open doors and windows to ventilate any smoke that enters the building.

Please notify the city before the test is conducted if you have any dogs, birds, or other pets that will be confined alone in the building during the test, a person who will be alone and is an invalid or sleeping during the test, any individuals with respiratory problems who will be in the building, or elderly persons who will be alone and might be alarmed or confused if they see smoke.

For more information, again call (541) 450-6115.