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FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025

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Rumors and Silence Surround Josephine County’s Emergency Management Director Amid DOJ Inquiry By John Oliver Unanswered questions continue to circulate across Josephine County regarding the unexplained absence of IT and Emergency Management Director Michael Sellers, who has reportedly been on paid medical leave for more than a month. Despite repeated attempts to confirm his employment status, county officials have not responded to inquiries from the Grants Pass Tribune, leaving residents uncertain about who is currently overseeing the county’s emergency preparedness operations. According to internal discussions among local residents and county watchers, Sellers is believed to be on what is described as “protected leave,” potentially under Oregon’s Paid Leave program, which mirrors federal FMLA protections. While such leave is legally confidential under HIPAA and state privacy laws, its timing has raised concern — coinciding with an ongoing Oregon Department of Justice investigation into county personnel records, including Sellers’ recent promotion within county administration. The promotion in question reportedly occurred without public discussion, transparency, or formal approval by the Board of County Commissioners during a public session — an appar-

ent deviation from standard county procedure. This lack of clarity has prompted speculation about whether Sellers’ sudden leave of absence is related to the Department of Justice inquiry, and if the timing of his departure could be a strategic effort to avoid administrative consequences during the investigation. If Sellers remains on leave until December, as sources have suggested, Josephine County will have gone months without an active Emer-

gency Management Director — a key leadership role responsible for coordinating disaster response, communication systems, and emergency planning across local agencies. No interim replacement has been publicly announced, and it is unclear who is fulfilling these duties in his absence. The absence of leadership in this department comes at a particularly sensitive time. With winter approaching, the county faces potential

flooding, storm-related infrastructure risks, and ongoing recovery coordination following a busy wildfire season. Without a designated director, questions arise about the county’s capacity to manage emergencies effectively and maintain inter-agency communication systems that depend on consistent oversight. Efforts to reach the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for comment went unanswered. The lack of official response has fueled further frustration among residents seeking transparency from local government. Many argue that while personnel privacy must be respected, the public still deserves assurance that essential county functions are being maintained and that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly. As the Department of Justice continues its review of Josephine County’s internal employment practices and documentation, the situation surrounding Michael Sellers highlights a broader issue — one of accountability, communication, and trust between county leadership and the community it serves. Until the Board provides answers, the people of Josephine County are left to wonder who is safeguarding their emergency infrastructure, and why so much remains hidden from public view.

Southern Oregon Faces Growing Hunger Crisis as Federal Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits By John Oliver As the federal government remains deadlocked over budget negotiations, the consequences of the ongoing shutdown are rippling through Oregon; particularly in the southern counties of Josephine and Jackson, where food insecurity is already at historic heights. For the eleventh time, the U.S. Senate failed to advance a measure that would reopen the government until November 21, leaving the House still out of session and millions of Americans uncertain about access to essential services. One of the most immediate and alarming effects is the expected suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for roughly 757,000 Oregonians. The Oregon Department of Human Services has warned that, unless Congress reaches a deal soon, benefits will be halted in November — a blow that could leave tens of thousands of residents across Southern Oregon struggling to feed their families. Local food banks, already operating under strain, are preparing for a wave of new clients. In Josephine and Jackson counties, food pantries such as the Josephine County Food Bank in Grants Pass and ACCESS in Medford have reported demand far above pre-pandemic levels. Many rely heavily on federal food allocations through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which this month canceled more than $400 million in national support for community food banks. That cancellation included millions of pounds of food originally earmarked for Oregon. Food that will now never arrive.

For organizations like the Marion Polk Food Share, the loss has been devastating. The organization confirmed that it has lost roughly 14 percent of its food supply due to the cuts. In Southern Oregon, where small pantries depend on similar federal partnerships, the fallout could be even more severe. Some rural food banks, such as those serving Cave Junction, Rogue River, and the Applegate Valley, operate with limited refrigeration, staffing, and volunteer capacity. They now face the possibility of serving record numbers with rapidly shrinking inventories. The Oregon Food Bank reported that as of early 2025, visits to its statewide network of food assistance sites had increased by 31 percent compared to the previous year — the highest level on record. This surge, driven by inflation, stagnant wages, and rising costs for rent and utilities, is expected to intensify if SNAP funds are withheld for any length of time. In communities like Grants Pass and Medford, where low-income residents already spend more than half their income on housing, even a brief interruption in food assistance can trigger a cascade of financial instability. The impact of this shutdown stretches far beyond pantry shelves. Local grocers, farmers markets, and small food producers also rely on SNAP customers for consistent revenue. The absence of federal benefits would reduce consumer spending power across the region, affecting not just low-income families but the broader local economy. Restaurants and grocery stores in rural towns, already grappling with tight margins and supply chain costs — could see reduced sales, while so-

cial service providers brace for increased demand for emergency housing, transportation, and medical assistance. For Josephine and Jackson County residents, the consequences will be deeply personal. Many families who once relied on SNAP to supplement their income now face an impossible choice between paying bills or buying groceries. Senior citizens and veterans on fixed incomes, two populations heavily concentrated in Southern Oregon, are especially vulnerable. Local leaders have begun urging residents to donate to food pantries or volunteer their time to help distribute supplies. But as many pantry directors point out, goodwill alone cannot fill the void of lost federal aid. Without swift congressional action, Southern Oregon could experience one of its worst hunger crises in recent history, one that

underscores how fragile food security has become in a region where working families, retirees, and the unemployed are already fighting to stay afloat. The longer Washington remains gridlocked, the deeper the damage will reach, from the Senate floor to the streets of Grants Pass, Medford, and beyond, leaving Southern Oregon to confront a humanitarian challenge it did not create but must somehow endure.