Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a warrant after previously warning her for littering this morning.

At 4:46 a.m., officers contacted Angela Smith near the Wonder Bur at 116 SW H Street for obstructing trash removal and offensive littering. She was given counsel and then a warning.

However, officers had to re-locate Smith after discovering she had a valid arrest warrant regarding Dangerous Drugs. She was found in the alley behind the G Street Bar and Grill at 125 SE G Street.

After being read her rights, Smith admitted to possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers located the items, and a small baggie with a white crystal-like substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Smith was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant and a charge of Possession of Meth. Further charges may be referred to the District Attorney's office following testing for fentanyl.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two suspects camping in the 6500 block of Upper Grave Creek Road Wednesday morning.

Two suspects, Daniel Neece and Deborah Beck, had been contacted several times over the last six weeks and were refusing to leave the area. Deputies arrived to the camp site where it appeared Neece and Beck were the only ones staying there.

They were both taken into custody and charged with First Degree Criminal Mischief, and Second Degree Criminal Trespass. Neece and Beck were then transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail

 

The Rogue River School District has selected three finalists for its superintendent position.

In a press release yesterday, the district announced that the finalists are Brad Capener, Dr. April Harrison, and Dr. David McQueen.

Capener is the former superintendent of the Jefferson School District in Jefferson, Oregon. He is currently the principal of the Southern Oregon Career Center and a coordinator within the School Improvement Department of the Southern Oregon Education Service District.

Harrison is the Director of Student Services in the Ashland School District. Previously, she worked in the Rogue River School District for ten years as the Director of Special Programs.

McQueen served as the superintendent of the Kelseyville Unified School District in California for 14 years before retiring in 2023.

The district has scheduled a public meet-and-greet with the candidates February 4th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rogue River Jr./Sr. High School, 1898 E Evans Creek Road.

 

City Councilor Seth Benham is running for Oregon State Representative for House District 3.

The Daily Courier reports Benham will be up against Representative Dwayne Yunker in the upcoming primary election May 19th.

On his campaign's Facebook page, Benham listed his top priorities as fighting for business owners and working families, decreasing regulations and increasing affordable housing, and defending public safety and community standards.

Benham said Southern Oregon has been ignored in Salem, and that someone is needed to represent this district. "Someone who is present in the community, understands our needs, and fights for our priorities," he said.

The Courier says should he win the primaries against Yunker, Benham will advance to the election in November.

 

Applications are being accepted for five positions on the new Small Business Taskforce.

The sixth and seventh positions are being filled by a member of the Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Main Street Grants Pass. Appointments are for the duration of the task force, which is anticipated to be no more than 12 months from the date of appointment.

The purpose of the task force is to establish a group of local business owners and advocates to explore local business conditions, consider strategies for stabilization, and identify key topics for a long-term business support plan.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 NW A St., or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/FormCenter. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. February 27th.

Appointments will be made by the Council at their Wednesday meeting, March 18th.

 

An officer with Grants Pass Police identified a wanted woman in a white SUV early this morning.

The suspect, Mya McCreery, was observed in the vehicle at the corner of NW 6th Street and NE A Street around 1:47 a.m. The officer knew she had a warrant out of the Grants Pass Police Department charging her with Second Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle.

Upon contacting McCreery and her warrant being cleared, the officer took her into custody and lodged her in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended two suspects in two separate cases Tuesday.

At 2 a.m., deputies detained a man in the 12,000 block of Lower River Road. He had a Josephine County Felony Warrant out for his arrest charging him with Strangulation and Menacing.

He was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail. Deputies ran his Vehicle Identification Number and flagged his car as totaled. The suspect was later released after posting bail.

Then at 11:31 p.m. deputies contacted a woman at the Shell station on 397 Old Highway 99. She was identified as Stephanie Vey, and was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Third Degree Robbery.

Deputies took Vey into custody and transported her to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant.

 

Data Privacy Day is today, and Attorney General Dan Rayfield reminds Oregonians of a tool they can use to protect their personal data online.

A Universal Opt-Out under the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA) can be used by all Oregonians to keep covered businesses and nonprofits from selling or sharing your personal data or using it for targeted advertising.

Rayfield said that, even while doing ordinary tasks online, information can get sold without permission. “Universal Opt-Out changes that. It gives Oregonians a simple way to draw a line once and have it respected across the internet, instead of having to hunt for a ‘do not sell’ button on every site.”

The Universal Opt-Out gives individuals and families greater control over personal data including home addresses, browsing history, and financial information. Under Universal Opt-Out, businesses must honor certain electronic signals sent directly from a consumer’s browser, dramatically simplifying the process.

To learn more about Universal Opt-Out and other privacy protections, you can visit www.doj.state.or.us.

 

The election to recall Former Commissioner Chris Barnett has been certified ahead of schedule. County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels certified the results this morning, showing a voter turnout of 32.3%. The percentage of yes votes was 61.76%, the no votes were 38.24%. The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers are now able to meet for a special meeting, which has been scheduled for tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room. The agenda begins with a selection of the chair, a discussion of the process for Appointments to Josephine County Commissioner Positions 1 and 2, and a Timeline for appointments. The Temporary Board will continue with consideration of whether to establish a new application deadline, contents of a new application, approval of vacancy postings, and other matters related to the filling of the vacancies. The meeting will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Those attending in person must abide by the clear bag policy.