Local News

A call came in to dispatch requesting someone be trespassed from a home Wednesday.

The caller said they could hear someone by their garage around 11:45 p.m. in the 1,000 block of NE D Street. While the caller couldn't see the person, it sounded like the suspect was trying to get into a vehicle.

If anyone was found on the property by law enforcement, the caller requested the suspect be trespassed. Upon arrival, Grants Pass Police located Brittany Demars hiding behind a pickup. Probable cause was found for charges of First Degree Trespass and Third Degree Theft against her.

Officers warned Demars for trespassing and took her into custody. She was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on her charges.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in finding a missing child. On Wednesday around 10 p.m., Kaleb Diard was reported as a runaway. He was last seen leaving his residence in Cave Junction on a silver razor scooter wearing a green and tan flannel jacket, dark cargo pants and black boots. Kaleb is a white, 4'8", 14-year-old boy weighing 105 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is known to frequent Jubilee Park as well as the gas station markets in Cave Junction. Please call the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information at 541-474-5123.

 

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.