Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man at Resting Site Six South after he was observed holding a weapon.

On Thursday at 1:24 p.m., the suspect, Jeffrey McPeake was walking around the 704 NW 6th Street site holding what appeared to be a firearm. He was seen on surveillance cameras around the back of the camp pointing the firearm and showing it to others.

He proceeded to ride a bicycle with the potential weapon in his hand before standing near a green tent loading a backpack. Officers contacted McPeake and gave him numerous commands to drop the firearm. After some hesitation, he obeyed the officers.

The weapon was discovered to be a toy gun that was spray painted black. Officers confirmed an active warrant out for McPeake's arrest, and a consent search was conducted. Brass knuckles were found in his front right jacket pocket, and law enforcement located a 9mm ammunition round, two tutors with burnt residue, and a small vial of a crystal-like substance.

The substance tested positive for meth, and McPeake's parole officer was contacted. Officers then transported McPeake to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for a parole violation detainer, his warrant for Meth Possession, an additional charge of Meth Possession, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners met for a Special Meeting in the BCC Conference Room at 11 a.m. this morning.

Kyle Abraham, a contracted labor attorney with Ogletree Deakins, gave the board an orientation on employment and labor laws to provide added context for future discussions and decisions.

The board was told about Employment Law and Relations, dealing directly with employees, legal compliance when considering discipline and discharge of an employee, and Non-discrimination laws.

Personnel and Administrative Policies and Labor Relations were presented, as well as four unions that represent county employees along with the associated contracts. The unions are AFSCME, Laborers, Federation of Parole and Probation Officers, and Deputy Sheriff's Association.

The orientation concluded with the board hearing about supervisors, managing Union and Public Sector environments, and Public Meetings and Executive Session requirements. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

The next meeting scheduled for the board is a Land Use Hearing for property at 8980 Monument Drive. The board will meet in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium March 9th at 9 a.m. to consider a request to change the Comprehensive Plan designation from Farm to Residential. A change to the zone from Farm Resource to Rural Residential and goal exception will be considered as well.

 

A woman attempting to steal Walmart merchandise was taken into custody by Grants Pass Police Thursday evening.

Loss prevention from the 135 NE Terry Lane store reported to dispatch around 6:56 p.m. that a theft suspect had been detained. She was cooperative while the stolen items were being recovered.

She had attempted to steal over $480 worth of merchandise by failing to scan all of the items in her cart. Walmart wished to pursue a theft charge, so officers took the suspect, Anna Weaver, into custody. She was transported to the adult jail facility where she was lodged for Second Degree Theft.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department conducted a high-risk traffic stop of a man they knew to have an active felony warrant Thursday.

At 9:54 p.m., law enforcement identified the suspect, David Spradley, in a white BMW sedan he was known to be associated with. He was stopped in the Wendy's parking lot at 1829 NE 6th Street.

Officers conducted a pinch technique on the sedan's front end. Assisting K-9 units were deployed as the occupants of the vehicle were told to exit. Officers contacted both Spradley, and his passenger Samantha Kenney, who admitted to concealing a firearm within a backpack Spradley told her to remove from the vehicle.

Both suspects were taken into custody without incident, and the backpack was soon located with the firearm and a glass pipe rapidly concealed inside. A white residue on the pipe field tested positive for methamphetamine. Spradley denied possessing the firearm.

He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Felon in Possession of a Weapon, and his confirmed felony warrant out of the Oregon Parole Board. Kenney was booked for Meth Possession and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The sedan was towed from the scene.

 

A structure fire was reported at 5:47 this morning in the 500 block of Indian Creek Road in Selma.

Crews from the Illinois Valley Fire District and Rural Metro Fire promptly responded to the reported incident.

Upon their arrival, the fire was successfully contained to the chimney flue. The fire was confirmed to be extinguished, with no extension to the residential structure.

 

The Bureau of Land Management sold 27.6 million board feet of timber across 1,255 public acres in Oregon, including the Medford and Roseburg Districts, for a total of $8,327,275.

According to the BLM, this timber will feed local mills and support jobs in local communities. They plan to hold seven sales during March 2026 to offer 56.9 million board feet of timber across 1,939 public acres in Oregon.

The Medford District sold the Thom Bone timber tract to Estremado Logging Inc. of Gold Hill for over $458,000. The Roseburg District sold the Muley Mount timber tract to Scott Timber Company of Roseburg for over $1.3 million. The Coos Bay and Northwest Oregon Districts also sold timber tracts

The BLM manages 58 million acres of forests, including 2.4 million acres in western Oregon of some of the most productive forests in the world, and is committed to supplying a reliable, secure, and resilient domestic supply of timber. Each year, the BLM forestry program's sales support approximately 2,000 jobs nationally and generate more than $1 billion for local economies.

 

The Interstate 5 southbound off-ramp at Exit 58 in Grants Pass will close at night for about a week in March.

Beginning Monday, March 9th, the southbound off-ramp will close from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The nighttime closures are expected to continue through Friday, March 13th weather permitting.

The closure will allow crews to work on a project to widen the road, upgrade the guardrail and clear overgrown vegetation. Signs are posted in the area to notify travelers of the upcoming off-ramp closure.

Southbound drivers can reach Grants Pass by following the designated detour or using an alternate route. The project is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2026.

For the latest information on highway conditions and closures, visit TripCheck.com.

 

A Special Meeting has been scheduled for the Board of County Commissioners.

Taking place in the BCC Conference Room Friday at 11 a.m., the board will meet for an agenda item regarding a Public Employment and Labor Law. Pending other matters, the meeting will be adjourned.

The next meeting of the board, a Land Use Hearing for property at 8980 Monument Drive, is scheduled for March 9th at 9 a.m.

Held in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, the meeting will cover a request to change the Comprehensive Plan designation from Farm to Residential, as well as to change the zone from Farm Resource to Rural Residential and goal exception.

 

Law enforcement located and arrested a wanted man Wednesday afternoon.

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department tracked down David Wilson at Resting Site Six North at 1:19 p.m. He was known to have a valid and serviceable warrant out for his arrest, so officers took him into custody at the 714 NW 6th Street location.

After his identity was confirmed, Wilson was compliant as officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for his Police Department misdemeanor warrant that charged him with Possession of Methamphetamine.