Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a 28-year-old man died at the Lower Table Rock Tuesday, April 7th. JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) received a report from dispatch at 9:38 p.m. of a man missing and last seen at the Lower Table Rock trail. Wednesday morning, deputies and volunteers located the man deceased from an apparent fall from the Lower Table Rock cliffs. SAR coordinated the recovery of his body. This case is under investigation. At this time the death appears to be non-criminal and there is no evidence of foul play. Next of kin has been notified. There is no further information available for release.

 

Oregon State Police stopped two vehicles early this morning, arresting one driver and citing another.

Troopers stopped an orange Dodge Caliber at 12:11 a.m. for a traffic violation at the corner of NE 6th Street and NW Morgan Lane. The driver, Tyler Ireland, 40, of Grants Pass, was contacted and found to be driving while suspended. He was issued a citation for the misdemeanor offense and other traffic violations.

Then, at 12:32 a.m., a black Kia Optima was pulled over by troopers at the corner of Redwood Avenue and Shady Lane. A forged temporary permit was displayed, and the driver, Zachary Sparks, 32, of Grants Pass, was found to have a warrant charging him with Hit and Run causing Property Damage.

Troopers transported and lodged him in jail, but he was later released after posting bail.

 

A man vandalizing the Grants Pass Skate Park was arrested at Resting Site 7 by Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch was notified that the suspect was tagging ramps and walls with spray paint at the 820 SE M Street park. The reporting party had photographic evidence of the crime, and described the suspect as wearing all black with a backpack.

The suspect left the scene on a skateboard, but officers tracked him down at Resting Site 7 around 1:01 p.m. He was identified as Travis Ramsey and, after being read his rights, he admitted to the vandalism.

Officers transported and lodged Ramsey in jail for Second Degree Criminal Mischief, but he was later released on his own recognizance.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a suspect at WinCo after he was reported scaring Walmart customers Wednesday morning.

Loss prevention with the 135 NE Terry Lane store called 911 to report the suspect, Robert Smith, was yelling and scaring customers around 8:25 a.m. He had been saying he was going to light himself on fire.

Smith was very unstable on his feet, but made his way across the Grants Pass Parkway before continuing up Terry Lane towards WinCo. Officers arrived and were able to apprehend Smith in the parking lot. Walmart Loss Prevention sent officers a photo, confirming Smith as the suspect.

Despite being uncooperative, Smith was taken into custody and found to have a previous trespass warning from Walmart. He was transported by officers to the Adult Jail Facility for Second Degree Criminal Trespass, but later released due to a lack of resources at the jail.

 

UPDATE: 4/9/26 1:50pm - Desiree has been located safely
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating a missing person. Desiree Wytcherley left her home in Grants Pass the morning of April 7th, 2026 to go mushroom picking near Angora Creek. She is described as a white 5'11" 40-year-old with brown hair, blue eyes, and weighing 145 pounds. Desiree is known to frequent the Wilderville Store and Redwood Highway. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Desiree, please call The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is searching for a runaway girl. Grace Peterson was last seen in the New Hope area April 5th, 2026. She is described as a white 5'5" 16-year-old with blonde hair, hazel eyes, and weighing 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a maroon hooded sweatshirt. Grace is driving a pearl white 2015 Subaru Forester with Oregon License Plate number 233HBL. Grace is believed to be staying in the Cave Junction area. Please call the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123 with any information on Grace's whereabouts.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant following a traffic stop Wednesday.

A silver Chevy was pulled over near 200 Walters Drive for speeding at 10:48 a.m. Upon contacting the driver, Bryan Pena, deputies learned he was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant charging him with Furnishing False Information and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Pena was arrested by deputies and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant before being transported to another agency. The Chevy's registered owner was on scene and took possession of the vehicle.

 

The Interstate 5 Southern Oregon Wrong Way Driver Mitigation project has entered its final phase of work.

According to ODOT, short, nighttime closures of more than 40 off-ramps began last week in Douglas County.

Crews have been working since last summer to install signs, pavement markers and other safety features along I-5 off-ramps in both Josephine and Jackson Counties. These features help discourage drivers from entering the high-speed travel lanes from the wrong direction.

This final phase of work involves installing signs and roadside reflective posts, which requires closures of most I-5 off-ramps in the county for about two to four hours each. Contractors are working on about four off-ramps each night, with crews having completed most of the ramps between Glendale and Canyonville, plus several other ramps up to the Winston area.

Ramp closures are in place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Monday night to Friday morning. Each ramp is only closed once, and only one ramp is closed at any given time.

As these ramp closures continue through April, drivers are advised to use alternate routes, such as continuing to the next I-5 interchange and turning around. Watch for construction signs and roadside message boards.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 320 jobs in January.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, this was mostly due to seasonally typical losses in retail trade (-110); construction (-30); and leisure and hospitality (-20).

There were also job declines in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20), and professional and business services (-20). Government employment slipped by 90 jobs in January. Job losses were posted in federal government (-40), local government (-40), and state government (-10).

Over the past year payroll employment in the Grants Pass MSA (Josephine County) dipped by 160 jobs, a loss of -0.6%.

Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries, excluding private education and health services, and leisure and hospitality which gained 220 and 80 jobs, respectively. Job declines occurred in retail trade (-120); construction (-50); wholesale trade (-50); manufacturing (-40); financial activities (-40); and professional and business services (-30).

Government employment fell by 120 jobs over the year. Losses occurred in local government education (-110), and local government excluding educational services (-20). State government added 10 jobs over the year.

Josephine County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 7.1% in January, little changed over the month and up from the January 2025 rate of 6.0%.