Local News

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce has announced the entertainment lineup for its 2025 Concerts in the Park series. Concerts in the Park is returning to Riverside Park for the summer season after being held at Midway Park at the Josephine County Fairgrounds the last few years. On Tuesday evenings for five weeks, the public is invited to come out for free community concerts beginning June 10th through July 15th from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with the exception of July 1st when there is no concert planned. Until the completion of the permanent Bandshell in the lower festival area, the concerts will temporarily take place near the Pavilion at the front of the park. The 2025 Concerts in the Park lineup includes "A Band of Brothers" on June 10th followed by "The Jack Maybe Project" on June 17th, "The KOZ Band" on June 24th, "The Lack Family" on July 8th and "Tobago Breeze" on July 15th. Make a night of it and bring the family for great music, delicious food, dancing and fun for all ages. For more information, visit "grantspasschamber.org."

 

The City of Grants Pass celebrated Arbor Day last week with a first-grade class from Riverside Elementary School at neighboring Eckstein Park. The Grants Pass City Council and dozens of students participated, learning about the importance of trees and Arbor Day. Students assisted park staff in planting an American Linden tree and each child received young saplings -- either Ponderosa Pine or Giant Sequoia -- to take home and plant with their families. They also learned about the many benefits trees provide including clean air, shade, wildlife habitat and beauty in the community. Numerous trees were planted last week at both Riverside and Reinhart Volunteer parks, contributing to ongoing landscape efforts. Staff stayed busy with regular mowing and park maintenance to keep all areas looking their best for spring.

 

A head-on collision between two vehicles on Redwood Highway near Wonder early yesterday sent one person to the hospital with serious injuries. On Sunday at 8:50 a.m., the Oregon State Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the crash on US Highway 199 near Elliott Creek Road. State troopers said evidence at the scene indicated a Toyota RAV-4 driven by 28-year-old Alexa Francis Lefevre of Cave Junction was traveling southbound and crossed the center line, causing a head-on crash with a Honda Civic driven by 63-year-old Don Walter Peterson of Selma. According to OSP, Peterson was transported by ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford with serious injuries. Lefevre declined medical attention and told troopers she crossed the center line due to being "sleepy." Both vehicles were heavily damaged and hauled into Grants Pass by Caveman Towing. It was unclear in the report if any citations were issued. A secondary crash occurred when a 35-year-old California man stopped his Toyota Camry for the first crash and was rear-ended by a Toyota Camry driven by a 28-year-old Cave Junction woman. The Monterey Park man was taken to a local hospital with unspecified injuries and both vehicles were towed to Grants Pass.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for an Idaho woman who injured a state trooper when she struck a patrol vehicle while driving a stolen car on Redwood Highway near Wilderville last weekend. OSP reports the incident occurred on US Highway 199 near Round Prairie Road on Friday at 5:52 p.m.. According to the report, a state trooper located an occupied Mazda MZ3 at that location. When the driver pulled into a private driveway, the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver struck the patrol vehicle while trying to flee and disabled it, so no pursuit was initiated and the suspect vehicle was not located. OSP has since identified the driver as 55-year-old Pamela Bass of Boise. She faces numerous charges for using the stolen car as a weapon, injuring a trooper and disabling the patrol vehicle. Charges including 2nd-Degree Assault, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Felony Hit-and-Run, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Reckless Driving, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle have been referred to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Pamela Bass and/or the stolen Mazda MZ3 described as black with license plate "LMN941" is urged to dial *OSP.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for vandalizing the door to a downtown bank while leading officers on a foot pursuit in the downtown area late last week. The Police Department reports officers eventually caught up to 45-year-old Ely Benjamin Smith and arrested him in an alley off NW 6th Street between E and F streets on Friday at 9:04 a.m.. Police said Smith was called in for his drug-fueled behavior and ran away when told he was under arrest. While running away, he pulled down his pants and defecated in the direction of three officers before resuming his flight. He fled into downtown traffic and interfered with vehicles before running into Umpqua Bank, damaging an exit door and causing $2,000 in damage. Officers cornered Smith in the alley and he armed himself with plastic lawn chair at which time he was tackled and placed into custody. He was clearly under the influence of methamphetamine and unable to care for himself. Smith was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on statewide and local warrants after he caused a disturbance in Wilderville late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident involving 38-year-old Michael Anthony Carrero in the 7800-block of Old Highway 199 near the Wilderville General Store on Friday around 10:30 a.m.. Deputies said a store employee called 9-1-1 to report that Carrero was talking to the gas pumps and throwing logs in the roadway. The caller said he appeared to be under the influence while walking in and out of traffic. They were concerned he might get hit by a vehicle or causing an accident. Upon arrival, deputies found Carrero standing by the highway. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was placed into custody without further incident. Carrero was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a local felony warrant after she was caught trespassing at Fred Meyer late last week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the trespassing call at the store on the Grants Pass Parkway on Friday shortly after 3 p.m.. Police said 45-year-old Meghann Irene Serrato was called in for trespassing at Fred Meyer and when they made contact with her, they discovered that she was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Forgery and Identity Theft. After the warrant was confirmed, Serrato was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where her bail was set at $25,000.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle into a yard in the Redwood area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 800-block of Schroeder Lane on Friday at about 5:30 p.m.. Deputies said a resident called 9-1-1 to report an intoxicated driver who crashed his 2013 Kia Sol into their yard. The caller advised the car rolled over, the driver was not injured, he admitted to being impaired and told her husband not to call law enforcement. The suspect then walked away and left his damaged car behind. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect whom they identified as 56-year-old James Fisher. They said he showed strong signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. Fisher was cited to appear in court and released, but his wrecked car was towed.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for unlawfully entering a Cave Junction residence and threatening the occupants late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 51-year-old Shannon Leeann Petersen for the incident in the 2700-block of Caves Highway near Chapman Road on Friday at 6:30 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 around 4:45 a.m. to report a female subject had entered the house and yelled that she wanted her dog back. The woman's husband confronted the subject and told her to leave, but she refused to do so and continued screaming. Dispatchers were able to hear the incident over the phone. According to the report, Petersen was holding a knife, but the husband was able to disarm her, pin her down and hold her in a "wrestling hold" until deputies arrived on scene. No one was seriously hurt. Petersen was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Burglary, Felony Criminal Mischief and Menacing. She was being held without bail.