Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for becoming physically aggressive with staff at a local treatment center last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Options Crisis Resolution Center on SW Ramsey Avenue on Sunday around 8 p.m.. Police said Options staff members reported 46-year-old Eric Delbert Rossiter was combative and struck an employee who didn't want to pursue charges. But while he was walking away, Rossiter made threats to harm the public. Officers located Rossiter in the Williams Highway Shopping Plaza and he became aggressive toward them. He walked toward officers while holding what appeared to be a metal cylinder in a threatening manner that placed them in fear of physical injury. He was detained at Taser point and dropped the cylinder, but refused other commands and started moving away from officers, placing the public at risk. A Taser was deployed and Rossiter was placed into custody without further incident. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for confronting employees while he was trying to steal merchandise at Tractor Supply last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE 7th Street on Sunday around 9:30 a.m.. Police said 38-year-old Joseph Daniel Tully attempted to take merchandise from Tractor Supply and when confronted by employees, he acted in a violent manner by raising his face and running toward the cash register in a threatening way. On his way out of the store, he stole a flower basket valued at $27. Officers searched the area and found Tully inside the secured gate of the food bank area of Seventh Day Adventist Church. He struggled with law enforcement before they were able to place him into custody. Tully was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

With warmer and drier weather this spring, the possibilities increase that outdoor burns may escape control without warning. Regardless of the rain and snow this past winter, it doesn't take long for warm and dry weather to make light vegetation very flammable. An escaped debris burn scorched a quarter-acre last weekend in the New Hope area and a vegetation fire also burned one acre near O'Brien. That's why Rural Metro Fire Department says it is important that anyone who is conducting a debris burn take several precautions to prevent losing control. While most people conduct open burns successfully across Josephine County, there are a few basic reminders. Keep piles small and manageable. Burn early in the day when winds are low and humidity is high. Stay in attendance with the burn, with a cell phone in hand or pocket. Have tools available such as a shovel, hoe or Pulaski to contain fire spread should it occur. Provide a reliable water source such as a charged garden hose with an attached nozzle. Rural Metro officials said when these fire prevention steps are in place, escaped fire occurrences are significantly reduced. Please burn responsibly and safely.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has no scheduled workshops or meetings this week, but the panel will hold a Strategic Planning Session on Wednesday. Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf and the eight Council members will gather for the session tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at the Grants Pass Police Station on NE 7th Street. Following a welcoming introduction and lunch, the City Council will embark on its Strategic Planning Session which is divided into five sections. They are "Review Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats" followed by "Vision, Mission and Values," "Review Committee Goals, "Level of Service " and "Strategic Goals and Initiatives." Each of the City's advisory commissions and committees put together a list of goals for 2025 and submitted them to the Council. In years past, the Grants Pass City Council's Strategic Planning Session was held closer to the beginning of the year. The municipal policy-making panel will soon be starting the budget process for the next fiscal year and their strategic plan will align with the spending plan for 2026.

 

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.