Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and drug possession after responding to perform a welfare check on her in the Redwood area last night. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a female motorist who was passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle in the parking lot of the Dollar General store in the 1200-block of Redwood Avenue on Monday around 8:30 p.m.. Police said the store manager reported a 2012 Cadillac sedan was parked and running with the music blaring for about 90 minutes. They were uncertain if anyone was inside the car, so they requested a welfare check. Responding officers located 23-year-old Celeste Jeanne Lowell slumped over in her car. They said she showed signs of impairment by narcotics and admitted to taking a double-dose of prescription medication prior to driving to the store. She performed poorly in field sobriety tests before she was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided breath and urine samples. Celeste Lowell was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance. She was lodged at the Sobering Center while the keys to her vehicle and her dog were turned over to a friend.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she wrecked her vehicle into a ditch in a rural area southwest of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the single-vehicle crash in the 3300-block of Elk Lane on Saturday just before midnight. Deputies said they were alerted to the crash after an open line call to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. A Rapid SOS message advised "the owner of this iPhone was in a severe crash." A short time later, a nearby property owner reported the wreck and said they could see someone standing near a four-door sedan. Responding deputies contacted 21-year-old Vanessa Bozzer and said she showed signs of impairment at the crash scene. They said she was not hurt, but she did poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. Bozzer was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Her wrecked car was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of seven campers from four city parks for various ordinance violations early yesterday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred at Gilbert Creek Park where Charles Williams was cited for Offensive Littering after he dumped a truck load of his belongings and trash in the park. He was told to clean up his mess and trespassed from the park for 30 days. He does not have a valid driver's license. A short time later at Lawnridge Park, John and Ashley Hanson were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsite. They were trespassed from the park for the next month. At Tussing Park, Dereck Lawrence was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Park Open Spaces after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite, and Janique Kocst was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Nuisance Dog. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, Kory Russell was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Park Open Spaces after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite, and Cathena Hills was cited for Misuse of Park Open Spaces. Both were issued 30-day exclusions.

 

The suspect from Sunday's shooting in White City is in custody after an operation involving the Jackson County Sheriff's Office including its SWAT, K-9 and Crisis Negotiation teams. The name of the suspect was not provided in the press release that was issued at 6:50 p.m. Monday. Detectives said the investigation is continuing, with further details to be released later. On Sunday at 6:51 p.m., Jackson County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a report of someone calling for help after gunshots were heard in the area of 29th Street and Avenue G. The suspect fled the scene after the shooting and was on the run until yesterday. The unidentified victim was listed in critical condition at a local hospital. If anyone has information about the shooting, they are encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-776-7206.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two Grants Pass area men for using a rented vehicle to steal heavy equipment and a trailer from a business in Roseburg. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 60-year-old Ivan Raymond Schuoler, Jr., and 57-year-old Daniel Lee Turner in the 500-block of Greens Creek Road on Saturday afternoon. Deputies said Schuoler and Turner rented a Nissan Titan, drove to Roseburg, and stole a 2020 Caterpillar Skid Loader and dump trailer from a Peterbilt dealership on NW Mullholland Drive. Video surveillance showed the suspects committing the heist and pulling the loaded trailer with the rented truck. According to the Sheriff's Log, the theft was reported Saturday morning and OSP tracked the suspect truck heading south on Interstate 5 before alerting the Sheriff's Office that they might be heading to Grants Pass. A Greens Creek property owner reported suspicious activity and seeing the vehicles, so law enforcement swooped in for the arrests. Ivan Schuoler and Daniel Turner were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. The stolen equipment and trailer were returned to Roseburg. The rental company requested that their truck be recovered.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a young man and three juveniles for pretending to be gang members in a rural area west of Grants Pass last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to the incident near the western intersection of Redwood Avenue and Redwood Highway on Sunday at 3:27 p.m.. Deputies said a motorist called 9-1-1 after she observed four subjects walking on Redwood Avenue toward Grants Pass. The caller reported two of the subjects were wearing masks while walking down the middle of the road and all were "throwing" gang signs at her. She sped up to get past them and saw what she believed to be a gun in the waistband of one of the young subjects. According to the report, the subjects also approached a man at the Jerome Prairie Market while wearing masks, threatened the man and frightened him. Responding deputies contacted the subjects, finding one of them with a plastic pistol in his waistband and another with a large can of mace in his pocket. All four teens were placed into custody. Eighteen-year-old Preston Glenn Curtis admitted to engaging in conduct with the others and causing public alarm. Curtis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Riot and Disorderly Conduct. The three other teenagers were lodged at the Juvenile Justice Center on the same charges.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving in the North Valley area last weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a Toyota Camry driven by 83-year-old Susan Baker in the 3500-block of Merlin Road on Saturday afternoon. Deputies said they were alerted to Baker by a fellow motorist who reported that she was following the Camry which was all over the roadway, ran through a stop light, nearly hit another vehicle, and almost went over the parking barrier at Ray's Food Place. Upon arrival, deputies said Baker displayed signs of impairment and she admitted that she was driving a rental car because she had totaled her own vehicle in an impaired driving crash in Grants Pass last week. She even noted that the rental car was damaged after she backed into a retaining wall at her Colonial Valley home. Susan Baker was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw and then to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving.

 

Statistics show 2023 was a busy year for the Grants Pass Fire Department. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 5,168 calls for service in the community last year. Although total calls for service were up by less than 1%, the agency saw a 13% increase in fire call volume over 2022. Grants Pass firefighters responded to 67 structure fires, 72 vegetation fires and 111 other fires in 2023. In addition, there were 2,039 emergency medical calls, 1,296 service calls, 1,193 good intent calls and 249 false alarms. All other incidents were responsible for 141 calls. Department officials said their comprehensive annual report will be available soon.

 

The Salvation Army in Grants Pass is excited to announce the launch of free guitar classes for youth over the age of seven. The program -- made possible through the generosity of the Carpenter Foundation, Arthur R. Dubs Foundation and local supporters of the Salvation Army -- aims to provide a creative and enriching musical experience for youth in the community. The free guitar classes will not only include expert instruction but also provide participants with the use of instruments during the program. This initiative reflects the Salvation Army's commitment to fostering talent, creativity and personal development among young individuals in Grants Pass. Captain Corrin Perry is the dedicated instructor for the classes and is passionate about sharing the joy of music while believing in the positive impact it can have on young minds. The new program was kicked off recently so interested individuals are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to secure their spot. Call (541)-955-1017 for more information and to secure your spot as space is limited.