Local News

A Grants Pass man was arrested for impaired driving last night following a domestic disturbance at a northeast-city residence. Grants Pass police officers were alerted to a disturbance involving 49-year-old Clay Martin on NE 10th Street on Thursday around 9:20 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-husband was trying to get into her house. The caller advised dispatchers that her ex was highly intoxicated, and she and her son were trying to keep him from coming inside. The call-taker could hear arguing in the background. Upon arrival, officers learned that Martin and his wife had been separated for 11 months. He was allowed to live in a shop building on their property, but he was banned from entering the house. The suspect left the scene at a high rate of speed and in a careless manner. He was pulled over at NE 7th and A streets. Martin displayed multiple indicators of impairment and admitted to being too impaired to be driving his truck on a public roadway. He did not perform field sobriety tests, but he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was jailed for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and his pickup was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trying to steal groceries from a local supermarket yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to shoplifting complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at about 11:30 a.m.. Police said 33-year-old Brittany Rae Adams was stopped by loss prevention after she walked out of the store without paying for $45 worth of grocery items. She initially refused to provide identification, but she became cooperative while being placed into custody. Brittany Adams was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. She was also trespassed from WinCo.

 

New charges have been filed against a Grants Pass man who was arrested last weekend on a statewide felony warrant and discovered to be in possession of body armor and a law enforcement uniform shirt. Grants Pass Police initially arrested 27-year-old Vinnie Dale Shuler in the 300-block of SE H Street on Saturday. Shuler was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous assault conviction. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a soft armor vest as well as a Josephine County Sheriff's Office uniform shirt. Both items were seized as evidence. Further investigation revealed that Shuler had entered a residence in the 600-block of SE Riverside Avenue and had stolen the body armor, three Sheriff's Office uniform shirts and a Sawzall tool. All of the items have been recovered. In addition to the warrant and a charge of Felon in Possession of Body Armor, Vinnie Shuler was additionally charged with 1st-Degree Burglary and 2nd-Degree Theft. He remains in custody without bail.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for threatening his wife in front their two young children early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 60-year-old Richard Alan Webster, Jr., for the incident at a home in the 200-block of Southridge Way on Thursday at 2:42 a.m.. Police said Webster was intoxicated when he intentionally placed his wife in fear for her life as he used physical force to throw her to the ground and hit her head into a door multiple times while in the presence of their 12- and 8-year-old kids. Fortunately, the victim was not seriously hurt and she declined medical transport. Webster's wife and children locked themselves in a bedroom away from Webster who was said to be highly intoxicated. There had been no history of domestic violence in the family. Officers arrived on scene and placed Richard Webster into custody without force. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic Menacing and was being held without bail.

 

A Grants Pass truck driver was involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash in northern Klamath County this week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 97 near milepost 197 on Wednesday at 6:28 p.m.. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicates a northbound GMC pickup driven by 78-year-old Michael Randolph Lasley of Clearlake, California, crossed into the southbound lane and struck a southbound Peterbilt commercial vehicle and trailer operated by 29-year-old Zachary Ryan Sprangler of Grants Pass. Lasley was declared deceased at the scene while Sprangler was reportedly not hurt. Highway 97 was impacted for approximately five hours while the scene was active and the exact cause of the fatal crash remains under investigation. OSP was assisted by the Chemult Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Three child passengers escaped injury when the vehicle they were riding in rolled over on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley late yesterday. On Thursday at 4:13 p.m., the Oregon State Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 73 in the southbound lanes of I-5. Rural Metro Engine 7502 and Battalion 5 along with an AMR Ambulance crew found the 13-, 12- and 5-year-old children had self-extricated and were not hurt. However, the adult driver of the vehicle -- identified by OSP as 36-year-old Tiffany Ladonna Stuelke -- was still inside and unable to exit. Firefighters were forced to remove the windshield to extricate Stuelke, who was not injured. The vehicle -- a Honda Accord -- sustained heavy damage and was towed to Grants Pass. The cause of the crash was being investigated by OSP.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorcyclist for riding in a careless manner near a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a motorcycle ridden by 30-year-old Levi Genel Torres on West Park Street near Tussing Park on Thursday shortly after 3 a.m.. Torres was observed by officers riding carelessly and popping wheelies on the motorbike. He was found to have a suspended operator's license and had no emergent reason to be riding. He was placed into custody at the scene. Levi Torres was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving While Suspended and he was warned for Careless Driving. The motorcycle was parked and left in the care of bystanders at his request.

 

The Oregon Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee has two openings for people passionate about supporting active modes of travel. The state committee is seeking a new at-large member as well as a new member who represents environmental interests. These positions will join the committee that advises ODOT on bicycle and pedestrian issues around Oregon. All Oregon residents are eligible to apply. Appointments are non-binding and appointees may serve a maximum of two four-year terms. Appointees are eligible for a stipend and travel reimbursements for their service on the committee. The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OPBAC) strives to have panel representation that reflects the diverse geography, demographics and abilities of everyone who walks, bikes or rolls in Oregon. OBPAC envisions Oregon as a state in which people of all identities -- including age, income, race and ability -- can access destinations in urban and rural areas on comfortable, safe and well-connected active transportation infrastructure. Application materials must be submitted by February 5th to be considered in the first review.

 

The US Forest Service has announced that a correction has been issued to extend the comment period for its published Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal to amend the Northwest Forest Plan. The comment period on the 17 separate land management plans has been extended to February 2nd to allow additional time for the public to review and submit their feedback on this initiative. The Notice of Intent identifies changed conditions that are driving the need to amend the plan with a focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old-growth ecosystems and related biodiversity. The US Forest Service is committed to preserving the elements of the plan that are working well while incorporating the latest science to help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural and ecological changes. The Forest Service has scheduled a series of informational winter webinars and a virtual open house to help provide a better understanding of the Northwest Forest Plan and Notice of Intent. These events will offer an opportunity for individuals to learn more about the current amendment effort and how to submit their comments.