KRRM - Local News

GP Police Nabbed Man for Stealing Items from Home Depot, Lying to Officers

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a small amount of items from Home Depot and lying to officers late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting incident at the store on NE Mill Street on Tuesday at about 5:35 p.m.. Police said 40-year-old Jackson Wendell Delk stole a can of butane and other items by concealing them in his jacket and exiting Home Depot without paying. He was contacted by officers outside the store, became confrontational with them and provided a false name. His true identity was discovered during questioning. Delk told police his legal name is Jackson, but he went by "Jackie" when he lived in Tennessee. He also admitted that the date of birth on his Tennessee driver's license is incorrect, but the date of birth on his Oregon driver's license is correct. Delk was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 11/20/24 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested 3 Men Wanted on Outstanding Warrants in Cave Junction

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three men wanted on outstanding warrants in Cave Junction yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 11:12 a.m. when deputies arrested 49-year-old Jack Lee Duke, III, in the 300-block of South Redwood Highway. Duke was wanted on a Coos County Circuit Court warrant for Probation Violation related to Methamphetamine Possession. He was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. when deputies arrested 36-year-old Jeremiah James Mutina during a traffic stop at the intersection of Caves and Redwood highways. Mutina was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail. The third incident took place on Tuesday at 4:12 p.m. when deputies arrested 47-year-old Ricky Allen Grimmette at Taylor's Sausage in Cave Junction. He was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail. He was also trespassed from Taylor's. Grimmette was released from jail late last night and promptly arrested by Grants Pass Police for trespassing at WinCo Foods. Once again, he was lodged jail.

Posted on 11/20/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Looking for Motorist Who Caused CJ Man to Roll Minivan on Interstate 5

The Oregon State Police was looking for a motorist who allegedly caused a Cave Junction man to roll his vehicle on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek early yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 78 on Tuesday at 2:08 a.m.. Troopers said a 24-year-old man driving a Ford Econoline stated that he had been brake-checked by an unknown vehicle which caused him to lose control of his minivan and roll several times. The driver said he lost his dog crate in the crash. According to OSP, the driver was not seriously hurt -- but he was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for precautionary measures. The van was heavily damaged and hauled to Grants Pass by 3 Boys Towing. For undisclosed reasons, the minivan driver was either cited or warned for an unspecified violation. There was no information available on the suspect vehicle.

Posted on 11/20/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh

ODOT Shuts Down SB Interstate 5 at Ashland Due to Extreme Winter Conditions

UPDATE: INTERSTATE 5 NOW COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN BETWEEN ASHLAND AND REDDING.

All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 south of Ashland are closed to motor vehicles today due to a strong blizzard dumping snow and creating whiteout conditions in the higher elevations. Vehicles are being held near Ashland at milepost 11 until officials determine the freeway is safe for travel. The Oregon Department of Transportation expects this to be a long-term closure, according to the notice on “TripCheck.com.” Weather forecasters have reported the atmospheric river that impacted the Portland metro area has moved southward into southern Oregon and northern California and will pack high winds and plenty of snow at the higher elevations. The Medford office of the National Weather Service said the core of moderate-to-heavy precipitation will persist throughout the day in southwest Oregon and northern California as the front will get hung up along the Oregon/California border this afternoon through at least Thursday morning. Wind gusts in the area have been clocked at 67 mph. Travelers are advised to choose an alternate route. Coastal routes will feature rain, and very strong winds throughout the day. Visit “TripCheck.com” or “Caltrans.gov” for detailed information on road conditions and closures.

Posted on 11/20/24 9:19AM by Sam Marsh

Three People Sent to Hospital after Collision between Vehicles near Merlin

Three people were sent to the hospital after a collision between three vehicles in the Merlin area late yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the multi-vehicle crash on Merlin Road near Holbrook Way on Tuesday at 5:09 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said three occupants of the vehicles were transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. One driver needed to be extricated from their vehicle by firefighters. Emergency first responders thanked evening commuters for stopping to give rescue crews a safe work area to process the scene. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the crash.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:47AM by Sam Marsh

One Person Hurt in Collision between GPPD Patrol Vehicle and Pickup Truck

A morning crash between a Grants Pass patrol vehicle and a civilian vehicle this week resulted in a minor injury with both vehicles sustaining significant damage. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of 6th and M streets on Monday morning. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 32-year-old male police officer was going through the intersection with lights and siren activated when a Ford Ranger driven by a 74-year-old man also entered the crossing, causing the two vehicles to crash into each other. According to OSP, one of the drivers was transported to the hospital with a minor injury -- but that person was not identified in the report. Both vehicles were towed from the crash scene. It was unclear in the report whether any citations were issued.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man & Wife for Domestic Violence after Reported Altercation

Grants Pass Police jailed a man and his wife for domestic violence after they fought in the front yard of their southwest city residence this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at a home in the 700-block of SW Laurel Street on Monday morning. Police said 48-year-old John Scott Jessen and 30-year-old Heaven Lee Dawn Jessen were reported by a neighbor to be physically fighting each other and subjecting each other to unwanted physical contact. The neighbor called 9-1-1 due to the couple's violent and tumultuous behavior which was causing public alarm. Neither husband nor wife wanted to pursue charges against the other because of the incident -- but there was a history of domestic violence between the two so officers took them into custody. The woman's brother recorded the incident on his phone, it was reviewed by officers and determined to be mutual combat. John and Heaven Jessen were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Domestic Harassment and Disorderly Conduct. Both were being held without bail.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Pair on Outstanding Warrants after North City Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants plus a drug charge early yesterday during a traffic stop in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a minivan driven by 20-year-old Bruce Alan Hughes in the 1500-block of NW 6th Street after midnight on Tuesday. His passenger was identified as 40-year-old Leladawn Smith. Police said they stopped the vehicle for several traffic violations and discovered that Hughes was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from recent conviction for drug possession. Smith was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. During a consent search, she was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Hughes and Smith were lodged in jail on their warrants while Smith was also charged with Meth Possession. Hughes was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Set to Approve Formation of Josephine County Fire Protection District

The Board of Commissioners is set to take the final step in forming a Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District during its weekly business session today. The Board will hold a public hearing on the second reading of an order forming the local district which is designed to provide fire protection for people living outside the City of Grants Pass as well as the Illinois Valley, Williams, Applegate Valley and Wolf Creek fire districts. At this time, one private company -- Rural Metro Fire Department -- provides subscriber services in the proposed district. A second public hearing will be held on the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the Josephine County Code relating to parks, and a third public hearing will be held on the first reading of an ordinance that would repeal a chapter of the County Code relating to water quality in the Urban Growth Area. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider a contract with Knife River Materials to install utilities at the Grants Pass Airport. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Council will Hear Presentations from Local Library District and MINT

The Grants Pass City Council has a number of interesting items at the beginning of its regular business session this evening. First up is an official proclamation by Mayor Sara Bristol naming November 30th as "Small Business Saturday." Next is recognition of city volunteer Doug Walker. The Josephine Community Library District is scheduled to make a presentation on the project to build a new library in downtown Grants Pass. The Collaborative Economic Development and Tourism Advisory committees have made a joint motion for the Urban Renewal Agency to help fund the huge construction project. A second presentation will be made by the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), which would like the City of Grants Pass help it purchase a property on which it would develop a year-round managed homeless shelter. In other business, the City Council will consider several items grouped together on the Consent Agenda, an appointment to the Tourism Advisory Committee and a motion made by the Committee on Public Art. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

National Weather Service Posts Flood Watch for SW Oregon and NW California

The National Weather Service has posted a Flood Watch for Southwest Oregon and Northern California that runs through Friday evening. The Watch area includes Josephine, Curry, Douglas and Coos counties in Oregon along with Siskiyou and Del Norte counties in California. It also includes the region's Cascade and Siskiyou mountains. According to the NWS Station in Medford, flooding caused by continued excessive rainfall is possible. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of local rivers and creeks and low-lying or flood-prone areas. Flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas as storm drains and ditches may become clogged with leaves and other debris. There will be an increased risk of rock-falls and landslides on steep slopes and road cuts. The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries warns residents to be alert for possible landslides and debris flows throughout the region. Southwest Oregon residents should monitor weather forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. Emergency crews remind motorists to watch for downed trees on local roadways.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Payroll Employment #s Changed Very Little in October

Total payroll employment in Josephine County was little changed in October, with some private-sector industries losing jobs and others gaining workers. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,206 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.6%, which was slightly higher than the 5.5% rate posted in September. Private-sector industries losing jobs over the month were leisure & hospitality and construction. Private education and health services gained 60 jobs over the month. Government employment gained 40 jobs with an increase of 70 jobs in local government education slightly offset by losses in federal and state government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County climbed by 50 jobs, an increase of 0.2%. Industries adding jobs since October 2023 included private education & health services, transportation, warehousing & utilities, leisure & hospitality and financial activities. Industries with estimated job losses over the year were professional & business services, manufacturing , construction and information.

Posted on 11/20/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh