KRRM - Local News

ODOT Starts Southern Oregon Wrong Way Driver Mitigation Project This Week

The Oregon Department of Transportation has started a project to improve safety along Interstate 5 by adding features that alert drivers when they enter a freeway off-ramp from the wrong direction. ODOT officials said these enhancements include permanent signs, reflective pavement markings and flashing beacons. The project will involve most ramps on I-5 from the California border north to the Curtin interchange at milepost 163. Starting this week, motorists are urged to watch for intermittent I-5 closures each Sunday night to Friday morning from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.. Construction on each ramp will take about 4 to 6 hours. During ramp closures, drivers should watch for construction signs and electronic message boards. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes, usually by traveling to the next interchange and turning around. In general, the contractor will begin work at the south end of the project area near the California border and gradually work north through Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties.

Posted on 6/17/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

City Council Directs Staff to Find Consultant for Washington Campus Property in NW GP

The Grants Pass City Council has directed staff to start the process of hiring a consultant to help guide it in next steps for the Washington Campus property. During its Monday workshop, the Council discussed what should be done with the roughly 8-acre property off NW Midland Avenue and Washington Boulevard that the City of Grants Pass purchased last year for $2 million. City Manager Aaron Cubic called it the "North Star Project" and explained the property is zoned Industrial, R-4, R-1-6 and General Commercial, which provides numerous potential uses and possibilities. He said a 9-month process to create an Opportunity Plan for the property could reveal some exciting opportunities. Cubic said public dollars are being used to incentivize private development. City Council members agreed that a consultant should help guide the process and city staff was directed to draft a Request for Proposal to help find the right consultant. In other business, the City Council decided to pause its discussion on reallocating $5 million in Urban Renewal Agency funding for a public swimming pool until after it receives presentations on Caveman Pool and the Caretaker's Cottage at Riverside Park. Some of the money could be redirected to those projects as well as providing infrastructure to the Spalding Industrial Park.

Posted on 6/17/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

2025 Opening of Caveman Pool Delayed Until Friday Due to Maintenance Issues

The City of Grants Pass has announced the opening of Caveman Pool has been delayed until Friday. Recent maintenance issues are causing a delay in the scheduled opening of Caveman Pool, which has been part of the community for more than 50 years. The municipal swimming pool is operated by the Grants Pass Family YMCA under contract with the City of Grants Pass. The pool is available for private parties when not scheduled for other activities. It will be closed on July 4th. Daily admission fees are free for kids 4 & under with a paid adult. The price for youth 5 to 17 is $5, $6.50 for adults 18 & over, and $12 for a family of four. Season passes can be purchased at the YMCA -- $75 for youth, $125 for adults and $175 for family which includes up to four members of the same household. It's $40 for each additional family member. Children under the age of 10 must have a parent or guardian present. All non-swimmers are required to have a parent or guardian in the water with them at all times. There are also swimming lessons and family movie nights on the Caveman Pool summer schedule. For more information, please visit "grantspassymca.org."

Posted on 6/17/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Library Branch to Unveil New BearFest Bear at Special Event on Wednesday

Josephine Community Library invites citizens to a special celebration this week as it unveils a brand new BearFest bear, generously sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank. The public event will take place on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Grants Pass library branch located at 200 NW C Street. In partnership with the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with the Chamber Ambassadors followed by a meet-and-greet with BearFest artist Kel Letvenchuck at 1 p.m.. The new bear named "Beary Tales" is a heartwarming addition to the beloved BearFest collection. Designed by Letvenchuck, the sculpture features two baby bears reading books together, symbolizing the joy of storytime and the importance of early literacy and lifelong reading. The community is encouraged to attend this free event, learn more about BearFest and help celebrate the new addition to the Grants Pass library grounds.

Posted on 6/17/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Eluding OSP after Weekend Trespass Call in SE GP

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for eluding the Oregon State Police and a traffic violation following a weekend trespassing complaint on the southeast side of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 1500-block of Mount Baldy Road on Saturday around 6:30 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that a former friend of her husband -- 43-year-old Joseph Scott Doyle, Jr. -- kept coming back to their house in a Chevy Blazer after the two men had a falling out. The husband told Doyle he did not want him there, and his wife and their toddler had locked themselves inside the house. Doyle had left the residence prior to deputies' arrival, but they located him a short time later at Fruitdale Park. They discovered his license was suspended and that he had eluded state troopers last week. Doyle was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Driving While Suspended. His vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 6/16/25 10:18AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared Man for Contempt of Court after Williams Highway Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a man for violating a court order following a weekend traffic stop on Williams Highway near Murphy. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by 33-year-old Nicholas Svane Morris of Lancaster on Highway 238 near Grays Creek Road on Friday at 10:17 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Morris for an undisclosed traffic violation and learned that his 41-year-old female passenger from Grants Pass had an active restraining order against him. Morris was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court/Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/16/25 10:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested CJ Man on Local Felony Warrant with Assist from Family

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Cave Junction man on a local felony warrant over the weekend -- with an assist from his family. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 20-year-old Joshua James Polk at a home in the 1800-block of Laurel Road on Saturday around 3:30 p.m.. Deputies said Polk was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for 1st-Degree Theft and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. They said he went into the house when he spotted law enforcement, but his family was successful in talking him into coming out and surrendering. He was said to be "cooperative." Polk was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on $20,000 bail.

Posted on 6/16/25 10:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Traffic Violation after He Reported DHS Problem

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for a traffic violation after he came to GPPD headquarters to make a strange report about a homeland security issue. According to the Police Department, 42-year-old Samir Lakhouiri arrived at the station on Saturday at 8:13 p.m.. Police said Lakhouiri drove there in a Dodge minivan to make a report about a civil Department of Human Services (DHS) issue. A routine records check revealed that his driving privileges had been suspended and he was arrested. Lakhouiri said the "issue" was with things going on in America. He pointed at pictures on his phone, but wouldn’t provide additional information because he stated: "I work for the government." Lakhouiri was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving While Suspended and his minivan was impounded.

Posted on 6/16/25 10:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Woman from Resting Site for Several Ordinance Violations

Grants Pass Police evicted a woman from a designated resting site after she was found to have committed multiple city ordinance violations. During a Saturday evening patrol check at the 6th & A Street resting site, officers contacted Melissa Koenig. Koenig was cited for Violation of Park Rules including an oversized tent footprint, having tarps attached to the fence and Scattering Rubbish. She had two tents surrounded by litter and a playpen filled with trash she refused to throw away. She told officers she found it and brought it to the resting site. Koenig was issued a 30-day exclusion notice and asked to clean up her litter. She was given until Sunday morning to vacate the premises.

Posted on 6/16/25 10:11AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Warned GP Teenager for Causing Williams Highway Collision near Murphy

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass teenager for causing a weekend crash on Williams Highway near Murphy. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle head-on collision near milepost 5 of Highway 238 on Saturday at 11:33 p.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated an Infinity sedan driven by 18-year-old Kristian Wallace was operating without headlights or with ineffective headlights, according to witnesses. They said a Nissan Juke driven by a 16-year-old boy who did not see the Infinity, made a left turn and struck the front of it. According to OSP, Wallace had to be extricated from his heavily damaged car and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with what appeared to be serious injuries. The driver of the Nissan and his 16-year-old passenger self-extricated and had only minor injuries. Both vehicles were towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, troopers contacted Wallace at the hospital and warned him for Operating an Unsafe Vehicle and Failure to Have Required Lighting. OSP was assisted at the scene by Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 6/16/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

City of GP Puts Employee on Administration Leave after Arrest for Sex Crimes

The City of Grants Pass has placed its Economic Development Specialist on administrative leave following his arrest for 20 felony-level sex crimes involving juveniles. In a Friday afternoon press release, city officials said 42-year-old Timothy James Conway was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an employee investigation after they learned of the criminal charges filed against him. The Oregon State Police arrested Conway and booked him into the Josephine County Jail at 8:19 a.m. Friday. He was charged with 10 counts each of 1st-Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse and 2nd-Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse. No details of the investigation have been released by OSP. Jail records show Conway posted $100,000 bail and was released at 11:04 a.m. Friday. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Circuit Court at 1:30 p.m. today. As stewards of public trust, officials said city employees are held to the highest moral and ethical standards. In the weeks ahead, the city will determine the most appropriate steps forward once its investigation has been completed.

Posted on 6/16/25 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Weekend Altercation at SE Apartment Complex

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman after she got into a weekend altercation with two other women at a southeast city apartment complex. The Police Department reports officers arrested 28-year-old Lily May Brooks-Strickland for the incident at the Garden Grove Apartments on Fruitdale Drive on Saturday at 11:55 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that Brooks-Strickland got into a physical altercation with two other women, subjecting them to offensive contact. They said one of the women struck Brooks-Strickland while the suspect was shoving her, but Brooks-Strickland was determined to be the primary aggressor. One of the victims did not wish to press charges, but the other one did so the suspect was placed into custody. Lily Brooks-Strickland was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment. She demanded criminal charges be filed against the woman who hit her and was advised that information would be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

Posted on 6/16/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh