KRRM - Local News

Local Teacher and Coach Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Former Student

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has arrested a local teacher and coach after an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a former student in Rogue River. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 30-year-old Jesse Rex Orndoff of Selma on Friday. He is charged with 10 counts each of 2nd-Degree Sex Abuse, 3rd-Degree Rape and one other felony-level sex crime. Last Thursday, a woman reported she was the victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by her teacher and coach -- Orndoff -- while she was a student and he was employed at Rogue River Junior-Senior High School. The victim is no longer a student at the school. Investigators said the sexual abuse occurred over the span of several years while the victim was between 15 and 17 years old. Although Orndoff no longer works for the Rogue River School District, he was most recently employed by the Rogue Christian Academy in Grants Pass. Both schools are cooperating with the investigation. Investigators believe Orndoff may have additional victims. If anyone has any information related to this case, they are encouraged to contact Detective David Seese at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541)-774-8333.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Stealing Scooter from Back of Truck at Motel 6

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a scooter from the back of a truck parked at Motel 6 over the weekend. The Police Department reports the incident involving 32-year-old Cody Wayne Luttrell occurred at the motel on NE 7th Street late Friday night and he was arrested on Saturday afternoon. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his son's $400 scooter was stolen from the west side of the motel where it was secured to the back of his vehicle. Video surveillance showed the suspect walked around the complex, untied the scooter and rode it away south on 6th Street. Photos of the suspect and scooter were sent to patrol officers. On Saturday afternoon, officers located Luttrell and the stolen scooter in an unspecified location where he admitted to the theft and was placed into custody. Luttrell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The scooter was logged into evidence for safekeeping pending contact with the victim.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Young Motorist for DUII after Weekend Traffic Stop West of GP

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a young motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop west of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Buick Envista driven by a 19-year-old man on Lower River Road near Needlewood Drive on Saturday around 3:20 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped the Buick for observed traffic violations and the driver displayed signs of impairment. They said he refused to perform field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded. According to the report, there were three passengers in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. Two of them arranged for rides while the third was given a courtesy ride home.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

No One Seriously Hurt When Vehicle Struck Tree on Holland Loop Road near CJ

No one was seriously injured when a vehicle struck a tree in the Illinois Valley late last week. The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash on Holland Loop Road near Hays Cutoff Road on Friday at 4:50 p.m.. IVFD officials said the vehicle impacted a tree and came to rest on the roadway. The unidentified occupants of the vehicle were assessed for injuries and released from the scene. Jerry's Towing responded and hauled the vehicle to Cave Junction. It was unclear in the report if the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident for a follow-up investigation.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Weekend Flu Fire near Cave Junction Contained to Chimney with No Extension

A reported weekend flu fire near Cave Junction was contained to the chimney with no extension to the residence. On Friday at 6:44 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to the reported fire in the 7,000-block of Takilma Road. Upon arrival, IVFD crews confirmed there was no active fire present. A thorough inspection of the dwelling's roof and interior revealed no other flames. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flu fire and advised the occupants not to use their wood-heating device until the chimney had been inspected.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

RCC Board of Education Set to Hold Work Session and Meeting in Grants Pass

The Rogue Community College Board of Education is scheduled to hold a work session followed by a meeting tomorrow evening. Highlighting the 5 p.m. work session is an overview of the budget process and budget update presented by Lisa Stanton, RCC Vice President of Operations & Finance. The regular meeting will start with an Audit Report Presentation and college reports from student government, the faculty association, the faculty senate and classified association. There will also be reports from the RCC Board. Action items include the first readings of 2025-26 Tuition Rates and Fees and a revised Board policy on the Prohibition of Harassment, plus RCC Board and President Team agreements. The Board is expected to adopt the 2023-24 Audit, a State of Oregon Action Plan Letter and a timeline for the RCC Budget Committee. There will also be an Old Business session regarding Capital Projects and Funding Sources as well as an Executive Session pertaining to Labor Negotiations and Real Property Transactions. Tuesday's work session and meeting will be held in Building H, Room 2, at the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:09AM by Sam Marsh

2025 Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Celebrated Business & Community Leaders

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Awards Banquet on Friday night, bringing together nearly 400 distinguished guests including local business owners, elected officials and community partners for an evening of celebration, inspiration and recognition at the Boys & Girls Club. The event honored outstanding individuals and businesses that have made large contributions to the region's economic growth and community development. The Chamber presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Lou Thomason of Galice Resort and board member of the Boys & Girls Club. The Community Spirit Award went to Dave Warren of Cascade Mini Storage, while the Spears Commitment to Health Award went to Mid-Rogue Imaging. Shauna Bland of Grants Pass High School received the Fostering a Legacy for the Future Award and the Rising Star Award went to Donnie Thomason of The Human Bean. The Large Business Award was presented to Flores Family Restaurants. The Small Business Award went to Tammie Schmidt of Rogue Solutions Accounting. Doug Bradley of Holiday Inn Express was named Person of the Year while the Architecture Award went to The Growler Guys Tap House.

Posted on 2/17/25 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police and Firefighters Battled Frigid Cold Weather While Protecting Community

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters fought frightfully cold weather while protecting the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 504 calls for service along with 206 officer-initiated calls last week which resulted in 36 arrests, 43 citations, 37 warnings and six highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 48 traffic stops in the city and they made 13 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. There was no report available for the GPPD Community Response Team (CRT). Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 99 calls last week including 45 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 16 lift assists, five rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 19 business inspections, led two education/prevention programs and assisted the public at least three times. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 937 emergency calls last week.

Posted on 2/17/25 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

GPCC to Conduct Candidate Interviews & Select Committee Liaison on Tuesday

The Grants Pass City Council will conduct candidate interviews and select a committee liaison before holding an executive session on Tuesday. Today's workshop was postponed one day due to the observance of Presidents Day. The City Council will open the workshop with interviews of candidates for the Grants Pass Budget Committee. The Council will then interview candidates for the open seat representing Ward 3 of Grants Pass. Former Council member Dwayne Yunker resigned last month in order to take care of his responsibilities in the Oregon House of Representatives. The panel will select a Council liaison for the Public Safety Advisory Committee. Following the workshop, Mayor Clint Scherf will convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. According to the agenda, the closed-door meeting will center on confidential labor negotiations. Tuesday's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

Posted on 2/17/25 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies Jailed Man for Driving Stolen Honda Accord

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man early yesterday for driving a stolen vehicle. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a 1997 Honda Accord driven by 60-year-old Douglas Don Cleveland, II, in an unspecified location on Thursday at 1:40 a.m.. The Sheriff's Log provided limited information on the incident, but deputies and the Oregon State Police were involved in the traffic stop in which it was learned that the Honda had been reported stolen by the Grants Pass Police Department. Cleveland was charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle because it could not be proven that he committed the automobile heist. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Troopers stood by while the stolen car was returned to its registered owner. The license plates had been removed from the vehicle.

Posted on 2/14/25 11:08AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Investigating Vehicle Theft on Redwood Highway at Riverbanks Road

The Oregon State Police was investigating a vehicle theft that allegedly occurred last night on Redwood Highway at Riverbanks Road. OSP reports troopers received a report of a stolen Acura MDX near the intersection of US Highway 199 and State Route 260 on Thursday shortly after 8 p.m.. Few details were available, but a 50-year-old Grants Pass woman made the report and the vehicle was described as gray with Oregon license plate "157MVN." Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

Posted on 2/14/25 11:07AM by Sam Marsh

Jail Inmate Served with Statewide Felony Warrant Upon Arrival at GP Facility

A Josephine County Jail inmate was served with a statewide felony warrant upon his arrival at the Grants Pass facility early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Adam Joseph Jensen arrived at the jail on NE F Street via prisoner transport on Thursday around 6:40 a.m.. It was not disclosed where Jensen had been arrested, but he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Indecent Exposure. He allegedly exposed himself to both adults and children. Jensen was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 2/14/25 11:05AM by Sam Marsh