KRRM - Local News

Commissioners Approved Library Annexation and Other Items in First Meeting of 2025

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners held its first weekly business session of 2025 on Wednesday. As a first order of business, newly-appointed Commissioner Andreas Blech was voted in as Board Chair due to his past experience with the previous Board. Ron Smith agreed to step aside after being elected Board Chair last week. Following a public hearing, the Board unanimously approved the annexation of a 6-acre property in Williams into the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of the 320-acre Clapboard Gulch property on Caves Camp Road by quitclaim deed to Ireland Investments. Property Manager Helene Lulich explained the property sold for $2,274,536, with proceeds going to the Josephine County Forestry fund. The Board also authorized the Recreation Department to apply for a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation agency to pay for improvements at Schroeder Park. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified that the grant money would go toward bringing power and water to tent sites at the park. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners set February 5th as the date for a public hearing on a revised fee schedule for the Recreation Department.

Posted on 1/16/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GPCC Okays Cost of Water Treatment Plant with Construction Starting by Summer

The Grants Pass City Council opened its Wednesday night regular meeting by electing Victoria Marshall as Council President and Rick Riker as Vice President. The Council then unanimously authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Slayden Construction Group, Incorporated. The agreement is for Phase 2 design-build services for replacement of the existing 90-year-old water treatment plant. The cost for the project is just over $99.8 million. Total cost -- including work already authorized -- is just over $113 million. The approval means construction for the new water treatment plant will break ground by late spring or early summer. Completion of the new plant is projected for late spring in 2028. In an effort to attract more candidates for the Budget Committee's three openings, the Council filled just one position with Chamber of Commerce CEO Terry Hopkins. The two other candidates -- Toni Webb and Jay Meredith -- in addition to other new applicants, will be considered at a future meeting. Seven positions were available on the Grants Pass Public Safety Committee. Tom Brandes, William Lovelace, Alan Hartford, Jay Meredith, Matthew Rosen and Terry Hopkins were all appointed.

Posted on 1/16/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Applications Being Accepted for Grants Pass Sustainable Tourism Grant Program

Applications are now being accepted for the City of Grants Pass Sustainable Tourism Grant Program. Grants range from a minimum of $2,500 to $5,000. Applications must be received by February 12th. Tourism is an important part of Grants Pass' economic success and -- as such -- the City designates 12% of eligible tourism funds to the Sustainable Tourism Grant Program. This program supports promotional activities that will lead to sustainable tourism by attracting tourists and increasing overnight stays. The purpose of this grant is tied directly to the marketing or promotion of a specific event or activity. The program supports promotional activities that will lead to sustainable tourism by attracting tourists from more than 50 miles away. Some projects areas that will receive priority ranking include sustainable events leading to economic growth with potential to occur on a regular cycle, outdoor recreation, historically significant events, community-focused events and touring. For more information, please visit "grantspassoregon.gov."

Posted on 1/16/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Approved Library Annexation and Other Items in First Meeting of 2025

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners held its first weekly business session of 2025 this morning. As a first order of business, newly-appointed Commissioner Andreas Blech was voted in as Board Chair due to his past experience with the previous Board. Ron Smith agreed to step aside after being elected Board Chair last week. Following a public hearing, the Board unanimously approved the annexation of a 6-acre property in Williams into the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of the 320-acre Clapboard Gulch property on Caves Camp Road by quitclaim deed to Ireland Investments. Property Manager Helene Lulich explained the property sold for $2,274,536, with proceeds going to the Josephine County Forestry fund. The Board also authorized the Recreation Department to apply for a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation agency to pay for improvements at Schroeder Park. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified that the grant money would go toward bringing power and water to tent sites at the park. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners set February 5th as the date for a public hearing on a revised fee schedule for the Recreation Department.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:49AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Suspicion of Committing Many Local Fraud Crimes

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for suspicion of numerous fraud crimes yesterday following a patrol check at a church thrift store in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Russell Ellis Davis at the Seventh Day Adventist Thrift Store on NE 9th Street on Tuesday at 11:22 a.m.. Police said they contacted Davis at that location and placed him into custody for a Felony Parole Violation related to a 2024 arrest for 1st-Degree Forgery. He was also wanted for probable cause for a total of 15 other crimes involving fraud. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for seven counts each of Felony Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or ATM, plus a single count of 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:47AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Deputies Collared Local Fugitive in Cave Junction after Brief Pursuit

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a local fugitive in Cave Junction yesterday following a brief pursuit in the downtown area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 32-year-old Nickolas Eugene Stephens in the 300-block of West Lister Street on Tuesday at 2:25 p.m.. Deputies said they spotted Stephens riding a black BMX bicycle on Redwood Highway and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a 2023 arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Stephens reportedly ditched the bike on South Kerby Avenue, hopped a fence to Lister Street and then hopped another toward Sawyer Avenue. Deputies knew that his girlfriend lives on Lister Street and that's where they placed him into custody at Taser point. Stephens was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. A charge of Escape was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. He was also trespassed from properties on Pinewood Way and Logan Cut Drive.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Petty Theft & Vandalism at South Safeway Market

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for petty theft and vandalism at a store in the Williams Highway Plaza late last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the south Safeway supermarket on Tuesday around 10 p.m.. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer entered Safeway and selected more than $70 worth of merchandise which he concealed in his jacket and proceeded past all points of sale. He was stopped by a store manager and all the stolen items were recovered. He previously had been trespassed from the store in December. Farmer remained in the area and began to draw on Safeway's ice machine and curb with a black permanent marker before he was placed into custody. Farmer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. His blankets and a sleeping bag were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Frequent Trespasser on Warrants after Super 8 Motel Incident

Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of being in places where he is not wanted yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street on Tuesday during the noon hour. Police said a motel worker called 9-1-1 to report that 67-year-old Michael Alan Gendernalik was being verbally abusive and refusing to leave, so they wanted him trespassed. Officers contacted Gendernalik and discovered that he was wanted on four Grants Pass warrants containing five counts of failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. Because Gendernalik is wheelchair-bound, he was cited to appear in court and released from custody. He was also trespassed from Super 8.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Frequent Flyer for Her Latest Episode of Causing Problems

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender yesterday for her latest episode of causing disturbances. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on NW Vine Street on Tuesday around 4 p.m.. Police said 32-year-old Whitney Ann Word returned to Li'l Pantry after previously being trespassed from the store in March of last year. They said store workers kept telling her she needed to leave, but she refused to do so. Word was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Due to her status as a "frequent flyer," she was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/15/25 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Incarcerated North Valley Man for Threatening to Shoot His Roommate

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a North Valley man for threatening to shoot his roommate. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at a home in the 1,000-block of Red Mountain Drive around midday Monday. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report that he and his roommate -- identified as 67-year-old Jon Edge Allen, III -- were in a verbal argument that escalated into the roommate telling him he was going to shoot him. The caller said his roommate then went to the garage where several firearms were kept while he fled the house and called for help. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Allen and he admitted to threatening to shoot the victim. They said the suspect was under the influence of alcohol and possibly some drugs. Allen was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/15/25 6:35AM by Sam Marsh

Multi-Agency Investigation into Child Exploitation Resulted in Ashland Arrest

A multi-agency investigation into child exploitation and internet crimes against children has resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old Ashland man. Early Tuesday morning, the Ashland Police Department -- working alongside the Medford Police Department, Talent Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Oregon Department of Justice, Homeland Security and Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force -- served a search warrant on Alida Street in Ashland. One suspect -- Donovan Jesus Aquino -- was arrested on two outstanding warrants and lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara said this significant action underscores the continued commitment of local, state and federal agencies to combat child exploitation and to protect vulnerable individuals. Chief O'Meara said further details will be shared as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.

Posted on 1/15/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Smoke Detectors Likely Saved Lives of Family in Foothill Boulevard Fire

A home near the City of Rogue River was heavily damaged by fire early yesterday and -- thanks to working smoke detectors -- no one was hurt. Jackson County Fire District #1 was dispatched to a structure fire involving a single-story residence on Foothill Boulevard on Tuesday at 5:27 a.m.. District #1 Fire Chief Mike Hammond said arriving units found the residence fully-involved with flames. He said crews mounted an attack and knocked the fire down. Crews remained on scene for a couple of hours mopping up. According to Chief Hammond, the house was occupied by three people. One occupant was awakened by smoke detectors and found the house full of smoke. That person woke up the other occupants and they exited the dwelling before the arrival of firefighters. The cause of the fire was under investigation. District #1 was assisted by Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Evans Valley Fire District and Jackson County Fire District #3. Hammond said this tragic situation was prevented from becoming even worse by working smoke detectors that alerted the occupants in a timely manner, allowing them to escape the burning structure.

Posted on 1/15/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh