KRRM - Local News

GP City Council Picks Employee Parking Lot to Expand Homeless Resting Spaces

The Grants Pass City Council has selected a path by which it hopes to satisfy a preliminary court injunction that is currently keeping it from restricting camping of the unhoused population in most city parks. During a Special Workshop session on Tuesday, the City Council decided to open a paved employee parking lot adjacent to the homeless "resting" site at the corner of 6th and A streets for additional space. The informal vote was 6-1, with Councilor Rick Riker dissenting. Councilor Indra Nicholas was absent. Josephine County Circuit Judge Sarah McGlaughlin put the injunction in place last week, but told attorneys representing the city that she would likely lift it if Grants Pass expands the space for camping and at least some of the sites are paved to provide better access for disabled people. City Manager Aaron Cubic opened the workshop with a short presentation about city-owned properties that could be utilized for additional camping space, with an estimated number of sites for each. The target is a total of 150 resting sites, with the current campgrounds on 6th and 7th streets providing an estimated 99 spaces. The city employee parking lot at 5th and A streets will provide at least 50 more spaces to meet the court-mandated target. The former OnTrack property just north of the 6th Street site is not ready to be opened, but it could be opened in the future if necessary. It is also paved.

Posted on 4/9/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

ODR: Time is Running Out with Tax Deadline Day Less Than One Week Away

Nearly 1.2 million Oregonians have already filed their state personal income tax returns this year. But with less than one week before taxes are due on April 15th, more than one million Oregonians have yet to submit their 2024 returns. The Oregon Department of Revenue reports e-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. ODR provides several options for taxpayers to e-file their returns for free. Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don't need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes online. ODR has issued nearly 850,000 refunds already this year, most within two weeks of filing. Taxpayers wondering about the refund on their 2024 return can use ODR's "Where's My Refund?" tool to check its status and -- if they want more information -- watch a video outlining the refund timeless to better understand the process.

Posted on 4/9/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

2025 Josephine County Home & Garden Show is This Weekend at GP Fairgrounds

The 8th Annual Josephine County Home & Garden Show is this weekend at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. This year's theme is "Home is Our Happy Place." The 2025 show features the best of the best in what's new, fun and exciting for your home, home office, yard and garden. Support local small businesses as there will be more than 75 vendors displaying their products and services. Speak to the experts and explore new opportunities. The Home & Garden Show will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. The show is hosted by the Builders Association of Southern Oregon, a self-funding non-profit community organization with a three-fold mission to educate, advocate and motivate its members and the public to build strong, safe and sustainable communities. For additional information, please visit "buildso.com."

Posted on 4/9/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Violating Court Order by Visiting Mother's House

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by visiting his mother's residence on Monday evening. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street around 6:35 p.m. yesterday. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son -- 35-year-old Anthony Allen Harrell -- was continuously knocking on her door and she had obtained a restraining order to protect her from him. By court order, he is prohibited from being within 150 feet from his mother's property. Harrell violated the order when he was located in the backyard of his mother's home. He was placed into custody without incident. Harrell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:26AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Deputies Nabbed Man for Odd Behavior in Cloverlawn Drive Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for his odd behavior in the Cloverlawn area early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident involving 70-year-old James Cecil Black in the 400-block of Walker Road on Monday at 8:33 a.m.. Deputies said Black was wandering around the area screaming for help and asking people to give him a ride into town. He was reported to be attempting to get into people's vehicles and walking in circles. According to the report, Black had trespassed on multiple properties while telling people he was trying to get his wife medication for her seizures. The wife was contacted at work and it was determined that she does not need any medications. Black was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was trespassed from properties on Walker Road, Nursery Lane and Macnew Lane.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Pair for Drug Possession in Weekend Check at WinCo

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession during a weekend patrol check at an eastside supermarket. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to two people passed out in a vehicle in the parking lot of WinCo Foods on Sunday at 9:05 a.m.. Police responded and contacted 37-year-old Jasper Allen Paul Miller plus a person identified only as "Hall." They said drug paraphernalia was in plain sight and a search of the vehicle located a small amount of methamphetamine. The pair was placed into custody and the drug items were seized for destruction. Miller was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession while Hall agreed to enter a deflection program and was transported to the Sobering Center.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:23AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Transient on Local Warrants during City Park Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient on two outstanding warrants while performing a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 45-year-old James Edward Weinshrott at Kesterson Park on NE Evelyn Avenue on Monday at 9:50 a.m.. Police said Weinshrott was found to be wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender and Methamphetamine Possession. He was also cited for Violating Park Rules by staking his tent and for being in possession of drug paraphernalia. Those violations led to a 30-day exclusion from the park. Weinshrott was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. His tent was left at the park for him to pick up after he was released from custody.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:21AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Two and Evicted One during 7th Street Campsite Check

Grants Pass Police cited two people and evicted one of them during a patrol check at the NE 7th Street homeless campsite yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted two men they identified as Ryan Burrows and Charles Williams at the "resting place" at 11:20 a.m. Monday. Burrows was cited for Scattering Rubbish while Williams was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Utilization of Park Space. Williams was trespassed from the campsite for 30 days.

Posted on 4/8/25 10:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Logged Busy Week of Activity in First Days of April

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged a busy week of activity during the first days of April. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 569 calls for service along with 327 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 84 arrests, 43 citations, 65 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 96 traffic stops in the city while making 23 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made contact with a total of 22 potential troublemakers while citing seven people and warning 12 others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 93 calls last week including 40 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 14 lift assists, four rescue situations, three assists to other agencies and six false alarms. Firefighters also performed 15 business inspections, led two education/prevention programs, assisted the public six times and properly installed one child car seat. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,071 emergency calls along with 608 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Collared Out-of-State Fugitive during Weekend Traffic Stop near Merlin

The Oregon State Police apprehended a man on an out-of-state fugitive warrant following a weekend traffic stop in the Merlin area. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Toyota Camry occupied by 28-year-old Kyle Adam Berger on Merlin Road near Merlin Landfill Road at 5:27 p.m. Sunday. Troopers said they stopped the Camry driven by 46-year-old Tawnia L. Berger of Grants Pass for multiple traffic violations. Kyle Berger was her passenger and he was found to be wanted on an out-of-state warrant for Felony Parole Violation. Kyle Berger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings. Tawnia Berger was cited to appear in court for the traffic violations.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Outstanding Warrants & Drugs in Restaurant Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on three outstanding warrants during a weekend patrol check at an eastside restaurant. The Police Department reports officers contacted 47-year-old Michael Del Curry at Elmer's on NE Agness Avenue on Sunday shortly after 3 p.m.. Police said they were patrolling the area when they spotted a Ford Econoline minivan in the restaurant parking lot and the license plate returned as belonging to a Ford Ranger pickup. That's when they contacted the occupant identified as Curry. A routine records check revealed that Curry was wanted on a Medford felony warrant for 1st-Degree Theft as well as two Washington County warrants for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft and Failure to Report as a Convicted Sex Offender. A pipe found in his pocket contained methamphetamine residue. Curry was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Shoplifting Deli Meat from Downtown Supermarket

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes last weekend after he was caught shoplifting at a downtown supermarket. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Sunday at 5:32 p.m.. Police said 30-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder was initially called in as a trespasser at the supermarket. They said he left the property before they arrived, but a worker advised he had stolen about $10 worth of deli meat. Reeder was located sitting across the street with the deli meat in hand. He was placed into custody and officers located a glass pipe with a white substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Reeder was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/8/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh