KRRM - Local News

OEM and ODOT Officials Urge People Traveling by Vehicle to be Fire Safe

If you are traveling by car this summer, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Oregon Department of Transportation are encouraging you to be fire safe and well-prepared. The 2024 wildfire season is shaping up to be one for the record books. Fire officials, ODOT and OEM are asking people to take every precaution possible to avoid adding to the problem. While you are packing and preparing to take off and explore the state, it's important to stay up to date on road closures with "tripcheck.com," connect with Oregon Parks and Recreation about campfire restrictions, and make sure you have emergency supplies in case you get stranded. A list of items you should consider for a basic emergency car kit includes jumper cables, flares, a car cell phone charger, map, first aid kit, flashlight with batteries, fire extinguisher, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting, wet wipes and blankets plus extra water and snacks. Maintain proper tire pressure as driving on rims will throw off sparks. When pulling off the road, stay on paved surfaces whenever possible. Avoid the side of the road where dry grass and other fuels can come into contact with your vehicle's hot components. Secure chains and make sure they're not dragging.

Posted on 7/27/24 5:21AM by Chuck Benson

OEM and ODOT Officials Urge People Traveling by Vehicle to be Fire Safe

Posted on 7/27/24 5:21AM by Chuck Benson

GP Police Department Warns Citizens about Recent Rise in Scam Phone Calls

There has been a recent rise in calls to citizens in the Grants Pass area where the callers claim to be officers or detectives from the Grants Pass Police Department. According to GPPD, the scammers use sophisticated software that allows them to "spoof" phone numbers. Although you may be seeing the number on your caller ID as being from the local agency, you're actually talking to a scam artist. The scammers will then threaten to arrest individuals if payments are not made immediately for various reasons. The Grants Pass Police Department will never contact an individual requesting money or payments over the phone. If you receive a phone call, e-mail or text message instructing you to purchase prepaid gift merchant gift cards, cryptocurrency or money orders, it is a scam. Hang up, deleted the message and don't respond. Typical scenarios include bail money for yourself or a loved one, IRS for taxes owed, immigration officials to avoid deportation, Social Security officials for unusual activity, or hospital treatment for a family member or loved one.

Posted on 7/27/24 5:20AM by Chuck Benson

GP Police Department Welcomes New Lateral Officer Hired from Virginia Beach

The Grants Pass Police Department is welcoming a new officer who was hired from the Virginia Beach Police Department, Officer Davis Schmudde brings three years of law enforcement experience to Grants Pass. He and his fiancée Rachel have relocated to Southern Oregon in order to be closer to friends and family. Schmudde earned a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from University of Mary Washington before becoming a police officer. He said he chose a career in law enforcement to serve his community and help keep people safe.

Posted on 7/27/24 5:18AM by Chuck Benson

Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Reflects on its 37th Birthday

Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI), is reflecting on its 37th birthday this month -- and what a year it has been. SOREDI connected with more than 600 business in the past 12 months through site visits, industry tours, start-up conversations, meetings, letters of support, gap-financing, and business-to-business introductions. SOREDI directly assisted nine companies with expansion incentives through enterprise zone management for their collective $41.2 million investment in new capital and the creation or retention of 233 jobs. SOREDI facilitated three local expansion projects with their groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting celebrations. They include Herb Pharm in Medford, Mycorrhizal Applications in White City and Pacific Wall Systems in Phoenix. SOREDI has a strong future. The Board of Directors recently approved a 3-year investment of reserves, allowing the agency to take on several critical bodies of work.

Posted on 7/27/24 5:17AM by Chuck Benson

Deputies Jailed Woman for Breaking into North Valley Home and Taking Jewelry

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for breaking into a North Valley area home and taking an inexpensive piece of jewelry late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 30-year-old female subject for the incident in the 700-block of Brookside Boulevard on Thursday at 4:49 p.m.. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report that a female transient had entered his home, rummaged through the house and stole a necklace valued at $40. The caller said the woman exited the house and started walking west on Brookside. Deputies searched the area and located the subject just a few blocks away, placing her into custody and recovering the stolen necklace. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and 3rd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Stealing from Walmart and Possessing Banned Knife

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for stealing merchandise from Walmart and possessing a restricted weapon last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Thursday around 7:40 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that a 45-year-old male subject placed a new pair of shoes on his feet, ripped off the price tag and stashed his old pair under the shoe rack. They said he also skip-scanned multiple items at the self-checkout and passed all points of sale without paying. He was detained by loss prevention. The subject was found to be in possession of a spring-assisted knife and .22-caliber ammunition. No firearm was located. He is a convicted felon banned from carrying any kind of weapon. The knife and bullets were seized. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:31AM by Sam Marsh

Both Drivers Cited and One Injured in Thursday PM Crash on Allen Creek Road

Two drivers were cited and one of them was hurt following a motor vehicle crash in southwest Grants Pass late yesterday. Grants Pass police officers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle T-bone collision near the intersection of Allen Creek Road and Schutzwohl Lane at the entrance to Albertsons on Thursday at 5:50 p.m.. Police said an investigation indicated the male driver of a Toyota Camry was traveling south on Allen Creek Road when he tried to beat a red light and crashed into a Ford Contour trying to turn west into the shopping center. A witness told officers that both vehicles were in the intersection when the light turned red. The driver of the Ford was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with unspecified injuries while the driver of the Toyota was not hurt. Both vehicles sustained damage from the wreck and were hauled away by Meraki Towing. Following the investigation, the female driver was cited for Making a Dangerous Left Turn and warned for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. The male driver was cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. He was also warned for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and Expired Registration.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:29AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Washington Man for DUII after Interstate 5 Crash near Wolf Creek

The Oregon State Police arrested a Washington man for impaired driving after he crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 75 on Thursday during the noon hour. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Hyundai sedan driven by a 23-year-old man from Battle Ground, Washington, rear-ended a Ford sport utility vehicle driven by a person who was not identified in the report. No one was hurt. According to OSP, the Hyundai driver displayed signs of impairment, performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal limit. The Washington man was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His damaged car was hauled to a Grants Pass impound yard by Allstar Towing.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Motorist Cited after She Wrecked Car off Redwood Highway near Wonder

A Grants Pass motorist escaped injury but not a citation after she crashed her car on Redwood Highway near Wonder yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 14 of US Highway 199 on Thursday at 3:40 p.m.. Troopers said a 25-year-old woman was driving a Nissan Sentra at a high rate of speed when she left the highway and crashed. They said the woman denied medical attention, but her car was damaged and towed to Grants Pass. Following an investigation, the woman was cited for Speeding.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on 2021 Felony Warrant during Riverside Park Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on a three-year-old felony warrant at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, the 37-year-old male subject was placed into custody at Riverside Park on Thursday at 3:35 a.m.. Police said they contacted the subject during an early morning patrol check when he was found to be violating park rules. A routine records check revealed the man was wanted on a 2021 Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Campers from City Parks for Repeat Ordinance Violations

Grants Pass Police evicted four campers for ordinance violations at city parks on Thursday. At Croxton Memorial Park, a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Open Space. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. One tent was posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to United Community Action Network. At Eckstein Park, a woman had been warned Wednesday that she had set up her tent in a buffer zone. She told officers she would move her tent in lieu of a citation, but the tent had not been moved. Officers cited her for two counts of Buffer Zone Violation and excluded her from the park for 30 days. At Lawnridge Park, officers responded to a disturbance and contacted a woman who admitted to yelling at other people. She had been contacted Wednesday and warned for being in a buffer zone, but she had not moved her tent. She was cited for two counts of Buffer Zone Violation and trespassed for 30 days. Also at Lawnridge Park, a man was warned for Disorderly Conduct and cited for Buffer Zone Violation. He was issued a 30-day park exclusion.

Posted on 7/26/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh