KRRM - Local News

Two IV Firefighters Praised for Rescuing Cat from Tall Tree in Cave Junction

Two Illinois Valley firefighters are being praised for rescuing a cat from a tree in Cave Junction last weekend. On Sunday at 7:48 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a public assistance call in the 500-block of North Old Stage Road. According to the report, Firefighters LeMasters and Meyer deployed a 24-foot extension ladder to safely retrieve the cat from the tree. IVFD officials and the cat's owners commended LeMasters and Meyer for their excellent work.

Posted on 1/14/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County Commissioners Honored Deputies for 25 Years of Dedication

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners last week recognized two sheriff's deputies for their 25 years of dedicated service to the community. Jackson County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeremy Whipple and Sergeant Gary Clark were both hired in January 2000. During the past 25 years, Lieutenant Whipple worked in Corrections, Patrol and Administration. In 2005, Whipple was asked to develop the Jackson County SWAT team from the ground up and then lead that team. He has been known for his sound decision-making and leadership, especially during critical incidents. Late last year, he was honored with the Oregon State Sheriff's Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Sergeant Clark has been an essential member of the Jackson County Corrections team since he was hired 25 years ago. His passion for learning meant he always searched for ways to positively impact the Jackson County Jail environment. He often sought out opportunities to train newly-hired deputies, interact with the community and advocate for changes to state-level legislation. Both Lieutenant Whipple and Sergeant Clark will retire early this year.

Posted on 1/14/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

US Interior Department Okays New Casino in Medford for Coquille Indian Tribe

The Biden administration has approved a new southern Oregon casino, the second to be operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe. The Oregonian reports the final sign-off by the US Department of the Interior lets the Coquille Indian Tribe transfer 2.4 acres it owns in Medford into trust with the feds, allowing the tribe to govern the property. The decision stands to upturn a statewide arrangement, put into effect by recent Oregon governors, by which tribes only operate one casino on their established lands. The Coquille tribe runs The Mill Casino in North Bend, and it has long sought to renovate a building in Medford into a roughly 30,000-square-foot casino with 650 gaming machines and nearby parking. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in November issued a final environmental impact statement for the casino, and a 30-day public comment period followed. The Coquille tribe wasted no time preparing for a decision on the project, which is expected to run more than $30 million with construction, gaming equipment, furniture and other items. Defenders of the status quo in Oregon decried the decision. Judy Farm, CEO of Coquille economic development team Tribal One, said she didn't have a hard construction start date to remodel the Medford building, a former bowling alley, but "we will begin that process immediately."

Posted on 1/14/25 5:40AM by Sam Marsh

GPCC Interviewed Budget Candidates and Received Committee Liaison Assignments

The Grants Pass City Council interviewed candidates for the Budget Committee and received their committee liaison appointments for 2025 during its workshop session on Monday. The City Council opened the workshop with interviews of three Budget Committee candidates including Toni Webb, Jay Meredith and Terry Hopkins. Two of them will be appointed to the Budget Committee on Wednesday night. City Manager Aaron Cubic led the discussion on committee liaison appointments by introducing the committees and commissions in which appointees will facilitate and improve communications between the City Council and advisory groups. Veteran Councilor Joel King will continue his assignments on the Historical Buildings & Sites Commission, Parks Advisory Committee, Urban Tree Advisory Committee and Josephine County Emergency Management. He will be joined by new Councilor Erich Schloegl on the Historical Buildings & Sites Commission. Councilor Rob Pell will continue to serve on the Bikeways & Walkways Committee while Councilor Rick Riker will continue to serve on the Solid Waste Agency and add the Committee on Public Art to his duties.

Posted on 1/14/25 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP in Need of New Ward 3 City Councilor after Dwayne Yunker Resignation

There is a vacancy for a position representing Ward 3 of the Grants Pass City Council. Former Councilor Dwayne Yunker stepped down last week in order to fulfill his duties as House District 3 State Representative in Salem. Pursuant to the City Charter, the Council will soon be filling this vacancy. The term of appointment will expire on December 31, 2026. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a qualified elector and a resident of Ward 3 for the last six months. Ward 3 is the area of the city that is south of the Rogue River and southeast of a line that connects 6th Street to US Highway 199. All interested parties are encouraged to apply. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 7th. Candidates will be interviewed by the City Council on Tuesday, February 18th, and the appointment will be made by the Council on Wednesday, February 19th. For more information, contact the City of Grants Pass at (541)-450-6000.

Posted on 1/14/25 5:36AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Jail Inmate Served with Texas Warrant Alleging Drug Crimes

A Josephine County Jail inmate is facing additional charges after he was served with an out-of-state warrant late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports jail deputies served 44-year-old Samuel Earl Campbell with the warrant at the Grants Pass facility last Friday morning. Campbell was being held for Contempt of Court and Probation Violation following his November 21st arrest at Josephine County Community Corrections. He was served with a Hale County, Texas, Sheriff's Office felony warrant for Manufacture and Possession of More Than 400 Grams of a Controlled Substance. Campbell remained in custody on a no-bail detainer. It was unclear in the report if he would be extradited to Texas to face the narcotics allegations.

Posted on 1/13/25 10:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Violating Court Order by Contacting Protected Party

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by spitting on a car containing the protected party. The Police Department reports officers responded to an incident involving 40-year-old Isaac Whaley near the corner of SW 5th Street and Rogue River Avenue on Saturday around 8:20 a.m.. Police said Whaley contacted a woman with whom he has a no-contact agreement and he also spit on a car while the protected party was inside. The car belongs to a friend of the victim. Officers contacted Whaley a short time later in his minivan. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/13/25 10:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Local Warrants after Harassment Calls at Bi-Mart

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two local warrants after he was allegedly harassing customers over the weekend at Bi-Mart. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 33-year-old Donald Gene Strunk at the store on Redwood Highway on Saturday shortly before 5 p.m.. Police said Strunk was reportedly harassing customers in the Bi-Mart parking lot. A female customer filmed him harassing her before he took off on foot. He was located by officers walking south on 6th Street toward Caveman Bridge. Strunk was contacted and found to be wanted on two Grants Pass warrants -- one for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and the other for failing to appear in court for Escape. He was placed into custody without incident. Strunk was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $50,000 bail.

Posted on 1/13/25 10:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Man for California Warrant & Driving Violations at Campsite

Grants Pass Police cited a man on a California warrant and for driving violations at a temporary city campground over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check at the SE J Street campground when they spotted an unplated vehicle at the entrance on Saturday evening. Police contacted the driver -- identified as 22-year-old Nolan Robert Gooding -- and discovered that he was wanted on a Santa Clara County misdemeanor warrant for Vandalism and/or Tampering with a Vehicle. He was also found to be driving without insurance. The warrant was non-extraditable, so Gooding was cited and released -- but his vehicle was towed to a local impound yard. By order of the Grants Pass City Council, the J Street campground was scheduled to close at 1 p.m. Friday. However, the closure has been postponed until January 20th in order for the interim City Attorney to research whether the closure -- and restricted "resting" times at the 7th Street campground -- can be legally enforced.

Posted on 1/13/25 10:08AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed GP Man for Weekend Domestic Disturbance in Jones Creek Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass man for a weekend domestic violence incident that occurred in the Jones Creek area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Joshua Charles Dugan for the incident in the 600-block of East Jones Creek Road at 1:08 p.m. Saturday in the lobby of the Grants Pass Police Department. Deputies said they responded to a report that Dugan came to the Jones Creek home to take possession of a duck cage and he walked to the children's bedroom window so he could speak to them. They said the suspect became angry and punched the window, causing glass to hit another man in the face. No children were hurt. According to the report, the caller's boyfriend walked outside and began arguing with her ex-husband, and that argument escalated into a physical fight. The other man was bleeding from several small lacerations on his face, but he declined medical attention. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle. After being placed into custody at GPPD, Dugan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Assault, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief, three counts of Reckless Endangering and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/13/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested GP Man for Weekend Domestic Violence at Home near City

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Grants Pass man for a weekend incident of domestic violence just south of the city. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a reported disturbance in the 200-block of Deerhorn Drive on Saturday around 10 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband had her daughter's husband pinned down after the intoxicated man was breaking things and harming people. They said it all started when the parties were moving a refrigerator and an argument escalated into physical violence. According to the report, the men were outside the home and both the women and children were inside when deputies arrived on scene. They contacted the men, interviewed all parties and placed a 23-year-old man into custody. On the way to the Josephine County Jail, the suspect was able to flip the handcuffs to the front of his body so deputies stopped and readjusted the cuffs. The man was lodged in jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/13/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed GP Woman for Taking Neighbor's Dog & Threatening to Kill It

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Grants Pass woman after she took a neighbor's dog and threatened to kill it because it was barking. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the animal incident at a home in the 300-block of NE Josephine Street on Saturday shortly after 2 p.m.. Deputies said the owner of the dog called 9-1-1 to report that their intoxicated female neighbor stole the dog out of their yard, telling the owner that she would kill the animal if she heard it barking again. The owner -- who claimed their dog was being tortured -- was able to regain possession of their animal before calling the police. Deputies arrived on scene, interviewed both parties and placed 64-year-old Devonne Dranae Hanson into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft and was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/13/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh