KRRM - Local News

Southern Oregon "Top 10" Adult and Student Leaders Received Honors and Recognition

Southern Oregon gathered last week to celebrate excellence in leadership at the "Top 10 Emerging Leader and Student Leader Awards Gala at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford. This year's event honored 10 outstanding leaders and four exceptional student leaders from across the region for their demonstrated excellence and dedication to community betterment. The honorees were formally recognized by local and national officials including US Congressman Cliff Bentz, State Senator Jeff Golden and Jackson County Commissioner Colleen Roberts. The 2025 cohort exemplifies leadership and a deep commitment to social responsibility. In a powerful partnership with The Salvation Army, the honorees raised over $100,000 in just 10 weeks to support efforts addressing homelessness and food insecurity -- making a big impact on vulnerable community members.

Posted on 6/27/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Suspect for Domestic Violence against Girlfriend and Children

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for committing domestic violence against his girlfriend and her two children at a southwest city home early today. The Police Department reports officers arrested 50-year-old Wayne Anthony Overton for the incident on SW Heather Drive at 2:01 this morning. Police said a juvenile caller reported Overton and their mother were in a verbal argument which escalated when the woman told Overton he needed to leave. The caller said the man pushed their mother against the wall and called her names. An investigation determined that Overton placed the victim in fear of imminent physical injury by placing his hand on her head and pushing her into the wall. Both the victim's son and daughter witnessed the incident and tried to get him to stop, but the children were also pushed by the suspect. According to the report, Overton also took the victim's phone and kept it from her. Overton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing, two counts of Harassment and Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Frequent Flyer for Indecent + Disruptive Downtown Behavior

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for indecent and disruptive behavior in the downtown area last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 38-year-old Kelcey Edwin Cummings near the corner of SE 6th and G streets on Wednesday at 8:13 p.m.. Police said they initially contacted Cummings regarding a report that he had his pants down and was exposing himself near GPPD headquarters on 6th Street. The suspect fled the area on his bicycle toward the downtown area and then fell, but got up and kept going. Cummings reportedly rode his bike in circles at the intersection of NE 6th and F streets, creating a hazard for motorists. He was advised that he was under arrest in PA announcements, but continued to flee before he was placed into custody. He was said to be "highly intoxicated." Cummings was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest plus the resulting Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Causing Violent Disturbance at Downtown Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a disturbance at a downtown business yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 55-year-old Lisa Ann Jones-Stearns at the St. Vincent de Paul store on SE H Street on Wednesday around 12:35 p.m.. Police said Jones-Stearns caused public alarm and annoyance at the business by throwing items and acting in a violent and tumultuous manner. Witnesses reported that she was throwing drinks and trying to hit people before fleeing the scene. Officers located Jones-Stearns at the downtown Safeway and placed her into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Apprehended IV Man Wanted on Statewide Warrant in Cave Junction

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended an Illinois Valley man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in Cave Junction yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 54-year-old Michael Jason Phillips in the 200-block of Caves Highway on Wednesday at 2:47 p.m.. Deputies said they were looking for Phillips who was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from convictions for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and an unspecified traffic offense. He was placed into custody without incident. After the warrant was confirmed, Phillips was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Old and New Drug Crimes at Homeless Camp Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug crimes at a downtown resting site last night. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 20-year-old Justis Ivan Cory at the 6th and A Street homeless encampment on Wednesday around 6:15 p.m.. Police said they observed Cory in the southwest corner of the resting site and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. They said a tin box containing a white crystal substance was located on the suspect. He admitted that it was meth and it was seized as evidence. Cory was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was also trespassed from the resting site for 30 days.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Jacksonville Woman for Impaired Driving after Highway 238 Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Jacksonville woman for impaired driving late last night after a traffic stop on Highway 238 between Grants Pass and Murphy. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Jaguar FPC driven by 35-year-old Sarah Suzanne Diemert near milepost 4 of Williams Highway on Thursday at 11:39 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Diemert for a traffic violation and she displayed signs of impairment. They said she performed poorly in field sobriety tests, but refused to provide a breath sample so she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. A Josephine County Judge granted the search warrant. Based on the results of the blood draw, Diemert was lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Her Jaguar was impounded.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Two Men for Ordinance Violations at Downtown Resting Sites

Grants Pass Police cited two people for city ordinance violations at downtown resting sites early yesterday. On Wednesday at 8:40 a.m., officers were performing a patrol check at the 712 NE 7th Street site when they cited Michael Gendernalik for Public Consumption of Alcohol. It was his first citation for the violation at that location. On Wednesday at 9:03 a.m., officers were performing a patrol check at the 704 NW 6th Street site when they cited Jeremy Nordstrom for Utilization of Space. It was his first citation for the violation at that location. Both men were warned that additional citations would result in 30-day exclusions.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Woman for Squatting in an Unsafe Building on NE 12th Street

Grants Pass Police cited a woman this week for squatting in an unsafe building in the northeast part of the city. GPPD officers said they observed a woman they identified as "Ashley Jennings" emerging from the residence in the 900-block of NE 12th Street on Tuesday morning and it was her second violation of an Unsafe to Occupy order. Jennings was cited for the building code violation, which carries a $495 fine. The ordinance violation was discovered when a neighbor reported tall grass and weeds on the property. The property owner was warned that the deadline for compliance is July 8th or they will be cited.

Posted on 6/26/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed IV Woman for Beating Up Man and Threatening Him with an Axe

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley woman for beating up a man and threatening him with an axe at a Selma area residence. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 39-year-old Jenny Rebecca Rose for the incident at a home in the 700-block of Thompson Creek Road on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said the victim's 17-year-old daughter called 9-1-1 to report that Rose hit her father with a double-headed axe during an altercation in which Rose was the aggressor. The caller said her father had a black eye and then stated the suspect did not hit him with the axe, but she swung it at him. He declined medical attention. Responding deputies contacted the victim at the Lakeshore Drive Grange Hall, interviewed him and photographed his injuries before placing Rose into custody. Rose was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Domestic Menacing. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/26/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Attacking Another Woman and Stealing Cans at Park

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking another woman at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Kelsie Coledean Bare for the incident at Kesterson Park on NE Evelyn Avenue on Tuesday morning. Police said the victim they identified as "Shannon Dendy" was confronted by Bare at her tent in the park because she owed $40 to Bare. An investigation determined that Bare punched the victim multiple times and caused physical injury while the suspect's dog also bit the victim on the leg. According to the report, Bare proceeded to steal three bags of cans worth about $25 from the victim without permission or the right to do so. The victim refused medical treatment and the suspect was placed into custody. Bare was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, 4th-Degree Assault and 3rd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail. Her daughter drove to Grants Pass from Medford to take possession of the dog along with her mother's personal belongings.

Posted on 6/26/25 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Frequent Flyer for Vandalizing Fence and Drug Possession

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for vandalizing a fence and possessing narcotics in a northeast city neighborhood this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a vandalism complaint at a residence in the 700-block of NE Savage Street on Tuesday evening. Police said 31-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder intentionally caused damage to the complainant's fence when she told him to stop sitting on it. They said he smashed it with his hands and broke the horizontal support beam before leaving on foot. Officers located Reeder near the corner of NE Mead and 9th streets where they found him to be in possession of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. It was seized for destruction. Reeder was booked into the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Meth Possession. Jail records show he was no longer in custody this morning.

Posted on 6/26/25 6:31AM by Sam Marsh