KRRM - Local News

National Weather Service Posts Excessive Heat Watch for SW Oregon and NW California

The National Weather Service has posted an Excessive Heat Watch for most of southwest Oregon and northern California starting on Independence Day. According to an Urgent Weather Message, the Excessive Heat Watch will be in effect from Thursday morning through Sunday evening in Josephine, Jackson, central Douglas, eastern Curry and Siskiyou counties. Nearly every city in the region will be affected by the extreme heat including Grants Pass, Medford, Ashland, Cave Junction, Merlin and Rogue River. Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures between 100 and 115 degrees, with low temperatures in the 60s are expected through next weekend. Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events. NWS officials say residents should drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Local residents should monitor the latest weather forecasts for updates including if the Excessive Heat Watch becomes an Excessive Heat Warning.

Posted on 7/2/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh

Evacuation Levels Canceled Due to Successful Efforts on Upper Applegate Fire

All evacuation levels are canceled for the Upper Applegate Fire due to successful firefighting efforts over the last few days. The Oregon Department of Forestry reported this morning that the final size of the wildfire will be 1,143 acres, with the fire completely encircled by direct line. Mop-up last night reached 300 feet into the interior of the blaze in some area, upping the mop-up percentage to 35%. Around 300 personnel are assigned to the wildfire today including 11 20-person hand crews backed by six engines, three water tenders and five tree-fallers. The number of aircraft assigned remains the same as Sunday's fleet, with two Type 2 helicopters for water bucket drops and one Type 3 helicopter operating as an air attack platform. A scaled-down Type 4 incident management team led by the BLM will be taking command of the fire tomorrow morning. The new team is shadowing the current organization for a full shift today to ensure a smooth transition. Key personnel -- including the incident commander -- have been working for the past two days. Firefighters on the new team will continue to mop up and conduct suppression repairs. However, ODF officials said even when this work is completed, smoke may be seen within the fire perimeter for several more weeks or even months. They said ODF and the Applegate Valley Fire District are always ready to respond. According to ODF Southwest, this will be the final update on the Upper Applegate Fire unless there is a significant change in conditions.

Posted on 7/1/24 12:55PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Fugitive Wanted on Statewide Felony Warrant at Mini Pet Mart

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old male subject behind Mini Pet Mart on Rogue River Highway on Saturday at 3:46 p.m.. Police said the man they identified as 32-year-old Aliczandr Mikal McClymonds was wanted on an Oregon state warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a past robbery conviction. They spotted him during a routine patrol check. Officers said McClymonds attempted to hide in the bushes behind Mini Pet Mart, but he was located due to the bushes moving around and the crunching noises he made while hiding. He was placed into custody without further incident. McClymonds was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/1/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man for Probation Violation after He Left TRMC without Care

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating terms of his probation after he left Three Rivers Medical Center without receiving care for an injury he sustained in a weekend fall. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving the 36-year-old man at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Saturday around 5:30 p.m.. Police said they had contacted the man regarding a welfare check at Tussing Park earlier in the day and discovered that he had fallen and suffered severe injuries. His corrections officers was contacted and requested that he be placed on a detainer. The corrections client was transported to the hospital for treatment, but he left the facility without receiving medical care. The man was located back at Tussing Park and placed into custody. He was taken back to the hospital where he received medical clearance before being lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

Posted on 7/1/24 11:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Causing Disruption at Park during Kids' Event

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a disruption at Riverside Park during a weekend children's event. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at the city park on Saturday shortly before 1 p.m.. Police said a caller reported the female subject was bathing herself in the sink of the public restroom near the upper gazebo. They said the woman was screaming at any person or child that came into the restroom while ruining the kids' event. According to the report, the 42-year-old woman had been warned for trespassing at Riverside Park on June 24th, but she returned to the park and engaged in disorderly conduct. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail and her trespass warning was updated to Saturday's date. Her personal property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 7/1/24 11:01AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man Wanted on Felony Warrant at Cave Junction Business

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted on a local felony warrant during a weekend patrol check in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies spotted the 45-year-old male subject sitting in front of Priority Fitness in Cave Junction on Saturday at 12:50 p.m.. Deputies said they knew the man was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Felony Probation Violation related to an original charge of 1st-Degree Arson. He was detained until dispatch confirmed the warrant. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $250,000 bail. He was also trespassed from the fitness center.

Posted on 7/1/24 10:59AM by Sam Marsh

Weekend Road Rage Incident in South Grants Pass Landed Motorist in Jail

A weekend road rage incident in south Grants Pass landed a motorist behind bars. Grants Pass Police responded to the traffic complaint that occurred near the corner of Williams Highway and West Harbeck Road on Friday at about 8:55 p.m.. Police said multiple residents called in the incident involving a blue Toyota pickup which appeared to be rear-ending another vehicle and swerving in his lane. One witness told dispatchers that the driver of the truck drove in the oncoming lane on West Harbeck while yelling at the vehicle in front of him and endangering other drivers. According to the report, witnesses maintained contact with the suspect vehicle and followed it to McDonalds in the Allen Creek Shopping Center. Responding police officers contacted the 23-year-old male driver in the drive-thru and placed him into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail and his pickup was towed for blocking traffic.

Posted on 7/1/24 10:58AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving after NW B Street Incident

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for drugged driving following a weekend incident in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a traffic complaint in the 900-block of NW B Street on Saturday around 9:45 p.m.. Police said a caller told dispatchers that her neighbor left the area while driving under the influence of narcotics. She said the 36-year-old man came to her house and asked to borrow her phone to make a call. The male subject had a phone with him, but he told her he couldn't log in to it. She said he also asked her some "odd" questions and appeared to be impaired when he drove away. Responding officers located the suspect's large white Dodge truck and pulled it over on NW 3rd Street between H and G streets. They discovered that his driver's license was suspended. He also displayed indicators of impairment and he admitted to recent methamphetamine use. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, a drug recognition evaluation was performed and the suspect was placed into custody. He was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Driving While Suspended and Probation Violation related to past arrests for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 7/1/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD & ODF Crews Extinguished Illegal Open Burn on Hummingbird in CJ

We're one month into the 2024 fire season and some people still have not gotten the message that all outdoor debris burning is prohibited. On Saturday at 6:09 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to an illegal open burn on Hummingbird Lane in Cave Junction. IVFD officials said the small fire that contained illegal materials was extinguished in short order and a written warning was issued. Remember, there is no outdoor burning allowed anywhere in southwest Oregon including the Illinois Valley.

Posted on 7/1/24 10:56AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Investigating Collision that Claimed Life of Pedestrian near Ashland

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash after a pedestrian was struck and killed over the weekend outside Ashland. The Sheriff's Office reports ECSO Dispatch received a call on Saturday at 9:35 p.m. regarding a pedestrian injured and the suspect vehicle still at the scene in the 500-block of South Valley View Road. Deputies, Ashland police officers and an Ashland Fire-Rescue ambulance rushed to the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Next of kin has been notified. The victim was identified as 50-year-old Mark David Langille of New Mexico. The Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team and Medical Examiner detectives responded to assist with the investigation. The driver of the suspect minivan was placed into custody and a search warrant for a blood draw was granted. Potential charges for the suspect are pending further investigation, toxicology reports and a mechanical inspection of the vehicle. The suspect's name will be released if and when charges are filed.

Posted on 7/1/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Evacuation Levels Canceled Due to Successful Efforts on Upper Applegate Fire

All evacuation levels are canceled for the Upper Applegate Fire due to successful firefighting efforts over the last few days. The Oregon Department of Forestry did not include statistics in its daily report on Sunday, but the wildfire was 1,124 acres with 85% containment, according to the Watch Duty App. ODF did report the wildfire located south of Ruch is continuing to be held strong by firefighters working the incident. Officials said all lines remained intact since Friday, which is a testament to the work that has been put in on this fire. This work continued during Sunday's day shift as well as identifying where suppression repair is needed and what hazards still exist near those areas. On Sunday, 380 personnel were assigned to the fire including 13 20-person hand crews backed by five engines, three bulldozers and eight water tenders. Two Type 2 helicopters remain assigned to the incident as well as one Type 3 helicopter. It is not expected that ordering additional aircraft will be necessary. Due to the progress on this wildfire, a smaller Type 4 incident management team led by the BLM will be taking command on Tuesday morning. Today, the team will shadow the current organization for a full day to ensure a smooth transition.

Posted on 7/1/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

Oregon Boaters Reminded of State Laws Defining Duties after Water Incidents

The Oregon State Marine Board wanted to remind boaters that it's state law to help and render aid in cases where another boat is swamped, capsizes or is involved in another incident with property damage or personal injury. Marine Board officials say it's also about being a "good neighbor" on the water. By Oregon statute, failure to fulfill the duties of the boat operator could result in a Class A misdemeanor citation. In cases where the boat operator leaves the scene of a boat accident where there is personal injury or death, the boater may be charged with a Class C felony. Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Coordinator for the Marine Board, said boaters need to pay close attention to other people recreating on the water around them. In many cases, he said everyday boaters become heroes when others go overboard, helping avert further tragedy. Oregon's waterways are increasingly congested, but everyone has the same right to recreate. Please be mindful and remember to share the waterway while recreating responsibly.

Posted on 7/1/24 6:21AM by Sam Marsh