KRRM - Local News

OHA Warns Residents that Hot Conditions Can Lead to Heat-Related Illnesses

As summer reaches its peak -- and with a hazardous heat advisory in effect -- the Oregon Health Authority encourages people to avoid activities that could lead to heat stroke and heat exhaustion. OHA officials said older adults, infants and children, people who live or work outdoors, and people with chronic medical conditions are most vulnerable to the impacts of high temperatures. OHA offers several tips for staying safe and healthy during extreme heat. They include staying in air-conditioned places if possible and limiting sun exposure during the hottest parts of the day. Schedule outdoor activities in the early morning or late evening. Use portable fans to bring in cooler air and push warmer air out of rooms and spaces, but don't use portable fans as the primary cooling source if indoor temps are above 90 degrees. People who don't have air conditioners can find cooler indoor air with family or friends, or at designated cooling centers, if available. Use cool compresses, misting, cool showers and baths, and wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working outside. Avoid alcohol or liquids with large amounts of sugar or caffeine.

Posted on 8/11/25 6:07AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Council Approved Grants for 2 New Urban Renewal Projects Across Town

Acting as the Urban Renewal Agency Board, the Grants Pass City Council last week approved two grants for urban renewal projects. The first was a Building Restoration and Rehabilitation Grant of $50,000 to support the installation of fire suppression equipment in the building that will become the Ivy School and Children's Museum of Southern Oregon. The project will expand the availability of child care and support workforce development in the SW 4th Street building that formerly housed Dutch Bros headquarters. The second was a Public Infrastructure and Underdeveloped Land Grant of $144,522 to support the expansion of Magazine Exchange and public infrastructure in the Spalding Industrial Park. This project will support business expansion, add jobs to a local distribution firm, make available additional industrial space, and extend water, sewer and transportation infrastructure to vacant industrial lands on the east side of the city.

Posted on 8/11/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh

US Forest Service Firefighters Responded to Small Wildfire near Willow Lake

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest responded to a new fire near Butte Falls this morning. The US Forest Service reports the Juniper Fire is located on the east side of Willow Lake. Arriving units found an estimated one-acre blaze. Two hand crews, two engines, a water tender and two helicopters were engaged in suppression efforts as well as a fixed-wing air attack plane to provide coordination and reconnaissance. Officials said the cause of the fire was undetermined and under investigation.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:35AM by Sam Marsh

Five People Hurt after Separate Crashes in Grants Pass & North Valley Areas

A total of five people were injured in two separate motor vehicle accidents in the Grants Pass and North Valley areas late yesterday. On Thursday at 5:44 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision near the intersection of New Hope and Lonnon roads. Rural Metro officials said four occupants of the vehicles sustained undisclosed injuries and were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. They said the crash caused a widespread power outage due to damage to a utility pole. Pacific Power crews were still working on repairs at 10 p.m.. On Thursday at 7:16 p.m., Rural Metro, AMR and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 7900-block of Monument Drive. Officials said one of the drivers was transported to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The other driver was not hurt. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the wreck.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:34AM by Sam Marsh

GP Teen and Passenger Escaped Injury in Interstate 5 Crash Just East of City

A Grants Pass teenager and his passenger escaped injury when their vehicle veered off Interstate 5 and crashed just east of the city late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 54 on Thursday at 6:21 p.m.. State troopers said their investigation indicated an 18-year-old Grants Pass man was driving a Saturn SL while using "whippets" when he lost control of the car, swerved off the freeway and crashed into the bushes along the shoulder. Neither the driver nor his 19-year-old female passenger from Wolf Creek were injured, but the car sustained heavy front-end damage and had to be towed. According to OSP, an impaired driving investigation was unable to be conducted on the young motorist -- but the driver was cited for Failure to Report a Collision to Police.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Pair for Drug Possession in Patrol Check off Highway 199

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession during a patrol check in the south part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 60-year-old James Patrick Redden and 38-year-old Anna Marie Rose Newell in a vehicle parked behind a used car dealership in the 600-block of Redwood Highway on Thursday morning. Police said Redden had burnt tin foil and a glass smoking device visible in his lap that he was attempting to hide. He was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Fentanyl Possession. Newell exited the vehicle, claimed the drug paraphernalia was hers and dropped a container with fentanyl residue. She was found to be in possession of cash and a baggy that contained about three grams of the dangerous narcotic depressant. She was also lodged in jail for Fentanyl Possession. A Fentanyl Delivery charge against Newell was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. Her vehicle was left with an acquaintance.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Trying to Swindle Walmart Out of Merchandise

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attempting to swindle Walmart out of merchandise late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Thursday around 6:15 p.m.. Police said Walmart surveillance showed 32-year-old Favian Corral-Rojo skip-scanning items at the self-check-out by stacking them on top of each other. The suspect deprived the store of $29.53 in merchandise before he was confronted by loss prevention. According to the report, Corral-Rojo and his brother were detained and both refused to speak English even though they were heard speaking it earlier. The brother was released after he denied any knowledge of what was happening. Corral-Rojo was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. Due to his uncooperative behavior, he was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Trespassed Woman for Returning to Downtown Rest Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for returning to a downtown resting site from which she had been trespassed early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 42-year-old Rachel Annette Beeman at the 6th and A Street homeless encampment on Thursday at 8:47 a.m.. Police said Beeman returned to the resting site after she was excluded from the site for 30 days just two days earlier. She was placed into custody without incident. Beeman was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and her case was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

Posted on 8/8/25 10:27AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Snared Merlin Man for Outstanding Warrant after Interstate 5 Stop in GP

The Oregon State Police arrested a Merlin man on an outstanding warrant after an Interstate 5 traffic stop in Grants Pass yesterday. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet pickup driven by 40-year-old Joshua John Brower in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 56 on Thursday at 1:48 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Brower for traffic violations, quickly discovered that he was wanted on a Douglas County warrant for 2nd-Degree Theft and detained him. Brower was eventually cited to appear in court and released. He was also warned for the traffic violations.

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

Fire Agencies and Stakeholders Toured Pacific Power Wildfire Intelligence Center

Several local fire agencies and other key community stakeholders participated in an insightful and interactive tour of the Pacific Power Wildfire Intelligence Center this week. Hosted in Medford, this event brought together public safety agencies and local media to highlight how Pacific Power's technology-driven approach is enhancing wildfire preparedness and response. The Pacific Power Wildfire Intelligence Center is staffed by a dedicated team that has already monitored over 1,300 wildfire events this season. Proactive efforts have improved real-time situational awareness, reduced the frequency of emergency power shutoffs, and strengthened communication between utilities, emergency responders and the public. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue attended the event with its partners at Rural Metro Fire Department, Williams Rural Fire Protection District, Jackson County Fire District #3, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Josephine County Emergency Management, Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon and others. Officials said they are grateful for the opportunity to see firsthand how innovation and collaboration are making a meaningful impact on community safety during wildfire season.

Posted on 8/8/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Returning to Scene of Incident

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man this week for violating a court order by returning to the scene of a crime he committed the day before. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Logan Tyler Hunt for the incident in the 4,000-block of New Hope Road on Wednesday night. Hunt had been arrested on Tuesday for intentionally pouring pink nail polish on his roommate's motorcycle and causing about $2,000 in damage to the bike. He was arrested for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and lodged in jail. Deputies said Hunt returned to the residence after his release and was in violation of a no-contact order obtained by the victim after Hunt was arrested. The victim called 9-1-1 to report his now former roommate was there. The caller also stated that the suspect attacked him with a golf club in addition to vandalizing his bike. Hunt was placed into custody and lodged in jail again -- this time for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/8/25 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Frequent Flyer for Probation Violation after Beauty Salon Call

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known offender for violating his probation by harassing a beauty shop employee this week while highly intoxicated. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 45-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles at Shear Bliss Studio on NW 6th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a female employee of the salon called 9-1-1 to report that Knowles appeared to be intoxicated while fighting with himself, grabbing at the air and pulling on the door of the business. The caller said she was alone and had locked the door, but the man kept pulling on the door while pacing back and forth. Officers arrived on scene and found Knowles to be highly intoxicated by alcohol, which is a direct violation of his probation for alleged crimes including Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Methamphetamine Possession and Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. Knowles was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 8/8/25 6:37AM by Sam Marsh