KRRM - Local News

Truck Driver Reports Mechanical Issues Led to Small Fire off Greens Creek Road

The driver of a pickup called the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center to report mechanical issues that led to a weekend fire on a BLM Road east of the city. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the incident on a BLM Road off the end of Greens Creek Road on Saturday at about 4:20 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said crews were able to access the location and extinguish the vehicle as well as an estimated one-quarter-acre spread to nearby vegetation. Both ground and air units were engaged in an aggressive attack to stop the blaze from escaping into the surrounding wildland. ODF officials said current "high" fire danger in southwest Oregon requires those traveling through forestland to carry firefighting equipment including one shovel and either one gallon of water or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:08AM by Sam Marsh

GP 911 Communications Center Fielded Over 1,200 Emergency Calls Last Week

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded more than 1,200 emergency calls in the week leading up to Independence Day. From June 26th through July 2nd, the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center reported a total of 1,224 emergency calls that were directed to local first responders. The Grants Pass Police Department received by far the most emergency calls with 797, followed by American Medical Response with 310 and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue with 89. Rural Metro Fire Department received 43 calls, the Illinois Valley Fire District received 27, the Oregon Department of Forestry received 22, Williams Fire & Rescue received seven and the Wolf Creek Fire Department got three. In addition to the emergency calls received last week, dispatchers received a total of 399 internal phone calls and they made 569 outbound calls. Calls related to Independence Day fireworks complaints will be included in the report that is released later this week.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:07AM by Sam Marsh

State DFR Agency Encourages Oregonians to Prepare for Active 2025 Wildfire Season

With hotter and drier conditions arriving early this year, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is urging residents to prepare for an active 2025 fire season. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, fire activity has increased gradually since May, droughts have intensified in the Pacific Northwest and several significant fires have broken out recently. In the 2020s alone, Oregon wildfires have caused nearly $3 billion in estimated losses, which is more than the previous four decades combined. The National Interagency Fire Center anticipates that in July, August and September, most of Oregon will be above normal in its fire activity. DFR has created a disaster toolkit on its website, which includes how to financially prepare for wildfire season, wildfire preparedness for your home and evacuation tips. To save time, money and stress, visit "dfr.oregon.gov/preparenow." DFR also has a webpage dedicated to wildfire insurance resources. One area that often gets overlooked is how to make your home as fireproof as possible by creating defensible space by removing dry leaves, dead brush, debris and pine needles from yards and gutters. Trim trees away from your home, barns and sheds, and place screens over open vents on homes. These tasks reduce the fuels that enable wildfires to spread and give firefighters more time to slow the blaze.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh

BLM Oregon Timber Sales Bring In Over $5.7 Million in Medford and NW Districts

The Bureau of Land Management sold 19.2 million board feet of timber across 772 public acres for more than $5.7 million between three sales in western Oregon. These sales will produce enough timber to build roughly 1,200 homes, feed local mills and support jobs in Oregon communities. The Medford BLM District sold 2.2 million board feet of timber across 110 acres in the Salt Creek Salvage Sale to Swanson Group of Glendale for $101,504. The project will remove fire-damaged trees along publicly accessible BLM roads. The NW Oregon BLM District sold 2.2 million board feet of timber across 345 acres in the Farm Team Timber Sale to Feres Lumber Company of Lyons for about $2.1 million. The district also sold 8.4 million board feet of timber across 317 acres in the Brushback Timber Sale to Sierra Pacific Industries of Eugene for about $3.5 million. In western Oregon, the BLM manages 2.4 million acres of some of the most productive forests in the world and is committed to supplying a reliable, secure and resilient domestic supply of timber. Each year, the BLM Oregon-Washington Forestry Program sales support approximately 2,000 local jobs and generate more than $1 billion for local economies.

Posted on 7/7/25 5:58AM by Sam Marsh

Rural Metro Officials Thank Residents for Responsible Use of Fireworks on July 4th

Rural Metro Fire Department is thanking Josephine County residents who were mostly responsible with fireworks during their Independence Day celebrations. Rural Metro officials said only a few fires were reported in and around the greater Grants Pass area on Friday night, all of which remained small and were quickly put out by firefighters or good Samaritans. Two visually spectacular fires were reported due to their proximity to large crowds gathered at the Allen Creek Shopping Center and Williams Highway Plaza, but no injuries were reported and no structures were damaged when sparks lit blackberries and brush. Fire officials extend their appreciation to everyone who remained responsible with their fireworks usage this year and to those who were properly prepared with the means to extinguish small ignitions. Firefighters from local agencies asked that leftover fireworks be stowed away and saved for New Year's Eve celebrations. The summer wildfire season is just starting with conditions only getting hotter and drier.

Posted on 7/7/25 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Jailed Man for Beating Up and Strangling His Wife at Motel

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for beating up and strangling his wife at a north-city motel late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Thursday around 4 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband -- 38-year-old James Robert Kettles -- subjected her to numerous punches to her face and body, causing physical injury. When she failed to follow his orders to go into the bathroom, he shoved his hand and fingers into her throat, temporarily obstructing her breathing. Kettles' wife called for help after her husband left the motel in a Ford pickup. He was located by officers at the south Les Schwab Tire Center. A pinch maneuver stopped the suspect vehicle at Ringuette Street and Redwood Highway. He was placed into custody with assistance from K-9 "Kick." GPPD discovered that Kettles was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation and a Sutherlin Police Department warrant for an unspecified crime. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the two warrants plus new charges of Felony Coercion, 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Strangulation and Driving While Suspended. Kettles was being held on a no-bail detainer and his pickup was impounded.

Posted on 7/4/25 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Obstructing Traffic on 6th Street near City Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a disturbance and obstructing traffic at and near a city park late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the call involving 38-year-old Vanessa Kaye Schutt at Kesterson Park on NE Evelyn Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said Schutt was involved in a physical disturbance at the park in which she was screaming and pushing other people around. They said she ran into the street, slowing a state trooper who was responding to a wildfire on Hayes Hill by making him swerve around her. She reportedly screamed at the trooper as well. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Schutt and placed her into custody. She was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail. She was also warned for her actions at the city park.

Posted on 7/4/25 11:06AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man for Obstructing Traffic near Rogue Community College

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for obstructing traffic near Rogue Community College last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident involving 39-year-old Daniel Kyle Clark in the 2100-block of Demaray Drive shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday. Deputies said they received multiple reports of a highly-intoxicated male subject who was stumbling while walking in the roadway. Callers reported the man was nearly hit by several vehicles and he laid down in the road on at least one occasion. One citizen stopped to talk to Clark and he reportedly stated that he was "looking for Selma." Clark was eventually located by deputies and placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and being held without bail.

Posted on 7/4/25 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Vehicle Crash in Merlin

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle in Merlin early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 400-block of Merlin Road right after 7 a.m. Thursday. Deputies said an investigation determined that 70-year-old Ronald Lee Rathjen was driving a Honda while exiting the town when he went off the roadway into a ditch and kept driving until he got to Merlin Community Park. Witnesses said the Honda was all over the road before the crash and Rathjen told deputies he thought he fell asleep at the wheel. He showed multiple signs of impairment, performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. Rathjen was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle -- which sustained minor damage -- was impounded.

Posted on 7/4/25 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

Rural Metro & ODF Crews Douse Truck Fire on Problem Property North of GP

Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry were tasked with extinguishing a fire under an overturned and abandoned truck full of trash at a problem property in the North Valley area last night. On Thursday at 6:45 p.m., Rural Metro and ODF crews responded to the incident in the 1,000-block of Plumtree Lane. Rural Metro officials said firefighters had to use the "Jaws of Life" to cut away parts of the vehicle to reach the flames. They said evidence of auto dismantling was observed on the property. Spread to adjacent vegetation was minimal. The property -- often littered with multiple abandoned vehicles, RVs, appliances and miscellaneous debris piles -- has been the site of similar occurrences before, raising significant neighborhood concerns. Officials said paperwork from the follow-up investigation into the incident has been added to the ongoing case led by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Posted on 7/4/25 11:01AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Parks Workers Busy Sprucing Up and Maintaining City Facilities

Grants Pass parks workers have been busy sprucing up and maintaining city facilities. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, parks staff were busy clearing trails of tall grass and blackberries while trimming trees throughout the system last week. Crews also completed several repairs and upgrades including fixing a fountain and installing bark at the circle near the playground at Reinhart Volunteer Park as well as making significant improvements including plumbing repairs, painting and replacing damaged door vents with a tougher, vandal-resistant style. The City recently acquired a new piece of equipment that efficiently clears and removes small and unwanted debris from the artificial turf on Matti Field at the All Sports Park, which will help maintain a clean and safe playing surface. Two new benches were installed at Redwood Park to provide additional seating for parents and caregivers near the popular playground. The benches were added in direct response to recent feedback requesting more seating at the playground.

Posted on 7/4/25 9:03AM by Sam Marsh

GP Broadcasting Corrects Mistake Made in February 24th Drug Bust News Story

The Grants Pass Broadcasting Corporation would like to correct a mistake made in a news story that was published on February 24th of this year. In the story, it was correctly reported that Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) arrested two people including 40-year-old Trisha Ann Marry Merk in two separate locations on February 21st. It was incorrectly reported that Merk was found to be in possession of nearly 14 pounds of methamphetamine along with digital scales, a drug ledger, $6,320 in cash and eight firearms on Frederick Court in Cave Junction. She was actually found to be in possession of 13.2 grams of meth, which is a large discrepancy. The Cave Junction resident was formally charged with possessing that amount by the Josephine County District Attorney's Office. The GP Broadcasting Company regrets the inaccuracy in the amount of narcotics seized and apologizes to Merk for the error.

Posted on 7/4/25 7:33AM by Sam Marsh