KRRM - Local News

Board of Commissioners to Hold 4 Public Hearings during Business Meeting

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold four public hearings during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The public hearings are on the first reading of ordinances related to the payment of attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and designation of certain county lands for sanitary landfills. Second readings are set for September 4th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an order outlining general fund appropriations in the general fund departments. Appropriations of general fund money within departments would be treated as a not-to-exceed appropriation. General fund departments would watch both their spending appropriation as well as their revenues in the same fashion that all other county departments operate. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, members of the public are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. The Board will open the session with a Chamber of Commerce presentation on the 2024 Lemonade Day event. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 8/20/24 1:12PM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed IV Man for Probation Violation during Wallet Theft Investigation

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man for violating his probation late yesterday during a theft investigation. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 46-year-old male subject at a Cave Junction area transient camp on Monday at 4:06 p.m.. Deputies said a Brookings man called 9-1-1 to report that his wallet had been stolen by a male transient at the 76 gas station in Cave Junction and that his bank notified him that three transactions at Li'l Pantry Market & Deli were attempted but denied. The caller said his wallet contained personal and military identification cards, plus social security and multiple credit cards. Based on the suspect description and video surveillance at the convenience store, deputies determined the suspect might be a man they identified as "Joseph David Ainsworth." When contacted at the transient camp, the suspect denied the crime. His corrections officer was contacted and requested that he be placed into custody. Ainsworth was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held without bail. An investigation into the theft case was continuing.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Shoplifting Suspects in Separate Incidents at Goodwill Store

Grants Pass Police arrested two shoplifting suspects at Southern Oregon Goodwill in separate incidents with much different outcomes last night. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred at the store in the Grants Pass Shopping Center on Monday at 6:54 p.m.. Police said a 38-year-old man concealed over $400 in stolen merchandise into several bags and on his person. He tried to leave by passing all points of sale and when loss prevention contacted him, he used physical force in an attempt to retain the stolen items. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery and 2nd-Degree Theft. On Monday at 7:32 p.m., officers were alerted to another shoplifting complaint at Southern Oregon Goodwill. Officers said a 41-year-old woman selected a pair of $14 shoes, placing them on her feet and concealing her old shoes in a shopping cart. She then placed her old shoes on a rack and passed all points of sale while wearing the stolen shoes before she was stopped by loss prevention. She was lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

State Troopers Jailed Suspect for Road Rage Incidents on Grants Pass Parkway

The Oregon State Police jailed a suspect for alleged road rage incidents on the Grants Pass Parkway late yesterday. According to OSP, troopers responded to the reported incident on the Parkway near NE Agness Avenue on Monday at 4:47 p.m.. Troopers said were alerted to a male subject driving a Jeep Wrangler who was brandishing a firearm at other motorists. One of the victims called 9-1-1 and directed law enforcement to the suspect. The 46-year-old suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail. The Jeep was turned over to his passenger who was identified as a 40-year-old Rogue River woman.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Jailed GP Man on Active Felony Warrant after Redwood Highway Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on an active felony warrant after a Redwood Highway traffic stop in the southwest part of the city yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Caravan driven by a 31-year-old male subject near the intersection of US Highway 199 and Redwood Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. Troopers said they stopped the minivan for traffic violations and quickly learned that the driver was wanted on a local warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His van was left with a 25-year-old female passenger.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

Two IV Men Snared for DUII after Monday Motorcycle Crash on Caves Highway

Two Illinois Valley men were arrested for impaired riding last night after one of them crashed a motorcycle and the other rode it to a nearby residence. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 6 of Caves Highway on Monday at 7:42 p.m.. Troopers said the 47-year-old operator of a Kawasaki KLR 650 failed to negotiate a corner and crashed. His passenger -- a 23-year-old man with the exact same name -- rode the motorcycle back onto the road and to a residence where it was parked. According to OSP, both riders were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both riders also displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The motorcyclists were subsequently charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The older of the two was also charged with Reckless Endangering. They were cited to appear in court and released to hospital staff.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD Crews Responded to 2 Motor Vehicle Accidents in CJ Area Late Monday

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to two motor vehicle accidents late yesterday. On Monday at 3:50 p.m., IVFD and American Medical Response were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash in the 100-block of North Redwood Highway in downtown Cave Junction. The incident was initially reported as a hit-and-run, but the driver of the vehicle that two parked vehicles returned to the scene. The driver was examined by AMR while the other vehicle owners arranged for tows. On Monday at 7:37 p.m., IVFD, AMR and the Oregon State Police rushed to a motorcycle accident near milepost 6 of Caves Highway. Arriving units found two people had been tossed off a motorcycle. They were transported by AMR to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries. OSP was investigating the cause of the crash.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Three Campers for Ordinance Violations in Two City Parks

Grants Pass Police evicted three campers for committing ordinance violations in two city parks on Monday. At Kesterson Park, a man and woman had been contacted on August 17th about their tent being set up in a buffer zone. They had still not moved their tent when contacted yesterday so they were cited for Buffer Zone Violation. Both were trespassed from the park on NE Evelyn Avenue for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, a woman was cited for Misuse of Open Space and she was issued a 30-day exclusion from the facility on Rogue River Highway. A man was also cited for Scattering Rubbish, but he was not trespassed.

Posted on 8/20/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

Talent Woman Killed Saturday in 3-Vehicle Collision on Interstate 5 near Gold Hill

A Talent woman was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 5 near Gold Hill last weekend. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the three-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 38 on Saturday at about 10 a.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a Toyota Corolla driven by 73-year-old Susan Dale O'Connell of Talent was traveling in the slow lane of the freeway when it abruptly slowed and turned left in front of a Ford F-350 pickup traveling in the fast lane. According to OSP, the driver of the Ford -- 49-year-old Jeffrey Scott Trouslot of Klamath Falls -- was unable to avoid the collision and struck the driver-side door of the Toyota. As a result of the impact, the front passenger tire of the Ford came loose and rolled northbound on I-5 before striking a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 44-year-old Sergio Cervantes Valencia of Turlock, California, on the driver-side. Susan O'Connell was declared deceased at the scene. No one else was injured. Jackson County Fire District #3, Mercy Flights and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted OSP at the fatal crash scene.

Posted on 8/20/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Motorcyclist Hurt after Riverbanks Road Crash during Heavy Weekend Downpour

A motorcyclist was injured when he crashed his bike on Riverbanks Road during a heavy weekend downpour. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 20 of State Route 260 on Saturday at 11:48 a.m.. Troopers said the 38-year-old male rider of a Honda motorcycle went off the roadway and crashed. They said the rider was transported by ground ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with a leg fracture. The damaged motorcycle was hauled away by Three Boys Towing.

Posted on 8/20/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman for Unlawfully Entering Apartment & Assaulting People

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for her aggressive behavior when she broke into an apartment and starting assaulting people last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 31-year-old female subject for the incident in the 1800-block of NE Fairview Avenue on Sunday at 1:33 p.m.. Police said a resident of the apartment reported the subject unlawfully entered the unit and started hitting everyone. No one was seriously injured, but the resident wanted to pursue charges for assault and property damage. An investigation determined the subject entered the apartment and punched the resident, leaving a scratch mark. Multiple personal items were knocked over and scattered during the incident, causing substantial inconvenience for the resident. According to the report, the victim supplied video footage of the incident to police. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Physical Harassment and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail and she was trespassed from the apartment.

Posted on 8/20/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Causing Disturbance at Flespy's Bar & Grill

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for causing a disturbance at a southeast-city watering hole last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Flespy's Bar & Grill in the 600-block of Rogue River Highway around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Police said a 36-year-old female subject was kicking the windows and door on the front of the business, causing two calls for service and a crowd to form at the bar to observe her alarming behavior. No one was hurt and damage was minimal. Officers arrived on scene and placed the woman into custody. During a consent search of her belongings, a plastic bag containing a small amount of a white substance was discovered. It was determined to be fentanyl and it was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the narcotics violation. She was also trespassed from Flespy's.

Posted on 8/20/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh