KRRM - Local News

JMET Task Force Puts Large Dent in Illegal Illinois Valley Marijuana Operations

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested three people while raiding three illegal cannabis growing operations in the Illinois Valley this week. On Wednesday, JMET served a search warrant in the 800-block of Greenview Road in Cave Junction. The search warrant was served with assistance from the US Forest Service, Homeland Security Investigations and Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety. During execution of the warrant, more than 3,100 marijuana plants and around 2,000 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash and three firearms were also found and seized. The property had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that may result in forfeiture. According to JMET, 48-year-old Julio Rodriguez-Cardinas and 28-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez-De La Paz were arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. On Thursday, JMET served a search warrant in the 300-block of Clear Creek Road in Selma. The warrant was served with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety. During execution of the warrant, more than 1,400 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash and two firearms were also found and seized. The property had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that may result in criminal forfeiture. According to JMET, 51-year-old Rainy Jeanne Gauvain was arrested and lodged in jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Possession of Marijuana. While investigators were on scene, they discovered another illegal cannabis grow site on nearby Pine Tree Way.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Jailed Man for Setting Trash Bin on Fire & Damaging Building

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for lighting a trash container on fire and damaging a commercial building in the northeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old male subject for the incident in the 1500-block of NE 6th Street on Friday at 3:25 a.m.. Police said a man they identified as "Brandon Wayne Newton" intentionally set fire to a plastic trash bin and caused damage to the side of commercial business structure in excess of $500. According to the report, officers located Newton walking in the area and he admitted to throwing an ignited match into the trash bin after lighting a cigarette. Newton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Halted Small Fire on Dutcher Creek Road Northwest of Wilderville

Firefighters mounted an aggressive attack to halt the forward progress of a small fire northwest of Wilderville yesterday. The Oregon Department of Forestry and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a reported fire north of Dutcher Creek Road late Friday morning. Arriving units found a blaze in the same general area where two other fires were recently found. ODF and Rural Metro crews engaged the fire in an aggressive initial attack that included Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters as well as an air tanker. By 12:30 p.m., crews had the fire wet-lined, which means they used water to spray down the fire's edge, temporarily stopping the spread. They continued to dig a permanent line and began mopping up. Aircraft conducted water drops until the blaze was stopped. By 12:50 p.m., firefighters had hose around the fire and stopped the progression at an estimated half-acre. Mop-up continued throughout the afternoon. No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported. ODF said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:37AM by Sam Marsh

ODOT Announces 7th Street Off-Ramp Closures for Bridge Repair in August

The Oregon Department of Transportation has announced a construction project that will require a two-day road closure in south Grants Pass next month. ODOT reports a bridge girder repair will take place over the 7th Street off-ramp from Redwood Highway. The girder was recently damaged by an over-height load. On Sunday night, August 11th, the Redwood Highway exit ramp will be closed for four hours starting at 6 p.m.. On Thursday night, August 15th, the ramp will be closed for approximately three hours. The 7th Street off-ramp closures will occur after the Josephine County Fair. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes during the closures.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:36AM by Sam Marsh

All Evacuations Canceled for Salt Creek Fire, But NWS Posts Local Fire Weather Warning

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has canceled all evacuation notices related to the Salt Creek Fire between Eagle Point and Butte Falls, but the National Weather Service is calling for the possibility of lightning and more fires this weekend. On Friday afternoon, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office canceled all evacuation notices for the Salt Creek Fire due to successful firefighting efforts over the last few days. At last report, the wildfire was 4,102 acres and 84% contained. Early today, the National Weather Service posted a Fire Weather Watch for all of southwest Oregon including the Rogue, Illinois, Applegate and Umpqua river basins as well as the surrounding mountains. Weather experts said an upper level low pressure system will move up from the south along the California coast this afternoon and will tap into increasing mid-level moisture. Meanwhile, elevated instability will combine with a moderate to strong trigger that could result in isolated scattered thunderstorms late this evening into Sunday morning and again Sunday afternoon and evening. Given the prolonged stretch of very hot and very dry conditions, lightning efficiency will be high to very high for fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for new and existing fires to grow rapidly out of control. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the Watch time. Local fire agencies and residents should check weather updates for a possible upgrade to a Red Flag Warning.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Pacificorp Honored with 2023 Emergency Response Award by Edison Electric Institute

Pacificorp recently received the Emergency Response Award from Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in recognition of the company's response to the 2023 Smith River Complex fires that burned in Northern California and extreme Southern Oregon. During the 2023 event, Pacificorp enacted an emergency de-energization of roughly 14,000 customers in Crescent City and surrounding areas. Electricity was quickly restored to customers on a temporary basis using large generators to power substations that serve the communities, while the company continued to monitor the fires that burned through its transmission corridor. Power was eventually permanently restored to all customers after crews performed necessary repairs. Presented to EEI member companies twice a year, the Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette said Pacificorp's commitment to restoring power in a safe, efficient manner to the communities it serves following the Smith River Complex fires is admirable. He said the utility and its response team are extremely deserving of this well-earned recovery award.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:25AM by Sam Marsh

Historic Prospect Hotel Bed & Breakfast Inn Motel and Dinner House For Sale for $3M

Long before Crater Lake became a national park in 1902, visitors stopped on their way to see the nation's deepest lake at the only lodging and dining establishment along the Upper Rogue River: a Victorian-era house in Southern Oregon's remote Prospect. Over time, the stagecoach stop and roadhouse grew to become the famous Prospect Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast Inn–Motel and Dinner House, a resort destination for travelers, food and wine fans, as well as hikers, birders, cyclists and groups participating in classic car rallies, artist workshops and social clubs. The Oregonian reports the historic property 21 miles southwest of Crater Lake National Park is for sale at $3 million, but lodging and homemade meals are still available. The three-story, 5,492-square-foot main house, which includes the 10-room bed and breakfast hotel and a 50-seat dinner house, is surrounded by park-like grounds with evergreen and deciduous trees including a giant sequoia. Rooms in the hotel are named after famous guests: President Teddy Roosevelt, writers Jack London and Zane Grey, orator William Jennings Bryan and environmental advocate John Muir.

Posted on 7/20/24 6:22AM by Sam Marsh

Domestic Assault Investigation in CJ Led to Apprehension of Oklahoma Fugitive

A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation into a domestic assault case in Cave Junction led to the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for assaulting a police officer in Oklahoma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 100-block of South Sawyer Avenue on Thursday around 10:45 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her 34-year-old son had hit her in the face on Wednesday night. The caller told dispatchers her son had returned to the home and was sitting in an old car in their backyard. He had not tried to get back into the house she shares with her husband. Upon arrival, deputies located the man in a blue sport utility vehicle and he would not cooperate, so a Taser was deployed and he was placed into custody. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on a felony warrant out of Beckham County, Oklahoma, for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Assault and Battery on a Police Officer. No other information was available. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 4th-Degree Domestic Assault for hitting his mother. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will send him back to Oklahoma.

Posted on 7/19/24 11:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Intentionally Placing Cement Curb on Station Driveway

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for setting up an obstacle outside the GPPD station that was meant to disable patrol vehicles. The Police Department reports the incident occurred on Thursday shortly before 10 p.m. at the station in the 700-block of NE 7th Street. Upon leaving the GPPD gate on the 6th Street side, an officer drove into a concrete block that had been placed in the middle of the driveway. The cement block was determined to be an 18-inch-long piece of a concrete curb that was intentionally put there so vehicles could not exit the secured parking lot without hitting it. While reviewing surveillance video, police observed a male subject putting the cement curb in place and then walking north on 6th Street. They located the well-known 39-year-old subject at the corner of 6th and B streets before placing him into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/19/24 11:55AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Two Men Caught Breaking into Shop Building in Sunny Valley

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two men for breaking into a shop building in Sunny Valley early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident in the 1400-block of Placer Road on Thursday at about 9:30 a.m.. Deputies said the initial call came into the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center shortly after 6 a.m. when a man reported people parking and trespassing on his property. He advised tire tracks from a vehicle led through his land to another property in back. The Sheriff's Office contacted that property owner who stated nobody should be there. A neighbor walking his dog came across two men inside a shop building going through items. Deputies caught the two men as they were driving away. According to the report, stolen items removed from the vehicle were valued at more than $100 and less than $1,000. They were returned to the property owner. The two suspects -- ages 47 and 39 -- were placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 2nd-Degree Theft. Both men were being held without bail.

Posted on 7/19/24 11:53AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Apprehended Two Fugitives Wanted on Local and Statewide Warrants

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended two fugitives wanted on local and statewide warrants in separate incidents yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Thursday at 3:14 p.m. when deputies arrested a 41-year-old man in the 900-block of Skylark Lane. Deputies said a corrections officer requested assistance with picking up the man who was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 4th-Degree Assault. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident happened on Thursday at 7:02 p.m. when deputies arrested a 48-year-old woman at a transient camp located on federal land in an unspecified area of Josephine County. Deputies were performing a patrol check on the camp when they contacted the woman and learned that she was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Crimes Against a Person. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/19/24 11:52AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on State Warrant after Thursday Morning Trespass Call

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant at a home in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving the 42-year-old male subject in the 200-block of Euclid Street at 6:15 a.m. Thursday. Police said the homeowner reported the man was passed out on their porch, he was not supposed to be there and he was wanted on a statewide warrant. Officers arrived on scene, contacted the man and confirmed that he was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a past conviction for Possession of Dangerous Drugs. K-9 Mario was deployed for containing the man and gaining compliance. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/19/24 11:51AM by Sam Marsh