KLDR - Local News

GP Police Arrested Man for Belligerent Behavior at NW City Convenience Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for his unruly behavior after he trespassed at a north-city convenience store yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on NW Vine Street on Tuesday at about 3:45 p.m.. Police said a 56-year-old man was called in as a trespasser at the combination gas station and convenience store. He left the scene and was contacted at the corner of NE Morgan Lane at 6th Street, but refused to acknowledge the trespass warning. The belligerent suspect walked away from officers, crossing the street against a red light and causing traffic to stop to avoid hitting him. He was eventually placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail. He was officially trespassed from Li'l Pantry.

Posted on 3/20/24 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII and More after Citizen Traffic Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving, drug possession and other moving violations during a downtown traffic stop early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the driver of a black SUV near the corner of NE 7th and F streets on Tuesday shortly after 10 a.m.. Police said they received a 9-1-1 call from a citizen was reported the suspect had fallen asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle at 5th and G streets. While in contact with dispatchers, the caller followed the suspect and advised the man was unable to maintain his travel lane and kept stopping in the middle of the street. Responding officers made contact with the 57-year-old man who was unconscious for multiple traffic light cycles and did not wake up until they were able to put the vehicle in park and shut it off. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was determined to be highly impaired. Methamphetamine was found inside his SUV. The suspect reportedly was unable to recall where he came from or where he was going. He was subsequently charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Meth Possession, No Operator's License and No Insurance. He was cited to appear in court and released to staff at the Grants Pass Sobering Center.

Posted on 3/20/24 10:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Department Investigation Results in Arrest of Woman for Sex Crime

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation has led to the arrest of a woman for a felony-level sex crime. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 29-year-old woman at or near the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on Rogue River Highway on Monday afternoon. Police said an investigation into a citizen complaint resulted in probable cause that the female suspect engaged in sexual activity with a juvenile family member. They said a citizen showed officers where the suspect has been staying and described her vehicle as a white Chevrolet sedan. After searching the area, officers located the woman at the Rogue River Highway store and placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Incest and she was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/20/24 5:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Threatening Girlfriend with Child Present at NW Home

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his girlfriend at a northwest-city residence late last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers arrested a 25-year-old man at a home in the 2100-block of NW North Hill Drive on Monday. Police said they responded to a reported domestic disturbance at that address, and learned that the man and his girlfriend had been engaged in a verbal altercation. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly placed the victim in fear of imminent serious physical injury with his words and conduct. Further investigation determined the incident occurred on Sunday night and it happened in front of their two-year-old child. No one was injured in the fight. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Felony Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/20/24 5:13AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after McDonalds Drive-Thru Call

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week after he refused to leave the drive-thru at a north-city fast food restaurant. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a traffic complaint at the McDonalds on NE 6th Street on Monday night. Police said a restaurant employee called 9-1-1 to report an intoxicated driver in the drive-thru. The caller said the man was slurring and stuttering while arguing about a one-way street. The suspect paid for his food, but refused to move his vehicle. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 64-year-old man who displayed strong signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. The suspect was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was cited and released for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

Posted on 3/20/24 5:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Campers from Riverside Park in Early Morning Patrol Check

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from a city park during an early morning patrol check on Tuesday. The Police Department reports officers performed a patrol check at Riverside Park at 4:40 a.m. yesterday. Police said they observed one man under the influence of fentanyl with drug smoking materials around him. He was cited for the narcotics violation and issued a 30-day exclusion from the park. The suspect objected to officers taking away his fentanyl smoking materials and stated he didn't think it was fair that the homeless had to move from park to park. An officer replied that he didn't think it was fair that parents have to worry about tin foil with fentanyl on it lying around the park near the children's playground. Police contacted another man who had been previously trespassed from Riverside Park. They said the camper was cooperative and respectful. He was cited to appear in court for Criminal Trespass and his 30-day trespass from the park was renewed.

Posted on 3/20/24 5:00AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Officials Offer Tips to Burn Responsibly during Spring Clean-Up Season

As we head into the spring clean-up season, the Oregon Department of Forestry wants to make sure rural residents are burning their debris responsibly. ODF officials have offered some tips that will help keep you and your neighbors safe as you dispose of yard debris and woody materials with fire. Call your local burn control number before you burn and check weather conditions. Clear at least a 10-foot circle around your fire and keep it small. Have water and a shovel nearby in case the fire escapes containment. Have a cell phone handy in case you need to call for help. Stay with your fire until it's dead out.

Posted on 3/20/24 4:59AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Expected to Approve Updates to Outdated Ordinances

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the second readings and adoptions of three ordinances during its weekly business session this morning. Three separate public hearings will be held on ordinances related to Board of Commissioner meetings, the Finance Department and Unified Board of Appeals. The first readings were approved on March 6th. According to Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, all three amendments update outdated ordinances in order to comply with changes in state law. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners will consider an appointment to the Josephine County Parks Advisory Board. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, residents are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 3/20/24 4:57AM by Sam Marsh

US Senators Sent Letter to Inspector General Demanding Protection of Jobs & Mail Delivery

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined a letter led by Senator Bernie Sanders to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, urging him to stop any changes to United States Postal Service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance, especially in rural areas like Southern Oregon. While the USPS claims that its "Mail Processing Facility Reviews" will not result in closures or career employee layoffs, the Senators wrote "we are concerned these facility reviews will functionally result in both." In many instances, outgoing mail processing will move hundreds of miles to a regional facility, outside reasonable commuting distance and -- in some cases -- to another state entirely. In Oregon, mail processing at the Eugene and Medford facilities is now being transferred to a facility in Portland, distances of around 110 and 227 miles, respectively. These changes are already producing reports of mail delays in the Medford service area that includes Jackson and Josephine counties. Wyden, Merkley and other lawmakers have asked USPS leaders to hold public hearings about its plan to consolidate mail sorting in Oregon.

Posted on 3/20/24 4:54AM by Sam Marsh

OSFM Hazardous Materials Team Trained Local Fire Agencies in Grants Pass Last Week

The regional hazardous material team for Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Lake counties came to Grants Pass last week to conduct detailed hazmat training for all the fire departments in Josephine County. The Medford-based Oregon State Fire Marshal Region 8 Hazardous Materials Team spent several days at the Hillcrest Fire Station conducting refresher training to approximately 75 firefighters from local agencies. Grants Pass Battalion Chief Wayne Nelson said the team is poised to respond to incidents that occur in the four-county region. He said they regularly provide consultations to firefighters who encounter an unknown material to help with identification, containment and evaluate potential hazard concerns. Nelson said the training conducted last week involved three scenarios: a life safety drill, technical decontamination and emergency decontamination from fire trucks. Hazardous materials pass through Josephine County on a daily basis, especially on Interstate 5 and Redwood Highway.

Posted on 3/20/24 4:51AM by Sam Marsh

Library Offers Free Online Health Resources Workshop as Part of Computer Basics Series

The Josephine Community Library District is partnering with the State Library of Oregon to bring community members a free workshop demonstrating how to find reliable health information online, free from hidden fees and advertisements. The free workshop will be held this Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grants Pass library branch located at 200 NW C Street. Join Oregon State Library Consultant Arlene Weible and discover reliable online resources free from hidden fees and persuasive advertisements through library resource databases. Weible is a librarian at the State Library of Oregon in Salem. She consults with libraries across the state to help them provide services including access to quality information sources through library databases and government information resources. This program is offered at no charge and is open to the public. A library card is not needed to participate.

Posted on 3/20/24 4:49AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Expected to Approve Updates to Outdated Ordinances

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the second readings and adoptions of three ordinances during its weekly business session on Wednesday. Three separate public hearings will be held on ordinances related to Board of Commissioner meetings, the Finance Department and Unified Board of Appeals. The first readings were approved on March 6th. According to Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, all three amendments update outdated ordinances in order to comply with changes in state law. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners will consider an appointment to the Josephine County Parks Advisory Board. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, residents are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 3/19/24 10:44AM by Sam Marsh