KLDR - Local News

GP Police Arrested Pair on Warrants after Suspicious Activity at Shopping Plaza

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants this week after receiving reports of suspicious activity in the Williams Highway Plaza. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the parking lot near Rite Aid on Tuesday afternoon. Police said several people called 9-1-1 to report two occupants of a camper who appeared to be dealing drugs. The callers reported seeing a lot of foot traffic at the camper and that the occupants had covered up the windows to obstruct their view of what was taking place inside. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 28-year-old Millana Lavaun Hathaway and 31-year-old Jacob Allen Jensen. They said there was no evidence of drug dealing. However, both Hathaway and Jensen were found to be wanted on Ashland Police Department warrants for Probation Violation related to arrests for Heroin and Methamphetamine Possession, respectively. Hathaway was also wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. Hathaway and Jensen were lodged in jail on the warrants.

Posted on 6/5/25 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Urges Southern Oregon Residents to be Extremely Careful Due to Heatwave

With the first major heatwave about to hit Josephine and Jackson counties this weekend, the Oregon Department of Forestry is asking residents to be extremely careful. Since the start of the 2025 fire season on June 1st, ODF Southwest has responded alongside its local partners to four fires in the last four days. All of the fires were in Josephine County and quickly stopped by local agencies. They included the 3900-block of Galice Road, 500-block of Squaw Mountain Road, 10,400-block of Williams Highway and 2900-block of Jumpoff Joe Creek Road. With hot temperatures and windy conditions, fires are starting easily and spreading quickly. While all the mentioned fires were stopped at a half-acre or less, the conditions we've been experiencing are prompting fire growth at a faster rate than expected for this time of year. Help prevent fires by following all current seasonal regulations, which can be found at "swofire.com."

Posted on 6/5/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

GPCC Approves Supplemental Budget and Created Non-Union Salary Task Force

The Grants Pass City Council last night balanced the current budget, established a new task force and appointed two people to the Committee on Public Art. The City Council opened its regular meeting with a public hearing on a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and making appropriations. Finance Director JC Rowley said some small "normal" adjustments were made to the General Fund, Transportation Fund, Stormwater Fund, Water Fund, Water Projects Fund, Wastewater Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Administrative Services Fund, Environmental Waste Fees Fund and Lands & Buildings Projects Fund. The Council approved the supplemental budget unanimously. They will consider the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on June 18th. By Oregon Statute, the City must have a balanced budget in place before July 1st. The Council also approved a resolution that establishes a Non-Bargaining Compensation and Classification Task Force. The new task force will be charged with studying potential salary adjustments for the City's non-union employees and making recommendations. Councilors Rick Ryker and Seth Benham will serve on the task force along with two members of the Grants Pass Budget Committee, two members at-large with experience in large payrolls and McGrath Consulting. Following multiple votes by the City Council, Cindy Hernandez and Eva Shaw were appointed to the Grants Pass Committee on Public Art.

Posted on 6/5/25 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP Friends of the Library Launches "Eviction Watch" Prompted by Frustration and Fear

Frustrated by the Josephine County Commissioners' perceived lack of action after the termination of the Grants Pass branch library lease in January and afraid the termination could lead to eviction, Grants Pass Friends of the Library is launching an "Eviction Watch" campaign. The campaign will begin with a countdown clock website today, which marks 30 weeks until the end of the library's current lease agreement on December 31st. The Eviction Watch website has gone "live" at "grantspassfol.wixsite.com/gpfol." On January 6th, the Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the Grants Pass library lease with 30 days' notice and no prior consultation with the Josephine Community Library District. The Board did not provide an explanation, indicate what it wanted, offer any lease terms, name a proposed rental rate or send a termination notice. Despite this lack of communication, the library district responded with flexibility and transparency -- offering multiple meeting dates and submitting a formal lease renewal proposal on March 25th and May 5th. Five months after the lease was canceled, the Grants Pass Library remains in limbo while waiting for the County to act.

Posted on 6/5/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

RCC Music Program Presents Free Concerts Celebrating Broadway and Film in GP

The Rogue Community College Music Department invites the community to enjoy two exciting evenings of "live" music next week at the Rogue Auditorium on RCC's Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. Admission is free -- donations to support the RCC Music Department are welcome. On Monday at 7 p.m., there will be a heartfelt tribute to Broadway featuring the Rogue Chorus, directed by Chiharu Sai, with special guests The Rogue Singers, Teresa Northcross on the cello and the Passionflutes Trio. Audiences can expect a lively, feel-good program celebrating iconic Broadway hits. On Tuesday at 7 p.m., the RCC Concert Band -- directed by Jon Bennett -- will perform a cinematic selection of music including Hollywood Milestones, At The Movies with John Williams, Alan Silvestri: Night at the Movies, March with Mancini, Disney at the Movies and more. This concert is a must-see for movie and music lovers alike. Both concerts will take place at the Rogue Auditorium on the RCC Redwood Campus at 3345 Redwood Highway in Grants Pass. For the closest parking, use the college's East Entrance off Redwood Highway to Demaray Drive.

Posted on 6/5/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

BCC to Consider Library District Additions & Appoint Interim Health Director

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider library district annexations and three orders during its weekly business session on Thursday. The Board will open the meeting with recognition of the Grants Pass Active Club following another successful Boatnik Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. Following a public hearing, the Commissioners will decide whether to approve three requests for annexation to the Josephine Community Library District, by petition of the landowners. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider orders that would delegate signing authority for Fair entertainment to the Recreation Director, appoint an interim Public Health Director and reschedule the June 19th business session. There will also be Requests and Comments from Citizens when people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Tomorrow's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:39AM by Sam Marsh

Two Motor Vehicle Accidents in Illinois Valley Sent 2 to Hospitals with Injuries

Two motor vehicle accidents in the Illinois Valley sent two people to hospitals late yesterday -- one of them with severe injuries. On Tuesday at 4:44 p.m., the Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash in the 5100-block of Caves Highway. OSP reports the driver of a Honda CRV struck a motorcycle ridden by 22-year-old Donald Austin of Cave Junction and fled the scene. Austin was transported by AMR ambulance to IVFD Station #2 in Selma where a Mercy Flights helicopter flew him to Rogue Regional Medical Center with very serious injuries. The damaged Honda was located and seized, but the driver was not identified as the investigation is ongoing. On Tuesday at 5:09 p.m., OSP, IVFD and AMR responded to a two-vehicle crash near milepost 36 of Redwood Highway. According to OSP, a Ford Focus driven by 42-year-old Michael John Folkins of Crescent City, California, failed to yield to oncoming traffic while re-entering the highway from a turnout. The car struck a Ford F-150 pickup driven by 32-year-old Chelsie Paul of O'Brien. Paul was transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles were towed away. Following the investigation, Folkins was cited or warned for the traffic violation.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Woman for Forcing Man off Merlin Property and Attacking Him

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for forcing a man off a property in Merlin and then attacking him at a nearby marijuana dispensary. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 40-year-old Kristen Xaros on Tuesday shortly after 11 a.m. for the incident that occurred Monday night in the 400-block of Robertson Bridge Road and the 300-block of Merlin Road. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 to report that Xaros forced him off the property with a knife and attempted to stab him multiple times. The caller said he ran to safety at the marijuana dispensary, but Xaros and two men followed him in a vehicle to the pot store where they began punching and kicking him. The suspects fled after grabbing the victim's phone. The victim refused medical attention. Upon arrival, deputies reviewed surveillance video that clearly showed three suspects assaulting the victim. The victim did not want to pursue charges, but because the victim and Xaros were in a previous relationship and have a young child together, her arrest was required by state law. Xaros was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Domestic Assault. Charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Woman on Felony Warrant for Parole Violation after CJ Chase

The Josephine County Sheriff Office apprehended a woman on a local warrant for violating her post-prison supervision following a Cave Junction pursuit yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 27-year-old Katherine Denae Rodriguez near the Illinois Valley Community Center on Tuesday at 11:37 a.m.. Deputies said they spotted Rodriguez walking near the intersection of South Redwood and Caves highways and they knew she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for Felony Attempt to Elude Police. True to form, Rodriguez took off running toward the Cave Junction Water Treatment Plant and doubled back through a parking lot before she was placed into custody at Taser point. Rodriguez was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Trying to Steal Mail from Home near Resting Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trying to steal mail from a home near a downtown homeless encampment yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at a home in the 800-block of NW 5th Street -- about a block away from the 5th Street resting site -- on Tuesday around 3:45 p.m.. Police said 37-year-old Melissa Sue Koenig walked up to the front porch of the home and removed mail from the attached US Postal Service box. They said she then picked up a package off the porch and was confronted by the residents. Koenig gave the items back and fled from the scene, but was located nearby. The victims' surveillance camera captured the entire incident, which clearly showed the suspect removing mail out of the mailbox. Koenig was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Mail Theft. She was also trespassed from the victims' residence.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Pair on Warrants after Suspicious Activity at Shopping Plaza

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants yesterday after receiving reports of suspicious activity in the Williams Highway Plaza. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the parking lot near Rite Aid on Tuesday at about 3:40 p.m.. Police said several people called 9-1-1 to report two occupants of a camper who appeared to be dealing drugs. The callers reported seeing a lot of foot traffic at the camper and that the occupants had covered up the windows to obstruct their view of what was taking place inside. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 28-year-old Millana Lavaun Hathaway and 31-year-old Jacob Allen Jensen. They said there was no evidence of drug dealing. However, both Hathaway and Jensen were found to be wanted on Ashland Police Department warrants for Probation Violation related to arrests for Heroin and Methamphetamine Possession, respectively. Hathaway was also wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. Hathaway and Jensen were lodged in jail on the warrants.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Pair for Drug Possession after NW City Neighborhood Call

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession while investigating a trespassing complaint in a northwest city neighborhood early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers found 44-year-old Nathanael James Young and 18-year-old Serenity Denise Stark asleep in a running Ford pickup parked near the intersection of NW Crown Street and Starlite Place on Tuesday at about 8:40 a.m.. Officers said a glass pipe was observed in plain sight between Young and Stark, which contained a white crystal substance. Both subjects were removed from the vehicle and a similar pipe was observed in the passenger seat. Neither party would claim ownership of the pipes, which contained methamphetamine residue. Young and Stark refused to speak about the matter before they were placed into custody. Both were lodged in jail for Meth Possession. The pickup was towed for being parked in a "No Parking" zone.

Posted on 6/4/25 11:15AM by Sam Marsh