KLDR - Local News

Authorities Investigating Cause of Fire that Destroyed Old Post Office in Merlin

Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed the old US Postal Service office in Merlin early yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response were dispatched to the structure fire in the 300-block of Merlin Road on Monday at 7:54 a.m.. Rural Metro officials said firefighters got a quick knockdown on the blaze, but the building sustained heavy damage. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Additional assistance was received from the Applegate Valley Fire District.

Posted on 5/6/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

FBI to Honor RR Police Chief Dave Rash at Community Leadership Ceremony

The Portland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced it will be honoring Rogue River Police Chief Dave Rash at their upcoming annual FBI Community Leadership Awards Ceremony. The annual awards ceremony is a time when the FBI honors community partners for their exemplary service and recognizes them for their continuing partnership with the federal law enforcement agency. Chief Rash has dedicated over 30 years of service in law enforcement to protecting communities in Oregon. He served communities in Milwaukee, Hubbard and now Rogue River where he serves as the Chief of Police. Chief Rash is a past president of the Oregon Chapter of the FBI National Academy Association, but his service to the chapter did not end when his time on the board was over. He remains a trusted and valuable partner who is known for his acts of service, historical knowledge and willingness to step up when needed most. He continues to volunteer by organizing regional gatherings across the state and consistently recognizes promotions or retirements of chapter members.

Posted on 5/6/25 6:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Council to Consider New Ordinance to Restrict Resting in Public Spaces

The Grants Pass City Council is preparing to consider an ordinance that amends the municipal code regarding resting in public spaces. During Monday's workshop session, Grants Pass City Attorney Stephanie Nutall briefed the Council on the changes that would go into effect once the preliminary injunction is lifted to allow the enforcement of restrictions on resting sites. Nutall reminded the City Council that on April 16th they established four resting locations that will accommodate more than 150 resting sites with many of them ADA-compliant as directed by Josephine County Circuit Judge Sarah McGlaughlin. The attorneys representing the City in the Disability Rights Oregon lawsuit plan to ask the judge to lift the injunction as soon as possible. According to Nutall, the ordinance would declare an emergency and consolidate restrictions that would prohibit resting overnight in all city parks. The ordinance would also strengthen restrictions within the designated resting sites, limiting the sites to an 8-foot-by-8-foot spatial footprint and reducing the buffer between the sites from six feet to three feet. The unhoused population resting in the existing sites would be required to move every four days, with a 72-hour notice in effect. The City Council will consider the ordinance on Wednesday night and if it is approved unanimously, the emergency declaration will go into effect as soon as the preliminary injunction is lifted.

Posted on 5/6/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County Sheriff Warns Residents about Scammers Kicking into High Gear

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is warning Rogue Valley residents that scammers have kicked into high gear again recently. In the latest scam, they are leaving messages claiming that "Sheriff Aaron Grissom" has civil documents for them to pick up and that they need to call back to schedule an appointment. It's likely a ruse to get them on the phone to ask for money. Sheriff's officials remind residents not to send money to someone representing themselves as law enforcement on the phone. Law enforcement entities will never call you to collect money and they will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or bitcoin. When in doubt, hang up and call your local law enforcement agency's official phone number. The Sheriff's Office number is (541)-774-6800. There is also a text message scam going around regarding unpaid tolls. The scammers send a text claiming an outstanding balance due to an unpaid toll. The recipient of the message is supposed to click on a link in the text to arrange for payment to settle their "debt." Once they do, their personal information becomes compromised. If you click on the link, close the webpage immediately. If you think you've been scammed, visit "IdentityTheft.gov."

Posted on 5/6/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

City of GP Announces Beginning of Phase Two on Dollar Mountain Trail Project

The City of Grants Pass has announced the start of Phase 2 on the Dollar Mountain Trail Project. The City commenced construction on the trail system in September 2024, adding several miles of new mountain biking and hiking trails. Phase 2 of this initiative focuses on the development of a parking facility to establish a new trailhead on city-owned land located off Hieglen Loop. At the April 23rd Urban Area Planning Commission meeting, the Commission approved the major site plan and variance for the Hieglen Loop Trailhead & Day Use Parking. Completion is anticipated this summer, which will provide new access and parking to the Dollar Mountain Trail System in the northwest part of the city.

Posted on 5/6/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Williams Man Jailed for Beating up Girlfriend and Breaking Phone to Prevent Call

A Williams man was arrested over the weekend for beating up his girlfriend and breaking her phone when she tried to call for help. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the domestic disturbance in the 600-block of Cedar Flat Road on Friday around 7:15 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 from the Williams Country Store to report that her boyfriend -- 54-year-old Trinon Cirello -- punched her and kicked her after she fell down. The victim said the suspect broke her phone in half so she couldn't call for help. She fled the house and was worried her boyfriend might harm her cats. The victim provided deputies with a description of Cirello's vehicle, which they located and stopped in the 8300-block of Williams Highway. He was placed into custody for suspicion of domestic violence. Cirello was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Old & New Drug Crimes after Suspicious Activity Call

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug crimes while investigating a weekend report of suspicious activity in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a man smoking a drug pipe while sitting in a vehicle with another man in the Colonial Plaza off NE E Street on Friday shortly before 8 p.m.. The caller provided a license plate number on the vehicle, which was traced by dispatchers to 54-year-old Johnnie Thomas Brown, Jr., who was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl as well as Methamphetamine Possession and Driving While Suspended. Brown was the passenger in the vehicle and the driver -- identified as "Tyler Smedley" -- told officers that Brown was inside a nearby business. That's where he was contacted while gambling and found to be in possession of over eight grams of fentanyl. The narcotics were seized as evidence and for eventual destruction. Brown was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Possession of Fentanyl. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Corralled Frequent Flyer for Boorish Behavior in the Redwood Area

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for his boorish behavior in the southwest part of the city late last week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to an incident involving 22-year-old Xander Arthur Michael Strow in the 1300-block of SW David Drive on Friday shortly after 4 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 and reported that Strow was refusing to leave after attempting to steal items off her deck. The woman advised he began getting aggressive with her by screaming in her face. She identified him as her partner's son. Strow left the property and a short time later he caused another disturbance at the corner of Redwood Avenue and Hubbard Lane. He was placed into custody after his violent and tumultuous behavior generated another call for service. He was getting in other people's faces and yelling at them. Strow was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:31AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Pendleton Man for DUII and More after SW GP Neighborhood Crash

The Oregon State Police arrested a Pendleton man for impaired driving and more after he crashed his vehicle in a Grants Pass neighborhood and injured himself. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 1,000-block of SW J Street on Saturday at 3:32 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated 39-year-old Jesse Nathaniel Firestone was driving a Nissan Pathfinder when he lost control and crashed head-on into a parked Ford Bronco owned by a 58-year-old Grants Pass woman. Firestone was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with minor injuries and there was no one in the Bronco at the time of the crash. During an interview with Firestone at the hospital, Firestone admitted to drug use prior to the wreck. A search warrant was obtained and executed to draw blood from the suspect which documented a high level of impairment by narcotics. Firestone was cited at the hospital for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was also cited for Failure to Maintain Lane, Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. His wrecked vehicle was impounded and the damaged Bronco was towed.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:29AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Weekend Crash in Jerome Prairie Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed a vehicle into a ditch in the Jerome Prairie area over the weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies initially responded to a traffic complaint involving a black Chevrolet that was speeding at up to 95 miles per hour and nearly hitting several vehicles on Redwood Avenue on Saturday around 11 p.m.. Deputies said a concerned citizen followed the vehicle driven by 22-year-old Marco Antony Rivera out Redwood Highway to Helms Road to Stringer Gap Road and Woodland Park Road before he crashed into a ditch in the 5300-block of Jerome Prairie Road. He was able to remove the vehicle from the ditch and was observed driving on grass. Rivera was passed out behind the wheel and covered in vomit when deputies and Oregon State troopers arrived on scene. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that confirmed strong impairment by alcohol. Rivera was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:28AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD Crews Extinguished Outdoor Fires in Tarter Gulch and Deer Creek Areas

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished two outdoor fires on the same day this past weekend. On Saturday at 3:01 p.m., IVFD crews responded to an illegal open burn in the Tarter Gulch area near Cave Junction. IVFD officials said an unattended campfire had been left in a smoldering state. The campfire was extinguished and the area was secured. On Saturday at 9:23 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a small grass fire in the 4,000-block of Deer Creek Road near Selma. Officials said the property owners had extinguished a significant portion of the fire prior to their arrival. Crews completed fire suppression and conducted mop-up operations.

Posted on 5/5/25 10:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Assaulting Victim at Temporary Resting Site on NE 7th

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for assaulting another person at a temporary resting site on NE 7th Street last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 23-year-old James David McClung for the Tuesday night incident at the 7th Street campsite near the police station on Friday afternoon. Police said the victim of an assault walked into the GPPD station while bleeding profusely from a head wound. The victim advised they had been hit in the head with an unknown object by a male subject. The suspect reportedly was looking for a person with whom he had a dispute, but had confronted the victim by mistake. Medics responded to GPPD and transported the victim to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. Officers initiated an investigation and determined the identity of the suspect to be James McClung. Officers located McClung at Baker Park on Friday afternoon. He was arrested and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault. The case will be prosecuted by the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.

Posted on 5/5/25 6:41AM by Sam Marsh