KLDR - Local News

GP Police Arrested Suspect Outside Local Business for Meth Possession

A man smoking meth outside a local business was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers Wednesday.

Deputies contacted a man smoking outside Rogue Valley Tax Service, 1454 NW 6th Street, after receiving a complaint from an employee. The suspect, identified as Sean Mitchell, had a broken glass pipe on the ground next to him.

The pipe had a burnt residue inside. After detaining Mitchell and during a consent search, officers found another pipe in his rear pants pocket. It had a bulb end and contained a burnt crystalline substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Mitchell was trespassed from the business and taken to the Josephine County Jail. He was released that afternoon due to limited resources at the jail.

Posted on 9/25/25 2:18PM by Alex Bauer

Jackson County FedEx Driver Honored for Saving Child from Dog Attack

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners presented a Lifesaving Award to FedEx driver Chris Matthews Wednesday for saving a girl from a dog attack.

While delivering packages in Jacksonville around noon December 6, 2024, Chris saw a girl being mauled by two Cane Corso dogs inside a pen. Without hesitation, he ran toward the danger, shouting to draw the dogs’ attention and calling for help.

With the aid of nearby workers, he entered the enclosure, distracted the dogs, and pulled the critically injured child to safety so she could receive emergency medical care.

The girl has since made a full recovery. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is proud to honor Chris for his extraordinary courage and life-saving actions on that day, saying Chris’s heroism reflects the best values of courage, compassion, and responsibility.

Posted on 9/25/25 12:24PM by Alex Bauer

Community Wildfire Defense Grant to Fund ODF Project Proposals

Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

The Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District will receive over $2.3 million

This project actively engages private landowners, provides technical assistance, and expands prescribed fire training opportunities, strengthening community resilience while reducing hazardous fuel loads.

The other ODF proposal selected for funding is the South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction receiving over $2.6 million.

In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, and becoming a Firewise USA site.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:51AM by Alex Bauer

A Bicycle Chase Leads to GP Police Arrest of Suspect on Multiple Charges

Grants Pass Police officers apprehended a man wanted on a felony warrant after a lengthy bicycle chase Wednesday evening.

Officers contacted Daniel Myers and told him he had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Myers fled on his bicycle, and a chase ensued.

After a lengthy pursuit around the Wal-Mart and WinCo areas, officers were able to subdue Myers on NE F Street by pushing him to the ground. He refused to put his hands behind his back, but officers were able to take him into custody.

Myers was found to be in possession of meth and a modified flare gun loaded with a 357 magnum round. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail and lodged him on his First Degree Theft warrant, plus charges of Third Degree Escape, Resisting Arrest, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Meth Possession.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:34AM by Alex Bauer

Board of Commissioner's Weekly Business Session Focused on Public Comment

With no administrative actions on the agenda, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of their Weekly Business Session today. Moving straight to Public Comment, with five minutes allowed to speak due to the light agenda, members of the community brought up topics including accusing the commissioners of violating the constitution, support for the library, usage of the Dimmick Property, and those for and against the recalls against Commissioners Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett. After comments, Commissioner Ron Smith encouraged community members to bring ideas and solutions to the Public Comment period, Commissioner Barnett called for unification in the county, and Commissioner Blech invited people to reach out and talk with him about their concerns.

Posted on 9/25/25 11:09AM by Alex Bauer

Oregon State Police Arrested Man on Warrant out of Del Norte County

The Oregon State Police made a traffic stop on US Highway 199 Wednesday night.

Officers contacted the driver, identified as Steven Cooke, and found him to have an active and extraditable warrant out of Del Norte County, California.

Cooke was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. His vehicle was left with his passenger.

Posted on 9/25/25 10:43AM by Alex Bauer

JMET Executes Search Warrant on Cave Junction Marijuana Grow Site

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant on an illegal marijuana grow site in the 5000 Block of Dick George Road in Cave Junction. The warrant was executed September 18th with assistance from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), United States Postal Inspector Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. During the execution of the warrant, over 2,500 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, 14 firearms, 30 grams of Ketamine, 8 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of Methamphetamine were seized on scene. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Christopher Faustino, Veronica Gardner-Dyer, and Brian Enney were all taken into custody and lodged in The Josephine County Jail. All three suspects were charged with Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of Marijuana.

Posted on 9/25/25 10:21AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Office Arrested Man Wanted on Misdemeanor Warrant

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man with a warrant out for his arrest Wednesday afternoon.

The deputy recognized the suspect, Justin Calderon, at the corner of West Watkins Street and South Hussey Avenue. After contacting Calderon, the warrant was confirmed and he was taken into custody.

Officers lodged Calderon in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant, plus additional charges of Second and Fourth Degree Assault.

Posted on 9/25/25 5:21AM by Alex Bauer

Non-Affiliated Candidate Pledges Local Solutions in Run for Oregon State House District 3

Community advocate and foster care lived-experience leader Cobey Giesler officially announced his candidacy for the Oregon State House of Representatives, District 3. Running as a non-affiliated candidate, Giesler pledges to put people before party and deliver practical, bottom-up solutions for Southern Oregon. Giesler’s campaign will focus on fixing the broken foster care system, protecting our kids by opposing any legislation that harms them or strips away essential protections, addressing addiction, affordable housing, transportation & infrastructure, and government transparency & accountability. In addition to his advocacy work with FosterClub and leadership as a peer navigator for youth transitioning out of foster care, Giesler has experience as a campaign manager and field director for a State Senate candidate in 2024. Giesler’s campaign is building a grassroots movement powered by small donations.

Posted on 9/25/25 4:59AM by Alex Bauer

IVFD Awarded Nearly $97,000 from Federal Grant to Enhance Firefighter Safety

The Illinois Valley Fire District has been awarded nearly $97,000 in federal funding through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. This grant will provide critical safety equipment for all district firefighters, strengthening IVFD’s ability to protect lives and property across more than 200 square miles of Southern Oregon. The funding will allow the district to purchase complete sets of NFPA-compliant structural turnout gear, ensuring that firefighters are properly equipped to respond safely to structure fires, wildfires, and other emergencies. Each year, applications far exceed available funding, making this award especially significant for the Illinois Valley community. The district will also contribute a required local cost-share of $4,857. For more information about the Illinois Valley Fire District, call their headquarters at (541) 592-2225.

Posted on 9/25/25 4:43AM by Alex Bauer

Oregon Turns Over Medicaid Personal Data to Federal Government to Avoid Losing Funding

Oregon health officials have turned over personal data about some Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending probe, according to The Oregonian. This move follows months of debate over privacy and potential federal misuse of health data. Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report with data on every adult who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June. The information included Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid eligibility categories tied to citizenship status, but not immigration status or patient names or addresses. State officials had resisted turning over the data since CMS requested it in June, citing distrust over how federal officials might use the information and highlighting concerns about privacy for Oregon’s immigrant communities.

Posted on 9/25/25 4:35AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Apprehended Trespassers at Two Local Parks After Hours

In two separate cases, Grants Pass Police officers arrested two suspects during park checks.

On Tuesday just before midnight, officers contacted Robert Tiefenback at Kesterson Park, 109 NE Evelyn Avenue. He was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Tiefenback was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his Meth Possession warrant.

Early the next morning, during an area check at Morrison Centennial Park, 1187 Rogue River Highway, officers contacted three people for staying in the park after closure hours. One suspect, identified as Sabrina Willett, was discovered to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Willett was taken into custody and lodged in jail on her Second Degree Theft and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle warrant. The other subjects were warned for staying after hours and vacated the premises without issue.

Posted on 9/24/25 1:36PM by Alex Bauer