KLDR - Local News

ODFW Says Fish, Crab or Clam for Free in Oregon This Saturday and Sunday

Everyone can fish, crab or clam for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, no fishing or shellfish licenses or tags are required on those two days. Both Oregon residents and non-residents can fish for free. Oregon State Parks also offers free parking and camping on Saturday, June 1st. All other state fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Guide for regulations. Remember to check "MyODFW.com" for any in-season regulation changes, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Free Fishing Weekend is also a great time to try crabbing or clamming --"MyODFW.com" has all the information you need to get started.

Posted on 5/30/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

US Forest Service Sending $24 Million to Oregon to Defend Against Wildfire Threats

The US Forest Service is investing more than $24 million in 13 projects across Oregon to make at-risk communities' homes, businesses and infrastructure more resilient to wildfires. Four of those projects are located in Southern Oregon. This funding allocation is part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect communities and tribal lands across the United States that are at risk for wildfires. The biggest winner locally is a project called the "Firebrand Resiliency Collective, Community Building, Education and Implementation for the Rogue Valley" which is receiving more than $1.465 million to implement a cost-share program to harden structure-adjacent landscaping, augment existing defensible space efforts and reduce structural ignition risk. Josephine County Emergency Management will receive $250,000 for collaborative planning efforts intended for providing the community a way for reducing their wildfire risk and building resiliency to the impacts of wildfires. The Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council is receiving nearly $250,000 to update the 2002 Applegate Fire Plan, which spans two counties and three fire protection districts. The City of Grants Pass will receive $191,700 to create a Grants Pass Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Posted on 5/30/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

Total Payroll Employment in Jackson County Increased by 470 Jobs in April

Total payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 470 jobs in April, with job gains estimated in most published industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 102,415 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.8% -- which was down slightly from 4.9% in March. Employment rose in construction, health care & social assistance, leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, and professional & business services. Government employment also edged up by 50 jobs. Gains were posted in federal, state and local government. The only published industry losing jobs was retail trade, down by 30. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 550 jobs, a decline of 0.6%. Since April 2023, industries adding jobs included private education and health services (+790), and construction (+190). Government employment climbed by 410 jobs in Jackson County over the past year.

Posted on 5/30/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Listened to Public Comments during 19-Minute Meeting

With no action items on the agenda Wednesday, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners listened to public comments during a 19-minute meeting. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, Board Chair John West and veteran Commissioner Dan DeYoung heard few disparaging words from those who spoke. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. Most people were interested in praising the outstanding work of the Grants Pass Active Club in putting on another great Boatnik Weekend. Others spoke about the great community support for the annual festival, and promoted upcoming events such as Airport Days on Father's Day Weekend, Independence Day, Back to the 50s, summer car shows and the Josephine County Fair. Commissioner DeYoung remarked that everyone should attempt to support these community events. Without public support, he said they will eventually go away.

Posted on 5/30/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County SO Seeks Public Help in Locating Missing North Valley Man

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating a missing North Valley area man. Sheriff's officials said 36-year-old Adam Richard Larson was last known to have walked away from his residence in the 2400-block of Hugo Road at approximately 5 a.m. on Tuesday. He is believed to be in the Merlin/Hugo Road area. Larson is described as white male adult, 6-feet-tall and 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Adam Larson is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

Posted on 5/29/24 1:15PM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Listened to Citizen Comments for 19-Minute Meeting

With no action items on the agenda this morning, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners listened to public comments during the 19-minute meeting. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, Board Chair John West and veteran Commissioner Dan DeYoung heard few disparaging words from those who spoke. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. Most people were interested in praising the outstanding work of the Grants Pass Active Club in putting another great Boatnik Weekend. Others spoke about the great community support for the annual festival, and promoted upcoming events such as Airport Days on Father's Day Weekend, Independence Day, Back to the 50s, summer car shows and the Josephine County Fair. Commissioner DeYoung remarked that everyone should attempt to support these community events. Without public support, he said they will eventually go away. In Matters from Commissioners, DeYoung expressed concern about the current state of the American judicial system. He said while most judges are excellent, one bad judge on the bench can lead to questionable outcomes in important cases.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Attacking Stepfather at West Harbeck Road Residence

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last night for attacking his stepfather at a home in the south part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 400-block of West Harbeck Road on Tuesday around 6:40 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 to report that his 22-year-old stepson shoved him multiple times with force and struck him with closed fists, causing substantial pain. They said the caller did not require medical attention, but he wanted to press charges. Upon arrival, officers interviewed both parties and the stepson admitted to making physical contact with his stepfather. The cause of the family altercation was not disclosed, but a woman at the home stated she would testify against the suspect in court, if necessary. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:44AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Troopers Arrested Man for Throwing Wood on Interstate 5 near Hugo Exit

The Oregon State Police arrested a man last night for causing a hazard for drivers on Interstate 5 near the Hugo exit. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 65 on Tuesday at 7:28 p.m.. Troopers said they encountered a 67-year-old man who was throwing pieces of wood onto the freeway, creating a hazard and endangering passing motorists. After contacting the subject and speaking with a witness, the subject was placed into custody and found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. According to OSP, there were no injuries and no damage to any vehicles reported. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Endangering and Possession of Meth. He was being held without bail. His vehicle -- a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup -- was towed.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man for Violating Court Order by Pestering Protected Party

Grants Pass Police arrested a man last night for violating a court order protecting a woman who lives in the southwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700-block of SW I Street on Tuesday shortly after 10 p.m.. Police said the 68-year-old male subject was called in for standing outside the woman's residence and refusing to leave. The victim had a valid restraining order against the man, but that did not seem to matter to the suspect. Officers arrived on scene and located the man across the street from the protected residence. He was placed into custody after the court order was confirmed. Upon further investigation, the victim provided a photo of the man on her property. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Woman Wanted on Local Warrant during Burglary Probe

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on a local felony warrant while investigating an attempted burglary at a vacant commercial building last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a possible break-in to a building in the 1300-block of SW Foundry Street on Tuesday at about 7:20 p.m.. Police said a caller reported two male transients on bicycles tampering with a door to the building. The men apparently did not gain entry and rode away on their bikes to a nearby transient camp at the end of SW Eastern Avenue. Officers responded and tracked down the suspects at the illegal camp on railroad property. They contacted a total of seven people including a 35-year-old woman who was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Felon in Possession of a Weapon. The woman was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail where she was being held on $25,000 bail. All seven campers were trespassed from the railroad property.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested 2 Men Camping on BLM Property in GP Area on Tuesday

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two men camping on Bureau of Land Management property in the Grants Pass area in separate incidents yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 12:22 p.m. when a deputy contacted a 49-year-old male subject at a transient camp off BLM Road 35-7-1. Deputies detained the man after discovering that he had made a big mess of the publicly-owned property. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for three counts of 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and one count of Offensive Littering. He was being held without bail. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 7:17 p.m. when deputies detained a man living off a BLM Road in the 4500-block of Granite Hill Road. Deputies said the male subject was found to be in possession of a firearm and he was known to carry concealed weapons. The gun was seized and the man was issued federal citations for crimes including Felon in Possession of a Weapon as well as No License, Insurance or Registration for his vehicle. He was not jailed.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:36AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Camper from Park while Investigating Alleged Violations

Grants Pass Police evicted a camper from a city park while investigating a citizen complaint about ordinance violations early yesterday. According the Police Department, officers responded to the call for violations at Lawnridge Park on NW Hawthorne Avenue on Tuesday at 9:19 a.m.. Police said a park neighbor reported multiple tents within the buffer zone around the restroom and a male subject with an air mattress set up near the playground. Officers checked the park and did not find the alleged violations. However, they cited a woman for narcotics possession after drug paraphernalia was seen inside her tent. She was trespassed from the park for 30 days. The Parks Department was contacted and advised about a pile of trash to be disposed of.

Posted on 5/29/24 11:35AM by Sam Marsh