KLDR - Local News

OR Marine Board Holding Wednesday Work Session on Upper Rogue Boats

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) will hold a work session and accept public comment regarding boat operations on the Upper Rogue River tomorrow. The OSMB work session is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Rogue Community College Riverside Campus in Medford. At its July 2024 meeting, the Marine Board asked staff to convene a public meeting so they could consider boat operations on the Rogue from the former location of the Gold Ray Dam to Lost Creek Reservoir. The public is invited to share their perspectives specific to boating operations -- both motorized and non-motorized -- for the Upper Rogue River. The meeting format will begin with invited presentations and testimony, followed by an open public comment period. It will end after the last speaker or by 4 p.m., whichever comes first. Written public comments will be accepted by October 16th at 5 p.m.. They can be e-mailed to "jennifercooper@boat.oregon.gov."

Posted on 10/1/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Council Receives Staff Updates on URA Projects, Owl Plaza and ARPA Funds

The Grants Pass City Council received staff updates on Urban Renewal Agency Projects, the future Owl Plaza and American Rescue Plan Act Allocations during its workshop session on Monday. Some informal decisions were made as well. City Economic Development Director Dana Pearce presented a five-year strategy to implement Urban Renewal Agency (URA) projects based on the approximately $2 million in taxes the agency receives each year. City Finance Director JC Rowley said the top three identified URA projects are the Owl Plaza, the Midland-Washington property recently purchased from Asante and Caveman Pool. The City Council plans to hold a public forum prior to adopting the five-year implementation strategy. Community Development Director Brad Clark presented an update on the Owl Plaza which he said will be the first project of the URA. He said the combination parking lot and downtown plaza will feature a new sidewalk, new shade sail, five benches, two bicycle racks, 10 trees and 30 bollards due to the curb-less perimeter. Clark said final engineering is complete and the cost of the Owl Plaza will be $1,672,486. He said a "buy-a-brick" fundraising campaign will begin this month and a request for proposals will go out in November, with hopes the project can begin by next summer.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

US Senators Announce More Than $13 Million for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced a total of nearly $13.4 million was awarded to four projects in Oregon that will boost the conservation and restoration of essential aquatic ecosystems and habitat. This federal funding from the US Department of the Interior includes efforts to upgrade fish passages, restore endangered species' habitats and reconnect floodplain wetlands. A large portion of the investment will specifically go toward two projects to support the recovery and restoration of the Klamath River following the removal of the four lower Klamath dams -- the largest dam removal in United States history. The federal funding comes from the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program, which was made possible by the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding includes $923,240 for the Freshwater Trust to complete the design and engineering of a project to restore high-functioning, resilient aquatic habitat along a 2.5-mile high-priority reach of Bear Creek along the Greenway Trail near the City of Phoenix.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh

Valley of the Rogue Park Announces Day Use Area's New Seasonal Hours Start Today

As daylight hours get shorter this time of year, Valley of the Rogue State Park staff would like to remind visitors that the seasonal hours for the day-use area are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting today. The hours will continue to change throughout the season. Posted signs will reflect changes as they occur at the park, which is located at milepost 45B of Interstate 5 near the City of Rogue River. Park staff will close and lock the gates at the park's entrance at 7 p.m. and reopen them at 8 a.m.. The park is no longer a rest area with 24-hour access as of last fall. Overnight parking is prohibited in the day-use area and restrooms will not be available when the day-use area is closed. There is no space in the day-use area for semi-trucks to turn around when the gates are closed. The day-use area includes two restrooms, a fenced area for dogs off leash, access to the Rogue River Greenway Trail, a boat launch for the Rogue River, picnic tables, an Applegate Trail interpretive kiosk and wood-carving displays.

Posted on 10/1/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh

Three-Vehicle Crash on Rogue River Highway Sent Multiple People to Hospital

A multi-vehicle crash on Rogue River Highway late last week sent several people to the hospital with a variety of injuries. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the three-vehicle collision near milepost 4 of Highway 99 on Friday at 1:56 p.m.. Troopers did not disclose the details of the accident, but identified the involved vehicles as a Honda Accord driven by a 73-year-old man, a Toyota Camry driven by a 24-year-old woman and a Ford Transit Connect van driven by a 30-year-old man. According to OSP, multiple people were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center and two of the vehicles were towed into Grants Pass. It was unclear in the report whether any citations were issued as a result of the post-crash investigation.

Posted on 9/30/24 10:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Drugged Man Who Disrupted Youth Dance in Downtown Area

With some difficulty, Grants Pass Police arrested a man who disrupted a youth dance in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at the former Grants Pass Vitality Center at the corner of SW 4th and K streets on Saturday at 6:54 p.m.. Police said they contacted 34-year-old Jonathan Robert Davis after he had been reported to be yelling and cursing at a group at the dance. They said the subject displayed numerous indicators of impairment from a narcotic stimulant and used active resistance to prevent being placed into custody. After taking Davis to the ground, he continued to resist so officers deployed a Taser to subdue and handcuff him. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation before he was released by doctors. Davis was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/30/24 10:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Felon for Extremely Bad Behavior in Downtown Area

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for extremely bad behavior in the downtown area over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to reports of two male transients urinating outside the Portland Loo near the corner of SW 5th and H streets on Saturday around 9:45 a.m.. Police said they contacted a 29-year-old man they identified as "Jake Robert Thompson" and he became irate by yelling nonsensical statements. They said he appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. According to the report, Thompson had urinated and defecated on himself. Some employees at a downtown marijuana dispensary said they saw the subject causing public alarm by stopping traffic and throwing feces from his pants. Thompson was placed into custody and 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 9/30/24 10:16AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Woman for Lying about Identity during Weekend Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for lying about her identity during a weekend traffic stop in the Redwood area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Hyundai Accent driven by a 27-year-old woman from Hoquiam, Washington, near the corner of Redwood Avenue and McDonald Lane on Saturday at 3:13 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the car for speeding and noticed that one of the passengers -- later identified as 26-year-old SteveyAnn Marie Gullotto -- was not wearing a seat belt. They said she gave them a false name due to having an active warrant. Gullotto was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Furnishing False Information to Police. She was being held without bail. The contents of the warrant were not disclosed.

Posted on 9/30/24 10:14AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Seek Public Help in Finding Motorhome or Missing Prospect Woman

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in identifying the owner of a motorhome that was last seen in the Grants Pass area. The vehicle may be associated with a missing person from the Prospect area. Sheriff's officials said 68-year-old Deenah Padgett was last seen August 30th on River Road in Prospect. She went camping with her boyfriend and when he came back to camp, she was gone. Padgett is described as white female adult, 4-feet-8-inches tall and about 95 pounds, with brownish-red graying hair. If anyone has information on the owner of the motorhome or the whereabouts of Deenah Padgett, please call the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon dispatch non-emergency number at (541)-776-7206. The direct number to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is (541)-774-6800. Please refer to Case #24-4928.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Multiple Crimes after Being Caught Breaking into Barn

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for multiple crimes after he and another man were caught breaking into a barn in the northeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 23-year-old Joseph Allen Wilson, III, for the incident near the corner of NE 10th and Madrone streets on Saturday at 9:32 a.m.. Police said Wilson was unlawfully on the property of a vacant residence and he was observed by the owner's friend who called for law enforcement assistance. The suspect remained with the complainant until officers arrived on scene. He admitted that he unscrewed a barn door and unlawfully entered. Another man fled in a van. Wilson attempted to steal a generator valued at $500 from inside the barn. Multiple small tools and bolts were located in his pockets during a consent search. He was also found to be in possession of a spring-assisted knife and brass knuckles, which were seized as evidence as he is a convicted felon. Wilson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Outstanding Warrant after Disturbance Involving Gun

Grants Pass Police snared a man wanted on an outside warrant while investigating a weekend disturbance in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 55-year-old Joseph Dominic Haag for the incident in the 900-block of NW B Street on Saturday at 5:31 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she went to get her friend's walker from Haag's residence when Haag and her husband got into an argument. The caller said the subject began making verbal threats and stated that if she came back to the residence, he would hurt her. According to the report, Haag reached for a pistol and placed it in his pants. He has a history of being physically violent, but he did not point the gun at anyone. Upon arrival, officers detained Haag at gunpoint in his front yard. He was not found with any firearm, but admitted to having the described gun inside his home. He was found to be wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and Criminal Mischief. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Felon for Parole Violation after Walmart Shoplifting Incident

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision after he tried to steal merchandise from Walmart at the start of the weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Friday afternoon. Police said 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson stole less than $100 in clothing from Walmart, fled from loss prevention and then police. He was spotted running across Terry Lane and officers located him near Game Stop where they placed him into custody. The stolen items were returned to Walmart. According to the report, Halverson had a prior trespass warning at the retailer. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh