KLDR - Local News

OHA Reports COVID-19 Hospitalizations are at Lowest Point in Nearly Four Years

New information released this week shows the number of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon at its lowest point since June 2020, dropping about 34% in April. Additionally, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units is at its lowest point since April 2020. Oregon Health Authority data shows 82 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 30th, six of whom were in the ICU. Test percentage positivity was also at its lowest point (2.4%) since June 2020. OHA officials said COVID-19 is still out there and they expect case numbers to rise again, likely this fall and winter. However, overall community transmission is currently low. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for OHA's communicable diseases and immunizations, said COVID-19 is still with us and will always be with us. But he thinks there is substantial immunity to a number of variants within our population, and many of us have been vaccinated repeatedly with different variations of the virus. The virus is also far less likely to cause death than it once was. OHA recommends everyone be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. That includes people ages 65 and over getting a second dose of the 2023-24 vaccine.

Posted on 5/4/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

US Forest Service Investing Over $62 Million to Support Pacific NW Communities in 2024

The US Forest Service has announced it is issuing more than $232 million through the agency's Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in 2024. SRS includes nearly $63 million in investments to support public schools and roads in the Pacific Northwest Region that encompasses the states of Oregon and Washington. Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Jacqueline Buchanan said the region is home to some of the most iconic national forests in the country and the SRS program ensures these public lands continue to benefit surrounding communities. Oregon will receive more than $47.7 million in SRS payments, which is the highest amount among all states. In southwest Oregon, Douglas County will receive about $6.67 million while Jackson County will receive more than $1.46 million and Josephine County will get over $950,000. These funds will provide critical support for schools, roads and other essential services in rural communities across the Pacific Northwest that are home to national forests. Over the past 10 years, the Forest Service has distributed $2.4 billion through the Secure Rural School program nationwide.

Posted on 5/4/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Steelhead Tagging Research Project is a First for Oregon

If you've ever wondered where steelhead go in the ocean after they've spawned in rivers, you're not alone. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists want to know, too. ODFW biologists in Southern Oregon are putting satellite "pop-off" tags on 10 adult winter steelhead in the Rogue and Chetco rivers this spring. The goal is to tag "kelts" -- the fish that have successfully spawned and are heading back to sea. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead can spawn multiple times and have a much broader ocean distribution. Steelhead are rarely encountered in commercial fisheries like salmon are, so much less is known about their distribution, migration routes, depth at sea and more. The multi-year research project will provide much information and add to biological knowledge of Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead. It is also the first winter steelhead satellite tagging of kelts in Oregon.

Posted on 5/4/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Patient for Spitting on Three Rivers Medical Center Nurse

Grants Pass Police jailed a patient for extremely rude behavior toward a nurse at Three Rivers Medical Center early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the disturbance at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday around 6:15 a.m.. Police said the 32-year-old male subject subjected an emergency room nurse to offensive physical conduct by spitting on him while he was attempting to provide care. The nurse wanted to press charges, so the patient was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared 3 People Illegally Camping on Public Land in Patrol Check

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested three people who were illegally camping on public land this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the trio on Wednesday during a patrol check at a large transient camp on BLM Road 38-7-21. The transient camp was described as a complete mess, with trash and other items scattered around. Deputies said two of the subjects -- a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman -- were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering. They were lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. The other subject -- a 55-year-old man -- was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited and released due to an unspecified medical condition. According to the report, the BLM property has been the location of several camps in recent years. A few months ago, parts to a stolen airplane were found there.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:17AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorcyclist for Impaired Riding after Redwood Ave. Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorcyclist for impaired riding after a traffic stop west of Grants Pass earlier this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies eventually pulled over the 34-year-old man on Redwood Avenue near Robinson Road on Wednesday night. Deputies said they pursued the motorcycle after clocking it at 84 miles per hour and the rider subsequently displayed signs of impairment. They said the man performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His motorcycle was impounded.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:15AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Netted Motorist for Impaired Driving after Traffic Stop in Selma

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving late last night after a Redwood Highway traffic stop in Selma. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man on US Highway 199 near Illinois River Road on Thursday around 11:40 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment. He was placed into custody after performing poorly in field sobriety tests. The male subject was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was lodged on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded and hauled to Cave Junction by Jerry's Towing.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Trucker for Wrecking Semi into Guardrail on I-5 in Sunny Valley

The Oregon State Police cited a truck driver for losing control of his semi and wrecking on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the commercial vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 71 on Thursday at 2:47 p.m.. Troopers said when they arrived on scene, the semi driven by a 45-year-old man was a few miles away from where he crashed into a guardrail. The driver -- who was not hurt -- stated that he was attempting to get out of the way of another vehicle when it caused him to collide with the guardrail. Following the investigation, the truck driver was cited for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. The Oregon Department of Transportation was called in to assess the damage for which the trucking company will be billed.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted 2 Campers for Committing City Park Ordinance Violations

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers for committing ordinance violations in city parks on Thursday. At Riverside Park, a man was cited to appear in court for Unlawful Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and he was trespassed from the park for 30 days. The unspecified narcotic was seized for destruction. At Baker Park, a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Staking a Tent. He was issued a 30-day exclusion.

Posted on 5/3/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

Motorist Seriously Injured in Jerome Prairie Area Crash that Sparked Brush Fire

A motorist was seriously injured this week when he apparently crashed a minivan into a power pole and sparked a brush fire in the Jerome Prairie area. Rural Metro Fire Department was initially dispatched to reports of a brush fire in the 2100-block of Stringer Gap Road late Wednesday night. Arriving units found a small fire burning in brush and trees, with arcing power lines in the area, prompting a call to Pacific Power. Rural Metro officials said an adult subject was located lying in the roadway with apparent injuries to his face, which prompted a call for an ambulance to American Medical Response. Crews extinguished the fire and located an overturned minivan inside the perimeter that was fully-involved with flames. The patient was transported by AMR to a Medford trauma hospital with serious injuries. The relationship of the injured subject to the crash was pending an investigation by Rural Metro and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Officials said the incident was being investigated as a vehicle crash that knocked down a utility line, sparking the fire.

Posted on 5/3/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Strangling and Assaulting Woman on SW Topaz Lane

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes this week after he allegedly strangled and assaulted a woman at a residence in a southwest city neighborhood. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1800-block of SW Topaz Lane on Wednesday. Police said the 31-year-old male subject had strangled the female victim a few days prior to this call for service, which restricted her airway and blood-flow. They said the man punched the woman on Wednesday, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer substantial pain. His actions put the victim in fear of serious injury or death. Responding officers interviewed both parties and documented visual injuries to the woman before placing the suspect into custody. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Domestic Strangulation, Domestic 4th-Degree Assault and Domestic Menacing. The victim refused medical treatment. She contacted GPPD later in the day to report finding a small baggie of methamphetamine in a suitcase owned by the suspect. Officers responded, seized the meth and booked it into evidence for destruction.

Posted on 5/3/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Warrant after Performing Highway 238 Welfare Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after responding to perform a welfare check on Williams Highway this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male subject in a wheelchair who was on the shoulder of Highway 238 near the 7th Street onramp on Wednesday night. A caller said they felt the handicapped man was in danger. Police said they contacted the 44-year-old man a short time later at Walgreens and discovered that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was also found to be in possession of narcotics. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and cited to appear in court for the drug violation. The methamphetamine was seized for destruction and the rest of the man's belongings were placed in safekeeping.

Posted on 5/3/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh