KLDR - Local News

SOREDI Issues Matching Gift to Josephine Childcare Business Accelerator Program

The Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI), Foundation has announced a matching gift to catalyze childcare businesses through a new pilot small business mentoring partnership between the Southern Oregon Early Learning Hub (SOELS) and Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center (RCC SBDC). The foundation gift totaling $10,000 will be directed toward the Josephine County Childcare Business Accelerator Pilot Program, which aims to mitigate the challenge of workforce childcare shortages and will be leveraged for $10,000 more in matching funds. Other funding partners include $10,000 from Josephine County's SOELS and the City of Grants Pass Childcare Grant which contributed $30,000 in incentives for businesses with the urban growth boundary. Operational funds have also been leveraged with Business Oregon Capacity Building and Marketing funds, RCC SBDC staff and advisors matching efforts, and RCC. These funds will be disbursed to childcare businesses upon completion of the program. SOELS offers to administer and distribute funds. The RCC SBDC will facilitate outreach, business startup and growth advising, mentoring and state licensing checklists in coordination with SOELS.

Posted on 3/11/25 5:17AM by Sam Marsh

Medford's Historic Holly Theatre Set to Reopen Thursday for the First Time Since 1986

After more than a decade of restoration, Medford's historic Holly Theatre is set to re-open on Thursday for the first time since 1986. With a complete restoration back to its original look and feel -- but with modern amenities, the opening will feature a gala celebration followed by an exciting two-day lineup of headline acts. Opening night will feature an evening with The Piano Guys. Since their official debut in 2011, The Piano Guys have unleashed 13 albums, securing six #1 debuts on Billboard's Top Classical Albums chart. Friday will feature a performance by long-time honorary Holly Co-Chair Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts. Star of screen, television and stage, Belushi and his band played to a sellout crowd of 2,000 nearly a decade ago as a benefit for the Holly restoration. Tickets for both concerts are still available and can be purchased online at "hollytheatre.org" up until showtime. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Holly Box Office at 226 West 6th Street in Medford Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on concert days two hours before showtime.

Posted on 3/11/25 5:14AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed 4 Suspects while Participating in "Operation Sentinel" in Jo County

The Oregon State Police arrested four suspects while participating in "Operation Sentinel" over the weekend in Josephine County. Operation Sentinel is a law enforcement effort to apprehend out-of-compliance sex offenders. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Friday morning when troopers arrested 50-year-old Christopher Athel Gillette of Cave Junction and 36-year-old Yordan Emilov Ilchev of Selma in the 27,500-block of Redwood Highway. Gillette was wanted for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender and Ilchev was wanted on a felony warrant for Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana. Both men were lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident happened around midday Saturday when troopers arrested 33-year-old Robert Willard Linville of Grants Pass during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Hayes Hill. Linville was stopped for traffic violations and found to be wanted on a local felony warrant for absconding on his parole. He was lodged in jail. The third incident took place Sunday morning when troopers arrested 54-year-old Tony Edward Campos of Grants Pass on Penny Lane. OSP was assisting the Josephine County Sheriff's Office which had developed probable cause to arrest Campos for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was lodged in jail.

Posted on 3/10/25 9:42AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man on State Felony Warrant on East Fork Road in Williams

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in the Williams area late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 51-year-old Christopher Joseph Scott, III, in the 1700-block of East Fork Road on Friday around 12:45 p.m.. Deputies said Scott called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers: "I have a warrant for my arrest out of Polk County. Come get me now or you will never see me again." The suspect refused to provide his phone number, but said he would stay in the same location for two hours or he would be "gone forever." Upon arrival, deputies contacted Scott and confirmed that he was wanted on a Polk County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 4th-Degree Assault and Strangulation. He was placed into custody and a family living there was unharmed. Scott was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $65,000 bail. He was scheduled to be transported to Polk County early this week.

Posted on 3/10/25 9:40AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested IV Man for Ill-Mannered Behavior at O'Brien General Store

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man for boorish behavior after he allegedly threatened an elderly employee at the O'Brien General Store. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident at the store in the 33,000-block of Redwood Highway on Saturday around 3 p.m.. Deputies said 44-year-old William Bruce Damon, III, was loitering at the general store and was asked to leave by an employee. They said Damon motioned with his arm and fist as if he was preparing to hit the elderly worker. He left the store, but came back several times to harass customers and employees and disrupt business. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Damon and determined he had been drinking. He was uncooperative both before and after being placed into custody. After being loaded into the patrol vehicle, he spat and slammed the cages a few times, telling deputies he was going to fight them when the handcuffs came off. The handcuffs stayed on and Damon was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/10/25 9:38AM by Sam Marsh

IV Firefighters Extinguished 2 Vehicle Fires near Kerby and Selma Late Sunday

The Illinois Valley Fire District extinguished two vehicle fires late yesterday -- one near Kerby and the other near Selma. On Sunday at 3:46 p.m., IVFD and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a small vehicle fire on Redwood Highway in the Sauers Flat area. The fire was successfully extinguished and no injuries were reported. The vehicle owner made arrangements to have their vehicle towed to Cave Junction. On Sunday at 10 p.m., IVFD, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a large vehicle fire near the intersection of Thompson Creek Road and Briar Lane. It was initially reported as a structure fire. Arriving units found a recreational vehicle completely engulfed in flames, with minor extension to the surrounding wildland. IVFD and Rural Metro crews put out the fire and completed overhaul operations. The fire was being investigated.

Posted on 3/10/25 9:37AM by Sam Marsh

Glendale Woman Killed When She was Struck by Vehicle on OR Highway 140

A Glendale woman was killed late last week when she was struck by a vehicle in Jackson County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 140 near Blackwell Road shortly after 6 a.m. Friday. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated that a Nissan Frontier pickup driven by 47-year-old Jerid William Gunter of Medford was traveling east on the highway when it struck a pedestrian later identified as 39-year-old Naomi Hope Gomez in a non-lit area. According to OSP, Gomez was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for about two hours for the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:40AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Deputies Captured Nationwide Fugitive from Florida in Williams Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a nationwide fugitive from Florida in the Williams area late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 45-year-old Gary Lane Carden in the 6,000-block of Thompson Creek Road on Friday at 2:30 p.m.. Few details about the apprehension were disclosed, but Carden was wanted on a Leon County, Florida, Sheriff's Office warrant for failing to appear in court on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Felony Fleeing from Police, Possession of Ammunition and a Conservation Violation. Carden was also wanted on a restricted warrant for Possession of Counterfeit Identification, Impersonating Another and Furnishing False Information to Police. Carden was lodged on the warrants at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man on Statewide Warrant after Dollar Tree Car-Clouting Call

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant after he was implicated in a car-clouting incident at the north Dollar Tree store at the start of the weekend. The Police Department reports officers contacted and arrested 42-year-old Joshua Allen Alexander in a parking lot in the 1200-block of NW 6th Street on Friday at 5:43 p.m.. Police said they responded to a report of a male subject with a black mask breaking into a Jeep. Following an investigation, there was no evidence that he tried to enter the vehicle. However, a records check revealed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a burglary conviction. According to the report, Alexander and his female companion -- identified as "Raven Clifton" -- were both found to be in possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The drugs and an associated glass pipe were seized for destruction. Alexander was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. Clifton was cited and released for the drug crime.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:37AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Incarcerated Man for Driving Subaru Forester Stolen from Ashland

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for driving a stolen vehicle in the Williams area late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to a vehicle that had been reported stolen on Williams Highway near Tetherow Road early Friday morning. Deputies said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center relayed a message to them about a 1999 Subaru Forester that had been stolen out of Ashland and was seen in that area. They located the stolen vehicle and contacted the driver, whom they identified as 42-year-old Stephen Eric Ewan. Ewan was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. He was being held without bail. The stolen Subaru was towed to Grants Pass and a voicemail message was left for the registered owner to pick it up.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:20AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Motorist for DUII+ after Weekend Pursuit on GP Parkway

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after a weekend pursuit on the Grants Pass Parkway. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies attempted to pull over a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup on the Parkway between the walls on Friday at 10:37 p.m.. Deputies said the driver -- whom they identified as 25-year-old Dylan Thomas Wilcox -- refused to stop and led them on a chase on the Parkway that reached speeds of up to 70 miles per hour before he eventually pulled over at Parkway Village off NE F Street. Wilcox was detained at gunpoint. He displayed signs of impairment and was placed into custody without incident. Wilcox was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:19AM by Sam Marsh

Cave Junction City Council Meeting Features Interested Agenda Tonight

UPDATE: CAVE JUNCTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 17TH.

The Cave Junction City Council will tackle an interesting agenda for its monthly meeting tonight. After Public Works and Planning updates, the City Council will consider a request to stage a Siskiyou Clinic Pet Parade at Jubilee Park on May 3rd. The Council will then listen to a presentation from the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce on a Dark Sky Feasibility Study followed by a proclamation regarding Vietnamese-American Heritage & Freedom. As part of New Business, the City Council will consider a resolution to increase park cleaning and key deposits plus an ordinance amending Sidewalk Construction & Repairs to meet insurance liability requirements. Two other ordinances would increase balance allowances for payment agreements as well as set citywide system development charges and storm water fees. Also on the agenda is the third continuation of a public hearing to adopt an ordinance regarding flood hazard protection to meet FEMA and state standards. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

Posted on 3/10/25 5:17AM by Sam Marsh