KLDR - Local News

Deputies Arrested Man on Outside Warrants after Josephine County Park Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man on two outside felony warrants during a weekend traffic stop at or near Robertson Bridge Boat Landing. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle containing a 28-year-old subject in the 12,100-block of Lower River Road on Saturday around 1 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that one of the occupants was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Burglary and a Medford felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Burglary. Once the warrants were confirmed, the suspect was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on the warrants. He was set to be transferred to the Jackson County Jail in Medford. The driver of the vehicle was warned for violating park hours and told to move on.

Posted on 9/9/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

Tuesday is the Final Play Day at Riverside & Morrison Centennial Spray Parks

Those who want one last turn of summer cooling at Grants Pass city parks have just two more opportunities -- today and tomorrow. The Grants Pass Parks Department has announced that Tuesday will be the final day the spray parks will operate at Riverside and Morrison Centennial parks. The forecast for today is 92 degrees, with temperatures dropping to the 80s and 70s after Tuesday. Parks workers will start the process of winterizing the spray parks on Wednesday.

Posted on 9/9/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

Winchester Bay Boating Mishap on Oregon Coast Claims Life of Medford Man

A boating accident on the Oregon Coast claimed the life of a Medford man late last week. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reports 9-1-1 dispatchers received an alert regarding a boating mishap in Winchester Bay last Thursday at about 2 p.m.. As deputies were responding, the United States Coast Guard advised they located an overturned boat with subjects in the water. USGS personnel were able to rescue two subjects from the water, but a third individual was still missing. Deputies learned 63-year-old James McKeane of Medford had been fishing with his son -- 36-year-old Kenneth McKeane of Central Point -- and a neighbor -- 35-year-old Anthony Knight of Medford. After a few hours of ocean fishing, James McKeane was returning to the dock due to weather conditions in his 2020 Kingfisher boat. While progressing into the bay, a large wave crashed into the left side of the boat, causing it to roll over. All three occupants went into the water without lifejackets. The vessel eventually capsized. James McKeane and Knight were pulled from the water by the Coast Guard. Lifesaving efforts were initiated on Knight who was unconscious. Both James and Knight were transported to Lower Umpqua Hospital for medical treatment. Efforts to revive Knight were unsuccessful and he was pronounced deceased. Kenneth McKeane was later located by USGS helicopter on the North Jetty and was airlifted from there to North Bend Hospital. The fatal accident is under investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Division working in coordination with the Oregon State Marine Board.

Posted on 9/9/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Woman for Violating Court Order by Threatening Men with Gun

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a North Valley woman for violating a court order by threatening two men with a gun at a Hugo area residence. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 200-block of Hasis Drive late Friday afternoon. Deputies said a 37-year-old female subject called 9-1-1 to report seeing two men on her property through a ring camera. The caller said she was not home and no one else was supposed to be there. A short time later, a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report people fighting and screaming at each other. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the woman they identified as "Nicole Darleen Hollister" had used a gun to threaten her ex-husband and his friend. Deputies also learned that the woman was legally restrained in a protection order with a "no firearms" clause. They placed her into custody while seizing two firearms. Hollister was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Menacing plus Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. She was being held without bail. According to the report, Hollister's children were left with their grandfather and the Oregon Department of Human Services was notified about the incident that was witnessed by the kids.

Posted on 9/9/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested IV Woman for Previous Crimes Committed in Cave Junction

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley woman who was wanted for past crimes committed in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the 34-year-old female subject in the 5,000-block of Lakeshore Drive near Selma last Friday afternoon. Deputies said the woman they identified as "Andrea McGrath" admitted to several criminal mischiefs and attempted gasoline thefts related to two previous cases. McGrath was charged with probable cause of two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and one count of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was cited to appear in court and released, but not before being trespassed from Shopsmart and another business in the 100-block of South Redwood highway.

Posted on 9/9/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Hot Weather Causes Small Portion of Salt Creek Fire to Rekindle near Lake Creek

Hot, dry and windy weather caused a small portion of the Salt Creek Fire to rekindle in the Eagle Point area yesterday. The Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded to an estimated one-acre fire off Salt Creek and Gardner roads, north of Highway 140, on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters engaged in an aggressive initial attack that included one crew, a water tender, a bulldozer and multiple aircraft. A second 20-person crew, an additional engine and a helicopter were ordered as the blaze grew to 3-5 acres. In a 5:30 p.m. update, ODF reported crews were knocking down the active fire and holding it to less than five acres. Resources remained engaged on the fire and continued building containment line before mopping up the incident. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. The Salt Creek Fire burned just over 4,000 acres between Eagle Point and Butte Falls earlier this summer.

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

Multiple Agencies Extinguished Saturday Evening Vegetation Fire near Murphy

Multiple agencies knocked down a vegetation fire in the Murphy area over the weekend. On Saturday at 5:14 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Applegate Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass and brush fire on Crystal Drive near Williams Highway. Rural Metro officials said forward progress of the blaze was stopped at just under a half-acre. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened. Officials said investigators were looking into the cause of the fire, but it may have involved a powerline.

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

CJ City Council Meeting Features Resolutions, Park Request & Proclamation

Tonight's Cave Junction City Council meeting features two resolutions, a park use request and a proclamation. Following the monthly Public Works and Planning updates, Mayor Meadow Martell and Councilors Ethan Lane, Tina Casey Jones, Jean Ann Miles and Jesse Dugas will consider a request to use Jubilee Park for a music festival. Molly Lehman has submitted a request for a Summer Jam Festival on Saturday, October 12th. She is requesting a full park rental with amplified sound. There is also an OLCC Liquor License Recommendation from Sushi & Asian Cuisine on the agenda as well as a proclamation for the Daughters of the American Revolution. After the public comment period, the Council will consider one resolution to support the Fair Housing Act and another resolutions declaring a home on South Redwood Highway to be a nuisance. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

Posted on 9/9/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police and Firefighters Kept Heat on Criminals and Off Structures Last Week

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters kept the heat on criminal offenders and off structures in the city last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 673 calls for service along with 259 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 50 arrests, 43 citations, 43 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 58 traffic stops in the city and they made a total of 14 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team contacted a total of 157 potential trouble-makers while arresting four people, citing nine more and warning 88 others. The CRT unit also trespassed four individuals from homes or businesses in the city. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue received a total of 105 calls last week including 31 for emergency medical service, six for reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, five rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 14 business inspections, led five education/prevention programs, assisted the public 13 times and properly installed two child car seats.

Posted on 9/9/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Local Homeowners Can Apply to Oregon Community Heat Pump Deployment Program

Homeowners living in the Southern Oregon region can now apply for financial incentives for installing heat pumps in their owner-occupied homes through the Oregon Department of Energy's Community Heat Pump Deployment Program. The Community Heat Pump Deployment Program provides financial assistance to homeowners toward the purchase and installation of heat pumps in their owner-occupied residences. Up to $5,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets minimum efficiency requirements. Up to $7,000 is available for the purchase and installation of a heat pump that meets higher efficiency requirements. A grant of up to $4,000 may also be available for eligible upgrades such as a new electrical panel or weatherization or structural repairs that reduce heat and cooling loss. The incentive and grant amounts may not exceed 100% of the cost of purchase and installation of a heat pump or eligible upgrades. For more information on the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program, visit "oregon.gov/energy/incentives/pages/CHPDP.aspx."

Posted on 9/9/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

City of GP Announces Construction of Dollar Mountain Trail Project Starts Today

The City of Grants Pass has announced that construction of the Dollar Mountain Trail Project will begin today. The initial phase of the project will involve building approximately five miles of trails on the east side of the existing trails located off Hieglen Loop. Trail construction is expected to last until the beginning of December, weather permitting. Closed areas will be marked and the public is cautioned not to venture into any closed area at any time. If you have questions about the Dollar Mountain Trail Construction Project, please contact Parks Superintendent Josh Hopkins at: "jhopkins@grantspassoregon.gov."

Posted on 9/9/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Responded to 2 Structure Fires in Cave Junction Area Late Friday

Firefighters responded to two structure fires in the Cave Junction area late yesterday. On Friday at 5:23 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to a structure fire in an undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found the homeowner was able to extinguish the fire, but they were burned in the process and transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass. Firefighters confirmed the blaze was out and there was no extension to the attic space or surrounding wildland. On Friday at 7:09 p.m., IVFD, Rural Metro Fire Department and AMR responded to a structure fire in another undisclosed location of Cave Junction. Arriving units found a fully-engulfed two-story home, with some spread to the wildland that was quickly suppressed. Officials said the home was a total loss, but no firefighters or civilians were hurt. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 9/7/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh