KLDR - Local News

BCC Seeks Individuals to Fill Vacancies on Jo Co Budget & Compensation Committees

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is seeking qualified individuals to apply for the Budget and Elected Officials Compensation committees. The Josephine County Budget Committee is composed of three Board members and three members of the public. It is responsible for reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Josephine County Elected Officials Compensation Committee is composed of three members of the public. This committee will review comparable counties' elected officials' compensation within Oregon and make a recommendation to the Budget Committee regarding Josephine County's elected officials. There is one vacancy on the Budget Committee and three vacancies on the Elected Officials Compensation Committee. Applications can be found online at "josephinecounty.gov" under "Government, Committees and Advisory Boards," or individuals may pick up an application from the Board of Commissioners Office at the Courthouse in Grants Pass.

Posted on 5/8/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Mass Casualty Drill to Close Ringuette Street near Grants Pass Hospital Early Friday

Asante Health Systems is holding a mass casualty drill near Three Rivers Medical Center that will temporarily shut down a Grants Pass street early tomorrow. On Friday from 7 to 10 a.m., Ringuette Street from Grandview Avenue to the Southgate Cinema driveway will be closed to through traffic to accommodate a Mass Casualty Incident Drill. Numerous emergency vehicles will be deployed in the area, but this is only a drill. Grants Pass Deputy Fire Chief Joe Hyatt said Asante's mass casualty drill will be similar to the one conducted in October 2023. A medical helicopter is scheduled to land in a field during the drill. The Ringuette Street closure is for safety reasons. Emergency vehicles will be utilized to ensure the roadway is closed and there will be ground spotters during the helicopter's landing and takeoff. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes during the drill.

Posted on 5/8/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

GPCC Approves Measures to Expand Rest Sites & Camping Restrictions

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night passed a resolution and an ordinance amendment aimed at relieving the injunction the city is under allowing the unhoused to rest in public areas except Riverside and Reinhart Volunteer parks. The Council first dealt with the ordinance amendment that was passed twice unanimously declared an emergency and consolidated the restrictions on camping in city parks and sleeping on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or in doorways. The Council followed with the resolution that delineated portions of 712 NE 7th Street, 704 NW 6th Street, 711 NW 5th Street and 714 NW 6th Street where a person may live, sleep, or leave personal property overnight within those locations for up to 96 hours before an individual must relocate. Those location bring the total number of spaces available to 150. An ordinance was approved to annex property at 535 Lincoln Road for development of a five-lot residential subdivision. The property is zoned for medium density development. Councilors also approved an ordinance amending the Urban Growth Boundary and the comprehensive plan map. The ordinance affects approximately 40 acres. It is basically a land swap with some property being added to the Boundary and an equal amount taken out. The transactions increase the feasibility of accommodating the city’s housing needs for the next 20 years. Land that was added is primarily flat with reasonable access to city infrastructure. The land swap must also be approved by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners who are set to hear the same presentation May 19th. The Council voted to readopt the City’s investment policy that has been in effect since 2022 and keeps at least $3 million in local banks in the form of certificates of deposit. The reservation fees charged for Riverside Park for the upcoming Frog O’Faire children’s event in the amount of $425.75 was waived by the Council. Eric Wade was appointed to the Solid Waste Agency.

Posted on 5/7/25 9:18PM by Chuck Benson

BCC Slated to Proclaim National Police Week and Consider Road Official Duties

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make an important proclamation regarding law enforcement during its Thursday business session. The Board will open the meeting by proclaiming May 11th-17th as "National Police Week." Next Tuesday, May 13th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will honor the six local officers gave who have given their lives to safeguard our rights and freedoms. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order that defines the responsibilities of the County Road Official. There will also be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Tomorrow's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 5/7/25 1:18PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Apprehended Fugitive Wanted on Nationwide & Statewide Warrants

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on nationwide and statewide felony warrants in the north part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Jaime Ray Boone at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Thrift Store and Food Bank on NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 8:42 a.m.. Police had been looking for Boone across the city because he was wanted on two fugitive warrants out of Marion County in Indianapolis, Indiana, for Felony Parole Violation related to crimes of 4th Degree Assault and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was also wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation. Boone was easy to identify due to his facial tattoos. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrants. It was unclear if he was going to be extradited back to Indiana.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Felony Drug Trafficking after SE City Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for felony drug trafficking and she could be facing additional charges following a Tuesday night traffic stop in a southeast city neighborhood. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Dodge Durango driven by 48-year-old Raelene Michele McKy near the corner of SE 10th and H streets around 8:30 p.m. yesterday. Officers said they stopped McKy for an obstructed license plate and she told them there was methamphetamine in the vehicle. They said she consented to a search which uncovered a black box containing about 16 grams of meth plus packaging materials and $210 in cash. She was also found to be in possession of multiple cellphones and shaved keys, which were also seized as evidence. McKy was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession and Delivery of Meth. She was also cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. Her vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Drunken Behavior after North City Welfare Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a male suspect for his alcohol-fueled behavior during a welfare check in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a male subject passed out in the parking lot between McDonald's and the Quality Inn off NE 6th Street on Tuesday at 10:28 a.m.. Police said citizens called 9-1-1 when they tried to wake up 51-year-old Kenneth Neal Mundhenke and he did not respond. A local business owner requested that he be trespassed from the property. Officers contacted the man and found him to be heavily impaired by alcohol. Mundhenke became combative with officers and resisted arrest by swinging at them and pulling his arms away. He was eventually placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Vandalizing Temporary Resting Site at 6th and A

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalizing the 6th and A Street homeless resting site last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the 704 NW 6th Street temporary campsite on Tuesday shortly after 8 p.m.. Police said they observed 34-year-old Kaleb James Farmer digging holes around the portable toilets at the resting site. They said it appeared that he was creating a large moat around the porta-potties and it was unclear why he was doing so. Officers learned that Farmer had been trespassed from the resting site earlier in the day and he had returned in order to damage the city-owned property. Farmer was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Motorist for DUII after He Caused Parkway Collision

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and referred other charges to the District Attorney's Office after he caused a wreck on the Parkway near Walmart yesterday. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on the Grants Pass Parkway at NE Terry Lane on Tuesday at 12:51 p.m.. There were no injuries reported. Police said an investigation determined that 54-year-old Jason Ward was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe while a second vehicle was stopped at the light at the intersection. They said he passed over the center median heading south on Terry and scraped the second vehicle before pulling into the Fred Meyer parking lot at the old gas station. Ward made no attempt to contact law enforcement or contact the other driver. He displayed several signs of impairment and was unable to perform any field sobriety tests due to his high level of impairment. His vehicle was impounded. Ward was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he provided a breath sample and was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Additional charges of Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and Reckless Driving were referred to the DA's Office for consideration.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII with Baby on Board near Walmart Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving with a baby on board his vehicle near Walmart last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the store on NE Terry Lane on Tuesday around 9:45 p.m.. Police said a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 to report a male subject later identified as 60-year-old Paul Allison Cypert stumbling around and almost dropping a baby while shining a flashlight in the infant's face. He was detained after an officer tried to retrieve a firearm from him and his hand motioned toward it. No one was hurt. According to the report, Cypert admitted to drinking alcohol at his residence before driving to Walmart with the baby. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. His wife responded and took custody of their child. Cypert was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Endangering. His vehicle was secured in the Walmart parking lot.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Young GP Motorist for Causing North Valley Crash that Hurt Man

The Oregon State Police cited a young Grants Pass motorist for causing a crash in the North Valley area yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision at Monument and North Valley drives on Tuesday at 4:17 p.m.. Troopers said the 19-year-old male driver of a GMC Jimmy SUV failed to yield the right-of-way when he was crossing the intersection and struck a southbound Toyota Prius that was being driven by a 36-year-old man. The driver of the Prius was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with minor injuries. The teen motorist was not hurt and his vehicle sustained minor damage. The Prius sustained heavy damage and was towed from the scene. Following an investigation, the young driver was cited for Failure to Yield. He was able to drive his vehicle away.

Posted on 5/7/25 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Office Seeks Public Assistance in Finding Missing Cave Junction Man

UPDATE: MISSING MAN HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFELY

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is asking for public assistance in finding a Cave Junction man who has been reported missing. Sheriff's officials said 55-year-old Gregory A. Hall was last seen leaving his home on Cedar Ridge Drive on Tuesday around 10:30 a.m.. He was driving a white Kia Rio with Oregon license plate "299 NJF." Hall was last seen wearing white floral-pattern swim shorts, a blue shirt and brown shoes. He left with his small Australian terrier dog. He is currently believed to be in the Illinois Valley area where he frequents surrounding woods and rivers. Hall is described as a white male adult, 5-feet-9-inches tall and 209 pounds, with graying blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gregory Hall is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

Posted on 5/7/25 9:17AM by Sam Marsh