KLDR - Local News

IVFD, ODF, Rural Metro Extinguished Selma Vegetation Fire

A vegetation fire was reported Thursday in the 900 block of Lakeshore Drive in Selma.

Crews with the Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, and Rural Metro Fire responded to the quarter-acre fire around 4:31 p.m.

The fire has been extinguished, and an investigation is currently being conducted by ODF.

Posted on 9/25/26 12:41PM by Alex Bauer

ODHS Asking SNAP and TANF Benefit Recipients to Provide Updated Information

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is asking some people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to provide updated income information by the end of the month.

ODHS reports they began mailing notices September 16th, and about 1,706 people will receive the notices by the end of the week. If you received a notice, read it and respond by September 28th. Providing the requested information gives an ODHS eligibility worker a chance to review your case and make sure your benefits are correct.

If ODHS does not receive the requested information by the 28th, your benefits may be reduced or your case may close, beginning with October benefits.

If you received a Missing Information notice, read it carefully, and provide the requested income verification by the 28th. Per ODHS, respond even if you think the information is wrong, as an eligibility worker can review the information with you.

You can contact ODHS if you have questions or need help. The department expects to conduct additional income checks over the next 12 to 15 months. The timing of future checks is still being finalized.

ODHS is checking income to help families receive the right amount of benefits at the right time. The check is one of many steps Oregon is taking to improve accuracy and to lower the SNAP payment error rate. You can talk with an ODHS eligibility worker by calling the Service Center at 800-699-9075 if you need help.

Posted on 9/25/26 12:40PM by Alex Bauer

RCC to Host Inaugural Educational Opportunities Powwow Sept. 26

Rogue Community College will host its inaugural Educational Opportunities Powwow on Saturday, Sept. 26, inviting the community to experience Native American culture, learn about higher education opportunities and celebrate the importance of education and community.

Hosted by RCC’s Diversity Programming Board in partnership with David West and the Southern Oregon Indian Center, the free event will bring together tribal communities, students, families, educators and community organizations for an afternoon and evening of traditional dancing, drumming, food, education and connection.

Guests can expect a Grand Entry at noon and again at 7 p.m., when dancers and others make a formal entry. The master of ceremonies will provide guidance throughout the event, including when guests should stand, when photography is appropriate and when visitors may be invited to participate in certain dances.

The event will be held at the RCC Redwood Campus, 3345 Redwood Highway.

Posted on 9/25/26 11:40AM by Alex Bauer

Woman Wanted out of Jackson County Lodged in JoCo Jail for Disorderly Conduct

Early Thursday morning, Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman wanted on an out-of-county warrant.

Crystal Lucas was contacted behind the incident location in the 25,000 block of Redwood Highway at 1:37 a.m. She was detained and taken into custody for her Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant.

Lucas was charged with Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and deputies transported her to the Josephine County Jail. She was lodged on her warrant, but due to a lack of jail resources, she was released later that morning.

Posted on 9/25/26 9:41AM by Alex Bauer

Suspect Wanted on 11 Child Sex Abuse Charges Lodged by JoCo Sheriff's Deputies

A man wanted on 11 child sex abuse charges was apprehended by Josephine County Sheriff's deputies Thursday afternoon.

The suspect, Alexander Eckhart, was taken into custody around 4:57 p.m. in the 6100 block of Monument Drive after being contacted in a recreational vehicle. He had a warrant out of the Sheriff's Office charging him with the 11 sex abuse crimes.

After confirming the warrant, deputies transported Eckhart to the Adult Jail Facility where he was subsequently lodged.

Posted on 9/25/26 9:32AM by Alex Bauer

Jackson County Fire Crews Tackle West Main Street Garage Fire

Wednesday night around 9 p.m., Medford Fire Department crews responded to a reported fire in a detached garage on West Main Street.

With assistance from Jacksonville Fire Department and Jackson County Fire District 3, crews arrived within five minutes of the report and quickly extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the interior of the garage.

The garage remains intact, but the interior and contents sustained significant heat and smoke damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Posted on 9/25/26 8:02AM by Alex Bauer

ODF, IVFD, Rural Metro Stop Forward Progression on Lakeshore Drive Fire

Emergency crews responded Thursday to a quarter acre grass fire along Lakeshore Drive in Selma.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, crews and agency partners Illinois Valley Fire District and Rural Metro Fire began an aggressive initial attack. Firefighters worked quickly and stopped forward progression of the blaze around 4:55 p.m.

Crews will continue working on mop-up operations, checking for remaining heat and securing the fire's perimeter. The official cause of the blaze remains under investigation. This will be the final update on this incident unless conditions significantly change.

ODF says the fire serves as a reminder that even with light rain in the forecast, fire season is still in effect, and vegetation remains dry enough to carry fire. It’s important to remain vigilant and continue practicing fire prevention. If you’re unsure of the current fire regulations, visit the ODF Southwest Oregon District Facebook page.

Posted on 9/25/26 6:56AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Man for PV Detainer upon Contact at Morrison Park

While out with a group of people at the Bottle Drop, Grants Pass Police later took a man into custody for a parole violation detainer.

Officers arrived at the 1040 Rogue River Highway location Wednesday around 9:27 a.m. James Bendickson, the suspect, was soon located at Morrison Park around 9:36 a.m. He was on probation, and his parole officer was contacted. A detainer was requested, so Bendickson was taken into custody.

He had been previously contacted by law enforcement for scattering rubbish, and the responding officer in that case handled a citation against Bendickson. He was then taken to jail and lodged for his detainer.

Posted on 9/24/26 2:09PM by Alex Bauer

Jackson County Honors Ashland Wastewater Treatment Plant Staff with Award

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners presented the City of Ashland's Wastewater Treatment Plant with the Community Partner Appreciation Award at its regular meeting last week.

The award recognizes the voluntary sampling the plant has provided at the request of Oregon State University and the Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services.

The award was presented to Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Ben Russell and to all Ashland wastewater treatment plant staff. The Board expressed its admiration and gratitude for the plant's service to the Jackson County community.

Ashland wastewater treatment plant staff collect samples each week. Those samples are used to track levels of disease in the community, which allows the Health Department to watch trends in illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV and measles.

Posted on 9/24/26 1:51PM by Alex Bauer

Grants Pass Becomes State's First DMV Office with In-Office Express Kiosk

The Grants Pass DMV at 162 NE Beacon Drive became the state’s first to offer an in-office Express Kiosk.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the kiosk provides a way for customers to renew a vehicle registration, print a copy of a vehicle registration, or replace a vehicle registration card and stickers.

Customers can bypass the lobby line, renew their vehicle registration in English or Spanish, and walk away with their printed vehicle registration and license plate stickers. Kiosks do not require an appointment, and most transactions take five minutes or less to complete. 

The stickers include the vehicle’s license plate number, a feature only available at kiosks, to prevent theft and fraud. Upcoming transaction options will include driver reinstatement fees and miscellaneous vehicle fees.

The Grants Pass DMV kiosk will be available during regular office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. In addition to the renewal fee, a vendor transaction fee of $4.95 is charged for each transaction.

Posted on 9/24/26 1:29PM by Alex Bauer

Drug Activity in Riverside Park Bathroom Results in One Arrest by GP Police

Grants Pass Police trespassed a man following a possible drug use complaint at Riverside Park Wednesday morning.

A Parks Department employee reported to dispatch at 11:14 a.m. that a park goer approached him, saying there were several individuals inside the men's bathroom. It was believed drug-related activity was taking place, and the employee requested a response from law enforcement.

Upon arrival, officers contacted Justis Cory and another individual inside the restroom. A consent search was conducted, and a small rubber container was located in Cory's backpack that contained a crystal like residue.

He was taken into custody for Possession of Methamphetamine and a Parole Violation detainer, then transported to the Josephine County Jail for lodging. Officers also trespassed Cory from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 9/24/26 11:53AM by Alex Bauer

Grants Pass Students Make Significant Gains on State Assessments

Grants Pass School District 7 students made significant gains in both English Language Arts (ELA) and math on the 2025-26 Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) tests, with growth across the district and particularly strong gains in grades 3, 5 and 7. According to a statement, districtwide, ELA proficiency increased 4.3 percentage points, from 46.6% in 2024-25 to 50.9% in 2025-26. Math proficiency increased 4.2 percentage points, from 31.9% in 2024-25 to 36.1% in 2025-26. Across Oregon, proficiency increased by 0.8 percentage points in ELA and 1.4 percentage points in math. Statewide, 43.8% of students were proficient in ELA, and 32.9% were proficient in math. Grants Pass students outperformed the statewide proficiency rate. The district was 8.9 percentage points above the state in third-grade ELA, 10.0 points above in fifth-grade ELA, and 8.1 points above in seventh-grade ELA. In math, Grants Pass was 8.0 points above the state in third grade, 5.1 points above in fifth grade, and 10.8 points above in seventh grade.

Posted on 9/24/26 11:19AM by Alex Bauer