KLDR - Local News

Commissioners will Hold Public Hearing on New Fee Schedule for Fairgrounds

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing for setting new fees for the Fairgrounds during its business session this morning. Following public comment, the Board will consider an order that adopts a new fee schedule for the Fairgrounds. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider a letter of support for a proposed historical monument in Josephine County as well as filing an appeal of the statewide wildfire hazard map. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 3/5/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County Announces Transition to Its Own Emergency Notification System

Since 2015, Jackson and Josephine counties have operated under a single shared Everbridge account that allowed utilization of the notification system known as "Citizen Alert." As of this week, Jackson County has transitioned to its own Everbridge account and has rebranded its notification system as "Jackson Alerts." This transition allows for enhanced security and control of alerting options, features and alert senders within the system. Josephine County Emergency Management will continue to use Citizen Alert and residents of Josephine County will not be impacted. Jackson Alerts continues under the Everbridge notification system that is used by counties statewide to issue important messages to communities such as wildfire evacuations, missing person alerts, and the opening of warming and cooling shelters. It enables individuals to enroll and register up to five physical locations for which they would like to receive important alerts. Registered individuals can also choose their preferred method of receiving alerts. For Jackson County residents or individuals who work in Jackson County that had been previously registered in Citizen Alert, your information has already been transferred to the Jackson Alerts notification system. If you had an email registered with your Citizen Alert account, you will receive an email from the sender "Jackson Alerts" that will provide instructions on how to log in and ensure that your information is up to date.

Posted on 3/5/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine Community Transit Releases Video of Electric Bus Fire in Early January

Josephine Community Transit has released a video showing the real-time spread of a fire as it engulfed a bus in early January. It's something the program supervisor said is the first of its kind. On January 8th, a transit operator noticed a fire emerging from the roof of an unoccupied 35-foot electric bus at the Josephine County Public Works charging area. The operator immediately called emergency services and other operators followed existing protocol to move other vehicles away. Though the bus was totaled, no one was harmed and JCT services continued as normal. Several investigations are being conducted by Josephine County's insurance carrier, the vehicle's manufacturer and county maintenance experts. All three investigations will eventually converge and a final report will be issued. The goals are to ascertain why the fire happened and to make sure it never happens again. The video -- available online at "youtu.be/2knxizm3Egg" -- compiles various recordings of the incident into a single timeline, allowing researchers and fire investigators a unique glimpse into how a runaway thermal event can occur.

Posted on 3/5/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Rentec Direct Announces 2025 Tech Mastery Scholarships for Oregon Students

A leading property management software provider based in Grants Pass has launched its 10th annual Tech Mastery Scholarship, which is now dedicated to supporting Oregon college students. Rentec Direct's Tech Mastery Scholarship Fund was created to empower future technology leaders by awarding financial assistance to college students pursuing degrees in computer science, software development or closely related fields. As an Oregon-based company, Rentec Direct recognizes and values the dedication and talent of aspiring tech influencers in this state. To foster growth within the local technology sector, the company will grant up to four $500 scholarships to outstanding students who are either residents of Oregon or attending an Oregon-based college or university. Scholarship applications for Fall 2025 will be accepted through April 30th. 2025 scholarship recipients will be notified in June. For more details on eligibility requirements and submission guidelines or to apply for the Tech Mastery Scholarship, visit "rentecdirect.com/scholarship."

Posted on 3/5/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Commissioners will Hold Public Hearing on New Fee Schedule for Fairgrounds

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing for setting new fees for the Fairgrounds during its weekly business session tomorrow. Following public comment, the Board will consider an order that adopts a new fee schedule for the Fairgrounds. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider a letter of support for a proposed historical monument in Josephine County as well as filing an appeal of the statewide wildfire hazard map. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 3/4/25 11:50AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Captured Washington Fugitive & Recovered Stolen Car in Traffic Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended an out-of-state fugitive and recovered a stolen vehicle yesterday during a traffic stop on Williams Highway near Murphy. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 27-year-old David Nolan Vanwetter following a high-risk traffic stop on Highway 238 at Ridgefield Road on Monday at 3:52 p.m.. Deputies said they started following a Toyota Prius driven by Vanwetter on the highway at East Fork Road in Williams after they discovered the car had been stolen out of Washington state. There was also a female passenger in the vehicle. Upon contact, deputies learned that Vanwetter was wanted on serviceable warrants out of Washington and Hawaii. He was wanted in Washington for failing to appear in court for Possession of a Weapon. Vanwetter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant and he awaits extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to Washington. As of this morning, he had not been charged with vehicle theft. The stolen car was recovered and towed into Grants Pass. The female passenger was not identified -- she was given a courtesy ride into town.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man after He Beat Up Second Man near 7th Street Campsite

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for bad behavior after he physically assaulted another man near the 7th Street homeless campground late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported fight in front of the campsite that is located next door to GPPD headquarters on Monday at 10:50 p.m.. Police said they contacted several subjects at the campsite after the incident was captured on video surveillance. One of those subjects was 35-year-old William Lee Jensen, who was seen beating up an Hispanic male subject. The victim had a bloody face from the confrontation, but he did not wish to pursue charges. According to the report, Jensen told officers the victim owed him $40 since last summer and he chose to attack him. Jensen was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was also trespassed from the 7th Street camp for 30 days and was provided with an exclusion form.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Felony Warrant following Weekend Child Exchange

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant last weekend after a prearranged weekend child exchange at a local supermarket. The Police Department reports officers placed 26-year-old Zackery Levi Flansburg into custody near Safeway in the Williams Highway Plaza on Sunday afternoon. Police said they were informed that Flansburg would be arriving at the store for child exchange. They knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Felony 4th-Degree Assault, which indicates the incident took place in front of kids. Officers waited until the exchange was made, pulled over a vehicle containing Flansburg and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $25,000 bail.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Coos Bay PD Warrant during Downtown Patrol Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant late last night during a patrol check in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 30-year-old Jacob Levi Reeder near the corner of SE 7th and I streets on Monday around 11:45 p.m.. Police said they spotted Reeder and knew him from previous criminal encounters. They also knew that he was wanted on a Coos Bay Police Department warrant for Disorderly Conduct. He was placed into custody without incident. Once Reeder's identity and the warrant were confirmed, he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Cited Pair and Evicted One for Illegal Camping at City Park

Grants Pass Police cited two people and evicted one of them for violations at a city park yesterday. GPPD reports officers were performing a patrol check at Tussing Park when they contacted Lori Signs and John Hanson who were camping there. Signs and Hanson may not have been aware that a Josephine County Circuit Court Judge lifted the temporary restraining order that had prohibited law enforcement from enforcing public camping restrictions. Two campsites on NE 7th Street and at 6th & A streets are now open and camping is again prohibited in city parks. Signs and Hanson were both cited for Illegal Camping. It was Sign's second such citation, so she was issued a 30-day exclusion notice.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:35AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County SO Participating in Nationally-Funded Traffic Safety Effort

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is currently participating in a nationally-funded traffic safety campaign. During the month of March, the Sheriff's Office is engaged in a traffic safety effort called "Speeding Slows You Down." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's high-visibility enforcement speed prevention campaign is focused on the consequences of speeding -- such as tickets and fines -- while urging drivers to slow down. Motorists are encouraged to watch their speedometers and drive at safe speeds to help keep local roadways safe.

Posted on 3/4/25 10:33AM by Sam Marsh

IV Man Faces Seven Charges after Stealing Chainsaw & Threatening Victim

An Illinois Valley man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly stole a chain saw from a homeless man and threatening him last weekend. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 41-year-old Israel James Hopper for the incident in the Chapman Creek Road area on Sunday. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 Sunday morning and reported that Hopper came up to the Ford F-350 flatbed truck he was living in, threatened him and took his Husqvarna 525 Mark 2 chainsaw valued at more than $700. The suspect then started using the chainsaw to cut firewood on Chapman Creek. When the victim tried to confront Hopper, Hopper allegedly used his Toyota pickup to ram the victim's truck before fleeing the scene. A Chapman Creek resident saw what happened and corroborated the victim's story. Following an investigation, deputies located Hopper, recovered the stolen saw and placed him into custody. Hopper was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on seven charges including Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Felony Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault, Menacing, Reckless Endangering, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/4/25 6:38AM by Sam Marsh