KLDR - Local News

GP Police Cited Woman for Petty Theft after She Stole Item from Grange Co-op

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for petty theft after she stole an item from Grange Co-op yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Dowell Road on Thursday around 1:30 p.m.. Police said the 35-year-old female subject admitted to concealing some chicken medication valued at $14 and walking past all points of sale without paying for it. Grange Co-op loss prevention officers told GPPD the suspect was cooperative. The suspect was cited to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft and then released. She was also trespassed from the store.

Posted on 3/21/25 10:37AM by Sam Marsh

Congressman Cliff Bentz Set to Appear "Live" on KAJO Radio Saturday Morning

Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz will be in Grants Pass on Saturday and he is scheduled to appear "live" on KAJO Radio at approximately 9:15 a.m. tomorrow. According to the Congressman's staff, Bentz wants to bring his constituents up to speed on what is happening in Washington, DC. The Congressman's time in Grants Pass is short, but we expect at least a 15-minute conversation. Chuck Benson will host.

Posted on 3/21/25 9:38AM by Sam Marsh

National Fugitive from GP Died by Apparent Suicide in Central Point Traffic Stop

A Grants Pass man wanted on a national felony warrant died by apparent suicide this week during a high-risk traffic stop near Central Point. The Jackson County Sheriff's office reports deputies and United States Marshals were in the Table Rock Road area on Wednesday searching for a suspect with a nationwide extraditable warrant for multiple child sex abuse charges. Deputies said 36-year-old Franklin James Hodson of Grants Pass was involved in a domestic altercation on Orr Drive in rural Central Point last Sunday when he threatened a woman with a firearm. They developed probable cause for his arrest for Domestic Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Firearm and the sex abuse warrant. Law enforcement learned of Hodson's whereabouts, attempted to detain him and he eluded capture in a vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies and US Marshals conducted a high-risk traffic stop near the intersection of Orr Drive and Table Rock Road. After a brief standoff, the suspect apparently shot himself and died. The Oregon State Police reports Hodson was wanted out of California for a total of 15 child sex abuse charges. OSP said the felony warrant was for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:48AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Roughing Up Longtime Wife at Redwood Area Home

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early yesterday for roughing up his longtime wife at a home in the Redwood area last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 51-year-old male subject for the incident in the 1600-block of Willow Lane on Thursday at 1:25 a.m.. Police said a woman called to report there was a physical domestic disturbance with her husband of 24 years on Saturday. She told dispatchers that her husband placed both hands around her neck and impeded her breathing for one minute, leaving her with bruises and moderate pain. Officers arrived on scene, interviewed both parties and the husband admitted to choking his wife. It was unclear why the wife waited to report the incident until late Wednesday night. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic 4th-Degree Assault and Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:47AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on State Warrant after Williams Highway Conduct Calls

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant this week after responding to a disorderly conduct incident on Williams Highway. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Brandon David Chipps in the 2100-block of Highway 238 on Wednesday afternoon. Police said they received reports of a male subject taking off his clothes, screaming and walking into traffic on the highway. One caller stated that the man left a pile of items and a bicycle on the sidewalk in front of their home. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Chipps and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State Penitentiary warrant for Parole Violation related to a conviction for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was placed into custody without incident. Chipps was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His bicycle and belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:45AM by Sam Marsh

Police Snared Man for Warrant and Drugs after GP Shopping Center Incident

Police arrested a man on a local warrant and for drug possession this week while responding to a disturbance at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. According to GPPD, officers were patrolling the shopping center off NE D Street during the noon hour on Wednesday when they heard yelling and screaming coming from the alley near Magic Donuts. Police said they observed a woman actively screaming at a man whom they later identified as 35-year-old Wayne Patrick Baker. They said the argument was verbal only, but it caused workers to come outside their nearby businesses. Upon contact with Baker, officers discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for 3rd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. During a consent search, Baker admitted to being in possession of a methamphetamine pipe. The pipe tested positive for meth residue and it was seized for destruction. Baker was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. The woman -- identified by police as "Morgan Botello" -- was warned for Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:44AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Theft and Drugs after Home Depot Shoplifting Call

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for theft and drug possession this week during a shoplifting incident at Home Depot. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Wednesday evening. Police said 48-year-old Justin Lee Stout collected more than $350 worth of items from Home Depot and passed all points of sale without paying for the goods. He was detained by loss prevention and the stolen items were recovered. Officers arrived on scene and -- during a consent search -- Stout was found to be in possession of a baggie containing methamphetamine. He advised them that he has been dealing meth, but not using it. It was seized for destruction. Stout was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:43AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County Deputies Made Nine DUII Arrests on St. Patrick's Day Holiday

Patrol deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office had an eventful St. Patrick's Day holiday this year. Jackson County deputies arrested nine suspects for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants on Sunday and Monday of this week. All nine of the arrests were made in the Medford, Central Point and Talent areas. They included seven controlled substance DUIIs and two for alcohol. During the nine arrests on March 16th and 17th, deputies discovered multiple baggies of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine, a concealed firearm, and a felon carrying a concealed knife and brass knuckles. These cases are ongoing. This effort was made possible by grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:40AM by Sam Marsh

BCC to Address 3 Administrative Action Items at Today's Business Session

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to address three Administrative Action items during its weekly business session this morning. For undisclosed reasons, the Commissioners have moved their next two business meetings from the traditional Wednesday time-slot to Friday. The Board will first consider an order assigning transfer authority to the Recreation Director for moving money from the Permanent Fairgrounds Fund to the Recreation-Fair Fund. The permanent fund contains the proceeds from the sale of The Flying Lark and the Fairgrounds is allowed to spend the interest on projects. The Commissioners will also consider an order establishing a Josephine County Veterans' Camping Program as well as an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the ODOT Middle Rogue Metropolitan Planning Organization. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens, in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:28AM by Sam Marsh

Medford BLM District Shuts Down Rogue River National Trail Due to Significant Landslide

Due to a significant landslide caused by heavy rains, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management is closing the Rogue River Trail. BLM recreation staff were finally able to access the Rogue River Trail on Thursday after flood waters receded. Less than half-a-mile from the Grave Creek Boat Ramp, crews found a large landslide that blocked the trail. Officials said there may be other storm-related impacts that haven’t been assessed by BLM staff yet. The trail is on a steep hillside and the damage creates significant safety issues for the public. The closure order covers the BLM-managed portion of the Rogue River Trail from Grave Creek to Marial. Members of the public may not enter closed areas and all uses -- including hiking, hunting and dispersed camping -- are prohibited. Due to storm damage, the BLM has also closed the Rainie Falls Trail on the south side of the Rogue River. Last weekend's heavy rainfall caused significant flooding, landslides, fallen trees and damage to facilities across the Medford District. Crews are out in the field conducting damage assessments and prioritizing repairs.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:20AM by Sam Marsh

Illinois Valley SWCD Launches Kerby Fuels Reduction Project with Wildfire Defense Grant

The Illinois Valley Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has announced the commencement of the Kerby Fuels Reduction Project, which is being funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) initiative. This critical effort will address wildfire risk in the northern Illinois Valley by creating an 80-acre strategic wildfire fuels break through thinning, hand-piling and burning activities. The $113,744 project is a collaboration between the IV SWCD, Grayback Forestry and key partners including the Illinois Valley Watershed Council and the Illinois Valley Fire Resiliency Oversight Group. Work will take place on 14 private properties in the Kerby area, with Grayback Forestry leading the effort. This initiative is an integral component of the North Illinois Valley Strategic Implementation Area (SIA), spearheaded by the IV SWCD in partnership with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The SIA will focus on restoration project work in the Kerby and Selma areas over the next four years.

Posted on 3/21/25 5:18AM by Sam Marsh

Southern Oregon Roller Derby Event to Help Support Local Food & Friends Program

Southern Oregon Roller Derby is holding its second bout of the 2025 season on Saturday at the Medford Armory against California's Shasta Roller Derby. Southern Oregon Derby will have concessions and team merchandise available at the game. In addition, there will be a bake sale and silent auction with proceeds going to their service partner Food & Friends. Food & Friends is the "Meals on Wheels" and Senior Meals Program for Jackson and Josephine counties. They deliver meals to the homes of older adults who are unable to shop or prepare meals due to illness, injury or disability. Each month, their volunteers deliver more than 21,000 meals to seniors and serve over 3,000 meals at their 10 congregate senior dining centers in Southern Oregon. In 2024, the program served over 288,000 meals to over 3,000 people in Jackson and Josephine counties. For more information about Food & Friends, please visit "rvcog.org" and follow them on Facebook at "Food & Friends of Southern Oregon."

Posted on 3/21/25 5:16AM by Sam Marsh