KLDR - Local News

City Residents Asked to Complete 2025 Grants Pass Community Priorities Survey

Grants Pass would like to receive comments and suggestions from community members on what they believe are the most important priorities for the City to accomplish. Strategic planning helps the Grants Pass City Council determine its priorities, organize, make big decisions and realize dreams. City Manager Aaron Cubic said the act of merely setting a goal brings about positive change for many people. When setting goals, he said we are creating an exciting challenge for ourselves. The strategic planning process does this by identifying the most important things to accomplish for the community, establishing organizational responsibility and reasonable time frames for achieving them, and allocating the resources necessary for programs and projects to implement them. Citizens are asked to take a brief survey to help the City understand what is important to the community. The survey can be found at "bit.ly/4krcxKo." The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 14th.

Posted on 3/6/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

Commissioners Vote to Formally File Appeal to Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously this morning to formally file an appeal against the statewide wildfire hazard map. The 3-0 vote by the Board followed a presentation by County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks before which he declared a conflict of interest because he owns property that has been designated a high hazard within the wildland-urban interface. Hicks said a large number of signatures have been gathered from citizens who are also filing appeals and they will be attached to the Josephine County appeal. He said the wildfire hazard map came from what he called "a flawed process," citing nine specific areas. He said the county's appeal will be sent out as soon as possible. In other business, the Board held a public hearing and then approved setting a new fee schedule for the Fairgrounds pertaining the former OSU Extension Service Office building located off Ringuette Street. Recreation Director Tamra Martin testified the building -- which has two separate wings separated by a commercial kitchen -- is now available for use by the public. The fee schedule calls for renting the full auditorium or separate wings at different rates for Monday-Thursday and Friday-Sunday for both public and private events. Hourly rates will pertain to community education and youth education clubs. The Commissioners also voted to approve a letter of support for a proposed historical monument for the Waldo Mining District, which was established in 1851.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:53AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Williams Man for Threatening His Wife in Violent Disturbance

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Williams man for threatening his wife during a violent disturbance at the couple's rural home yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 74-year-old male subject at a residence in the 300-block of Kincaid Road on Tuesday at 2:48 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband was "out of control." She said he was "manic" while throwing things and yelling at her, which was not common behavior for him. She added that this was his first such episode in several years. She was not hurt despite broken glass all over their house. According to the report, the woman asked deputies to be cautious as she was not sure how her husband would react to their arrival. When advised that deputies were on the way, she thanked dispatchers. Upon arrival, deputies placed the husband into custody without further incident. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:52AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested CJ Woman for Becoming Violent with Her Family Members

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office incarcerated a Cave Junction woman for becoming violent with her family members early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 500-block of North Old Stage Road on Tuesday around 3 a.m.. Deputies said a female caller reported that 33-year-old Meghan Melissa Gomez had hit her and assaulted her mother. Dispatchers could hear a woman yelling in the background and the caller advised that she was afraid, adding that the front door of the house had been broken off by the suspect. Upon arrival, deputies detained Gomez and found the rest of the family had locked themselves in a bedroom in order to stay away from her. Gomez was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was booked for Domestic Strangulation. She was being held without bail. Jail records show Gomez was arrested for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing in October 2024, but the District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:50AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Probation Violation after Finding Him with Drugs

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for violating his probation by possessing drugs in the north part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint at a business in the 1800-block of NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 9:50 a.m.. Police said the business owner reported several people on their property hiding behind buildings and digging through the dumpster. The caller wanted them removed from the premises. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 38-year-old Jordan Ellis Haas who was trying to conceal a small smoking device and tin foil. A consent search located a glass pipe which field-tested positive for both methamphetamine and fentanyl. The pipe was seized for destruction and the suspect's corrections officer was contacted. Haas was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth and Fentanyl Possession plus the resulting Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, Escape and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:49AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed CJ Man on Local Warrant after IV Thrift Store Trespass Call

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Cave Junction man on an outstanding warrant following a trespassing complaint in the downtown area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 51-year-old Robert David Smith near the Illinois Valley Thrift Store on South Redwood Highway around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies said they located Smith at the north end of the building and they were familiar with him from previous law enforcement contacts. They learned that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. Smith was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrant. He was also trespassed from the IV Thrift Store for one year.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:48AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Sisters for Allegedly Stealing While Employed by Walmart

Grants Pass Police arrested three sisters for allegedly stealing from their employer yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at Walmart on NE Terry Lane at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Walmart loss prevention had detained the sisters -- including two twins -- in their office for partaking in a string of thefts involving skip-scanning while using the shopping app at the store. The exact amount was likely less than $200. According to the report, one of the 23-year-old sisters admitted to stealing waters. Upon arrival, officers charged the sibling trio with 3rd-Degree Theft. All three were cited to appear in court and then released.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:47AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Motorist for Causing Crash with Semi on I-5 near Sexton Summit

The Oregon State Police cited a motorist for causing a crash with a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 near the top of Sexton Summit yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 69 on Tuesday at 3:47 p.m.. Troopers said driver statements indicated a Chevrolet Equinox driven by an 80-year-old man was following a Freightliner too closely, rear-ended the semi-truck, lost control and collided with the guardrail. No one was injured. According to OSP, the Equinox was towed into Grants Pass while the semi was able to be driven from the crash scene. Following an investigation, the driver of the Equinox was cited for Following Too Closely.

Posted on 3/5/25 11:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Detectives Investigating Monday Morning Shooting in Downtown Area

The Grants Pass Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred earlier this week in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to multiple calls about a male being shot near the corner of SW 6th and M streets on Monday around 2 a.m.. Police officers arrived within minutes of the first call and located a 32-year-old male victim a short distance away with a gunshot wound to an extremity. Medical care was provided immediately and the patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers searched the area, but the person or persons responsible for the shooting were not located. This is an active investigation and there is no known threat to the public. GPPD would like to thank the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, American Medical Response and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue for their help in this case. Anyone with information on this incident should contact Grants Pass detectives at (541)-450-6260.

Posted on 3/5/25 6:43AM 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 this week 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 afternoon. 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 3/5/25 6:42AM 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 this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported fight in front of the campsite that is located next door to GPPD headquarters late Monday night. 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 3/5/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh