KLDR - Local News

Four Way Foundation and GP School District Presenting 25th Anniversary PAC Celebration

The Four Way Community Foundation is assisting the Grants Pass School District in presenting a special variety show event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and to launch a fundraising campaign to update and beautify the facility. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, at 6:30 p.m. in the PAC at Grants Pass High School, which is located at NE 8th and Olive streets. In 1996, the local foundation was instrumental in the community-wide effort to raise funds to build the 730-seat venue, providing over $500,000 from a bequest from the estate of Mel Voorhees, the Kay Pratton Fund and other charitable gifts. Numerous individuals and businesses made donations to build the facility, and voters passed a bond for the new high school which included creating the PAC, which opened in May of 1999. The GPHS PAC has the finest acoustics of any venue between Seattle and San Francisco. It is in use almost every day by community groups, visiting performers and students. After 25 years of almost constant use, the theater needs some items that are beyond the scope of annual school district allocations.

Posted on 4/17/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass to Hold Roundtable Discussion on Public Safety Funding on Thursday

The City of Grants Pass will convene a roundtable discussion related to public safety funding tomorrow. Thursday's roundtable session will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street. During its April 1st workshop, a majority of the City Council wanted to hold a public safety funding conversation before deciding whether to proceed with the referral of a food & beverage tax to voters in the November general election. During the session, city staff will present an overview of public safety services provided by the police and fire departments along with the various funding options the Council has considered. This will be followed by questions and answers. City officials said this roundtable discussion is being treated as a normal Council workshop and does not provide an opportunity for public comment. A quorum of Council members may be present.

Posted on 4/17/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Expected to Adopt Ordinances Making Changes to Josephine County Code

The Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt five ordinances that change the Josephine County Code during its weekly business session tomorrow morning. The Board will hold five public hearings on the second readings of each of the ordinances. The first readings were approved after April 3rd hearings. The ordinances pertain to repealing chapters related to the Urban Area Planning Commission, Jackson-Josephine Regional Board, Jefferson Behavioral Health and Job Council. The other ordinance amends the chapter for the Solid Waste Agency. All five ordinances are considered housekeeping items to keep the Code current. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners will consider one resolution to establish an Administrative Internal Service Fund and a second resolution to establish a County Services & Fleet Fund. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 4/16/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man on Texas & Local Warrants after City Park Patrol Check

Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted on out-of-state and local warrants after a city park patrol check early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 42-year-old man at Lawnridge Park on NW Hawthorne Avenue on Monday at about 8 a.m.. Police said they contacted the man for an observed ordinance violation and learned that he was wanted on a Bexar County, Texas, felony warrant for 2nd-Degree Assault on a Family Member. The suspect was also wanted on two Josephine County warrants -- one containing a secret indictment for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and the other for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail and faces possible extradition to send him back to San Antonio. According to the report, uncapped needles were located inside the man's tent and they were properly disposed of.

Posted on 4/16/24 10:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man Who Stole from Walmart on Clackamas County Warrant

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who stole items from Walmart last weekend and discovered that was wanted on an outside felony warrant. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane on Sunday around 3:50 p.m.. Police said a 41-year-old male suspect stolen merchandise from Walmart, but dropped the items when confronted by loss prevention and ran away from them. Responding officers located the suspect on NE Fairview Avenue and advised him that he was under arrest. But the man ran away from law enforcement and -- after running in and around residential backyards -- he was placed into custody. That's when police discovered that the suspect was wanted on a Clackamas County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Possession of Heroin. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant along with a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft. He was awaiting transfer to Clackamas County.

Posted on 4/16/24 10:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant after Home Depot Shoplift Attempt

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant during a weekend shoplifting incident at Home Depot. According to the Police Department, officers arrested the 38-year-old male subject for the incident at the home improvement store on NE Mill Street at 4:56 p.m. on Sunday. Police said Home Depot employees called 9-1-1 to report a suspect placed some merchandise in a bag, proceeded past all points of sale and exited the business before he was confronted by loss prevention. He immediately dropped the stolen items and fled into the store parking lot. That's where officers placed him into custody. A routine records check revealed that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Fraud and Furnishing False Information to Police. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was also trespassed from Home Depot.

Posted on 4/16/24 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man on Local Warrant after Cave Junction Welfare Check

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on a local warrant during a weekend welfare check in Cave Junction. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested the 28-year-old male subject at gunpoint in the 500-block of South Redwood Highway around 8:15 p.m. Sunday. Deputies said 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from that address, which was hung up. Dispatchers returned the call and heard some voices before someone said "never mind" and hung up again. Additional calls went straight to voice mail. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the man in one of three cabins on the property. They discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was flagged as a flight risk known to run from law enforcement, but he was placed into custody without further incident. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 4/16/24 10:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Six Campers from City Parks after Monday Patrol Checks

Grants Pass Police evicted six campers from city parks during patrol checks on Monday. At Riverside Park, a man was cited for Inoperable Vehicle on Public Property, a man and woman were cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Park Open Space, and a man was cited for Illegal Camping after he failed to remove his previously posted campsite. Three out of the four campers were trespassed for 30 days. At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping and Buffer Zone Violation, and another man was cited for Staking a Tent and Illegal Camping. Both were issued 30-day park exclusions. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping and Buffer Zone Violation. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Baker Park, two people were cited for drug possession after they were found to be in possession of aluminum foil with fentanyl residue. They were warned that another such violation would result in a park exclusion.

Posted on 4/16/24 10:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Disturbance at Hospital after Violent Crash near Merlin

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for a disturbance at Three Rivers Medical Center where he was being treated for injuries sustained in a high-speed weekend crash west of Merlin. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 23-year-old man at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Sunday at 4 a.m.. Police said the man had been transported to TRMC after he crashed his vehicle in the 2200-block of Galice Road late Saturday night. The violent wreck totaled the vehicle, leaving car parts -- including the engine -- scattered in a field. Hospital staff called 9-1-1 to report that the patient was being belligerent and he was spitting at staff members in the emergency room. Officers responded and placed the man into custody with assistance from hospital security. The suspect was medically cleared and then lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on suspicion of Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Reckless Driving and Driving While Suspended. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/16/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man on Local Warrant after He Fled from Transient Camp Check

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man on an outstanding warrant after he tried to flee from a weekend patrol check of transient camps near Tom Pearce Park. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 41-year-old man at Taser point on Foothill Boulevard just east of Grants Pass on Sunday at 12:12 p.m.. Deputies said a property owner on Pearce Park Road alerted them to multiple transient camps along his property line on Moon Mountain. The caller stated that at least some of the camps were on county-owned property near Tom Pearce Park. As deputies walked into the area, they spotted a man fleeing on a bicycle. They chased him down and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for 3rd-Degree Escape. He was being held on $50,000 bail. The bicycle had its serial number partially removed, so it was placed into safekeeping as found property.

Posted on 4/16/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Motorist for Multiple Crimes after Weekend Stop on NE 7th

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after a weekend traffic stop in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers eventually pulled over a silver Chrysler driven by a 34-year-old motorist at the Towne Pump gas station on NE 7th Street on Sunday shortly after 11 a.m.. Police said they initially stopped the suspect for speeding past GPPD headquarters near Lithia Dodge. For unknown reasons, the man drove away from the traffic stop before stopping at the Towne Pump. He was reported to be uncooperative, refused to provide any identification and argued with an officer. The motorist made movements to drive away after being told he was not free to leave. Additional units arrived on scene and non-lethal force was used to subdue the man who was then placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Resisting Arrest and Failure to Present a Driver's License. He was also cited for No Operator's License, No Insurance and Switched License Plates. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 4/16/24 6:00AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Probation Violation after He Vandalized Pot Business

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his probation by vandalizing the windows at a downtown cannabis business last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the vandalism incident at Diamond Cannabis on SW 6th Street on Saturday afternoon. Police said store employees reported a male transient came into the store on Friday night asking for free product. When he was refused, he got upset and returned with a metal pole which he dragged across the windows. Damage to the frosted vinyl on the front and side windows of the store was estimated to be more than $3,000. Officers searched the area, eventually located the 25-year-old suspect and placed him into custody around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus Probation Violation related to numerous arrests for Petty Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 4/16/24 5:58AM by Sam Marsh