KLDR - Local News

Oil Use for Cooking French Fires Ignited Kitchen in Fort Vannoy Area Home

For the second time in two days, a kitchen fire broke out in the Fort Vannoy area, mobilizing a response from Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue. On Thursday at 5:46 p.m., Rural Metro and Grants Pass firefighters responded to a reported blaze in the 300-block of Stewart Road. Rural Metro officials said oil used for cooking french fries on a stovetop evidently caused an ignition in the kitchen of the dwelling. Initial suppression efforts by the occupants using water turned out to be ineffective. Firefighters completed the suppression and were able to confirm spread into the attic was minimal. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Fire officials urge everyone to be cautious to ensure safe cooking. Do not leave cooking unattended. Do not use heat too high for proper cooking. Use a lid to smother fires involving oil in pans. Always have a working smoke alarm and have a charged fire extinguisher handy.

Posted on 1/24/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Medford Student Creates Winning Poster for "National Radon Action Month"

January is National Radon Action Month and students across the Pacific Northwest were encouraged to get creative to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas by participating in the annual Northwest Radon Poster Contest. Oregon's first place winning poster was created by 13-year-old Alexia Vallo of Medford. Her poster also took second place nationwide. Alexia will receive a $300 prize from the American Lung Association. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in homes. Both old and new housing can have radon problems. Testing is the only way to know if a home has radon because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Long-term exposure to radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Youths ages 9 to 14 who live in Oregon, Washington and Idaho are eligible to participate in the annual poster contest. Only one entry per student is allowed. The poster contest serves to raise awareness of harmful effects of elevated indoor radon levels and promote testing and mitigation of radon gas.

Posted on 1/24/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Local Library District Board Issues Statement Regarding GP Branch Lease Agreement

The Josephine Community Library District Board of Directors has issued a statement addressing the community regarding the ongoing discussions about the lease for the Grants Pass branch on NW C Street. First and foremost, the local library board extends its heartfelt thanks for citizen's advocacy efforts including letters, rallies and public statements in support of the district and its existing lease with Josephine County. The board also acknowledges endorsements by the Chamber of Commerce and Oregon Library Association. The current lease agreement of $1 per year -- which expires on December 31, 2025 -- aligns with the Josephine County Charter's obligation to provide support and maintenance for public libraries, specifically Section 14.5. This history of library funding in Josephine County provides important context. In 1997, a voter-approved 33-cent levy was designated to fund library operations. But after Measure 50 made the levy permanent, the Board of Commissioners merged it into the county's general fund. Over the years, as federal O&C timber revenues declined, the 33 cents originally meant for libraries became a crucial source of funding for other county departments. As a result, the library was left unfunded and ultimately forced to close in 2007.

Posted on 1/24/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

National Weather Service Posts Cold Weather and Wind Advisories across SW Oregon

An Air Stagnation Advisory that has dominated the weather in southwest Oregon over the past week will give way to cold and windy weather across the region. The National Weather Service has posted a Cold Weather Advisory from 10 p.m. tonight through 10 a.m. Sunday as well as a Wind Advisory from 10 p.m. tonight through 10 p.m. Saturday. Very cold temperatures combined with gusty winds will lead to wind chill values as low as 10 to 15 degrees in Josephine, Jackson and eastern Curry counties. Northeast winds from 10 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour are expected. Winds will be from the southeast from Ashland to Phoenix. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skins is exposed to these low temperatures. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may occur. Weather experts warn residents to keep pets indoors as much as possible. Winds this strong can making driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution while driving during this weather event.

Posted on 1/24/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Most Oregon Strike Teams Heading Home from Fighting Southern California Fires

Following a two-week mobilization to Southern California to assist with a massive wildfire response, 17 of Oregon's 21 strike teams are heading home. The Oregon State Fire Marshal reports two of the teams started their drives back to Oregon on Thursday while the remaining 15 began their journey home today. In total, the State Fire Marshal mobilized 21 teams including 370 firefighters plus 105 fire engines and water tenders, marking the largest out-of-state deployment in the agency's history. A Rogue Valley Strike Team consisted of crews from the Medford and Ashland fire departments, Jackson County Fire District #3 and Illinois Valley Fire District. These strike teams were assigned to the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles and spent the last two weeks working the fire lines and supporting communities impacted by these disasters. The State Fire Marshal has four remaining strike teams in California, two assigned to the Eaton Fire and two assigned to support initial attack efforts if any new fires start.

Posted on 1/24/25 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

Police Jailed Man on RRPD Warrant after He Tried to Flee in Downtown GP

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outside felony warrant yesterday after he tried to elude them in the downtown area. The Police Department reports 38-year-old Joshua Scott McFadden was finally arrested in the backyard of a home in the 800-block of SE 8th Street on Wednesday at 1:19 p.m.. Police said they spotted McFadden acting suspicious with two other men in an alley at SE 6th and M streets. They said he was wanted on a Rogue River Police Department felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a 2021 arrest for 1st-Degree Burglary. When officers approached him, he walked and then ran away. According to GPPD, officers set up a perimeter to locate McFadden and two of them apprehended the suspect in a residential backyard when he fled from a dog house where he was hiding and attempted to jump a fence. After the warrant was confirmed, McFadden was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:14AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Man for Dangerous Behavior at US Highway 199 Work Zone

The Oregon State Police arrested a Josephine County man for his dangerous behavior in a Redwood Highway construction zone near Wilderville yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident involving 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer near milepost 11 of US Highway 199 on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.. Troopers said Farmer was contacted for jumping in front of multiple vehicles, throwing rocks at vehicles and taking apart traffic control signs in an Oregon Department of Transportation construction zone. Fortunately, no one was hurt. According to OSP, Farmer was placed into custody as he was walking along the highway near the incident location. Farmer was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested GP Woman for Violating Court Order at SE City Home

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Grants Pass woman for violating a court order in a southeast city neighborhood yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 71-year-old female subject at a home in the 100-block of SE Grandview Avenue around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies said they responded to a domestic disturbance at that address, contacting the woman and the alleged victim before placing the woman into custody. No other details about the incident were disclosed by deputies except that the subject had violated a court order by being near the protected party. No injuries were reported. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Attempting to Swindle Fred Meyer Out of $20

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attempting to swindle Fred Meyer out of some money last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store located off the Grants Pass Parkway on Wednesday around 7:15 p.m.. Police said 58-year-old Troy Allen Hornsby entered Fred Meyer and placed batteries valued at $20 in his back pocket before proceeding past all points of sale and exiting the store. They said the suspect then re-entered the store to return the batteries he had just stolen. An unsuspecting clerk provided him with a gift card. Hornsby was stopped by loss prevention and the gift card was recovered, but he left before the arrival of law enforcement. Officers searched the area and finally located him near the corner of 7th and M streets. He was questioned and then placed into custody. Hornsby was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Fred Meyer.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:08AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant in Patrol Check at J Street Camp

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant early yesterday during a patrol check at the J Street homeless campsite. The Police Department reports officers contacted four people standing around a warming fire -- including 32-year-old Nicholas Leo Yeley -- at the campground in the 700-block of SE J Street on Wednesday at about 9 a.m.. Police said Yeley was contacted and found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Contempt of Court. They said a small baggie containing a "miniscule" amount of drug residue was found on the man and it was seized for destruction. He was placed into custody without incident. Yeley was lodged in jail on the warrant. His backpack and belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping. By order of the Grants Pass City Council, the J Street campsite will be permanently closed at midnight tonight.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:06AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Issued Two Citations and One Exclusion at 7th Street Campsite

Grants Pass Police issued two citations and one exclusion while performing a patrol check at the 7th Street homeless campground early yesterday. GPPD's Community Response Team reports officers cited Freedom Clayburn and Laura Momney for Unlawful Utilization of Space. It was Clayburn's third citation so she was trespassed from the temporary campsite for 30 days. During the patrol check, seven campers were contacted. A large single tent with poles was confiscated and stored at the city shops. By order of the Grants Pass City Council, the 7th Street campsite is now only open for "resting" between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily. Much smaller than the J Street campsite, there will not be enough room there for the displaced campers.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:04AM by Sam Marsh

Walmart Worker Detained by GP Police for Being Intoxicated on Skateboard

An employee of Walmart was on his way to work yesterday when Grants Pass Police detained him for being highly intoxicated. According to the Police Department, officers observed the man crashing his skateboard while entering the Walmart parking lot from the F Street side on Wednesday around 2:15 p.m.. Upon contact with the worker, police said they detected a heavy odor of alcohol coming from his person. They said he also had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. The man was going to start work at Walmart at 3 p.m., but showed he was not capable of caring for himself and was a danger to others because of it. The man admitted to crashing his longboard twice on his way to work. He also admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before leaving his home. The now former-Walmart worker was lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit.

Posted on 1/23/25 11:03AM by Sam Marsh