KLDR - Local News

Commissioners Remove Four Outdated Ordinances from Josephine County Code

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning removed four outdated ordinances from the County Code and amended a current ordinance. The Board voted unanimously to repeal ordinances pertaining to attorney fees, utility consumer choice, sanitary landfills and the designation of county-owned property as sanitary landfills. The votes followed four brief public hearings. Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper testified that the removed ordinances date as far back as 1964 and they are unnecessary as they are outdated or no longer being used. The Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an amendment to an existing ordinance related to emergency medical services. Harper testified that the ordinance would be updated with some language deleted and a new section would be added for medical transport of timber employees injured on the job. The second reading and adoption is scheduled for September 18th. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved a revision in the bylaws for the Emergency Medical Services Board and a renewal of the ambulance services contract with American Medical Response. Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Nutall opened the meeting with a presentation on the requirements for annexation and withdrawal from special districts based on questions regarding the Josephine Community Library District. Last December, the Board approved a library withdrawal petition from Mike and Winnie Pelfrey -- but the approval went against Oregon Statutes and it was reversed earlier this year. Nutall said that state laws on district annexations and withdrawals both require a petition signed by the lesser of 15% or 100 electors or the greater of 15 owners or owners of 10% of the acreage of the subject property. The difference, she said, is withdrawals require 15% or 100 electors of the district while annexations require the majority of owners of the subject property only.

Posted on 9/4/24 11:54AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Reinstating Extreme Fire Danger in Josephine & Jackson Counties on Friday

The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced it is reinstating "extreme" fire danger in Josephine and Jackson counties on Friday. Due to dry vegetation, hot conditions and numerous active fires in the region, ODF will increase the fire danger level from "high" to "extreme" at 12:01 a.m. Friday. ODF officials said fire danger decreased to "high" in the local district following significant rainfall in late August. But due to increased temperatures, dry fuels and the potential for east winds, the fire danger is returning to "extreme." The regulations impact 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and BLM lands protected by ODF's Southwest District. Starting Friday, the use of power saws; the cutting, grinding and welding of metal; and the mowing of dry or dead grass is completely prohibited. Operation of all other spark-emitting internal combustion engines is also banned. All other fire season restrictions continue including bans on outdoor debris burning as well as open fires in areas of flammable vegetation. Motor vehicles -- including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles -- may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops. Smoking is prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations. For more information about fire season restrictions in Josephine and Jackson counties, please visit "swofire.com."

Posted on 9/4/24 11:52AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man for Stealing Mail & Casing Homes in North Valley Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing mail and casing homes in the North Valley area late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 30-year-old male subject near the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Monument Drive on Tuesday at 4:41 p.m.. Deputies said multiple residents called 9-1-1 to report a "scruffy" man was getting into mailboxes and trespassing while looking around houses in the area. The callers advised the subject had several items stuffed into his pockets as he walked along Pleasant Valley Road. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect on the shoulder of the road and advised him to stop walking, which he did. He was ordered to remove his hands from his pockets, which he also did. However, he refused to speak to deputies and ignored them while standing still. Due to his behavior, deputies called for backup from the Oregon State Police and two troopers responded to assist. The man identified as "Michael Jeffrey Richards" was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Mail Theft and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/4/24 11:50AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man for Stealing from Fred Meyer after US Highway 199 Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Fred Meyer late yesterday following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Nissan Pathfinder containing the 35-year-old male subject at a gas station on US Highway 199 near Ringuette Street on Tuesday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said Fred Meyer loss prevention officers advised a man wearing a white tank top had stolen more than $640 worth of items by placing them in a purple bag, exiting the store and getting into the Nissan. The SUV was last seen heading south on the Grants Pass Parkway, so officers fanned out to look for the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the suspect was found to be a passenger in the Nissan and he admitted to taking the items without paying for them. He was captured on video surveillance committing the crime and was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Fred Meyer, which recovered the stolen items.

Posted on 9/4/24 11:48AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Warrant after Bad Behavior Reports in Redwood Area

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding local warrant last night after he was reported to be engaging in bad behavior in the Redwood area. According to the Police Department, officers placed the 24-year-old male subject into custody in the 1900-block of Redwood Avenue on Tuesday around 8 p.m.. Police said they received several reports of the subject walking in and out of traffic while drinking an alcoholic beverage. They said the man had caused a disturbance at a local convenience store, he was hitting things and kicking his dog before he threw the bottle at passing motorists. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Upon contact with police, the subject initially provided a false name before telling them he had a warrant and wanted to be detained. Officers confirmed that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Mischief, so he was placed into custody. The subject identified as "Andrew Benito Cruz-Martinez" was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. His dog was taken to the Animal Shelter.

Posted on 9/4/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh

One Killed and Two Injured in Highway 99 Wreck near Central Point Last Week

One person was killed and two people were injured in a motor vehicle accident that occurred near Central Point last week. The Oregon State Police reported late yesterday that troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash on Highway 99 at Scenic Avenue on Thursday at 2:19 p.m.. Troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a Nissan Rogue driven by 76-year-old Marjett Charlem Schille of Central Point was traveling north on Highway 99 when it attempted to make a left turn onto Scenic Avenue against a flashing yellow light. A Chevrolet C25 driven by 21-year-old Michael Anthony Culmone of Gold Hill was entering the intersection heading south on a green light when the two vehicles struck nearly head-on, leaving the roadway and crashing into a pole. According to OSP, Schille and a passenger identified as 75-year-old Robert Michael Lewis of Central Point were transported by ambulance to an area hospital. Lewis sustained life-threatening injuries and died at the hospital on Monday while Schille sustained serious injuries. Culmone was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Marjett Schille was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. OSP was assisted by Jackson County Fire District #3, Mercy Flights Ambulance and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested IV Man for DUII and More after Interstate 5 Crash near Hugo Exit

The Oregon State Police arrested an Illinois Valley man for impaired driving and other crimes after he wrecked a sport utility vehicle into the back of a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 near Hugo. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash in the northbound ascent up Mount Sexton near milepost 67 of I-5 Monday morning. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a 44-year-old Selma man was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that rear-ended a Hyundai semi-truck driven by a 55-year-old man from Victorville, California. They said the SUV driver displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene. According to OSP, a 36-year-old female passenger in the SUV was found to have serious injuries and she was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. The heavily damaged SUV was towed to Grants Pass while the semi had minimal damage and it was able to be driven away. The Selma man was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving, Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, two counts of Reckless Endangering and Aggravated Driving While Suspended.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Young Woman for Hurting Father by Throwing Vape Pen at Him

Grants Pass Police jailed a young woman for assaulting her father with a vape pen at a northeast city residence this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 900-block of NE Savage Street on Monday morning. Police said an 18-year-old woman called 9-1-1 to report that her father had pulled a knife on her, but an investigation determined the father removed the knife from the reach of the young woman who has a history of threatening others with knives. After officers interviewed witnesses at the scene, the teenager admitted to getting angry with her father and throwing a vape pen at his head. The impromptu weapon broke skin on her father and he was bleeding, but he refused medical treatment. While being placed into custody, the young woman admitted she had meth in her room and a small amount was seized for destruction. The young suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault and Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was being held without bail. A charge of Meth Possession was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Out-of-State Fugitive Who Requested Ride to Sobering Center

Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-state fugitive early yesterday after a report of suspicious activity at a north-city gas station and convenience store. The Police Department reports officers arrested 61-year-old Lucian Leroy Boyer at the GPPD west gate on NW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly after 2 a.m.. Police said Boyer went to the Pinnacle 365 in the 1,000-block of NW 6th to ask how to get to the police station. He told the attendant that he wanted officers to take him to the Grants Pass Sobering Center. Once he arrived at the station, he called 9-1-1 and requested transport to the Sobering Center. Once officers identified the man as Boyer, they discovered that he was wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault and Escape. He was also wanted on a Clackamas County warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. Boyer was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on the warrants. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to Washington.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

First Responders Rescued Motorcycle Rider Trapped Under Bike near Wonder

Multiple agencies rescued a motorcycle rider who became trapped underneath his bike following a crash near Wonder late yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a remote location about one mile up Briggs Valley Road on Tuesday at 4:35 p.m.. Crews eventually located the incident down a dirt side road where they walked in to the scene. That's where they found a motorcycle rider with a street bike laid over him, pinning his ankle. The rider claimed to have been there since Monday. After lifting the bike off the rider, a quick medical evaluation was performed and no injuries were found. The rider restarted his motorcycle and rode away.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

BCC to Hold 5 Public Hearings and Consider 2 Orders for Emergency Services

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold five public hearings and consider two Administrative Action items regarding emergency services during its weekly business session this morning. One of the public hearings is on the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the Josephine County Code relating to Emergency Medical Services. The four other hearings are on the second readings of ordinances that would repeal outdated chapters in the County Code pertaining to the Payment of Attorney Fees, Utility Consumer Choice, Sanitary Landfills, and the Designation of Certain County Lands for Sanitary Landfills. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider an order to adopt Bylaws for the Emergency Medical Services Board along with another order to Renew the Ambulance Service Contract with American Medical Response. The Commissioners will open the meeting with a presentation from Legal Counsel on Special District Annexation and Withdrawal Requirements. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Nurse Accused of Stealing Patients' Fentanyl Sparks $303M Suit against Medford Hospital

Nine patients who survived and the families of nine other patients who died have filed a $303 million lawsuit against a Medford hospital, claiming it didn't follow proper safety protocols that would have prevented a nurse from stealing their prescribed fentanyl and replacing the painkiller with bacteria-laden tap water. The Oregonian reports the medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit represents the largest claim so far against Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for the alleged acts of former nurse Dani Marie Schofield in 2022 and 2023. Schofield has been charged with assaulting 44 patients for allegedly stealing their painkillers. Asante did not immediately return a request for comment about the lawsuit. Previously, only one suit had been filed – seeking $11.5 million for the death of a 65-year-old man whose family claims he developed a life-ending infection after Schofield allegedly swapped his painkillers with non-sterile tap water. The latest suit states that all of the 18 former patients listed as plaintiffs developed bacterial infections after an employee took their fentanyl and replaced it with tap water. The suit doesn't name Schofield or list her as a defendant who may be financially liable, but the suit's lawyers had previously identified her as the employee at the center of this case.

Posted on 9/4/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh