KLDR - Southern Oregon's Music Leader

Rogue Community College Sees Enrollment Surge & Strengthen Local Economy

Rogue Community College is continuing its upward trajectory from the previous year, reporting a nearly 19% increase in full-time equivalent enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year. RCC's growth also stands out at the state level. The college's 18.9% enrollment increase from fall 2023 to fall 2024 far surpasses the average 5.7% increase reported by other Oregon community colleges. This positions RCC as one of the top-performing institutions in the state. During the past two fall terms, RCC has achieved a 24.7% growth in enrollment as compared to the statewide average of 6.3%. Enrollment for Fall 2024 is underway. RCC's total student population grew from 8,366 in 2022-23 to 9,280 in 2023-24. College officials report the increase is due to the school's recruitment initiatives, strong community support and commitment to high-quality education. RCC President Randy Weber said this achievement highlights the college's collective efforts and the unwavering support of the community. He said they are grateful to their dedicated faculty, staff and Board of Education, adding that their commitment is fundamental to RCC's success as an educational and economic cornerstone in Josephine and Jackson counties. RCC's commitment to serving high school students and partners has also contributed to its success. During the 2023-24 academic year, RCC provided 16 training cohorts for high school students in credit and non-credit programs, further strengthening the pipeline from secondary to post-secondary education to skills that translate into employment.

Posted on 9/14/24 5:24AM by Chuck Benson

GP School District Educator Named Southern Oregon Regional Teacher of Year

The Oregon Department of Education -- in partnership with the Oregon Lottery -- has announced a Grants Pass educator is one of the state's 18 Regional Teachers of the Year. Kellen Akiyama teaches English Language Arts and African-American Studies at Gladiola High School. Every day in Oregon classrooms, teachers offer their innovation, energy and content mastery in support of students across the state. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across Oregon. Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated, skilled and knowledgeable licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12. Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members. "Kellen has been an exceptional advocate for his community," stated by a peer in his nomination. "He incorporates art and music, such as hip hop and poem, to his social studies curriculum so students can relate to their learning better and explore different ways to show their understanding through various mediums." Akiyama and the other 17 Regional Teachers of the Year win a $1,000 cash prize and are in the running for the 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year to be announced in October.

Posted on 9/13/24 1:00PM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Assaulting Legally-Protected Woman at Riverside Park

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating a court order after he allegedly beat up a legally-protected woman at a city park yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 42-year-old male subject for the domestic violence incident at Riverside Park on Thursday at 11:46 a.m.. Police said they responded to the park after citizens reported a man assaulting a woman inside a vehicle parked near the playground. Upon arrival, the female victim advised officers the male suspect fled on foot toward the Rogue River. Officers confirmed the woman did not need medical attention and then observed the man walking back to the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that there was a no-contact order in place prohibiting him from contacting the victim following a previous assault. He was placed into custody without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Contempt of Court -- Violation of a No-Contact Order. He was being held without bail and he was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Felon for Local Warrant and More after Motel 6 Disturbance

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon on an outstanding warrant and more after he caused a disturbance at a north-city motel early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street around 7 a.m. Thursday. Police said 29-year-old Jake Robert Thompson was the subject of a call requesting he be trespassed from the motel for yelling at employees while holding a knife. He did not threaten workers with the knife, but he is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing any weapons. Responding officers located Thompson walking south on 6th Street. Upon contact, they discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of a 4-inch double-edged knife that was seized as evidence. Thompson was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Thompson has been arrested for violating his post-prison supervision 11 times since last November.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Felon Arrested for Violating His Parole after Reckless Riding of Motorcycle

A Grants Pass felon was arrested for violating his post-prison supervision last night after he was caught riding a motorcycle recklessly in the northwest part of the city. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a motorcycle ridden by a 36-year-old male subject identified as "Robert Mikeal Shaw" near the corner of NW Manzanita Avenue and Washington Boulevard on Thursday around 9:30 p.m.. Police said Shaw was observed operating a street bike at a high rate of speed through the parking lot of the north Dollar Tree and failing to stop when exiting the parking lot onto Manzanita. After he was stopped, he was found to be riding the unregistered bike with a suspended license and no insurance. Shaw's corrections officer was contacted and requested that he be placed on a detainer. Shaw was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and he was being held on a no-bail detainer. He was also cited for the traffic violations and his motorcycle was impounded.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:07AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Trying to Steal Merchandise from Walmart Store

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal merchandise from Walmart yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 12:39 p.m.. Police said a 46-year-old female subject was detained by Walmart security after she skip-scanned and tried to conceal more than $111 worth of items. She passed all points of sale and was stopped prior to exiting the store. The stolen items were recovered and she was placed into custody. According to the report, the entire incident was filmed by video surveillance. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The keys to her vehicle were taken to GPPD headquarters to be picked up by her husband.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:06AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Former Employee for Trespassing at Rogue Valley Door

Grants Pass Police arrested a former employee of Rogue Valley Door after he trespassed on the business property early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the disturbance at the door manufacturing company on NE Beacon Drive on Thursday at 10:25 a.m.. Police said a 33-year-old male subject is an ex-employee of Rogue Valley Door and he is no longer welcome on the property. They said he was there to profess his affection for a female employee and he refused to leave when asked to do so by a manager. Officers arrived on scene and ordered the subject to exit the business. He initially said he would, but then changed his mind and refused to go. That's when he was placed into custody for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and lodged in jail.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Traffic Complaints on Bridge Street

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving early yesterday after multiple traffic complaints on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a black Nissan Frontier driven by a 53-year-old male subject near the Dollar General in the 2,000-block of SW Bridge Street on Thursday at about 10:50 a.m.. Police said the subject had generated several complaints due to his erratic driving behavior. They said one of the complaints came from a store clerk who refused to sell him any more alcohol. Upon contact, the man displayed numerous signs of impairment including watery eyes, slurred speech, difficulty in walking and a strong odor of alcoholic beverages. He admitted to drinking six cans of wine. Due to the man's extremely poor balance, he was not asked to perform field sobriety tests. He was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle and belongings were left in the care of a friend.

Posted on 9/13/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

IMET Task Force Busts Phoenix Black-Market Pot Grow Connected to California

The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) of Jackson County raided a black-market cannabis growing operation in the Phoenix area this week. On Wednesday, IMET detectives -- assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police -- served a search warrant in the 4,000-block of Fern Valley Road. During execution of the warrant, IMET seized more than 6,000 illegal marijuana plants in 20 greenhouses. During the initial investigation, detectives learned the Phoenix property was connected to a black-market marijuana growing operation in Northern California. There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling or processing at this location. IMET arrested one suspect on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office for another suspect. The arrestee was identified as 44-year-old Yuhua "Shirley" Hong of Montague, California. She was charged with three felony counts including Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Distribution of a Marijuana Item. Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $26,000 in fines to the responsible party. The Oregon Water Resources Department also responded to investigate the water usage and violations may be added in the future. While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads.

Posted on 9/13/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Threatening Family Members at Fish Hatchery Residence

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for threatening his family at a property in the Fish Hatchery area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 2600-block of Fish Hatchery Road on Wednesday night. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 and reported her husband's 57-year-old son was threatening to burn down their house while killing them and a granddaughter. She said the son came home from work drunk and raging. He reportedly lives in an RV on the property and has numerous firearms. According to the report, the suspect told the granddaughter that if they called the police on him and he went to jail, when he got out he would kill them all. He also yelled about burning down the house and having a sharp knife. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect in a shop building near the RV and they placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Menacing and was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/13/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared CJ Woman for Violating Court Order by Slashing Mother's Tires

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Cave Junction woman for violating a court order by slashing the tires on her mother's vehicle at least one time. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 100-block of South Kerby Avenue on Wednesday. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her 27-year-old daughter slashed two tires on her vehicle and that she had just gotten them repaired from a previous tire-slashing incident. The caller stated that she had valid restraining order protecting her from her daughter. The victim reported the first incident occurred last Saturday afternoon. She said she heard her dogs barking and a neighbor saw a female subject walking away from her vehicle after the subject had slashed two tires. Damage was $143 per tire. Deputies searched the area and located the daughter near the Cave Junction Post Office. She admitted to cutting her mother's tires on Saturday, but not this week. She realized she violated the court order and knew her actions were wrong. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and booked into the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/13/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Causing Violent Disruption at Designated Campsite

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for several crimes after he caused a violent disruption at one of the city's designated campgrounds this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 41-year-old male subject they identified as "David Brian Rich" at the campground at the corner of 6th and A streets on Wednesday night. Police said Rich was highly intoxicated and reported subjects assaulted him at the camp. He stated the suspects were no longer there and he had no injuries. He was directed to return to his tent and stop drinking alcohol, but he instead decided to walk over to some other subjects and start a verbal altercation. During Rich's display of violent and tumultuous behavior, he was told he was under arrest. However, he refused to follow orders and began to advance on officers while showing pre-assault indicators. He got into a physical altercation with officers and actively resisted before he was taken to the ground and subdued. Rich was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest, Menacing, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. He was being held in lieu of posting $15,000 bail.

Posted on 9/13/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh

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