Local News

According to the 9 a.m. County Administration Workshop Agenda for Thursday, the board will discuss appointment of new commissioner/commissioners. The workshop will be held in the BCC Conference Room, and will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. The clear bag policy applies to all who wish to attend in person. The board will then convene for their Weekly Business Session at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, beginning with a Public Hearing regarding a resolution to the Josephine County Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. Administrative Actions include contracts for Personal Services between Josephine County and both the Women's Crisis Support Team and The Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance. Also to be considered are Treatment Court Grant Agreements with the State of Oregon and the Josephine County Adult Drug Court, Family Treatment Court, and Mental Health Court. The board will consider requests for a Mobile Radio Replacement Purchase, Annual Non-Union Policy Decision, and a board order in the matter of amending verbiage in an Administrative Policy regarding Approval Authority.

 

Applications are now being accepted for two positions on the Urban Tree Advisory Committee.

One position is due to an expiring term and is for a two-year term. The other position is for a vacancy, and will close on September 30, 2027.

The purpose of the committee is to review, develop, and implement programs and activities that promote, protect, and enhance the urban forest as a part of the Tree City, USA program.

The special qualification for these positions include an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, January 30. Applications will then be reviewed by the committee, and appointments will be made by the City Council during their meeting on Wednesday, March 4.

 

An officer with Grants Pass Police were alerted to a suspect rummaging through a Grocery Outlet dumpster late Monday night.

Around 11:21 p.m., the suspect, William Fleming, was found behind the 350 NE Agness Avenue grocery store dumpster diving. The officer contacted him and found he was wanted on a warrant for Meth Possession.

During a consent search of Fleming, a cylindrical glass pipe was discovered with burnt residue. A field test produced a presumptive positive result for the presence of Methamphetamine. A charge of Meth Possession was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Fleming's identity was confirmed, and he was taken to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on his GPPD warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police contacted a man wanted on a Josephine County Sheriff's Office warrant Monday afternoon.

The suspect, Anthony Foster, was in the lobby of the property at 510 NW 4th Street unaware. His identity was confirmed and he was found to be wanted on a warrant for Driving While Suspended.

Officers took Foster into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

 

Concerns are mounting in Ashland as residents prepare to attend a city council meeting to discuss the use of herbicides along city medians.

According to KDRV, many locals are particularly worried about glyphosate, an herbicide that the city acknowledges using.

Residents have raised alarms over the potential safety risks to workers and nearby residents, as well as the possibility of runoff into storm drains.

City leaders argue that the situation is not as dire as it seems. The city asserts that the median improvement project is not intended to "kill everything and replace it with rocks."

Instead, it aims to reduce maintenance, conserve water and enhance safety for city workers. The city clarified that rocks were only used in one area.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, herbicides like glyphosate undergo evaluation and, when applied correctly, pose a low risk to people and wildlife.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider requests for Economic Development Funding following presentations Wednesday morning.

The Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce will request $5,000 for a Business Retention and Expansion Survey. Next, Patriot Solutions, LLC will request $125,000 for JEDI Josephine County Economic Development.

2 Guys, 1 Truck, LLC and Thrift Right Here 501c3 has a Housing Turnaround and Community Cleanup Presentation where they will request $68,145, and Toni Webb will request $50,000 for Josephine County Economic Development.

The board's general discussion will begin at 10 a.m. in the BCC Conference Room and will be streamed at www.josepinecounty.gov/livestream. Those wanting to attend the meeting in person must abide by the clear bag policy.

 

Rural Metro Fire responded to a fire in the Fort Vannoy area yesterday.

No livestock were harmed after the fire broke out Monday around 10:15 a.m. on Hunt Lane west of Grants Pass.

Fire had engulfed a UTV next to the stalls and spread to baled hay storage by the time firefighters with Rural Metro Fire and Grants Pass Fire arrived.

Fire damage to the building itself was limited due to suppression efforts. Cause of the fire in the UTV is under investigation.

 

City Council’s workshop Monday began with interviews for a position on the Urban Area Planning Commission, then transitioned to Bikeways/Walkways motions. A presentation on motions from the Bikeways/Walkways committee outlined proposals to enhancements for Highland Avenue multi-model traffic. The presentation included changes to the bike lanes on Highland Avenue that affects traffic and parking along specific areas at the same time connecting with the Dollar Mountain Trails. Sidewalks, retaining walls and traffic islands were all outlined for the Council. Approximate costs for the sidewalks would be in the $100,000 range and an estimated $2 million for street modifications.
The Council approved a motion to go forward with new bike lanes and pedestrian crossings on Highland Avenue after monitoring traffic flows and parking on South Highland and alerting residents that on street parking may be eliminated.Councilors interviewed three candidates applying for one position on the Urban Area Planning Commission. Rich Akers, J.W. Ohler and Keith Trahern all were available with Mr. Akers appearing telephonically. A Council decision is on the agenda for Wednesday night’s Council meeting. The meeting was continuing with GP Nexus Incubator Grant.

 

A juvenile driver and his maroon Hyundai were located by an Oregon State Police Trooper after the driver had eluded the Grants Pass Police. The Trooper found the vehicle and initiated contact at milepost 53 on Interstate 5 at 1:19 a.m. Saturday morning. The vehicle had to be spiked multiple times to cause the Hyundai to stop and the driver to be arrested without incident. Troopers observed multiple indicators of impairment and arrested the 14-year-old assessing charges of reckless endangering, reckless driving, driving under the influence of intoxicants and attempting to elude. The Hyundai was impounded and towed.