9-1-1 Professionals Honored during "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week"
This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual event that honors the essential role emergency response coordination professionals play in keeping the nation's communities safe and secure. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proclaimed April 14th-20th as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the state and encouraged all Oregonians to join in the observance. Oregon has 43 standalone 9-1-1 centers known as Public Safety Answering Points that serve as the first and single point of contact for people seeking immediate relief during an emergency. Nearly 800 dedicated telecommunicators across the state answer at least two million emergency calls annually for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. These 9-1-1 professionals respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance during intense personal crises and community-wide disasters. The critical work of Oregon's public safety telecommunicators directly supports the operations of federal, state and local government agencies. Oregon's 9-1-1 program was established by the 1981 Oregon Legislature and is directed by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.
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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.
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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.
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