Local News

The City of Grants Pass invites K-12, amateur, and professional photographers to enter the 2026 Water Quality Report Photo Contest.

Per the City website, winning photos will be featured in the 2026 Water Quality Report. The first-place winner will receive $200, and the second-place winner will receive $100.

Submit an original photo that demonstrates your perspective on the water that connects our community. Photos must be submitted in a digital format suitable for reproduction.

Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and theme relevance. Winners will be notified via email by January 15th. The full list of rules can be found at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

The entry deadline is 5 p.m. December 31, 2026. Submit entries to smorgan@grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a trespassing involving a single gunshot.

The suspect, Sean Gunn, was reported to be at a property and laying on the ground in the 500 block of Woody Acres Drive Tuesday around 7:07 a.m. The caller's boyfriend had Gunn at gunpoint, and was ordering him to stay down. One round was fired at Gunn at 7:35 a.m.

Deputies arrived, determined there were no active warrants related to the firearm usage, and took Gunn into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for First Degree Trespass. There was no indication in the police report that Gunn was hit by the single round.

 

The Fall 2026 Open Burn Window will be from Saturday, October 31st, through Sunday, November 8th. Starting today, Grants Pass residents will be able to apply for their burn permits online or in person.

This year, burn permits are offered through Grants Pass Fire Community Connect (https://sizeup.firstduesizeup.com/cc/grants/auth/signin). Just sign up and receive your permit online, or get them in person at 800 E Park Street. Office hours are 8 a.m. to Noon, and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. For questions, please call our Fire Prevention Division at 541-450-6200.

Burning is only allowed if the DEQ ventilation index for the airshed is 400 or greater. It is the responsibility of each person to check the airshed before burning. For the most up-to-date airshed information, call the Burn Line at 541-476-9663 after 7 a.m.

 

The closeout of the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Program was approved by the County Commissioners at today's Weekly Business Session.

During a public hearing at the 9 a.m. meeting, a presentation was given showing 21 homes and 9 mobile homes have been rehabilitated through the County Home Repair and Rehabilitation program, all funded by the Oregon Business Development Department.

When asked if other businesses could participate, being a sub-grantee was mentioned as a possibility. Mobile home parks inside the city limits reportedly can't be worked on due to other City Grant Funds meant for city limit projects. Commissioner Gary Richardson recommended the two school districts be contacted for potential service projects.

Airport concerns, meeting occupancy, and voting in the upcoming election were brought up during public comment, and firefighters were thanked for their work during the now concluded fire season.

An order to cancel the November 25th Weekly Business Session was approved, as was the consent calendar. Juvenile Justice Program data and information was highlighted on the County website, and the meeting adjourned.

 

Applications are being accepted for two positions on the Tourism Advisory Committee due to term resignations.

According to the City website, one position is for a 2-year term. One position is for a 3-year term. The goal of the Committee is to encourage visitors and residents to engage in community activities while enhancing the positive image of our City through marketing, promotions, and destination management.

The purpose of the Tourism Advisory Committee is to review and advise the work of the City’s Tourism Contractor. This includes reporting findings and recommendations to City Council as needed.

Special qualifications for this position include an interest and/or experience in tourism promotion. Appointees will represent river guides, area attractions, realtors, restaurants, the media, marketing, and citizens-at-large.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. November 27th for review by the committee December 1st. Appointments will be made by the Council at their January 6th meeting.

 

The Board of County Commissioners discussed a 90-Day Airport Lease Modernization Program, and will proceed with pursuing an Airport Relief Grant Program.

After re-appointing Jean Ann Miles and Mark Jones to the Josephine Housing and Community Development Council, the board considered a Critical Oregon Airport Relief Grant Program in the amount of $150,000. An application is due by Friday the 30th, and pursuit of the grant was approved without objection.

The board's review for Fiscal Year 2026-27 will be refined, then presented next week. The goal for these department reviews is to provide consistency across departments and help the budget process.

Lastly, a request that the board direct the Department of Airports to implement the 90-Day Airport Lease Modernization Program was discussed. No decision was made on the program, but an adjusted lease plan will be brought back to the board in two weeks.

 

The 911 Dispatch Center was notified Monday at 5:07 p.m. of a motor vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality in Murphy. Rural Metro Fire, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police, and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to find a pickup truck rolled off an embankment and the driver had been ejected. The driver Brent Smith, 54, was deceased upon arrival and was the only occupant in the vehicle. The initial investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling towards Spencer Creek on a gravel BLM road. The vehicle left the roadway, and went down an embankment, striking several trees, before coming to rest on its side nearly 500 feet down from the roadway. Josephine County Search & Rescue's Rope Team was activated and successfully recovered Brent. Next of kin has been notified. No further information will be released at this time.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of new patrol vehicles for the Sheriff's Department and an amendment to a Department of Justice Grant Award at the start of today's workshop.

The grant award, with just over $325,000 from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and over $122,000 from the Criminal Fine Account (CFA), was amended to continue for a second year in support of victim assistance following a 3-0 motion from the board.

Sheriff Dave Daniel requested the purchase of five 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles with upfitting for five new deputy positions. Approval was unanimous, and the approximate total of $418,000 would be paid for through the Sheriff's Equipment Reserve Fund.

Further discussion was postponed for new portable patrol radios, but five in-car radios have been approved for purchase. The board then moved in favor of reducing the Fund 26 Animal Control Budget contingency to increase personnel and vehicle expense. The cost is covered by the contingency balance within the fund.

Approval to pay $1,762 in 2027 County Membership Dues was granted unanimously, and the board moved 3-0 in favor of the Tree Planting Contract with Rogue River Forestry LLC for the planting of approximately 173,500 seedlings.

All Human Resources Position Requisitions and Personnel Actions were approved, and the board convened in executive session to discuss real properties in relation to the Flying Lark sale.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District is officially declaring an end to the 2026 fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties, effective Wednesday, October 28th, at 12:01 a.m. Recent rainfall, cooler temperatures and a shift toward consistent fall weather have allowed all fire season regulations and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to be lifted. Since fire season was declared on May 15, ODF firefighters have responded to 210 fires across Jackson and Josephine counties, totaling approximately 17,220 acres burned. Crews successfully kept 95% of fires at 10 acres or less, just below ODF's annual goal of 98%. The termination of fire season removes ODF's seasonal fire prevention regulations on equipment use and debris burning for the public and industrial operations on protected forestlands. However, industrial slash burning remains prohibited. Before burning, residents should check with their local fire department for permit requirements and confirm that burning is allowed in their area. Residents can check daily burning conditions through their county's burn information line:
- Jackson County Burn Line: (541) 776-7007
- Josephine County Burn Line: (541) 476-9663