Local News

Grants Pass Firefighters will receive a raise and three local organizations will receive $5,000 dollar grants to promote tourism. City Firefighters will get a raise on January first of next year after the City Council passed a resolution to enter a salary adjustment with the local Union. The current labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3564 permitted a wage opener for wages for January 1st. Management entered negotiations that began on May 7th and, following two meetings, the City and the Union reached a tentative agreement for a wage increase for all positions of 4%. The cost for fiscal year 2026 as compared to the prior year’s salary is approximately $107,251 including all benefits and taxes. This number does not include the six additional positions the Council recently authorized on September 3rd.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a warrant after finding her on the roof of a local apartment complex.

Officers contacted Chastity Pinedo and a man earlier in the day on Clara Avenue after receiving a non-emergency call. She left the scene, and officers followed her to the Holiday Garden Apartments.

A resident advised officers where Pinedo was staying. She wasn't found inside, but was soon located on the roof of the complex. After coming down, Pinedo was taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a warrant for Meth Possession.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners are set to tackle national and local actions during tomorrow's meeting.

Administrative Actions include discussing the National Prescription Opiate Litigation and Purdue Opioids Settlement, along with the Solid Waste Agency.

After Requests and Comments from Citizens, the board will approve minutes and consider other matters.

The Weekly Business Session will be held tomorrow, September 18th, at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium, 600 NW 6th Street.

 

Firefighters on the Kelsey Peak Fire are rounding the corner on mop-up operations, bringing containment up to 90%. The fire remains 1,039 acres in size. Helicopters will be working again to support ground crews, and repair work along fire lines is ongoing. This afternoon, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team made up of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest resources will work with ODF Team 1 to get a current overview of the incident. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation order for Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and Marial. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management has a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notice for Zone JCU-801 in place.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will reach out for added security for public courthouse meetings after this morning's general discussion.

The commissioners met to discuss security in the courthouse. Commissioner Smith said he would reconnect with Sheriff Dave Daniel to supply another deputy and work out details for added security during meetings.

The board agreed on the decision with the objective to keep everyone safe. Not only staff, but the public who attend. They confirmed meetings will be held as usual, with public comment and the option to livestream.

The board also agreed to move forward with the recommendation for camera equipment upgrades in the courthouse after a previous brief from the IT Department.

 

The Josephine Community Library District released a statement in response to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners September 15th press release. The board said they "approved a lease with the library, and is pending the library board's approval" in their release sent out Tuesday. According to the library, county legal counsel and the library’s legal counsel are still drafting a new lease, with Commissioner Andreas Blech. The matter was initially scheduled to come before the Board of County Commissioners on September 18 during the commissioners’ weekly business session, but Commissioner Blech has since moved the discussion to the September 23 administrative session. During the August 21st Weekly Business Session meeting, Commissioner Blech added a "termination for convenience" clause allowing either party to cancel the lease on 30 days' notice, a clause he said was in the current agreement at that time.

 

Rural Metro Fire is recruiting local men and women for their part-time, call-back program.

Their state-accredited training program covers all-hazard topics like structural and wildland suppression, technical rescue, and medical skills.

Work schedules can vary based on call volume and shift availability, but will require a minimum 36 hours of active participation per quarter. This program starts at Oregon minimum wage.

To qualify, you must be 18 years of age, be able to show proof of your high school diploma or GED, and a valid Oregon driver's license, reside within Rural Metro's Response area or 30 minutes from the administration office, 807 NE 6th Street, in Grants Pass, successfully complete a physical abilities test, interview, drug screen, and background check.

Rural Metro invites you to join their team of firefighters and rescue professionals. Send them a letter of interest detailing why you want to join, your name, home address, email, and phone number to firejobs@ruralmetrofd.com.