Three Rivers School District Awarded Seismic Upgrade Grant for Evergreen Elementary

The Three Rivers School District is excited to announce that it has received a $2.5 million grant for the seismic upgrade of Evergreen Elementary in Cave Junction. The funding from Oregon's Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) will support a comprehensive seismic upgrade of Evergreen's gymnasium and cafeteria including the installation of new roofing. The seismic upgrade project at Evergreen is slated to kick off this summer and wrap up before commencement ceremonies in 2025. The SRGP is a competitive grant program that funds the seismic rehabilitation of critical public buildings, with a focus on schools and emergency response centers. Fleming Middle School also benefited recently from an SRGP grant. About 12,000 square feet -- including the gymnasium, administration building, cafeteria and library -- underwent a comprehensive seismic upgrade. Three Rivers Schools Superintendent Dave Valenzuela said the most recent grant represents a significant milestone for the district and underscores its commitment to safety. He called it "a major investment in the resilience of school facilities." Mindful of the community's limited resources, Valenzuela said the district remains dedicated to actively seeking grants to address their financial challenges. ...Read more

GP Police & Firefighters Held Their Own While Protecting Citizens & Property Last Week

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters held their own while protecting citizens and property last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 728 calls for service along with 251 officer-initiated calls last week -- resulting in 46 arrests, 21 citations, 31 warnings and six highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 34 traffic stops in the city and they made 15 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made contact with a total of 156 potential troublemakers while arresting one person, citing 24 more and warning 84 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 15 individuals, posted 96 transient camps and removed trash from two campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 104 calls last week including 40 for emergency medical service, four for reports of fire or smoke, 16 lift assists, four rescue situations, four assists to other agencies and six false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,101 emergency calls last week. ...Read more

GP Parks Personnel Perform Much Needed Maintenance on Riverside Park Pavilion

Grants Pass parks personnel performed some much-needed maintenance at the Riverfront Pavilion at Riverside Park last week. Crews cleaned the shade sails by using a pressure washer with hot water and low pressure to remove the mold and mildew that had built up since their installation in 2018. Staff also kept busy at Riverside Park with painting over a large amount of graffiti and pruning numerous trees. Parks workers used string trimmers to knock down tall grass on several park trails, and state-licensed applicators applied herbicide to Japanese Knotweed at Riverside and Baker parks. Officials said it's crucial to manage invasive species to protect the ecosystem. Continued applications are necessary to prevent their spread in parks. The Reinhart Park playground construction project continued to advance last week. Approximately half the site had a concrete foundation laid for the future protection of falls with rubber tiles. The rubber tiles are extremely durable and require no daily maintenance. They also ensure a safe and fun time at the new playground. ...Read more