Commissioners Approve Community Justice Agreements, Deny Opioid Funding Requests
The newly appointed director of Josephine County's newest department played a large role in yesterday's weekly business session of the Board of Commissioners. Josephine County Community Justice Director Scott Hyde testified on three Administrative Action items on the meeting agenda. Hyde has been the head of Community Corrections and he recently assumed the Juvenile Justice directorship. Hyde presented a Community Justice Vehicle Purchase request for four new Ford Explorers totaling $162,066. He testified that budget adjustments were made to help pay for the new vehicles that will replace three Jeep Cherokees and one Ford Crown Victoria that are 6 years old. The Board unanimously approved the request. Hyde also presented a five-year contract with the Oregon Department of Human Services worth $884,406 for a juvenile justice residential treatment program along with a two-year contract renewal with the Oregon Youth Authority that will bring more than $400,000 to the County for an extended detention program. The Board also unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreements. Drug Prevention Coordinator Shawn Martinez also presented three Administrative Action items to the Commissioners, but she was not as fortunate. The Board failed to make any motions on grant agreements with the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), Max's Mission and the HIV Alliance. All three organizations had made funding requests for disbursed opioid settlement money totaling $1.3 million. ...Read more

Medford BLM District Set to Begin Prescribed Burning on Public Lands This Month
In order to reduce the threat of wildfire while restoring forest function, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin prescribed burning this month. With the increased temperatures, fuels are starting to dry out enough to allow spring prescribed burning operations on about 1,500 acres of BLM-administered lands in southwest Oregon. Residents can expect to see smoke in the Applegate Valley, near Grants Pass and north of Butte Falls. Burning will start one week after warmer weather sets in. Prescribed burning applies low-intensity fire to the forest floor, which reduces the severity of future wildland fires. Prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and require a strict approval process for smoke management, fire safety and ecological outcomes before professional staff apply fire on the ground. The Medford BLM District completed 3,700 acres of handpile burning over the winter. Handpile burns occur when debris is manually piled up and then burned. The material comes from hazardous fuels reduction projects and commercial timber operations that occur on BLM lands. ...Read more

Josephine County Right to Life to Stage Annual "March for Life" on Sunday in GP
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Thursday proclaimed May 4th to be "Sanctity of Human Life and Respect for Life Day." Josephine County Right to Life is inviting the public to join them in their annual "March for Life" in Grants Pass on Sunday. Participants will gather at the Josephine County Courthouse at 1 p.m. and the southbound march through downtown Grants Pass will commence at 1:30. The March for Life will wind up at the Main Pavilion of Riverside Park for "live" worship music, speakers and refreshments. There will be prayer with local pastors and pro-life messages from local and state representatives. Right to Life organizer Steve Raycraft said "join us to pray to end abortion and renew your commitment for life because everyone deserves an advocate." For more information, contact Raycraft at "sraycraft54@gmail.com" or call (541)-621-2538. You can also contact Rick Nelson at "gpcats@charter.net." ...Read more