GPCC Directs Staff to Create Grant for Group to Manage Shelter & Navigation Center

The Grants Pass City Council's Monday workshop dealt with some alternative approaches to create a low-barrier shelter and navigation center in order to cope with the homeless situation. The City Council is considering providing real property to manage the unhoused population. The real property would be either owned by the city or it could be purchased. The panel directed staff to create a grant program that a private entity would apply for to manage either or both a low-barrier shelter and navigation center. The goal would be to reduce or eliminate the current "no barrier" camps. The program will be brought back to the Council at the June 2nd workshop, to be followed by a community forum. The Council also directed staff to initiate a rate review for revenue bonding to fund the new water treatment plant. Impact to citizens will be a 2.5% increase in water rates for three years. A single-family dwelling currently paying $47.45 monthly for water would be paying $54.23 in 2028. The increase was needed after the Trump administration cancelled FEMA's BRIC grant program that had already approved $50 million for the water treatment plant. Councilors also received updates on Economic Development funds and Urban renewal grants. The programs are for attracting visitors from over 50 miles outside of the urban area, plus updating and beautifying Grants Pass’s downtown area. ...Read more

Today's Special Election Features Numerous Candidates Running for Board Positions

Today's Special Election features candidates running for leadership positions for local school and community college boards, the library district, fire districts, a park district and a water district. A number of the candidates are running unopposed. Contested races include three positions on the Grants Pass School Board. Gary Richardson is defending his seat against Judy Christensen, Cassie Wilkins is defending her seat against Tom Sheckells and Quin Collins Pehrson is taking on Marjie Wilkie. Six candidates are running for three positions on the Three Rivers School Board. The races include Cameron Camp against Neigel Von Hruska, Mariah Rossi versus Bill Ertel and Carrin Godfrey against Rick Nelson. There is one contested race for the Josephine Community Library District Board, with Kelly Robinson taking on Tommi Drake. There is one contested race for the Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District, with Ralph Weidling against Michael Grant. Claudia Pratt is running against Jim Krois for the Williams Rural Fire Protection District. As of Monday evening, the Josephine County Clerk's Office reported an unofficial turnout of just 14.44% of ballots received and 13.65% of ballots accepted. The deadline for the return of ballots by hand or in the mail is 8 o'clock this evening. ...Read more

Phoenix High Student Selected as Winner of Oregon Congressional Art Contest

US Representative Cliff Bentz has announced that a junior from Phoenix High School has been selected as the winner of Oregon's Congressional Art Contest out of a record number of 38 submissions. Talula Heckendorf's artwork, "Man Walking Through an Alaskan Town," was selected by a panel of five judges who praised the piece as having 'great depth, detail and perspective.' Talula may travel to Washington, DC, to see her artwork displayed in the national student art exhibit in the US Capitol and attend a reception in her honor. Bentz also announced three regional winners from Oregon's Second District. They will have their art displayed in one of the Congressman's offices in Medford, Ontario or Washington, DC. They are Heckendorf, Avery McLean of Crater High School and Lesly Alvarado-Perez of McLoughlin High School. Congressman Bentz thanked the 38 young artists for their "amazing" submissions and the judges for their work in judging the 2025 competition. ...Read more