Local News

The Grants Pass City Council's Wednesday evening meeting will cover funding and new appointments to local organizations.

After discussing water rate changes, the Council will cover resolutions for employee salary adjustments and authorizing funding of additional Public Safety positions.

The Council will then acknowledge motions for appointing one member each to the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission, and the Public Safety Advisory Committee.

After Public Comment, the consent agenda, and matters from the Mayor, Council, and Staff, the meeting will adjourn and the Urban Renewal Agency will convene.

Wednesday's City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a local resting site after a woman reported she was assaulted last week.

Officers arrived at Resting Site 6 on NW 6th just before 10 a.m. August 26th, where the woman said she had not only been assaulted about an hour before, but the previous night as well in the NW corner of the site, where one suspect was staying.

Officers contacted the second suspect while conducting a check at Westholm Park. She admitted to punching the victim after the first suspect had done the same. Both were taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the 27th and 31st respectively.

 

The Bureau of Land Management Grants Pass Field Office has temporarily closed the Cow Creek Road near the Dad’s Creek Fire for firefighter and public safety. The closure order encompasses Cow Creek Road from the Ruben Historic Site to the intersection with Dad’s Creek. Public and firefighter safety are the highest priority. Providing safe access for firefighters prompted the closure. Members of the public may not enter closed areas, and all uses -- including hiking, hunting and dispersed camping -- are prohibited. Firefighters will assess the closure and its impact as it becomes safe to do so. Weather and fuel conditions remain favorable for continued fire spread. For the latest road and weather condition updates, visit TripCheck.com. Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.

 

Grants Pass Police Officers responded yesterday to an assault between residents on the same property.

At the 1000 block of SW Foundry Street, officers discovered a neighbor providing emergency care to the victim, a 38-year-old female with a serious cut to her neck.

Law enforcement officers continued lifesaving efforts until Grants Pass Fire/Rescue and AMR arrived on-scene. The victim was initially treated at Three Rivers Medical Center and transferred to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford.

The suspect, a 46-year-old male, was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Murder, Assault 1, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Grants Pass Police Department detectives took over the on-going investigation.

 

Applications are being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee. These positions are for two year terms.

The purpose of the committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest as part of the Tree City USA program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The special qualification for these positions is an interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest in Grants Pass.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 10th.

Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, October 13th.

The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointments at its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 5th.

 

The Grants Pass City Council has a busy agenda ahead for their workshop this morning. Along with discussing the water rate, Dimmick railroad crossing, as well as interviewing the Historical Building and Sites Commission candidate, the council will address the Homelessness Grant Request for Proposal cancelation. Geodomestic withdrew their application from consideration for the Homelessness program. The City Council will discuss the issuance of a revised grant program, followed by a review of their next business session's agenda. Today's workshop will begin at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 101 Northwest A Street.

 

Friday, the Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team completed a six-month investigation arresting two, capturing 4000 pounds of pot, and seizing nearly $800,000 in cash.

Detectives served 11 search warrants Thursday morning, at residences and warehouses in Ashland and Medford in connection to a black-market cannabis dispensary operation. Investigators discovered a dangerous and illegal Butane Honey Oil (BHO) laboratory in one of the warehouses.

IMET detectives served search warrants at a residence in the 2800 block of Orrin Street in Medford, the 500 block of West Nevada Street in Ashland, and at three warehouses in the 800 block of South Riverside Avenue in Medford. Investigators seized approximately 4,320 lbs. of marijuana and marijuana extracts, 23 grams of meth, and seven firearms. Approximately $790,000 was seized from the unlicensed cannabis business.

Two suspects were arrested as a result of the investigation. Robert Denis Guerin, 67, of Ashland, and Kolton John Chournos, 32, of Medford. Guerin was charged with multiple counts of unlawful possession, manufacture, and delivery of a marijuana item. Chournos was charged with several counts of unlawful possession, manufacture, and delivery of a marijuana item and methamphetamine.

 

Southern Oregon University has received an $89,745 grant from Travel Oregon to develop an accessibility training program for tourism business leaders, with the goal of ensuring that all visitors to the state -- including those with disabilities -- feel valued and welcome.

The initiative is further supported by a $5,000 grant from the SOU Institute for Applied Sustainability Innovation Fund.

The work planned under the new grants will build upon a smaller Travel Oregon-funded project last year that evaluated the accessibility of tourism in Oregon. This year's project -- which will include hosting 12 training workshops across the state -- aims to create a statewide network of "Accessible Tourism Ambassadors" made up of visitor industry professionals.

Last year's project found funding challenges, a lack of accessibility information and training, gaps in access to products and services, and uneven hospitality for those with disabilities. It determined that existing training often focused too narrowly on specific disabilities, leaving broader needs unmet -- but also that many in the tourism industry were eager to learn and recognized the need for additional comprehensive training.

 

A Grants Pass company is celebrating 10 years of empowering the next generation of technology leaders through its annual Tech Mastery Scholarship Program.

This year, three standout Oregon students were awarded scholarships from Rentec Direct for their passion for innovation and their drive to make a lasting impact in the tech industry.

Students enrolled in technology-related programs at Oregon State University, Portland State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University were each awarded $500 scholarships to support their academic journeys.

All three 2025 Tech Mastery Scholarship recipients are either Oregon residents or currently attend an Oregon-based college or university. They are Mariam Saleh, a junior at Portland State pursuing a degree in Computer & Data Science; Esso Alvarez, a freshman at Oregon State majoring in Mechanical Engineering; and Carson Willard, a Rogue River resident and freshman at Embry-Riddle pursuing a degree in Aeronautical Science.