Local News

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Historical Buildings & Sites Commission. This position expires on December 7, 2026. The Historical Buildings & Sites Commission's purpose is to review proposed alterations to any historic district or designated structure in the urban growth boundary, to promote the community's historic preservation, to advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and to identify areas or buildings of historic or archaeological significance. All applicants for this position must be at least 18 years of age and reside within the City of Grants Pass. This position is for a representative who owns a business located within the Central Business District of the City of Grants Pass. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5th.

 

Multiple fire agencies from across the Rogue Valley participated in a wildland fire training exercise in Merlin last week. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department sponsored the event, which was crucial for preparing firefighters to respond effectively to real-world wildland fire emergencies this summer. Firefighters practiced using chainsaws to clear excess brush and vegetation. They also learned how to use drip torches to lay down low-intensity fire and how to prepare areas around homes in the wildland-urban interface areas. The readiness review happens annually in the spring to help prepare everyone for fire season. The last day of the readiness review happened on Friday, the day before fire season started in Josephine and Jackson counties.

 

An employee of the downtown Safeway Supermarket called Grants Pass City Police at 5:30 Monday afternoon to report a man left the store with a shopping cart full of items without paying. The report stated the man was getting into a black Dodge in the east parking lot. Responding officers made contact with the suspect and confirmed the theft of $132.07 worth of merchandise. The suspect was loading everything into a friend’s vehicle. The friend had done his shopping and paid for his merchandise and was unaware of the theft. The suspect confirmed he was the only one who stole.

 

The discovery of trees being cut down on a residential property on Beacon Drive led to a Grants Pass Police investigation beginning Monday at 11:40 a.m. Several trees, valued at $1,500 each, were found cut down in the patio area along with damage to piece of pottery valued at $120. The incident, which occurred overnight between the hours of 2 and 4 a.m. was recorded on video that showed a white male adult with distinctive tattoos as the perpetrator. A suspect was contacted at 5:19 p.m. and resulted in the arrest a 35-year-old man who had a lengthy record of contact with city police with at least five arrests since August of 2023.

 

The Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of their Concerts in the Park series this summer. In 2024, the community event will take place on Thursdays from June 20th to August 15th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction. There is no show scheduled for Independence Day, July 4th. In an effort to prioritize the health and safety of Illinois Valley community members, this year's concert series will start earlier than usual. The decision to start the series early is a proactive measure to mitigate the potential impact of wildfire smoke, which has historically affected the region in mid- to late-August. The Chamber invites local musicians and vendors to participate in this year's Concerts in the Park series. Interested performers and vendors can access applications at "ivchamberofcommerce.com." It's an excellent opportunity for local artists and artisans to share their talents with the Illinois Valley community while gaining exposure to a broad audience.

 

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has awarded more than $60,000 in grants to 11 historic cemetery projects throughout the state through the Historic Cemeteries Grant Program. Three of them are in Jackson County. The funds will help support preservation efforts, tree care and access. Individual award amounts ranged from $2,500 to $10,900. In Jackson County, grants were awarded for monument repair at the IOOF Eastwood Cemetery in Medford, to trim trees and remove dead trees at Logtown Cemetery and to remove hazard trees at Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery. Historic cemeteries are documented by OCHC and must include the burial of at least one person who died 75 years before the current date. The grant program is offered annually by the OCHC, which is part of the Oregon Heritage Program at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It's supported by lottery and other funds.
OCHC maintains a list of all pioneer and historic cemeteries in the state. The seven-member appointed commission helps people and organizations document, preserve and promote designated historic cemeteries statewide.

 

The Grants Pass City Council during its Monday workshop adjusted the rules governing the public comment period of the official business sessions. Individual times to speak is reduced from three minutes to two minutes with the total time allotted for the public is 30 minutes. The blue cards must be submitted to be allowed to speak and they must be in place prior to the public comment period. The cards will indicate the topic to be discussed must be related to city business.

 

The Grants Pass City Council voted to pursue a partnership with the YMCA on a new pool/recreation facility south of the Rogue River on the 10-acre Allen Creek reserve property that is designated for a park area. The YMCA asked for a long-term lease for 100 years at one dollar a year. The envisioned facility would cost approximately $65 million dollars. The YMCA estimated fund raising, planning, and building the facility to opening would be approximately four years. The vote was irrespective of any final decision on the future of the Caveman Pool. A base estimate of cost for renovating the pool is $13.5 million, slightly more for enhancing the pool.

 

An Oregon State Trooper stopped a gray Honda Civic Friday night at the intersection of Agness and the Grants Pass Parkway for the illegal alteration of a license plate and discovered the driver had a statewide felony warrant from the Parole Board. The 38-year-old driver was lodged in the Josephine County Jail. Saturday night at 5:30 Troopers in the Fish and Wildlife Division received a call from a Cave Junction landowner that had just shot a nuisance bear that was damaging his property and attacking his livestock. The bear was destroyed and was salvaged. Early Sunday morning a Trooper stopped a gray Chevrolet that was the subject of a driving complaint at 10th and “L” Street. The driver, a 50-year-old woman, was found to have an active felony arrest warrant. She was cited and given a court date and time. A two-vehicle rollover crash at the intersection of Robertson Bridge Road and Azalea Drive drew a Trooper response Sunday night at 9:20. A white Ford truck was traveling on Azalea when a maroon Nissan truck entered the intersection, failing to stop at the stop sign. The Ford, that had the right of way, struck the Nissan on the right rear side causing it to roll onto its side. Both drivers denied medical attention and the Nissan was towed. There was no mention of a citation in the Trooper’s statement.