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Ashland Received "2025 Good Governance Award" from League of Oregon Cities

During the 2025 Local Government Spring Conference, the League of Oregon Cities presented the "Good Governance Award" to the City of Ashland for its Lifelong Learning Courses program. The award -- which recognizes progressive and innovative city operations and services -- was also presented to the cities of Lincoln City and Chiloquin. The City of Ashland has partnered with Southern Oregon University to offer courses through their Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) courses. OLLI at SOU is a member-driven educational community primarily serving adults ages 50 and above. Last fall, the course "Better Together: The Work of the City of Ashland" was held weekly for nine weeks, with 30 OLLI members/residents enrolled. The course provided an overview of the City's essential services and included PowerPoint presentations and discussion followed by questions and answers. Currently, the City is offering the course "Show Me the Money," a deep dive into City finances. A general course on government operations is planned for this fall and one with a specific topic is planned for next spring. Founded in 1925, the League of Oregon Cities is voluntary association that represents all 241 of Oregon's incorporated cities.

Posted on 5/15/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

Redwood Foundation for Education to Award More Than $700K in Scholarships in 2025

The Redwood Foundation for Education will award over $700,000 in scholarships this month to graduating high school seniors in Grants Pass, Josephine County, Rogue River and Glendale. Local high school seniors apply for scholarships from the Redwood Foundation for Education each year and they are matched to more than 200 different scholarships administered by the Foundation. In 2025, the Redwood Foundation for Education anticipates providing more than $1.5 million locally through grants and scholarships to support early childhood, K-12, and transitions into post-secondary education and training. Scholarships and grants are made possible through the generosity of the local community. Funds are donated to the Foundation by individuals, businesses and service organizations. The Foundation manages a corpus of $12 million, which continues to grow through donations and bequests. In the last 40 years, the Foundation has invested over $11.5 million into our community through grants, scholarships and projects. For more information, visit "redwoodforeducation.org" or call (541)-476-2196.

Posted on 5/15/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Parks and Coast Guard Auxiliary Hosting "National Safe Boating Week" Event

National Safe Boating Week is a nationwide effort to make America's recreational waters safer as people enjoy boating. To mark the effort, Grants Pass Parks and Recreation has joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to host an event at the Baker Park Boat Ramp this weekend. This Saturday, Baker Park will become a center for National Safe Boating Week. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the city park, which is located at 760 East Park Street. The Auxiliary will offer free Vessel Safety Checks and demonstration of personal flotation devices as well as the proper way to wear them. In addition, there will be safety information pamphlets and items for children such as coloring books, iron-on decals and wristbands to remind children to always wear a life jacket. US Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2023, and that 87% of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Posted on 5/15/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Board to Hold 2nd Public Hearing on Moving Public Meetings to Thursday AMs

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is preparing to permanently move its weekly business sessions to Thursday mornings. During its business session tomorrow morning, the Board will hold a public hearing to consider the second reading of an ordinance related to Commissioners meetings. The first reading was heard and approved on April 25th. Until this year, the Board of Commissioners had held its public business meetings on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.. Earlier this year, the Commission moved the meetings to Fridays at 10 a.m. before deciding that Thursdays at 10 a.m. was a better time slot. Under Administrative Actions, the Board will consider a request for a fee waiver from the Illinois Valley Fire District. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Thursday's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Battled Early Morning Garage Blaze on Sunset Way in Grants Pass

Firefighters battled an early morning structure fire today in the southeast part of Grants Pass. At approximately 4 this morning, multiple units from Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department were dispatched to the reported fire in the 600-block of Sunset Way. Grants Pass officials said Engine 7308 arrived first and found a fully-involved detached garage on fire at the rear of the residence. They said crews acted quickly, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby homes and successfully containing it to the original structure. Officials said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation, adding that it was the second fire at the same address in the last two weeks.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:11AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Assisted RADE with Arrest of Suspect for Drug Trafficking at Local Motel

The Grants Pass Police Department assisted Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) with the arrest of a suspect for felony drug trafficking at a north-city motel early yesterday. GPPD officers and RADE detectives arrested 40-year-old Matthew Ryan Barton at the Red Lion Inn & Suites on NW 6th Street on Tuesday at 8:53 a.m.. RADE has not yet released any details of the investigation that led to Barton's arrest, but he was in possession of large quantities of both methamphetamine and fentanyl when he was placed into custody. The drugs were seized as evidence and for eventual destruction. Barton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on suspicion of felony crimes of Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Meth as well as Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl. He was being held without bail pending his arraignment in Circuit Court this afternoon.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Community Corrections Client for Weapon & Drug Crimes

A Josephine County Community Corrections client apparently forgot to check his personal belongings before visiting his probation officer yesterday. Grants Pass Police arrested 33-year-old Jeffrey Allen McPeake at the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday at 11:10 a.m.. Police said McPeake's corrections officer conducted a consent search of his client's belongings and found two restricted knives, two sets of brass knuckles and assorted drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue. He is a convicted felon and he was detained until officers arrived on scene to place him into custody. McPeake was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for four counts of Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Meth Possession and the resulting Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Delivery of Meth and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail and the rest of his property was logged into safekeeping.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Parole Violation after She Ran in Parkway Traffic

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating her post-prison supervision by once again obstructing traffic yesterday -- this time on the Parkway near the Debbs Potts Memorial Bridge. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 37-year-old Jessica Shawnae Ryan Knowlton on Tuesday shortly before 11 a.m. and contacted her on the Grants Pass Parkway near SE M Street. Police said multiple callers reported a female subject running in and out of traffic on the Parkway. When they contacted the woman, she was walking in the bike lane and not on the highway. She had been arrested on Sunday for obstructing traffic on Foothill Boulevard near Pearce Park Road. Knowlton's corrections officer was contacted and she advised that her client has been refusing to check in, which is a violation of her parole. Knowlton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:07AM by Sam Marsh

Man Wanted on Warrant for Probation Violation Surrendered at GPPD Station

A man who was wanted on a local felony warrant turned himself in at the Grants Pass Police Department early yesterday. GPPD reported that 46-year-old Jesse Andrew Greer surrendered to officers at the agency's headquarters on NE 7th Street on Tuesday at 8:29 a.m.. Police said Greer was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Intimidation. No details about the alleged crime were disclosed. Greer was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man on 5 Warrants while Investigating CJ Trespass Call

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on five outstanding warrants while investigating a trespassing complaint in Cave Junction late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted 41-year-old Robert Edward Blase, Jr, in the 200-block of South Kerby Avenue and placed him into custody at 4:32 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies said they were alerted two tents that had been on the private property for four days. The caller complained the male and female occupants start fires and walk around at night and there was trash everywhere. Blase was contacted at the illegal campsite and found to be wanted on a total of five Josephine County warrants listing multiple charges of Resisting Arrest and Criminal Trespass. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail in lieu of posting $40,000 bail. Blase's female companion -- who was identified only as "Venus" -- was told to gather her belongings and leave. She was warned that is she was found sleeping or hanging out there, she would be arrested for Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:04AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Stealing Vehicle from California Rental Company

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a vehicle out of California early today, but there was no room for him at the Josephine County Jail. The Police Department reports officers contacted 49-year-old John Robert Leblanc near the Garden Grove Apartments on Fruitdale Drive shortly before midnight and arrested him about 10 minutes later. Police said Leblanc was driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen by the Novato, California, Police Department on May 9th. They said the suspect failed to return the vehicle to a rental company which had sent him demand letters and text messages to which he did not respond. According to GPPD, the stolen vehicle was recovered and the rental company was notified. Leblanc was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. He was cited to appear in court and released because the jail -- for unspecified reasons -- was not accepting new intakes.

Posted on 5/14/25 11:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Local Agencies Partnered to Crack Down on Retail Theft Suspects

The Grants Pass Police Department partnered with local law enforcement agencies to crack down on retail theft last weekend. GPPD, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Josephine County Community Corrections, Walmart Loss Prevention and WinCo Foods Loss Prevention targeted thieves stealing from both Walmart and WinCo on Saturday. Six thieves were apprehended during the single-evening operation and four of them were lodged at the Josephine County Jail. They included 23-year-old Dylan Andrew Thatcher, 30-year-old Thomas Murphy Grady O'Hara, 37-year-old Kendra Marie Anderson, 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer, 36-year-old Chauntelle Nadine Stulce and a 15-year-old male juvenile. Anderson was also arrested for Methamphetamine Possession. Stulce was released with a citation due to her young children being with her. The male juvenile was also released with a citation. In a Tuesday Facebook post, GPPD said it plans to continue these operations and pursue all retail theft with "zero-tolerance."

Posted on 5/14/25 6:44AM by Sam Marsh

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