Josephine County Fair Announces 2026 Fair Entertainment Lineup

The Josephine County Fair is gearing up for the 2026 celebration packed with entertainment, family fun, and fair traditions plus free Fair admission every day. According to a release, this year’s fair promises four nights of headline entertainment in addition to daily attractions for the whole family. Kicking off the excitement on Wednesday, July 29th, the McCaslin Rough Stock Rodeo returns and is presented by McCaslin Rodeo. Fairgoers can expect an evening of bull riding, bronc riding, and classic rodeo competition. Thursday, July 30th, country star Clay Walker will take to the stage with chart-topping hits like What’s It to You, Live Until I Die, and If I Could Make a Living. The fun continues into Friday and Saturday with the Monster X Tour where 10,000 lb. car crushing trucks compete in racing, wheelies, and freestyle. Beyond the headline events, fairgoers can enjoy free nightly entertainment on the fair concert stage, plus daily Barnyard Races and Power’s Circus, all of which are free. ...Read more

Further Progress Made on West Jones Creek Fire, Remains at 17 Acres

Firefighters continue to make steady progress on the West Jones Creek Fire, which remains held at 17 acres after crews worked hard through the night to strengthen control lines and expand mop-up operations. The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District posted on Facebook, saying crews now have 50 to 75 feet mopped up in from the perimeter, and a hose lay installed last night is in place around the fire. Firefighters will use this access to further strengthen mop-up depth and secure the line throughout the day. Even with another round of hot, dry, and windy conditions expected, and the added challenge of steep terrain, crews are well-positioned to continue building on their strong overnight progress. Resources working the fire include four Type 6 engines, two 20-person hand crews, and one water tender. Firefighters will focus today on expanding mop-up, extinguishing remaining hot spots, and reinforcing containment. ...Read more

Fire Danger Level to Increase to High in Jackson and Josephine Counties

The fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will increase to “high”, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will increase to Level 2 Wednesday, June 17th, at 12:01 a.m. This increase is due to persistent hot temperatures and vegetation that continues to dry across Southwest Oregon. The change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Thursday affects the public use of power driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, and weed eaters. The use of power driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. This does not apply to mowing green lawns. For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season restrictions, contact the Grants Pass Unit at (541) 474-3152, or the Medford Unit at (541) 664-3328. ...Read more