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Busy Agenda Awaits GP City Council for Bi-Weekly Workshop Session Today

A busy agenda awaits the Grants Pass City Council when it convenes for its bi-weekly workshop session today. The City Council will open the workshop with Urban Renewal Agency projects and funding. That will be followed by discussion on the Owl parking lot, which will eventually be developed into a downtown plaza. Next up is a presentation on American Rescue Plan Act allocations. Under ARPA rules, contracts for pandemic-related projects must be signed by the end of the year and the projects must be completed by the end of December 2026. Also on the agenda is a motion from the Committee on Public Art and review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson Search & Rescue Team Finds Lost Mt. McLoughlin Hiker and Brings Him Home

The Jackson County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) team successfully located and rescued a Central Point man from Mt. McLoughlin over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports the 40-year-old man set out alone to climb the 9,493-foot Mt. McLoughlin at 7 a.m. Saturday. After summiting, he began his return but lost the trail and veered south into untracked terrain. After several hours of walking over broken volcanic rock, he texted his girlfriend, advised her he was lost, running out of food and water, and his cell phone battery was running low. At about 5 p.m., he texted a request for help and his girlfriend immediately relayed the request to Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, who notified SAR. Using cell phone forensics, SAR was able to pinpoint his location and set out to reach him. The team advised the lost man to sit down and stay put to await help. It was dark, getting cold and he was wearing only a cotton t-shirt and shorts. He was also suffering from mild cramping in his legs due to dehydration and fatigue. SAR members hiked up from Highway 140 through dense foliage and over lava fields consisting of boulders the size of small cars. Searchers successfully located him around 9:30 p.m.. A physician and SAR volunteer evaluated him at the scene and -- after rehydrating him with water and feeding him high-energy snacks -- they determined he was able to hike out with assistance.

Posted on 9/30/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police and Firefighters Welcomed Fall Season with Active Week of City Protection

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters welcomed the fall season with another active week of community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 648 calls for service along with 298 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 79 arrests, 34 citations, 61 warnings and seven highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 70 traffic stops in the city and they made 27 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 195 potential troublemakers while arresting nine people, citing eight more and warning 32 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 10 individuals, posted 84 transient camps and removed trash from three campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 111 calls last week including 38 for emergency medical service, six for reports of fire or smoke, 18 lift assists, one rescue situation, six assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,238 emergency calls.

Posted on 9/30/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

Educators Take Flight as National Guard Hosts "Bosslift" Event in Southern Oregon

The Oregon Army National Guard's Detachment 1, B Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion from Pendleton participated in a unique "bosslift" event this month at the Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport. The event, co-organized with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), primarily involved local educators, offering them a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the National Guard's aviation assets. Utilizing a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the flight took participants on a scenic route from the Medford Airport to Gold Beach, then south of Brookings before returning to Medford. This bosslift marked a significant moment for Southern Oregon, being the first such event in the region in over a decade. The event was coordinated through a collaborative effort between local recruiter Sergeant 1st Class Erik Andreason of the National Guard and Cecil Owens, the State ESGR Director. This bosslift showcased the Oregon National Guard's aviation capabilities and strengthened the bond between the Guard and the communities it serves.

Posted on 9/30/24 5:56AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass 911 Communications Center Active during Final Week of Summer

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center was busy during the final week of summer. According to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center's weekly post on Facebook, dispatchers fielded a total of 1,238 emergency calls between September 19th and 25th. The Grants Pass Police Department received the vast majority of the calls with 946. American Medical Response received 318 calls and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue received 100. Rural Metro Fire Department received 61 emergency calls while the Illinois Valley Fire District received 36, the Williams Rural Fire Protection District received 6 and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District got 2. Local dispatchers also received a total of 495 internal calls and they made a total of 652 outbound calls.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:56AM by Chuck Benson

IVFD and ODF Crews Knocked Down Small Vegetation Fire near Cave Junction

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry knocked down a small vegetation fire southeast of Cave Junction yesterday. On Friday at 12:25 p.m., IVFD and ODF crews responded to a reported blaze in the 7600-block of Rockydale Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found a 1/4-acre fire burning in grass and brush just off Rockydale Road. Crews stopped forward progress of the blaze in short order and started building a line around it before beginning mop-up operations. The cause of the fire was under investigation. ODF officials said residents should be aware that there's still high fire danger in Josephine and Jackson counties. Fires will start and spread easily in these warm and dry conditions.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:55AM by Chuck Benson

Traffic Complaints near Parkway Led to Arrest of Man on Outstanding Warrant

Several traffic complaints near the Grants Pass Parkway this week led to the arrest of a man on an outstanding warrant. Grants Pass police officers responded to the complaint in the 700-block of SE M Street on Thursday night. Police said 35-year-old Kyle Daniel Miller was called in by numerous residents for riding his motorcycle at fast speeds back and forth on SE 11th and M streets. They said they located a male subject standing next to a motorcycle matching the one called in and the rider identified himself as Miller. A routine records check revealed that Miller was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Heroin Possession. After the warrant was confirmed, he was placed into custody. He told officers he wasn't feeling well after taking fentanyl a short time before he was contacted.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:54AM by Chuck Benson

Deputies Jailed Two Men for Different Reasons on the Same Morning This Week

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two men for different reasons on the same morning this week. The Sheriff's Office reports the first incident occurred on Thursday at 1:24 a.m. when deputies arrested 41-year-old Thomas Delbert McCluskey in the 1900-block of Gunnell Road near Matson County Park. Deputies said they were performing a patrol check at the park when they spotted McCluskey sitting in a vehicle. They were familiar with him from past criminal encounters and knew that he was wanted by his corrections officer for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident happened on Thursday at 9:13 a.m. when deputies arrested 57-year-old Jesse J. Breymann near the corner of Saratoga and Brett ways.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:52AM by Chuck Benson

GP Police Jailed Suspect in Felony Assault Investigation after Chance Encounter

Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted for questioning in a felony assault investigation after a chance encounter at the Bottle Drop Center this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 32-year-old Nathan James Deford at the recycling depot on Rogue River Highway on Thursday afternoon.Police said they were at the Bottle Drop Center for an unrelated matter when they spotted Deford and knew him from prior law enforcement contacts. They also knew that he was a suspect in a recent felony assault investigation.According to the report, Deford was acting unusual and suspicious while watching officers through the window. Officers advised him he was being detained and immediately handcuffed him as he was looking around for a way to escape.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:51AM by Chuck Benson

Rex on the Rogue Race Fundraiser Scheduled for Sunday at Grants Pass Downs

Get ready for a day of excitement and community spirit at Grants Pass Downs on Sunday -- it's a spectacle you won't want to miss. As the horse races unfold, the track will come alive with the hilarious sight of more than 50 people in T-Rex costumes running a 100-yard dash to the finish line.It's all in support of "Kaden's Kids," a local charity dedicated to helping families in Josephine County facing the challenges of childhood cancer. Kaden's Kids was founded in memory of Kaden, a local child who bravely fought cancer and passed away at just five years old. The charity supported by the Grants Pass Kiwanis ensures that all funds raised stay within our community, providing critical support to families in need.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:48AM by Chuck Benson

ODOT Reports Ashland Paving Project to Cause Traffic Congestion Next Week

A two-day project next week will improve pavement conditions on Oregon Highway 99 through downtown Ashland. Travelers in the two-mile work area will see daytime lane closures as well as a temporary closure for some parking spaces. On Monday, crews will complete a grind and inlay in the southbound lanes of North Main Street beginning at Maple Street and continuing on East Main Street through downtown Ashland to the intersection with Third Street. On Tuesday, crews will work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Travelers can expect a single lane closure through the active work zone. Several downtown parking spaces will be closed for one day during paving. They will be clearly marked the day before the closure. Construction will not affect access to Asante Ashland Community Hospital, but travelers should plan for a short delay due to traffic congestion. The grind and inlay paving method involves removing the top layer of damaged or deteriorated asphalt and replacing it with a new layer of asphalt. It is more intensive than chip- or crack-sealing.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:47AM by Chuck Benson

US Senators Announce More Than $13 Million for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced a total of nearly $13.4 million was awarded to four projects in Oregon that will boost the conservation and restoration of essential aquatic ecosystems and habitat. This federal funding from the US Department of the Interior includes efforts to upgrade fish passages, restore endangered species' habitats and reconnect floodplain wetlands. A large portion of the investment will specifically go toward two projects to support the recovery and restoration of the Klamath River following the removal of the four lower Klamath dams -- the largest dam removal in United States history. The federal funding comes from the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program, which was made possible by the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding includes $923,240 for the Freshwater Trust to complete the design and engineering of a project to restore high-functioning, resilient aquatic habitat along a 2.5-mile high-priority reach of Bear Creek along the Greenway Trail near the City of Phoenix.

Posted on 9/28/24 5:45AM by Chuck Benson

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