Buckle Up! 2025 Josephine County Fair Kicks Off 5-Day Run in GP on Wednesday

Buckle Up! The 2025 Josephine County Fair starts tomorrow at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. The five-day summer extravaganza runs Wednesday through Sunday, with free gate admission plus free parking and a shuttle at Rogue Community College. The Caveman Kiwanis is offering parking at the Fairgrounds for $10 per vehicle, with $15 VIP parking upon availability. It's a fundraiser for their local programs. Featured entertainment includes Challenge of Champions Bull-Riding Wednesday, a "live" concert with Ned LeDoux and Rodney Atkins on Thursday, The 4TheKids Livestock Auction on Friday, Super Moto Racing USA on Saturday, and Youth and Amateur Motorcycle Racing on Sunday. There is also free daily entertainment on the Pavilion Stage as well as The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show at Midway Park plus strolling entertainment along the Midway. A new carnival vendor -- Midway of Fun -- will also be part of the fun. Other reasons to visit the Fair include Exhibit Halls, Kids Alley, Bingo, numerous vendors and -- of course -- all that great Fair food. For more information about the Fair, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com." ...Read more

National Weather Service Posts Fire Weather Watch for Parts of SW Oregon/NW California

The National Weather Service has posted a Fire Weather Watch for much of southwest Oregon and northwest California late Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch calls for the chance of abundant lightning on dry fuels, resulting in the potential for numerous fire starts in the Rogue and Illinois valleys in Oregon as well as the Shasta Valley and Siskiyou County in California. Scattered to widespread thunderstorms with widespread lightning are possible. The storms are likely to be wet, but lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible with cause for concern for new fire starts. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 miles per hour could travel outward up to 25 miles from thunderstorm cores. Residents in the affected areas are urged to follow all fire restrictions. Avoid any activities that could cause sparks. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could promote the rapid spread of fire which could become property- and/or life-threatening. Check for forecast updates and a possible upgrade of the Watch to a Red Flag Warning. ...Read more

ODOT Hosting Open House on Highway 62-Highway 234 Roundabout Project in EP

The Oregon Department of Transportation is hosting an open house in Eagle Point on Wednesday evening regarding the Highway 62 and Highway 234 Roundabout. The event will be held tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Point City Hall, 17 South Buchanan Avenue. ODOT officials said the meeting is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the upcoming project that is scheduled to kick off construction in 2027. The agency will have members of the project team as well as subject matter experts available to speak with about the project. The project will provide a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Highways 62 and 234 to help reduce the number of crashes. Various options are available to improve safety at this intersection ranging from installation of a traffic signal to installation of a roundabout. This intersection previously has been upgraded with flashing beacons and turn lanes. However, additional improvements are required to further reduce the crash rate. ...Read more