Commissioners Make Community Corrections Proclamation on Behalf of Employees
The Board of Commissioners on Thursday made a proclamation on behalf of Josephine County Community Corrections. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett read the proclamation naming July 20th-26th as "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week." Community Corrections Director Scott Hyde thanked the Board for the positive endorsement of the work done by the department's approximately 80 employees. Conspicuously absent from the meeting was an agreement between the Oregon State University Extension Service and Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech postponed consideration of the agreement last week, stating that the pact was "not ready." With less than one week before the County Fair, no action was taken. It should be noted that Blech cast the lone dissenting vote when the Board recently reinstated the 4-H Extension Service District. During the public comment period, former Juvenile Justice Director Jim Goodwin spoke in favor of increased transparency by the Board when it comes to personnel decisions. Former Grants Pass City Councilor Vanessa Ogier spoke about what she called the "dismantling" of Josephine County Emergency Management operations.
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Jackson County Payroll Employment Numbers Down in June, But Up Since 2024
Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 310 jobs in June, with private education & health services posting the largest drop. The Oregon Employment Department reports there were 100,850 people working in Jackson County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.3%, which was up slightly over the 5.2% mark recorded in May. Private education & health services was down by 460 jobs. Employment in Jackson County also declined in professional & business services and other services. Industries with estimated job gains in June were leisure & hospitality, retail trade, wholesale trade and construction. Government employment slipped by 80 jobs last month. Local government education shed 100 jobs while slight gains were posted in state and federal government. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County climbed by 360 jobs, or 0.4%. Payroll employment in neighboring Josephine County fell sharply by 2.8%. Since June 2024, Jackson County industries adding jobs included private education & health services, leisure & hospitality, retail trade, and professional & business services.
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Redwood Foundation for Education Announces $385K in Grants for Children Groups
The Redwood Foundation for Education has announced $385,000 in grant awards to nine organizations serving the youngest members of our community through the Coalition for Kids Fund. The Coalition for Kids Fund was established in 2020 to support programs that strengthen protective factors in families and the community while increasing health outcomes for children in their earliest years of life. Each year, local community-based organizations serving children from birth through age 5 in Josephine County are eligible to submit grant applications to be reviewed by the C4K Fund Advisory Committee. In the largest grant, Oregon Center for Creative Learning was awarded $250,000 to support the capital campaign for the Grants Pass Children's Museum and Ivy School. Siskiyou Community Health Center was awarded $30,000 to support Project Baby Check -- a free and voluntary home visiting program that focuses on healthy child development. Scholarships and grants are made possible through the generosity of our local community.
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