Commissioners Approve $2.76M Contract with Knife River to Extend GP Airport Runway
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a contract to extend the runway at the Grants Pass Airport. The Board voted 3-0 yesterday to award the contract to Knife River Materials, which will be paid $2,764,539 to lengthen the runway in order to attract more aircraft and potential commerce to Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech said all of the funding is coming from grants through the Federal Aviation Administration, with no dollars from the General Fund. New Airport Director Chris Foley testified the runway extension project has been 10 years in the making. He said the project will get underway in the next two weeks. In other business, the Commissioners approved an order authorizing the sale of 18 county-owned properties for a Sheriff's Sale on September 17th. The Commission also approved the sale of two properties outside of the auction process. During the public comment period, the Board heard from several supporters of the Josephine Community Library District who urged the Commissioners to quickly approve the Grants Pass branch lease. In a surprise announcement, Commissioner Blech said the Board will consider the lease agreement during a public hearing that will be held after the August 14th weekly business session. ...Read more

National Weather Service Posts Advisories for Increased Fire Activity and Extreme Heat
Residents of southwest Oregon should be prepared for increased chances of fire activity and extreme heat this weekend. The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning from 2 to 8 p.m. today, a Fire Weather Watch for late Saturday and an Extreme Heat Watch from Sunday morning through late Monday night. The NWS advisories are for Jackson, Josephine and eastern Curry counties including Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Merlin, Wilderville and the Illinois Valley. The Red Flag Warning calls for strong gusty winds and low humidity for the Rogue and Illinois valleys today. The Fire Weather Watch warns of strong gusty winds and low humidity for the region on Saturday. Conditions can lead to rapid growth and spread of new fires. The Extreme Heat Watch for southwest Oregon calls for the possibility of high temperatures of 100 to near 110 degrees, with very warm overnight temperatures. Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat. Warm overnight temperatures will provide little relief from the hot days. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. ...Read more

Taco Bell Foundation Awards Community Grant to Rogue Valley Boys & Girls Clubs
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley announced it has been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. This funding will go directly toward the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley's free Teen Program, which is designed to build life and workforce readiness skills -- ensuring that local middle and high school youth have access to a safe, supportive environment where they can grow, learn and thrive. Jessica King, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, said their goal is to keep the Teen Program free and accessible to all youth. She said this grant helps them expand their reach and provide more teens with tools, experiences and the mentorship they need to build a strong foundation for their future. The Taco Bell Foundation awarded a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants this year to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide. ...Read more