Kelsey Peak Fire Reaches 90% Containment, Mop-Up Operations Continue

Firefighters on the Kelsey Peak Fire are rounding the corner on mop-up operations, bringing containment up to 90%. The fire remains 1,039 acres in size. Helicopters will be working again to support ground crews, and repair work along fire lines is ongoing. This afternoon, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team made up of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest resources will work with ODF Team 1 to get a current overview of the incident. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation order for Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and Marial. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management has a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notice for Zone JCU-801 in place. ...Read more

JoCo Library District Responds to Commissioner's Statement Regarding Lease

The Josephine Community Library District released a statement in response to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners September 15th press release. The board said they "approved a lease with the library, and is pending the library board's approval" in their release sent out Tuesday. According to the library, county legal counsel and the library’s legal counsel are still drafting a new lease, with Commissioner Andreas Blech. The matter was initially scheduled to come before the Board of County Commissioners on September 18 during the commissioners’ weekly business session, but Commissioner Blech has since moved the discussion to the September 23 administrative session. During the August 21st Weekly Business Session meeting, Commissioner Blech added a "termination for convenience" clause allowing either party to cancel the lease on 30 days' notice, a clause he said was in the current agreement at that time. ...Read more

North Valley Teacher to be honored as Regional Teacher of the Year

The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, will announce Max Jones as one of Oregon’s 16 Regional Teachers of the Year. Jones teaches music and band at North Valley High School in Grants Pass. He will be honored in a classroom celebration at North Valley High School Thursday, September 18, at 10:20 a.m. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the state Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across Oregon. Jones was nominated by many parents and students. He said, “My philosophy of teaching – fostering collaboration, student ownership, and musical excellence – while ensuring all learners, regardless of background or ability, experience growth and success.” Each Regional Teacher of the Year is in the running for Oregon’s 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year to be announced in October. ...Read more