Oregon Library Association Names JCL Director Kate Lasky as "Librarian of the Year"
The Oregon Library Association (OLA) has honored Josephine Community Library Director Kate Lasky as its "2025 Librarian of the Year." Lasky received the award on Friday at the state library conference in Eugene. Helping to present the award to Lasky was Curry County Public Library Director Jeremy Skinner, who was instrumental in Lasky's honor and has served with Lasky on OLA state committees. He said: "For many librarians in Oregon, Kate Lasky is a caring friend, a cheerleader and an inspiration." He called her "a role model." Also helping to present the award and representing the local community were Josephine Community Library Foundation Director Rebecca Stoltz and Grants Pass Friends of the Library Co-chair Jennifer Roberts. Stoltz said: "Whether she's standing up to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, defending the freedom to read or helping a teen advisory board brainstorm their next big idea, Kate's north star is always the same: equitable access to knowledge, opportunity and community." The state library banquet also featured the "Intellectual Freedom Champion" award, which was presented to Eva Pieper of the Grants Pass School District.
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Grants Pass Police & Firefighters Logged Impressive Week of Protecting Community
Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged an impressive week of citizen and structure protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 600 calls for service along with 238 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 38 arrests, 47 citations, 47 warnings and eight highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 57 traffic stops in the city and they made 24 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). They also responded to four drug overdoses and made seven drug deflection referrals. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of six potential troublemakers while arresting three people and citing eight others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 96 calls last week including 35 for emergency medical service, seven for reports of fire or smoke, 15 lift assists, eight rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and six false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,037 emergency calls last week.
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City of Grants Pass Announces Spring Open Burn Window is May 3rd-May 11th
Each Spring and Fall, the City of Grants Pass opens nine-day periods for open burning on properties within the city limits. The dates of the 2025 Spring Open Burn Window are May 3rd through May 11th. Burn permits are available online through Grants Pass Community Connect at "sizeup.firstduesizeup.com/cc/grants/auth/signin." Apply for a permit online starting April 30th. Permits are also available in person starting April 30th. Office hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. at the Parkway Public Safety Station. For more information, call the Grants Pass Fire Prevention Bureau at (541)-450-6200. The City of Grants Pass recognizes that residents utilize the open burn window to dispose of woody vegetation that has accumulated throughout the winter months. In lieu of burning, the City encourages its residents to compost, chip or take their yard debris to a recycling center. You can also contact your sanitation service for a green waste container. For residents of Josephine County living outside the City of Grants Pass, contact your fire department to check if a burn permit is required.
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