ODF, Emergency Crews Responded to Tamarack Lane Grass Fire, 75% Mopped Up
Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters made a rapid stop on the grass fire off Tamarack Lane Thursday, keeping the final fire size to approximately 0.75 of an acre. According to ODF's Southwest Oregon District's Facebook page, the fire is now 100% wet lined and 75% mopped up. Although the fire burned very close to nearby structures, an aggressive initial attack by ODF firefighters and agency partners quickly knocked the fire down. Multiple ground and air resources were deployed, with aircraft responding just 33 minutes after the initial dispatch due to the rapid progress made by crews. Crews remain on scene extinguishing remaining hot spots and addressing any visible smoke to ensure the fire is fully secured. ...Read more

Shuttle Service Announced for 4th of July Food Truck Festival and Food Drive

The 4th Annual Grants Pass 4th of July Food Truck Festival and Food Drive is Saturday, and the City is helping the public get there. Parking at Reinhart Volunteer Park will be limited during the event, and community members are encouraged to share rides or use the shuttle provided by Josephine Community Transit. Shuttle service to the event will begin at 3 p.m., with the last shuttle departing Parkside Elementary at 11:30 p.m., or until there are no more riders. Pick-up locations are the Grasshopper Parking Lot, 201 NW F Street, at the corner of F and 4th Streets, and the Grants Pass Shopping Center, 259 NE D Street, D Street side, parking area in front of the old Movie 6. Riders will be dropped off at Parkside Elementary, 735 SW Wagner Meadows Drive, where they can access Reinhart Volunteer Park via a walking path. According to the City website, the event is set to start at 3 p.m. with bounce houses, followed by the Food Truck Festival and DJ Sean-Paul at 4 p.m. A Ray of Light Dance will perform at 7 p.m., followed by live music from Rabbit Dub at 8:30 p.m. Headliner Alcyon Massive will begin at 9 p.m., with fireworks to be set off at dusk. The event is brought to the community by Blaze-N-Monkey's, and they are asking the public to bring at least one non-perishable, non-expired canned food item to support the Josephine County Food Bank, which will have a booth to take donations. ...Read more

GPCC Enacts Exclusion Zone for Downtown Business Section

Grants Pass City Councilors unanimously passed an ordinance essentially adopting a civil exclusion zone for the downtown business section and declaring an emergency. The exclusion zone would include the areas between 4th Street and 9th Streets extending from A Street to the Rogue River. The ordinance allows police to exclude individuals who commit crimes or other violations in that area for a period of time. Individuals that have been excluded and are found within the exclusion zone can be arrested and charged with trespass. It was declared an emergency to make the ordinance effective immediately. The Council opened their business meeting with a public hearing to debate a local sign code appeal. A request has been made to erect an 80-foot-tall free-standing sign along Foothill Boulevard and Grants Pass Parkway. The proposed 80-foot sign has two, separate four-sided cabinets, one for Dutch Bros and one for Les Schwab. Neither sign meets the code standards. To meet the standards the sign would be 25 feet tall and 100 square feet. Council tabled the appeal pending the completion of a flag test. ...Read more