Local News

The Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of their Concerts in the Park series this summer. In 2024, the community event will take place on Thursdays from June 20th to August 15th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction. There is no show scheduled for Independence Day, July 4th. In an effort to prioritize the health and safety of Illinois Valley community members, this year's concert series will start earlier than usual. The decision to start the series early is a proactive measure to mitigate the potential impact of wildfire smoke, which has historically affected the region in mid- to late-August. The Chamber invites local musicians and vendors to participate in this year's Concerts in the Park series. Interested performers and vendors can access applications at "ivchamberofcommerce.com." It's an excellent opportunity for local artists and artisans to share their talents with the Illinois Valley community while gaining exposure to a broad audience.

 

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has awarded more than $60,000 in grants to 11 historic cemetery projects throughout the state through the Historic Cemeteries Grant Program. Three of them are in Jackson County. The funds will help support preservation efforts, tree care and access. Individual award amounts ranged from $2,500 to $10,900. In Jackson County, grants were awarded for monument repair at the IOOF Eastwood Cemetery in Medford, to trim trees and remove dead trees at Logtown Cemetery and to remove hazard trees at Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery. Historic cemeteries are documented by OCHC and must include the burial of at least one person who died 75 years before the current date. The grant program is offered annually by the OCHC, which is part of the Oregon Heritage Program at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It's supported by lottery and other funds.
OCHC maintains a list of all pioneer and historic cemeteries in the state. The seven-member appointed commission helps people and organizations document, preserve and promote designated historic cemeteries statewide.

 

The Grants Pass City Council during its Monday workshop adjusted the rules governing the public comment period of the official business sessions. Individual times to speak is reduced from three minutes to two minutes with the total time allotted for the public is 30 minutes. The blue cards must be submitted to be allowed to speak and they must be in place prior to the public comment period. The cards will indicate the topic to be discussed must be related to city business.

 

The Grants Pass City Council voted to pursue a partnership with the YMCA on a new pool/recreation facility south of the Rogue River on the 10-acre Allen Creek reserve property that is designated for a park area. The YMCA asked for a long-term lease for 100 years at one dollar a year. The envisioned facility would cost approximately $65 million dollars. The YMCA estimated fund raising, planning, and building the facility to opening would be approximately four years. The vote was irrespective of any final decision on the future of the Caveman Pool. A base estimate of cost for renovating the pool is $13.5 million, slightly more for enhancing the pool.

 

An Oregon State Trooper stopped a gray Honda Civic Friday night at the intersection of Agness and the Grants Pass Parkway for the illegal alteration of a license plate and discovered the driver had a statewide felony warrant from the Parole Board. The 38-year-old driver was lodged in the Josephine County Jail. Saturday night at 5:30 Troopers in the Fish and Wildlife Division received a call from a Cave Junction landowner that had just shot a nuisance bear that was damaging his property and attacking his livestock. The bear was destroyed and was salvaged. Early Sunday morning a Trooper stopped a gray Chevrolet that was the subject of a driving complaint at 10th and “L” Street. The driver, a 50-year-old woman, was found to have an active felony arrest warrant. She was cited and given a court date and time. A two-vehicle rollover crash at the intersection of Robertson Bridge Road and Azalea Drive drew a Trooper response Sunday night at 9:20. A white Ford truck was traveling on Azalea when a maroon Nissan truck entered the intersection, failing to stop at the stop sign. The Ford, that had the right of way, struck the Nissan on the right rear side causing it to roll onto its side. Both drivers denied medical attention and the Nissan was towed. There was no mention of a citation in the Trooper’s statement.

 

Grants Pass City Police arrested a 30-year-old man Sunday evening following an altercation with his girlfriend. The initial 911 call came at 7:45 p.m. reporting a woman screaming for help in a white van with a blue tarp because a man was attacking her in the parking lot above the boat ramp near the end of Vista Drive. According to the police log the man was throwing things in the back of the van at the woman. The woman advised he threw a metal jug at her. The man walked away and was contacted at the entrance to Baker Park. The police narrative stated the woman was placed in fear of her serious injury when her boyfriend lost his temper and began throwing thin

 

A relatively long agenda is awaiting the Grants Pass City Council when it convenes its weekly workshop this morning at 11:45. The Council will discuss minimum density and multi-family permits and how system development charges can affect builder’s incentives. A discussion on the future of the Caveman pool is second on the agenda. The third item is consideration of public comment rules and procedures for Council’s business sessions, which have become lengthy and occasionally raucous. Councilors will review upcoming agendas before reconvening in executive session for labor negotiations and real property transactions.

 

A Shady Cove man is in the Jackson County Jail charged with 2nd degree murder following a Saturday homicide. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call Saturday at 11:03 a.m. in rural Shady Cove. Dispatch received the call for a possible homicide with an armed suspect on scene at a property in the 23000 block of Highway 62 north of Shady Cove. Deputies arrived with the SWAT Bearcat to locate the armed suspect. Dispatch received a 2nd 911 call for the potential suspect at the Trail Market. Deputies responded and took the suspect into custody without incident. The victim’s name will be released pending next-of-kin notification. Medical Examiners arrived at the scene to begin the death investigation. Cause of death is pending the autopsy by an Oregon State Police forensic pathologist. Jackson County Detectives from and Central Point Police responded to assume the homicide investigation. The suspect, Travis Clayton Driver, 34, of Shady Cove, is in custody charged with second-degree murder. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff’s office has reported the first drowning of the season. A call to 911 Saturday morning at 11:53 reported the incident in the Illinois River at Forks State Park in Cave Junction. The Sheriff’s Office along with OSP, IV Fire, and AMR responded to find Zeke Grant, 39, of Cave Junction had drowned while swimming at a popular swimming hole accessed from the park. Witnesses at the park had seen Grant swimming in the water but then found him submerged approximately 15 minutes later. There were no witnesses when the drowning occurred. Next of kin have been notified and no further information will be released by the Sheriff's Office at this time.