Local News

Concerns are mounting in Ashland as residents prepare to attend a city council meeting to discuss the use of herbicides along city medians.

According to KDRV, many locals are particularly worried about glyphosate, an herbicide that the city acknowledges using.

Residents have raised alarms over the potential safety risks to workers and nearby residents, as well as the possibility of runoff into storm drains.

City leaders argue that the situation is not as dire as it seems. The city asserts that the median improvement project is not intended to "kill everything and replace it with rocks."

Instead, it aims to reduce maintenance, conserve water and enhance safety for city workers. The city clarified that rocks were only used in one area.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, herbicides like glyphosate undergo evaluation and, when applied correctly, pose a low risk to people and wildlife.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will consider requests for Economic Development Funding following presentations Wednesday morning.

The Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce will request $5,000 for a Business Retention and Expansion Survey. Next, Patriot Solutions, LLC will request $125,000 for JEDI Josephine County Economic Development.

2 Guys, 1 Truck, LLC and Thrift Right Here 501c3 has a Housing Turnaround and Community Cleanup Presentation where they will request $68,145, and Toni Webb will request $50,000 for Josephine County Economic Development.

The board's general discussion will begin at 10 a.m. in the BCC Conference Room and will be streamed at www.josepinecounty.gov/livestream. Those wanting to attend the meeting in person must abide by the clear bag policy.

 

Rural Metro Fire responded to a fire in the Fort Vannoy area yesterday.

No livestock were harmed after the fire broke out Monday around 10:15 a.m. on Hunt Lane west of Grants Pass.

Fire had engulfed a UTV next to the stalls and spread to baled hay storage by the time firefighters with Rural Metro Fire and Grants Pass Fire arrived.

Fire damage to the building itself was limited due to suppression efforts. Cause of the fire in the UTV is under investigation.

 

City Council’s workshop Monday began with interviews for a position on the Urban Area Planning Commission, then transitioned to Bikeways/Walkways motions. A presentation on motions from the Bikeways/Walkways committee outlined proposals to enhancements for Highland Avenue multi-model traffic. The presentation included changes to the bike lanes on Highland Avenue that affects traffic and parking along specific areas at the same time connecting with the Dollar Mountain Trails. Sidewalks, retaining walls and traffic islands were all outlined for the Council. Approximate costs for the sidewalks would be in the $100,000 range and an estimated $2 million for street modifications.
The Council approved a motion to go forward with new bike lanes and pedestrian crossings on Highland Avenue after monitoring traffic flows and parking on South Highland and alerting residents that on street parking may be eliminated.Councilors interviewed three candidates applying for one position on the Urban Area Planning Commission. Rich Akers, J.W. Ohler and Keith Trahern all were available with Mr. Akers appearing telephonically. A Council decision is on the agenda for Wednesday night’s Council meeting. The meeting was continuing with GP Nexus Incubator Grant.

 

A juvenile driver and his maroon Hyundai were located by an Oregon State Police Trooper after the driver had eluded the Grants Pass Police. The Trooper found the vehicle and initiated contact at milepost 53 on Interstate 5 at 1:19 a.m. Saturday morning. The vehicle had to be spiked multiple times to cause the Hyundai to stop and the driver to be arrested without incident. Troopers observed multiple indicators of impairment and arrested the 14-year-old assessing charges of reckless endangering, reckless driving, driving under the influence of intoxicants and attempting to elude. The Hyundai was impounded and towed.

 

The holidays are a wonderful time, unfortunately, they can also bring a greater risk of a home fire. In a typical November and December, nearly 400 people in the Cascades Region will rely on the Red Cross after a home fire. December is also the peak month for home fires caused by candles and festive decorations. As you prepare your home for the holiday season, remember fire prevention is key. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Check to make sure you have the right lights. Replace any light strings with worn or broken cords or loose connections. Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.TREE SAFETY If you plan to decorate with a real tree, pick one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source and make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree every day. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. If you buy an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees. Think about using

 

A turn onto the Grants Pass Parkway from Northeast Terry Lane in front of Grants Pass Patrol Vehicle caused the Officer driving to brake to avoid a crash resulted in a traffic stop. The officer had more than probable cause to initiate the stop because the Dodge Durango was displaying no license plates. The driver, 27-year-old Anthony Michael Moreno, was driving while suspended so he was cited for both infractions, warned for a dangerous right turn, failing to yield and the Durango was impounded. Moreno’s Jackson County parole officer then requested a detainer, so the suspect was then lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Just after midnight Monday morning a Grants Pass Police Officer stopped a black Jeep at the intersection of Lewis Avenue and West Park Street displaying an expired registration.The driver, identified as Christian Anne Nissen, 42, was found to be driving suspended and uninsured so her Jeep was impounded. After her identity was confirmed it was discovered she was wanted on a Central Point warrant on a charge of theft II. Nissen was then placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail on the out of county hold warrant.

 

Multiple calls about disorderly conduct and trespassing landed 38-year-old Kyle Jenrette in the Josephine County Jail Sunday afternoon. According to the police log Jenrette was asked to leave two businesses after being asked to vacate the premises. Calls to 911 sent officers to the location who took the suspect into custody for disorderly conduct II and two charges of trespass II. During a search officers located metal knuckles concealed in his waistband. The knuckles had a spring-loaded knife inside the handle. Officers added a charge carrying concealed weapons. The arrest was Jenrette’s third since June. He remained in custody Monday morning.