Local News

Grants Pass City Council Proceeds with Pathways to Stability Homeless Grant

The Grants Pass City Council voted today to award the Addressing Homelessness Grant to Pathways to Stability, moving one step closer to establishing a managed homeless encampment in the city. The designated location for the encampment will be at the end of N Street, located at 1798 S.E. N Street. Concerns were raise on location since it is located next to Riverside Elementary School. The property is owned by Josephine County, the Board of County…

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October 21, 2025

County Politics / Local News / State Politics

Oregon Priorities for Conservatives in 2026

Upcoming priorities for Conservatives in Oregon 2026:In regard to what conservatives need to focus on in Oregon in the upcoming year, I would like to get suggestions and ideas from people. Below is a list I started to work on if anyone has suggestions or thoughts…. State Level:Governor election in 2026: We must focus on selecting a candidate that has the best chance of winning. All our time and energy to go into ensure this…

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October 20, 2025

Homeless / Local News

Grants Pass “Addressing Homelessness Grant” Process Raises Fairness Concerns

After reviewing the current Homelessness Grant concerns from various sources and the related process, I’ve put together a brief summary highlighting several areas of concern: Summary: The City of Grants Pass reissued its Addressing Homelessness Grant on Sept. 5, 2025, including a rule (Section 9.F) prohibiting applicants from contacting the Mayor, City Council, or staff during the open application period. All communication was to go only through City Recorder Karen Frerk; any outside contact could…

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October 14, 2025

City Politics / Homeless / Local News

Grants Pass Renews Effort to Establish Managed Homeless Shelter Site

After reading the Daily Courier article about new homeless shelter applications, here’s a quick summary I put together:• The City of Grants Pass is offering up to $1.2 million for an organization to create a managed homeless shelter for about 150 people. The funds can only be used for start-up costs such as land or building acquisition, not for ongoing operations.• Four applications were submitted by the deadline:1. Elk Island Trading Group (Roseburg) - later…

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October 12, 2025

Local News / State Politics

Support a referendum on the gas tax and fee hikes as a result of HB3991

Let your voices be heard. Go to No Tax Oregon: https://notaxor.com/What the Tax Hikes Mean:Taxes & feesGas tax: sets rate at $0.46/gal.Registration (biennial base fees → shown as per-year equivalent): - passenger vehicles $85/yr; - motorcycles $86/yr; light/utility trailers $105/yr. - Title fee: $216Statewide payroll tax: 0.1% → 0.2% (effective Jan 1, 2026) Key Provisions / What It Would Do Some of the major components and changes proposed under HB 3991 are: Policy AreaChange /…

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October 8, 2025

County Politics / Local News / Recall

The Real Power Struggle in Josephine County: Commissioners Recall

A multi-purpose recall effort is underway against county commissioners. Left-wing groups such as Rogue Indivisible and Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) are working to turn Josephine County blue, working with disgruntled former department heads. These ex-department heads are pushing hard to ensure that unelected bureaucrats, rather than the people’s elected representatives, hold the real power in county government. For years, Josephine County has faced a power struggle: should the county be run by the commissioners…

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September 29, 2025

Local News / National Politics

A Day We Won’t Forget: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Wednesday, September 10, 2025, won’t be a day we forget — it was a painfully horrible day. A very beloved person was assassinated. I’m not sure there’s any meaning to what I’m about to write, but it still baffles me. I get chills when I think about it, and it’s hard to explain exactly how I feel. That Wednesday I won’t forget for a long time. My wife and I decided to hike at Fish…

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September 23, 2025

County Politics / Local News / Recall

The Problem of “Closet Democrats” in Josephine County

Looking over the political landscape of our county, where Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin, I find some of the antics that take place by a few individuals very concerning.I have used this term before and continue to use it: Closet Democrat. What exactly is a Closet Democrat. It is a person who calls themselves a Republican, often even going so far as to say they are a “lifelong Republican” - but in reality,…

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September 20, 2025

County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

The Truth About the Library Debate and 2007 Closures

Josephine County - Once again, I’ve come across misinformation and disinformation intended to mislead readers into believing a false narrative. Two recent statements in particular stand out: that the commissioners do not want a library, and that the commissioners closed all the libraries in 2007. Both of these claims are false, or at best highly misleading. If people are going to make such sweeping statements, they should at least provide credible references. Can anyone point…

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August 20, 2025

Business/Tourism / City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

Multi-Layer Crisis: Rural Josephine County Struggles with Crime, Drugs, and Policy Fallout

Once known for its scenic charm and tight-knit community spirit, Grants Pass and the greater Josephine County area are now facing a growing storm of crime, drug addiction, and homelessness, a problem may be rooted in a tangle of state policies and local limitations. Let's take a closer look at this multi-layer problem. All these problems point to a “multi-layer” crisis, where statewide legislation and local resource shortages combine to create a revolving door for…

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August 14, 2025