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FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

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Oregon Marks Preparedness Month With Two-Week Readiness Standard for Disasters By John Oliver Oregon entered September with a statewide emphasis on disaster preparedness as Gov. Tina Kotek proclaimed Preparedness Month and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management expanded its effort to prepare households for emergencies capable of disrupting electricity, transportation, water, communications and access to essential services. The state's campaign places particular emphasis on its Be 2 Weeks Ready program, which recommends that residents maintain sufficient food, water, medications and other necessities to function independently for at least 14 days following a major disaster. The two-week standard reflects the severity and geographic diversity of hazards confronting Oregon, where wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, winter storms, extreme heat and prolonged power failures can strain emergency services and interrupt infrastructure. A widespread disaster could damage roads and bridges, interrupt fuel and food deliveries, disable portions of electrical and communications networks and prevent emergency personnel from immediately reaching every affected community. State emergency planners have consequently built Oregon's household preparedness guidance around a longer period of self-sufficiency than the traditional three-day emergency supply recommendation. For Southern Oregon, the preparedness campaign coincides with hazards that have repeatedly

disrupted communities across Josephine and Jackson counties. Wildfires have forced evacuations, closed highways and damaged infrastructure, while wildfire smoke has produced hazardous air conditions across communities far removed from active fire lines. Extreme heat, winter weather, flooding and electrical interruptions create additional demands throughout the region, where mountainous terrain and a limited number of major transportation corridors can complicate emergency access when roads become damaged or impassable. Wildfire remains among the most immediate concerns entering September. Fires continue to burn in Oregon, and smoke has affected portions of the state during the closing weeks of summer. Beyond the direct danger posed by flames, wildfires can interrupt electrical service, force highway closures, interfere with communications and require residents to leave their homes with little

notice. Utilities may also implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs when dangerous weather and vegetation conditions create an elevated risk that electrical equipment could ignite a wildfire, leaving affected households without power even when fire has not reached their immediate area. Oregon emergency officials encourage residents to know the state's three evacuation levels and prepare more than one route away from their homes. Level 1 means Be Ready, Level 2 means Be Set and Level 3 means Go Now. Advance planning becomes particularly important for households with children, older adults, people with disabilities, pets, livestock or medical equipment because transportation, shelter and health requirements may become substantially more difficult to arrange after an evacuation order has been issued. The Be 2 Weeks Ready program extends far beyond storing food and bottled water. Oregon's preparedness materials address household emergency planning, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, first aid and the responsibilities of emergency management. The program includes 30 preparedness activities intended to allow households to build their supplies and plans incrementally rather than attempting to complete every preparation at once. Water is among the most consequential components of the state's recommendations because damaged treatment plants, pumping equipment

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see OREGON, page 5

Public Money, Private Development and New Contracting Company

Chad Hansen’s Housing Connections Put Before Josephine County Voters

By John Oliver Josephine County commissioner candidate Chad Hansen’s extensive involvement in affordable housing now intersects with substantial public investment, municipal land-use proceedings, county development activity and a newly formed contracting company involving Hansen and his son, Austin Hansen. The expanding record connects Home Bridging GP, taxpayer-financed infrastructure, county housing programs, property development and private business interests at the same time Hansen is seeking a seat on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. Hansen founded Home Bridging GP and has represented the nonprofit before local governments as it pursued housing developments and participated in publicly financed programs. His government relationships have included substantial infrastructure grants, county development activity and a previous federal conflict-of-interest review involving his service on the Josephine County Budget Committee. More recently, Hansen and his son filed a new company, Rogue Pacific Contracting LLC. Questions surrounding those relationships intensified during a Grants Pass Planning Commission proceeding involving a Home Bridging development. Hansen explained that public money was being used for infrastructure while private donations would finance construction of the houses. He also said Home Bridging deliberately avoided

federal funding for construction because the organization did not want the additional government requirements accompanying those dollars. The discussion then turned to the people who would eventually receive the homes. “We want to control who we want to help. We want to provide the houses that we want to provide them to,” Hansen stated during the proceeding. He later added, “not discriminatory-wise.” Public financing has already contributed to Home Bridging developments even when government money did not directly pay for construction of the individual houses. The Grants Pass City Council awarded Home Bridging GP Inc. an American Rescue Plan Act Public Infrastructure Affordable Housing Grant of up to $747,500 in June 2024 for property at

1907 Fruitdale Drive. During the same meeting cycle, the Grants Pass Urban Renewal Agency awarded Home Bridging a separate grant of up to $749,000 for property at 235 NW Scenic Drive. The city simultaneously rescinded an earlier ARPA award of up to $800,000 associated with the Scenic Drive property after the financing arrangement for that development changed. Home Bridging’s use of publicly financed housing infrastructure predates those awards. Grants Pass planning documents for the 2022 program year allocated Community Development Block Grant money toward public infrastructure for 22 affordable, low-income single-family houses associated with Home Bridging and Habitat for Humanity at 2612 Redwood Avenue. Subsequent city planning records reported that Home Bridging installed public improvements for a low-income housing subdivision using CDBG funds and continued participating in local affordable-housing programs. Hansen’s description of privately financed home construction therefore represents only one portion of the development costs. Roads, water and sewer connections, utilities and other infrastructure are necessary components of residential development, and government grants covering those expenses reduce costs that otherwise must be financed as part of preparing property for construction. How Home Bridging ultimately selects the purchasers of those homes remains an important unanswered part of the process. Will the homes be publicly available to ev-

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see CHAD, page 8

September Storm Breaks Oregon’s Summer Pattern By Ellen Ward Oregon is entering September under an abrupt change in weather as a succession of unusually strong storm systems descends from the Gulf of Alaska, replacing the state’s prolonged summer dryness with widespread rain, gusty winds, falling temperatures and the possibility of thunderstorms. The most consequential period is expected Wednesday and Thursday, when a deeper low-pressure system and its associated front cross the Pacific Northwest. Western Oregon will receive the greatest rainfall, but the effects will extend from the coast and Willamette Valley into Southern Oregon, the Cascades and portions of the state east of the mountains. For a state that has spent much of the summer contending with wildfire, smoke, parched vegetation and exceptionally dry ground, the change will be pronounced. Temperatures in some areas will fall 15 to 20 degrees below seasonal norms while substantial precipitation reaches sections of Oregon that have received little meaningful rainfall for weeks. Northwestern Oregon will experience some of the strongest conditions. Rainfall from Wednesday morning through Friday morning has a high probability of exceeding one inch from the coast through the Cascade crest, with considerably greater amounts possible in the Coast Range, Cascades and other elevated terrain. Portions of those areas could approach or exceed two inches. The Interstate 5 corridor will generally receive less rain than the mountains and coast, although a widespread soaking is anticipated across much of the Willamette Valley. Wednesday temperatures in the interior valleys are expected to remain largely in the 60s, a significant departure from the summer warmth that preceded the storm. Southerly winds will strengthen as the front arrives. Inland gusts could approach 30 mph in northwestern Oregon, with stronger winds through the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley. Oregon’s beaches and exposed headlands could experience gusts approaching 55 to 60 mph. Conditions offshore will become considerably more hazardous. Gale conditions are forecast along portions of the Oregon coast as southerly winds increase and ocean seas build into the 10 to 14 foot range. Isolated storm-force gusts are possible near the coastline before winds diminish

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see WIDESPREAD, page 5

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

OREGON

Wildfire Smoke Blankets Parts of Oregon as Air Quality Advisories Continue Into September By Ellen Ward Wildfire smoke remains a significant air-quality concern across portions of Oregon as September begins, with state environmental officials maintaining advisories across several counties Tuesday while shifting winds and an approaching Pacific storm system begin altering conditions west of the Cascades. The most persistent smoke concerns are concentrated across Central Oregon and portions of the Cascades, where multiple active wildfires continue sending fine particulate matter into communities already experiencing repeated periods of degraded air. Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, eastern Marion and southern Wasco counties remain covered by an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality air-quality advisory issued because wildfire smoke and prevailing atmospheric conditions could produce unhealthy air. The advisory is expected to remain in effect into Wednesday afternoon for Crook, Jefferson, eastern Marion and southern Wasco counties. Deschutes County is scheduled to transition to an intermittent smoke advisory Tuesday evening, reflecting expected fluctuations rather than an immediate end to the region's smoke exposure. Additional intermittent smoke is anticipated in Baker and eastern Clackamas counties through Wednesday afternoon. Central Oregon communities affected by the advisory include areas around Prineville, Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, Madras, Warm Springs and Culver. Farther north, smoke concerns extend toward The Dalles, Maupin and portions of the eastern Cascades. Eastern Marion County, including communities near Stayton and Detroit, also remains under an advisory through noon Wednesday. Conditions deteriorated sharply in portions of western Oregon Monday evening as wildfire smoke crossed the Cascades and settled into the Willamette Valley and Portland metropolitan region. Air-quality readings moved through unhealthy categories in some locations, with particularly poor conditions reported as smoke was transported west by easterly winds. Smoke from several Oregon wildfires contributed to the plume, including the Austin, Narrows and Grasshopper fires. The concentration and movement of smoke varied considerably across the region, producing pronounced differences in air quality between communities and even substantial changes within a matter of hours. The Portland area's episode illustrated the volatility of wildfire smoke. Conditions that deteriorated Monday night began showing signs of improvement Tuesday as the atmospheric pattern shifted and winds increasingly turned southwesterly. That change is expected to gradually move accumulated smoke away from portions of western Oregon rather than allowing it to remain trapped over the Willamette Valley. Wildfire smoke is dominated by extremely small particles known as PM2.5, measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. Those particles are small enough to penetrate deeply into the respiratory system. Oregon's Air Quality Index incorporates particle pollution along with ozone and nitrogen dioxide to determine the health classification reported to the public. Air-quality readings of 50 or below are classified as good, while progressively higher measurements indicate increasing concentrations of pollution and greater potential health effects. Once readings enter unhealthy categories, exposure becomes a broader concern rather than one limited exclusively to people with existing respiratory problems.

The situation is considerably different in southwestern Oregon. Josephine and Jackson counties are not included in the principal DEQ wildfire-smoke advisory continuing Tuesday. Southern Oregon remains susceptible to smoke from regional fires, particularly when wind direction changes, but the Rogue Valley entered September without the widespread deterioration affecting portions of Central Oregon and the northern Willamette Valley. Early Tuesday observations at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport showed visibility near 10 miles, an indication that dense surface smoke had not enveloped the Medford area at the level experienced elsewhere in Oregon. This is especially relevant for communities in Medford, Grants Pass and surrounding portions of Jackson and Josephine counties. Wildfire smoke can accumulate rapidly in Southern Oregon's valleys when atmospheric conditions permit, but the immediate regional forecast instead points toward increasing clouds, cooler temperatures and the arrival of precipitation. A substantial weather transition is developing across Oregon and could provide broader relief from the smoke that has persisted around active fires. Southwesterly winds are replacing the easterly flow that carried smoke into western Oregon Monday. A stronger frontal system is expected to follow Wednesday into Thursday, bringing widespread rainfall, substantially cooler temperatures, breezy southerly winds and the possibility of thunderstorms. Western Oregon is positioned to receive the greatest rainfall from the system. The National Weather Service expects widespread showers Wednesday as the front crosses the region, followed by additional showers into Thursday morning. Cooler and intermittently showery weather could continue afterward. In Southern Oregon, the approaching front is expected to bring widespread showers Wednesday, with the greatest precipitation west of the Cascades. Gusty winds are also forecast along the coast, through the Shasta Valley and across areas east of the Cascades. Rainfall and changing winds should ultimately assist with smoke dispersion while providing additional moisture around wildfire areas. The transition will not necessarily produce immediate improvement everywhere. Wind shifts preceding the front can redirect existing smoke plumes, temporarily moving pollution from one community into another before broader atmospheric mixing and precipitation improve conditions. The incoming rain also introduces a separate concern in severely burned areas. National Weath-

er Service fire-weather forecasts indicate that sustained periods of moderate rainfall could increase the potential for debris flows where recent wildfires have left steep terrain heavily burned and unable to absorb water normally. For Oregon residents, Tuesday's air-quality conditions remain highly dependent on geography. Central Oregon and communities near active fires continue to face the most persistent smoke concerns. Eastern Marion and southern Wasco counties remain within the advisory area, while Baker and eastern Clackamas counties face intermittent smoke. Portland and portions of the Willamette Valley are emerging from a significant overnight smoke intrusion as the wind pattern changes. Southern Oregon is beginning September under more favorable air-quality circumstances, with neither Jackson nor Josephine County included in the statewide DEQ smoke advisory currently in effect. Nevertheless, localized smoke remains possible throughout the Rogue Valley and surrounding mountain communities as winds respond to the approaching front. Oregon's extensive geography makes wildfire smoke particularly difficult to characterize with a single statewide reading. Mountain ranges, valleys, wind direction, temperature inversions and proximity to individual fires can produce healthy air in one community while another location relatively nearby experiences unhealthy conditions.

That variability remains particularly important during active wildfire periods. Oregon environmental officials continue to monitor conditions through more than three dozen air-quality stations around the state, while wildfire agencies and meteorologists track smoke movement as weather patterns change. September has therefore opened with two sharply contrasting atmospheric forces crossing Oregon. Wildfires continue producing enough smoke to maintain official health advisories across several counties, while the first substantial early-season Pacific weather system is beginning to displace the hot, dry pattern that helped sustain those conditions. For Central Oregon and communities closest to active fires, smoke remains an immediate concern Tuesday. Across Portland and the Willamette Valley, changing winds are beginning to offer relief from Monday night's deterioration. In Southern Oregon, Jackson and Josephine counties remain outside the current DEQ advisory area as cooler weather and widespread precipitation approach. By Wednesday and Thursday, rain, stronger atmospheric mixing and cooler temperatures are expected to reshape the air-quality picture considerably across much of the state. Until that transition is fully established, Oregon's wildfire smoke remains mobile, uneven and capable of changing rapidly from one community to the next.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

RELENTLESS HEROES 13TH ANNUAL DEVASTATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Saturday, September 19, 2026 Grants Pass Golf Club Shotgun Start • 9:00 A.M.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Support Southern Oregon veterans while showcasing your business to hundreds of golfers, families, and community members during one of Josephine County’s premier annual charity golf tournaments. • Sponsorships help Relentless Heroes continue providing emergency assistance and essential support to local veterans when they need it most. Your partnership directly helps fund programs that assist veterans facing unexpected hardships throughout Southern Oregon. • Businesses may also contribute raffle prizes, silent auction items, or other event donations to help maximize fundraising efforts. • Join the growing list of local businesses making a difference for those who have served our country. • Become a sponsor today and stand with our local veterans.

GOLFERS & TEAMS Gather your friends, coworkers, or family and register your team for a day of golf in support of Southern Oregon veterans. • Tw0-Person Team Entry: $250 • Enjoy a fun-filled day featuring golf, contests, raffles, silent auction opportunities, awards, food, and community fellowship while helping raise funds that stay right here in Southern Oregon. • Whether you’re an experienced golfer or simply looking to support a great cause, every swing helps make a difference. • Please remember: Collared shirts are required for all players. • Space is limited, so teams are encouraged to register early.

“EVERY VETERAN, EVERY DAY” Relentless Heroes is a Southern Oregon nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance and support to veterans throughout our region.

For sponsorship information, player registration, or volunteer opportunities, visit:

www.RelentlessHeroes.org

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

OREGON

Oregon Two-Week Readiness Standard for Disasters From page 1 or distribution lines could leave communities without dependable municipal service. Food planning must account for the possibility that refrigerators, freezers, electric stoves and other appliances may be unavailable, while stores could remain closed or experience delayed deliveries. Sanitation presents another concern when running water and sewer systems are compromised, particularly during an extended emergency involving large numbers of displaced residents. Prescription medications, first-aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, portable charging equipment and necessities for pets and service animals are also incorporated into Oregon's preparedness guidance. Residents are encouraged to preserve copies of identification, insurance information and other important documents that could become necessary during evacuation and recovery. Emergency communication plans are similarly important because cellular networks and internet service can become congested, damaged or unavailable during a large disaster. The state's preparedness materials are available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, simplified Chinese and Ukrainian. Oregon has also developed an American Sign Language version containing 40 videos, broadening access to emergency information for residents who may encounter barriers with conventional written preparedness materials. While wildfire provides an immediate example of Oregon's vulnerability, the state's 14-day recommendation is heavily influenced by the potential consequences of a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The fault extends approximately 700 miles from Northern California to British Columbia and lies roughly 70 to 100 miles offshore. Geological evidence indicates that major earth-

quakes have repeatedly occurred along Cascadia during the past 10,000 years, with the most recent enormous rupture occurring on Jan. 26, 1700. A future full-margin Cascadia rupture could produce an earthquake approaching or exceeding magnitude 9.0 and generate a destructive tsunami along the Oregon coast. Severe shaking could damage highways, bridges, electrical networks, water systems and communications infrastructure throughout a much larger portion of the Pacific Northwest. Even communities that avoid catastrophic structural destruction could experience shortages or extended interruptions if transportation corridors and regional supply networks are damaged. Southern Oregon would not be insulated from those consequences. Interstate 5 serves as the principal north-south transportation corridor through Josephine and Jackson counties, while numerous rural communities depend upon highways crossing rivers, mountains and heavily forested terrain. Damage to bridges and critical roadway segments could interfere with the movement of ambulances, firefighters, utility crews, fuel deliveries, food shipments and other emergency resources throughout the region. The possibility of extensive transportation and infrastructure damage is a central reason Oregon recommends that households prepare for at least two weeks without normal services or outside assistance. A catastrophic earthquake could create emergencies across hundreds of communities simultaneously, forcing state and local agencies to concentrate limited personnel and equipment on rescues, fires, severe injuries and the restoration of critical infrastructure before assistance reaches every neighborhood. Household preparedness therefore carries a

direct connection to Oregon's broader emergency-response capacity. Residents who can safely meet their basic needs during the initial period following a disaster place fewer immediate demands on firefighters, paramedics, police officers, public works employees and emergency managers. That consideration becomes particularly significant in rural communities where emergency agencies cover large geographic territories and where damaged roads could sharply increase response times. Oregon's household campaign is unfolding while the state is also reviewing its governmental preparedness structure. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management opened a public review of the State Preparedness Plan in August, with comments being accepted through Sept. 24. The plan establishes a framework for state agencies, local governments, Tribal Nations and emergency-management partners to develop and maintain capabilities required before disasters occur and to coordinate resources when local response systems become overwhelmed. Additional statewide preparedness activities are scheduled after September. Oregon will hold a Ready Fair in Salem on Oct. 10 featuring information about emergency alerts, food and water preparation, sanitation and other disaster considerations. The Great Oregon ShakeOut follows at 10:16 a.m. Oct. 15, when participating schools, businesses, government offices, organizations and households will practice protective actions intended to reduce injuries during earthquake shaking. The Great Oregon Camp-In is scheduled Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 and will give households an opportunity to test whether their emergency preparations work under simulated disaster conditions. Participants can spend several hours or

the entire weekend operating as though normal utilities were unavailable, allowing families to determine whether stored food can be prepared, water reserves are sufficient, backup lighting functions properly, batteries remain usable and communications equipment can operate without household electricity. September's statewide campaign places those preparations within circumstances Oregon residents already recognize from wildfire evacuations, power failures and severe weather, while accounting for a Cascadia earthquake capable of producing disruption on an entirely different scale. For Grants Pass and surrounding Southern Oregon communities, the same fundamental preparations apply across those hazards: adequate food and water, essential medications, dependable emergency information, multiple evacuation routes, sanitation supplies, communications planning and sufficient resources to withstand an extended interruption of the infrastructure residents ordinarily rely upon. Oregon's two-week standard is ultimately built around the limitations that accompany a large disaster rather than an assumption that emergency assistance will immediately reach every household. When transportation, utilities and communications fail across a broad geographic area, recovery depends not only upon government response but also upon how thoroughly communities and households prepared before those systems were disrupted. Preparedness Month places that practical standard before Oregonians throughout September as the state continues through wildfire season and prepares for hazards capable of affecting communities from the Pacific Coast to the state's inland valleys and rural regions.

Widespread Rain, Wind and Sharp Cooldown Breaks Summer Pattern From page 1 Wednesday night. Elevated seas are expected to subside more slowly and could remain hazardous into Thursday or early Friday. Thursday introduces another element as colder air moves overhead and atmospheric instability increases. Thunderstorms could develop across western Oregon, carrying the potential for lightning, short periods of heavier rainfall, small hail and erratic wind gusts. Thunderstorm coverage is not expected to be widespread, but scattered development could produce rapidly changing conditions where individual storms form. Southern Oregon will undergo the same broader transition, although rainfall will vary substantially according to location and elevation. Rain is expected to spread across southwestern Oregon Wednesday and continue into Thursday before becoming more intermittent. Coastal areas and portions of Douglas and Curry counties are positioned to receive considerably more precipitation than the Rogue Valley, while the Illinois Valley and surrounding higher terrain could also receive meaningful rainfall. In the Rogue Valley, including Grants Pass and Medford, the storm is expected to produce a noticeable period of rain without the heavier totals anticipated farther north or along the coast. Current forecasts around Medford call for rain developing Wednesday, continuing Wednesday night and diminishing Thursday. Wednesday night could produce between one-quarter and one-half inch in the Medford area, although rainfall totals will vary across Jackson and Josephine counties. The consequences in Southern Oregon extend beyond the amount collected in rain gauges.

Road conditions will change quickly after months of dry weather. Oils and other residue accumulated on pavement during summer can rise to the surface during the first significant rainfall, temporarily making highways and city streets unusually slick. Periods of heavier rain can also reduce visibility and create standing water where drainage systems are obstructed by leaves, debris or accumulated material. Travel through portions of Douglas County and other areas containing wildfire scars carries an additional concern. Rainfall over recently burned terrain can accelerate runoff and loosen rock, soil and vegetation. Highways 38, 42 and 138 are among the routes where rockfall, debris movement or localized drainage problems could develop. Burned areas around East Evans Creek and Fielder Mountain are also among the locations being watched as precipitation arrives. The rain will provide meaningful assistance to wildfire suppression across western Oregon, raising humidity, wetting vegetation and reducing the immediate ability of fuels to ignite and spread. It

will not, however, automatically bring Oregon’s fire season to an end. Larger fuels can retain heat and dryness beneath their surfaces, while eastern and southeastern portions of the state will receive substantially less precipitation than western Oregon. Lightning accompanying thunderstorms could further complicate fire conditions in locations that receive limited rainfall. The broader effect should nevertheless be favorable for active fires across the wetter portions of western Oregon, particularly where sustained precipitation reaches forested terrain. Smoke conditions may also improve in some locations. The transition toward stronger onshore and southerly flow, combined with rainfall and increasing atmospheric mixing, can disperse smoke that has lingered in valleys and along the western slopes of the Cascades. Local conditions will continue to depend upon active fires, wind direction and terrain. East of the Cascades, the storm will be less uniform. Portions of central and northeastern Oregon can expect periods of rain, breezy conditions

and isolated thunderstorms, while southeastern Oregon is likely to receive considerably lighter precipitation. Cooler temperatures will extend across a much larger portion of the state than the heaviest rainfall. Southern Oregon could also encounter notably cold mornings. Higher elevations and areas east of the Cascades may approach frost conditions as colder air settles across the region, an unusually sharp contrast to the hot and dry conditions experienced during much of the summer. The main storm will begin loosening its grip late Thursday and Friday, but Oregon is not expected to return immediately to sustained summer weather. Cooler-than-normal temperatures and intermittent showers remain possible into the weekend as low pressure lingers near the region. For Josephine and Jackson counties, Wednesday and Wednesday night currently represent the principal period for widespread rainfall, followed by diminishing precipitation Thursday and lingering chances for showers later in the week. Residents traveling north toward Douglas County, the Willamette Valley or the Oregon Coast will encounter progressively wetter and, in some areas, considerably windier conditions. The September storm marks one of Oregon’s sharpest weather transitions of the late summer season. Within a matter of days, parts of the state will move from wildfire-season dryness and summer temperatures into a distinctly cooler Pacific pattern capable of delivering substantial mountain rainfall, coastal gales, thunderstorms and the first widespread soaking of the approaching fall season.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

OREGON New Wildfire Ignites in Willamette National Forest as Crews Launch Full-Suppression Response By John Oliver A new wildfire burning in the Willamette National Forest has drawn an aggressive aerial and ground response after flames were discovered Monday afternoon in the Fall Creek drainage east of Eugene, adding another active incident to an Oregon fire season that has already consumed extensive acreage across the Pacific Northwest. The Deep Creek Fire, designated Incident No. 349, was reported at approximately 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, in the Middle Fork Ranger District. Initial reconnaissance placed the fire at approximately 10 to 15 acres near Forest Service Road 1835, about 10 miles south of Nimrod. Firefighters moved quickly into full-suppression operations as the fire became established in forestland scarred by an earlier major wildfire. A ground crew and engine were assigned to the incident, while an air-attack aircraft and two helicopters supported the response from above. Additional firefighting resources were ordered as crews worked to prevent the relatively small ignition from developing into a larger incident. The fire is burning within the footprint of the 2021 Gales Fire, part of the Middle Fork Complex that burned approximately 30,000 acres in the same region five years ago. The location presents firefighters with terrain altered by previous wildfire, including areas where standing dead trees, damaged timber and accumulated woody debris can complicate access and suppression work. The Gales Fire was also the site of a firefighter fatality in 2021. Frumencio Ruiz-Carapia was killed after being struck by a falling tree while working on the eastern side of that fire. His name was subsequently added to the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Salem. The Forest Service has asked the public to remain away from the Deep Creek Fire area while

crews, aircraft and equipment operate along the surrounding forest road system. Smoke may be visible from nearby communities depending upon fire activity, atmospheric conditions and wind direction. No evacuation orders associated with the Deep Creek Fire had been announced in the information available Tuesday morning, and no communities were reported immediately threatened. Authorities had also not released a containment percentage or a revised acreage beyond the initial estimate. The cause remained undetermined publicly as suppression operations continued. The incident is being managed as a federal wildfire because it is burning within the Willamette National Forest. The Oregon Department of Forestry operates an extensive statewide

fire-protection system covering approximately 16 million acres of private, state and certain federally managed forestland, including some Bureau of Land Management forests protected under contract. There was no indication Tuesday morning that ODF had assumed command of the Deep Creek Fire. The Bureau of Land Management likewise had not been identified as the lead agency on Incident No. 349. Federal, state and local wildfire agencies routinely coordinate personnel, aviation resources and equipment across jurisdictional boundaries when incidents require additional assistance. The new ignition arrives while land managers remain concerned about wildfire potential across Oregon and Washington. BLM reported in late August that more than 2.5 million acres

had already burned across the Northwest this season. Fire restrictions remained in effect on BLM lands throughout Oregon and Washington as September began, with restrictions varying according to local fuel moisture, weather and fire danger. The Fall Creek area has experienced repeated wildfire activity during the past decade, leaving portions of the landscape marked by previous burns. Although recently burned terrain can contain areas with reduced vegetation, old fire footprints can also contain substantial quantities of dead and fallen material capable of sustaining combustion. Standing fire-killed trees can further restrict where firefighters can safely operate. Weather will become an increasingly important component of the Deep Creek response during the next several days. A significant change in western Oregon's weather pattern is expected to bring cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation after an extended period of summer fire conditions. Forecasts have indicated that portions of the region could receive substantial rainfall beginning Wednesday. Rainfall reaching the fire could reduce surface fire activity, increase fuel moisture and assist suppression crews. Its effectiveness will depend on the amount and duration of precipitation over the actual fire area. Heavy fuels, including logs and large woody material, can retain heat even after rainfall reaches the surface, requiring firefighters to continue locating and extinguishing persistent hot spots. The approaching weather also introduces operational considerations beyond rainfall. Stronger winds associated with an incoming storm system can affect fire behavior before precipitation becomes established, particularly where exposed fuels remain dry. Fire managers will continue evaluating weather, terrain and fuel conditions as suppression work advances. For Oregon residents traveling into the Cascades, the new fire is another reason to check current forest conditions before entering remote recreation areas. Wildfire operations can bring temporary road restrictions, trail closures, low-flying aircraft and heavy firefighting traffic into areas that ordinarily receive recreational use. The Deep Creek Fire remains small compared with the major wildfires responsible for much of the Northwest's burned acreage this season, but its discovery underscores how quickly a new incident can emerge during the closing weeks of summer. September does not mark an automatic end to Oregon's wildfire season, and restrictions remain in place across substantial portions of public land. Fire managers had not reported significant structural losses, injuries or evacuations connected with Incident No. 349 as of Tuesday morning. No official determination regarding the ignition source had been released. Firefighters will now concentrate on securing the perimeter, limiting additional growth and eliminating heat capable of escaping established containment lines. Updated mapping and reconnaissance are expected to provide a more precise measurement of the burned area as operations continue. For now, Incident No. 349 remains an active full-suppression wildfire in the central Oregon Cascades, with crews working on the ground and aircraft supporting them overhead while an abrupt shift toward cooler, wetter weather approaches western Oregon.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

LOCAL POLITICS Dwayne Yunker’s Record in Salem: Where the Claims End and the Work Begins By John Oliver State Representative Dwayne Yunker has offered House District 3 voters a lengthy defense of his tenure in Salem, pointing to legislation, constituent services and millions of dollars in state investment as evidence of what he has accomplished for Grants Pass and Josephine County. His response deserves something more useful than either applause or dismissal. It deserves comparison with the public record. On the specific legislative votes Yunker cited, that record largely backs him up. The bills exist. The votes are there. When Yunker says he voted yes, available legislative records show that he did. When he identifies legislation he co-sponsored, the records generally support him. When he points to legislation he personally advanced, there is documentation to prove it. The picture becomes considerably more complicated when examining how much of that work was actually Yunker’s, how much consisted of joining legislation already moving through Salem, and how much credit one representative can reasonably claim for collaborative projects involving cities, organizations, other lawmakers and state agencies. Yunker’s political career in the Oregon House began without an election. He was appointed in December 2023 after Republican Rep. Lily Morgan resigned her House District 3 seat. Five Republican nominees were interviewed before the Josephine County Board of Commissioners selected Yunker on a 2 to 1 vote. Commissioners John West and Herman Baertschiger Jr. supplied the two votes that put him into the Oregon Legislature. Commissioner Dan DeYoung voted against his appointment. Two commissioners, not the voters of House District 3, initially sent Yunker to Salem. The political histories of the two men who supplied those votes give Yunker’s appointment considerably more context than the word “appointed” alone conveys. West and Baertschiger were prominent figures in Josephine County’s conservative political establishment and frequently found themselves at the center of contentious local government battles. Their overlapping tenure on the county commission produced disputes involving county spending, OSU Extension and 4-H funding, wildfire programs, county property and the board’s relationship with local institutions and members of the public. West eventually faced voters before completing his term, and the verdict was decisive. Josephine County voters recalled him in December 2024, with approximately 62 percent voting to remove him from office. The successful recall followed controversies involving county-owned timberland, the withdrawal of county support for OSU Extension and 4-H programs and decisions involving wildfire programs, among other grievances advanced by recall organizers. Baertschiger’s departure followed a different path. He was not recalled. He chose not to seek another term, which was one reason recall organizers concentrated their efforts on West rather than attempting to remove Baertschiger as his tenure was ending. Leaving the commissioner’s chair did not remove Baertschiger from political life. His public career stretches well beyond Josephine County government. Before serving as commissioner, he spent years in the Oregon Legislature and became particularly well known for Republican legislative walkouts and confrontations over Democratic policy proposals. He has remained a recognizable and vocal figure in Southern Oregon conservative politics. The documented political connection does not establish that Yunker is identical to either man

simply because West and Baertschiger appointed him. It does make the circumstances of his arrival in Salem relevant history for voters evaluating the incumbent today. His first Republican primary offered little electoral resistance. Yunker was effectively unopposed for the nomination in May 2024, receiving 7,598 votes. His first genuine districtwide contest came in November, when he defeated Democrat Mark Seligman 23,618 to 10,992. Yunker’s appointment opened the door to Salem, but voters eventually decided whether he would remain there. When House District 3 finally had its say in November 2024, Yunker defeated Seligman by more than two to one, transforming an appointment made by two county commissioners into a decisive victory at the ballot box. The size of that victory cannot be separated entirely from the political geography of House District 3. Josephine County has become reliably Republican territory, and Yunker entered the general election carrying the most valuable letter a candidate can have in that district: an “R” beside his name. Election returns cannot tell us how many voters chose Dwayne Yunker specifically and how many simply chose the Republican candidate, so attributing his victory entirely to party affiliation would go beyond what the numbers can prove. His legislative record offers firmer ground. Yunker’s recent correspondence with a constituent is revealing because he separated his accomplishments into different categories. He identified legislation he personally led, measures he co-sponsored and bills he simply voted to support. Those represent vastly different levels of legislative involvement, and his own descriptions generally recognize the difference. The clearest piece of legislation bearing Yunker’s fingerprints is HB 4160, concerning cardiac emergency response planning in Oregon schools. The measure was introduced at Yunker’s request. He advocated for it, carried it on the House floor and voted for its passage. The legislation grew from concerns originating in Josephine County, giving Yunker something every state representative should ultimately be able to demonstrate: a local concern that traveled to Salem through his office

and emerged as state law. Whatever disagreements may exist over implementation, including concerns from medical professionals about whether schools received sufficient resources to carry out the requirements, the legislative history belongs in Yunker’s column. He did considerably more than push a voting button on HB 4160. The same degree of ownership cannot be assigned to every bill in his response. Yunker co-sponsored and voted for HB 2540, dealing with qualifying medical payments being credited toward deductibles and annual out-ofpocket expenses. He co-sponsored and supported SB 784, expanding dual-credit opportunities involving agriculture, forestry and natural resources. He also co-sponsored and voted for HB 4099, establishing a statewide effort addressing responses to veterans experiencing a crisis. Those are legitimate pieces of his legislative record. Co-sponsorship demonstrates a formal commitment to legislation and should not be dismissed as meaningless, but neither should it be inflated into authorship or sole responsibility for a bill’s success. Another group of measures cited by Yunker requires an even narrower description of his role. He voted for HB 3920, involving tuition assistance for qualifying military families. He supported HB 3712, expanding portions of Oregon’s property-tax deferral program for qualifying seniors and people with disabilities. He voted for HB 3506, which included funding involving home repairs and accessibility assistance, and he supported SB 814, dealing with long-term rental assistance for certain vulnerable young people. Yunker voted for them, and Oregon’s legislative records confirm it. No evidence surfaced among the measures examined showing Yunker claiming a yes vote while actually being recorded as absent, excused or voting no. Whatever criticism can legitimately be directed toward his legislative record, inventing these particular votes is not one of them. A roll-call vote and a legislative accomplishment, however, are not interchangeable commodities. Sixty representatives sit in the Oregon House.

Voting is among the most fundamental obligations attached to the job. Supporting worthwhile legislation deserves acknowledgment, but a yes vote on another legislator’s proposal does not suddenly make the voter its architect. Writing legislation is different. Bringing a constituent’s problem to Salem is different. Building support for a proposal, defending it before committees, negotiating its survival and carrying it across the House floor require a considerably greater investment than joining the final roll call. HB 4160 clears that higher bar for Yunker. Several other measures he listed do not. His claims involving money returned to House District 3 demand the same separation between participation and ownership. Yunker points to approximately $3.5 million in 2026 state investments benefiting Grants Pass and Josephine County. The most convincing piece of that claim is the $2 million Spalding Industrial Park wastewater infrastructure project. Here, the paper trail does considerably more than show Yunker standing beside a successful appropriation after the money arrived. Yunker submitted written testimony to the Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction requesting $2 million for the project. He argued that wastewater infrastructure could unlock industrial property for development, support economic growth and create employment opportunities in Grants Pass. That advocacy is documented in the legislative record. It is also not a one-man victory. The City of Grants Pass, city officials, local organizations and community advocates were involved in pushing the project forward. When Grants Pass announced the successful funding, the city credited multiple participants, including Yunker. The fairest accounting gives him genuine credit without handing him the entire trophy. Yunker worked for the Spalding appropriation and deserves recognition for doing so. He was one contributor to a collaborative effort, not the solitary force that delivered $2 million to Grants Pass. The Josephine County fairgrounds money tells a far less tidy story. The Legislature appropriated $5 million to be divided among five Oregon counties for horse-racing facilities, leaving approximately $1 million for Josephine County. The money was contained within HB 5204, a sprawling state budget measure carrying numerous appropriations and provisions reaching far beyond Southern Oregon. Yunker voted against the bill. That single vote should not be twisted into evidence that Yunker opposed horse racing, the fairgrounds or the Josephine County appropriation. Legislators routinely reject enormous budget packages containing individual expenditures they support because they object to other spending contained within the same legislation. What the vote complicates is political ownership. A representative who votes against the final legislation containing an appropriation may still have fought vigorously to insert that money into the bill. If Yunker did that for the fairgrounds, documentation of that work becomes important. Written testimony, correspondence with budget writers, committee advocacy or other legislative records could establish his role. Without comparable evidence, simply pointing to the $1 million after passage does not establish that Yunker personally secured it. The circumstances become particularly noteworthy because Yunker has built much of his political

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GRANTS PASS TRIBUNEWednesday, May 6, 2026

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

LOCAL POLITICS

Chad Hansen’s Housing Connections From page 1 eryone satisfying established qualifications? What income limits, residency requirements, financial standards or other eligibility criteria will apply? Will prospective homeowners be evaluated under written standards? If qualified applicants outnumber available houses, who determines which applicants receive them? Will selection occur through scoring, a waiting list, lottery, organizational review or another process? The grant agreements themselves carry equal importance because they establish what Home Bridging accepted in exchange for public assistance. Those agreements can identify affordability provisions, reporting requirements, construction deadlines, eligible expenditures, monitoring requirements, property restrictions and any obligations surviving the completion of construction. The timing also deserves examination through those records. Public funding awarded in 2024 is connected to development activity continuing in 2026. City records can establish what deadlines accompanied those awards, what progress reports were submitted, whether schedules were modified and what oversight occurred while the projects advanced. Hansen’s relationship with Josephine County extends well beyond his appearances before Grants Pass planning officials. In February 2024, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners authorized Home Bridging GP, through Hansen, to act as the county’s agent in land-use and development matters involving county property at Burgundy Lane in Cave Junction. The authorization covered rezoning and subdividing property for 37 single-family residential lots. Home Bridging subsequently participated in another county-administered housing program. Business Oregon announced a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for Josephine County in 2025 to continue a home repair and rehabilitation program administered collaboratively with Home Bridging GP. The program serves qualifying homeowners in unincorporated Josephine County, Cave Junction and portions of the Grants Pass urban growth boundary outside the incorporated city. That arrangement later required Josephine County to address Hansen’s previous service on the county Budget Committee. County legal counsel determined that Hansen’s prior Budget Committee position, combined with his continuing relationship with Home Bridging, created an apparent conflict under federal regulations governing the Community Development Block Grant program. Josephine County subsequently pursued an exception through Business Oregon allowing

its relationship with Home Bridging to continue. County officials said during the proceeding that Home Bridging had been selected through a procurement process and had successfully administered the program. Hansen is now campaigning for one of three positions exercising executive and legislative authority over Josephine County government. Commissioners approve contracts, control county budgets, manage county property and participate in decisions involving grants, land use and economic development. His public description of himself as a fulltime volunteer adds another dimension to that record. Hansen has told voters that he is a fulltime volunteer and has made similar representations while appearing before local government. During a 2024 Grants Pass planning proceeding, Hansen said Home Bridging had no paid staff at that time, described the organization as entirely volunteer and said he performed his work without profit. Federal nonprofit filings report no compensation to Hansen as president of Home Bridging. The organization’s 2024 Form 990 reported $857,355 in revenue while listing zero compensation for Hansen. Its subsequent 2025 filing again reported zero compensation for Hansen while Home Bridging recorded approximately $1.17 million in revenue and $1.23 million in expenses. The newer filing also reported $155,058 in salaries and wages elsewhere within the organization. Those filings document what Home Bridging reports paying Hansen. They do not identify Hansen’s personal income from outside sources, private businesses, investments, property transactions or other financial interests. That missing portion of the financial picture has become more pertinent with the formation of Rogue Pacific Contracting LLC. Chad Hansen and his son, Austin Hansen, recently filed the new contracting company while Hansen continues his Home Bridging activities and campaigns for county commissioner. The filing places another private business into a network of activity already encompassing nonprofit housing, residential development, government grants and publicly financed infrastructure. For a candidate who describes his principal housing work as full-time volunteer service, the volume of activity raises straightforward financial questions. How does Hansen support himself while performing what he describes as full-time unpaid work? What business interests provide his income? What work will Rogue Pacific Contracting perform? Will the company work on Home Bridging developments? Will it seek contracts involving

developments receiving public assistance? Will Hansen or businesses involving his family receive compensation from construction or development connected to Home Bridging projects? A Form 990 reporting zero compensation to Hansen answers only what Home Bridging reports paying its president. It does not identify contractors paid on individual projects, companies performing construction or professional services, ownership interests in those companies, income generated through property transactions or financial activity occurring outside the nonprofit. Contracts, corporate filings, deeds, grant expenditure records and candidate financial disclosures can provide those answers. Austin Hansen’s participation in the new company also intersects with previous property transactions associated with Home Bridging. Earlier examinations of public property records identified property moving from Home Bridging to Austin Hansen and subsequently into another limited liability company before later residential sales. Those records place family ownership and private corporate entities within the history of property originating from Home Bridging activity and make the financial terms of those transactions relevant to understanding how the nonprofit’s housing model operates after development. Home Bridging itself has expanded substantially. Its reported revenue increased from $857,355 in 2024 to approximately $1.17 million in 2025. During that period, Hansen continued to report no compensation from the organization while Home Bridging pursued housing development and participated in programs involving municipal, county, state and federal resources. The Planning Commission proceeding introduced another issue involving the Home Bridging development when commissioners considered recommendations from the Fire Marshal. Several commissioners indicated they were unwilling to disregard professional fire-safety recommendations concerning the project. The same municipal proceeding produced Hansen’s statement concerning Home Bridging’s desire to control whom it helps. That statement makes the eventual homebuyer-selection process particularly significant because taxpayers have already financed infrastructure associated with Home Bridging developments. Written eligibility requirements can establish who qualifies. Application procedures can establish who receives an opportunity to participate. Selection standards can establish how competing qualified applicants are treated. Grant agreements can establish

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what continuing affordability or public-benefit requirements remain after the homes enter private ownership. Rogue Pacific Contracting introduces a separate but related question. If the company performs work for Home Bridging, corporate and contracting records can document that relationship. If it participates in publicly supported developments, expenditure records can identify the work and compensation involved. If it remains entirely separate from Home Bridging, the business records can establish that separation. Those details carry greater weight because Hansen is no longer operating solely as the president of a housing nonprofit. He is asking Josephine County voters to place him in an office with direct authority over public money, county contracts, government property, grants and development decisions. The public record now places Hansen in several overlapping roles: founder and president of Home Bridging GP, representative of developments receiving publicly financed infrastructure, former Josephine County Budget Committee member, representative authorized to act for the county in a land-use matter, participant in a federal conflict-of-interest review, principal associated with a newly formed contracting company and candidate for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. For voters, the financial relationships connecting those roles remain incompletely defined. Where does Hansen’s personal income originate while he describes himself as a fulltime volunteer? What financial interests does he maintain in development and contracting? What role will Rogue Pacific Contracting play? Will that company conduct business with Home Bridging? How are purchasers selected for homes supported by taxpayer-financed infrastructure? What happens to the public investment after those properties enter private ownership? How would Hansen separate his nonprofit and private business interests from county decisions if elected? Those questions can be answered through public records and direct disclosure. Hansen has placed his record before Josephine County voters while seeking one of the county’s most powerful elected positions. His extensive housing activity, Home Bridging’s reliance on substantial public investment, the organization’s homebuyer-selection process, his full-time volunteer declaration and the formation of Rogue Pacific Contracting are now pieces of the same public record. The remaining question is how those pieces fit together financially and how they would remain separated from the authority Hansen is asking voters to give him.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

LOCAL POLITICS Continued from page 7 identity around fiscal conservatism, restrained government and criticism of state spending. There is no inherent contradiction in opposing Oregon’s broader spending priorities while fighting for infrastructure or economic investments in Josephine County. The combination nevertheless creates a legitimate accountability question. When a politician condemns the size or direction of state spending while celebrating checks arriving in his own district, voters are entitled to know which expenditures he fought for, which ones he opposed and precisely how much responsibility he deserves when the money arrives. Yunker also leans heavily on constituent services when describing his effectiveness. His office says it assists residents dealing with unemployment claims, benefits, licensing problems, state-agency delays and other bureaucratic difficulties. For constituents trapped between unanswered telephone calls, confusing regulations and government agencies that seem incapable of communicating with one another, intervention from a legislative office can be enormously valuable. Yet this portion of Yunker’s record is difficult to grade from the information publicly available. How many constituent cases has his office handled? How many were successfully resolved? How quickly does the office respond? How often has Yunker’s staff directly intervened with a state agency and produced a result that the constituent had been unable to obtain independently? Does the office maintain outcome statistics or measure constituent satisfaction? Without those numbers, constituent service remains difficult to quantify. That does not mean the work is not happening. It means the public has insufficient information to determine how effectively it is happening. Yunker’s legislative office has also faced questions extending beyond the bills he sponsored and the votes he cast, particularly over how taxpayer-funded staffing resources were used. In 2025, reporting revealed that Yunker employed his wife, Gina Yunker, as a full-time legislative aide in his state office at approximately $6,000 per month while she was simultaneously employed as a full-time teacher in Grants Pass. The arrangement placed a member of Yunker’s immediate family on the public payroll in a position funded by Oregon taxpayers while she maintained another full-time professional position. The circumstances raised substantial accountability questions about how two full-time jobs were being performed simultaneously, what hours were devoted to legislative work, what duties were completed for Yunker’s office and what documentation existed to demonstrate the work taxpayers were financing. Reporting at the time also cited multiple Capitol sources who said they did not recall regularly seeing Gina Yunker working at the Capitol. For a representative who has made fiscal restraint, government accountability and responsible stewardship of public money central features of his political identity, the staffing arrangement deserves inclusion in any comprehensive examination of his record. The controversy reaches beyond the family relationship and into the more fundamental question of how public money is administered inside the representative’s own office. Yunker separately became the subject of a Legislative Equity Office investigation arising from sexually explicit material he read during remarks on the House floor and an allegation of subsequent retaliation. That investigation was separate from the controversy surrounding his wife’s employment and involved different allegations. The House Committee on Conduct ultimately divided 2 to 2 when considering the allegations, resulting in their dismissal. Taken alongside his legislative record, appropriations claims and constituent-service assertions, those episodes broaden an examination of Yunker beyond the bills carrying his vote. Public service encompasses legislation, but it also encompasses judgment exercised with taxpayer resources, conduct inside the institution and the standards an

elected official applies within his own office. Then there is the considerably louder side of Yunker’s political presence. Critics have accused him of spending too much energy on social media, engaging in political feuds, amplifying controversy and creating division rather than concentrating on the quieter mechanics of governing. Questions have also surfaced about his use of artificial-intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, in political communications. Yunker is hardly the first politician to discover that social media rewards confrontation more generously than legislative procedure. A provocative post can ricochet across Facebook before a committee hearing has finished its opening testimony. Political drama is visible. Constituent casework, budget negotiations and bill drafting usually are not. Unless someone can document how Yunker divides his working hours, it cannot responsibly be stated as fact that he spends more time on ChatGPT or social media than performing his legislative duties. Nor can “divisive” be converted into an objective legislative statistic simply because critics use the description. His actual work provides a far better measuring stick. How often was he present? How many bills did he originate? How many survived? How many did he carry? What happened in committee? What appropriations did he personally advocate for? What constituent problems did his office resolve? What measurable improvements reached House District 3 because its representative occupied a seat in Salem? Those questions cut through political promotion and political hostility alike. The accusation that Yunker simply takes credit for everybody else’s work is similarly too broad to survive an examination of the record. There are accomplishments he cannot reasonably claim as his own simply because he voted for them. There are projects, including Spalding, where success belonged to a collection of public officials, organizations and advocates rather than one politician. There are appropriations, including the fairgrounds money, where his precise contribution deserves additional documentation before personal credit is assigned. There are also accomplishments that unmistakably carry his fingerprints. HB 4160 is one. His documented advocacy for Spalding is another. Ignoring those contributions would distort the record just as surely as allowing Yunker to place his name across every bill he supported and every dollar that happened to land inside House District 3. His political ancestry leaves voters with another layer to examine. West and Baertschiger supplied the votes that first elevated Yunker from the Grants Pass City Council to the Oregon House, and Yunker openly identifies himself with a conservative philosophy emphasizing limited government, fiscal responsibility, constitutional rights and local control. Whether his conduct in office resembles the political style of the men who appointed him is not something a newspaper needs to decide for the electorate. Voters have the evidence available to decide that themselves. West’s political career on the commission ended through recall. Baertschiger departed voluntarily but remained an active voice in conservative politics. Yunker now carries his own record into another election season, and that record deserves examination independently of friendships, alliances, party labels and political loyalties. An “R” or a “D” beside a candidate’s name should never substitute for examining what that candidate has actually done with public authority. Republican voters are entitled to scrutinize Republican incumbents as aggressively as Democrats scrutinize Democrats, and Democratic voters should be willing to apply precisely the same standard to their own candidates. Facts do not acquire a party registration.

A recorded vote remains a recorded vote. An absence remains an absence. Legislation either originated with a representative or it did not. An appropriation either carries evidence of that representative’s advocacy or it does not. Public conduct remains part of the record regardless of whether the person responsible wears the political label a voter prefers. That standard cuts both ways for Yunker. His critics should not erase HB 4160, his successful votes or his documented Spalding advocacy simply because they dislike his politics or political style. His supporters should not transform every bill he voted for, every collaborative accomplishment or every dollar appropriated within House District 3 into something Yunker personally created. Strip away the campaign language, social-media warfare, partisan loyalty and political personalities surrounding Yunker, and a more complicated record emerges. He was handed his first opportunity in Salem through appointment rather than election. His first Republican primary presented essentially no opposition. He later won a legitimate general election by more than two to one in a district where Republican voting patterns gave him a substantial structural advantage. Once in office, Yunker did not sit entirely idle. He advanced a recognizable piece of legislation rooted in a Josephine County concern. He co-sponsored several successful measures. He cast documented votes for legislation involving health-care costs, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, military families, housing assistance and career education. He put his name on a formal request seeking $2 million for industrial infrastructure in Grants Pass and participated in the successful effort that followed. Neither does the record reveal a legislative powerhouse whose fingerprints cover everything he has presented as an accomplishment.

Much of his highlighted record consists of supporting legislation rather than creating it. Some of the money he cites resulted from collaborative efforts involving people and organizations whose contributions deserve recognition alongside his. Other claims, particularly the effectiveness of constituent services and his role in obtaining certain appropriations, cannot yet be measured from the documentation available. His tenure has also carried controversies involving taxpayer-funded staffing and a separate legislative conduct investigation, both of which belong in a complete accounting alongside his legislative successes. House District 3 voters therefore enter another election season with something considerably more useful than a party letter, campaign slogan or Facebook argument. They have a record. Yunker has accomplishments he legitimately owns, accomplishments in which he deserves a share of the credit, votes he can accurately point to and successes for which his personal contribution appears smaller than the achievement itself. He also carries a political history beginning with an appointment by West and Baertschiger, two consequential and controversial figures in Josephine County politics whose own records remain part of the history surrounding his arrival in Salem. None of those facts tells a Republican to vote against him. None tells a Democrat to vote for his opponent. They tell everyone to do the same thing before surrendering a vote to a letter beside somebody’s name: look beyond the party designation, examine the actions, examine the behavior, examine the record and decide whether the person holding public office has earned the privilege of keeping it. Party affiliation may tell voters where a candidate generally stands. The record tells them what the candidate actually did.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

NATIONAL Deadly Times Square Knife Attack Leaves New Jersey Woman Dead, Second Victim Wounded By Ellen Ward A sudden knife attack cut through the afternoon congestion of Times Square on Monday when a woman armed with two large knives stabbed two strangers within seconds of one another, killing a 32-year-old New Jersey woman and seriously injuring a 68-year-old man before police shot and killed the suspected attacker. The violence began shortly after 4:20 p.m. Aug. 31 near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, an intensely traveled section of Midtown Manhattan where subway passengers emerge directly into dense pedestrian traffic. Police identified the suspected attacker as Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, and said the preliminary investigation has uncovered no relationship between her and either victim. The first victim, a 68-year-old Rhode Island man, had recently exited the subway and was waiting with his wife to cross Seventh Avenue. Investigators determined that Cisneros removed two knives from a shopping bag before approaching the man and stabbing him in the right side of his abdomen. The injured man was transported to Bellevue Hospital with wounds initially considered life-threatening. By Tuesday, authorities reported that his condition had stabilized. His identity had not been publicly released. Investigators found no evidence of an argument, confrontation or previous contact between the man and Cisneros before he was attacked. Cisneros continued north along Seventh Avenue, reaching the vicinity of West 42nd Street within seconds. There she encountered Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey. Police said Piacenti was stabbed in the abdomen approximately 20 seconds after the first victim was wounded. Piacenti was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she died from her injuries. She worked as a vice president within Bank of America’s global corporate and investment banking operations. Her identity was publicly confirmed Tuesday following notification of her family. The speed of the two attacks initially creat-

Photo Disclaimer: Image captured from cellphone video collected as evidence. Original photographer/videographer is unknown. ed some confusion surrounding the duration of the episode. The 20-second period described by authorities refers to the interval separating the two stabbings, not the entire confrontation. Cisneros remained armed afterward and continued north through Times Square, extending the incident for several additional minutes. Witnesses alerted nearby NYPD officers as Cisneros approached the area between West 42nd and West 43rd streets. The confrontation developed only a short distance from the NYPD substation near One Times Square, placing numerous officers within immediate reach of an armed suspect moving through one of the most densely occupied public spaces in the country. Police surrounded Cisneros while she continued holding a knife in each hand. Officers spent approximately four minutes directing her

to surrender the weapons. She refused and threatened the officers while maintaining possession of both knives. Multiple officers then deployed Tasers in an attempt to incapacitate her. The devices failed to stop her movement. Police said Cisneros advanced toward officers while continuing to wield the knives, at which point two officers fired their service weapons. Cisneros was struck and fell to the pavement. Officers secured her, placed her in handcuffs and administered emergency medical assistance before she was transported to Bellevue Hospital. She was later pronounced dead. Both knives were recovered by investigators. Portions of the confrontation were recorded by witnesses on cellphones, while police bodyworn cameras captured the officers’ encounter with Cisneros. The NYPD has announced that the body-camera recordings will be released after the investigative process permits public disclosure. The department’s Force Investigation Division is examining the fatal police shooting, including the officers’ attempts to obtain Cisneros’ surrender, the deployment of Tasers and the circumstances immediately preceding the gunfire. Investigators are separately reconstructing Cisneros’ activities before the first stabbing and attempting to determine why she was carrying the knives in Times Square. Police records show Cisneros had no previous NYPD arrest history. Authorities disclosed that the department had documented two earlier mental-health-related encounters involving her, one in 2018 and another in 2019. Officials have not released the underlying circumstances of those encounters, and investigators have not established that they explain Monday’s attack. No motive had been identified by Tuesday. Investigators have described the two victims as strangers to Cisneros and have found no evidence that either was selected because of a personal connection, dispute or identifiable association. Authorities have also reported no evidence linking the attack to terrorism. The location magnified both the danger and the scale of the police response. Times

Square carries enormous pedestrian volumes throughout the day, combining subway passengers, tourists, office employees, theater patrons, street vendors and residents within several closely packed blocks. The stabbing occurred during the afternoon while the surrounding sidewalks and intersections were heavily occupied. Seventh Avenue was partially closed while detectives documented the scene, recovered physical evidence and reviewed available recordings. Police activity remained concentrated around the area for hours before traffic restrictions were removed. Monday’s homicide was the second fatal stabbing reported in Times Square during 2026. A separate stabbing death occurred in the district in May, although authorities have identified no connection between the incidents. The killings have occurred against a broader decline in New York City homicides this year, with the city recording substantially fewer killings than during the corresponding period of 2025. For investigators, the remaining questions extend beyond the sequence already captured by cameras and witnesses. Detectives are examining Cisneros’ movements before she reached Seventh Avenue, how long she had possessed the knives, what brought her to Times Square and whether additional evidence can establish what preceded the first attack. What has been established is a compressed sequence of violence across several blocks of Midtown Manhattan: a man stabbed while standing beside his wife, a second stranger attacked approximately 20 seconds later, an armed suspect continuing through crowded streets and a prolonged police confrontation that ended only after Tasers failed and officers opened fire. Piacenti died at 32. The 68-year-old victim remained hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday. Cisneros, 49, also died at Bellevue Hospital, leaving detectives to reconstruct the circumstances behind an attack that began without an apparent dispute and ended minutes later with two people dead in the center of Times Square.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

NEWS DESK Portland Shelter Contraction Raises Statewide Questions as Hundreds of Beds Disappear By John Oliver Oregon’s largest homeless shelter network is entering a period of substantial contraction as Portland and Multnomah County reduce, close and consolidate shelter programs that expanded during previous years, leaving hundreds fewer spaces available while public agencies confront expiring funding, budget deficits and continuing demand for emergency housing. The reductions are unfolding across two interconnected but separately financed systems operated by the City of Portland and Multnomah County. Although individual closures have attracted attention throughout the year, the cumulative figures reveal a much larger restructuring of the region’s response to homelessness. Multnomah County’s adopted fiscal year 2027 budget calls for the elimination of 605 adult shelter units and 90 scattered-site family shelter vouchers, a combined reduction of 695 units and vouchers. Bybee Lakes Hope Center in North Portland has emerged as one of the most visible examples. County-supported capacity at the facility is being reduced by 100 units, from 275 to 175. Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, which operates the facility, temporarily suspended new admissions while the county-funded portion declined through ordinary departures rather than removing existing residents to meet the lower capacity. The organization is attempting to preserve those 100 spaces independently. Bybee Lakes has raised approximately $1.3 million through private fundraising since January and is examining whether the additional capacity can be maintained through financing that relies less heavily on county appropriations. The situation at Bybee Lakes reflects a larger financial problem confronting Portland’s homelessness response. Shelter capacity expanded considerably through combinations of city, county, Metro, state and federal resources, including temporary appropriations that were never guaranteed to continue indefinitely. As those revenue sources expire or diminish, local governments are determining which programs can be sustained with recurring revenue. Multnomah County has chosen to preserve housing assistance for roughly 9,000 formerly homeless residents already living in permanent housing. Reducing those services could return some households to homelessness, increasing pressure on a shelter system that is simultaneously losing capacity. The county has also committed $6 million in one-time General Fund money to accelerate placements from shelters into permanent housing. Moving residents into housing more quickly would allow remaining shelter beds to serve additional people during the year. Portland is confronting a separate financial problem within its city-funded shelter system. The city entered the 2026-27 budget process facing an approximately $170 million General Fund shortfall. Portland subsequently reduced shelter-services spending and eliminated its previous $31 million transfer to Multnomah County for homeless services. Portland expects regular adult overnight

emergency shelter capacity to decline from 876 beds during the previous year to 580 this winter, a reduction of 296 beds. Alternative and 24-hour shelter capacity is projected to fall from 867 spaces to 718. Several facilities have already been affected. The 200-bed NW Northrup Shelter is scheduled to close Sept. 18. Centennial Overnight Emergency Shelter closed in April, while Weidler Village also closed. Reedway Alternative Shelter is scheduled for closure, although usable shelter pods from Reedway and Weidler are being transferred to North Portland Road. Those transfers are significant because announced closures do not translate directly into an equivalent number of lost beds. Some facilities are disappearing while portions of their capacity are being relocated, replaced or reorganized. The net reduction remains substantial, but the total should not be interpreted as more than 1,000 people being removed from shelters at once. The consequences extend beyond Portland. As Oregon’s largest population center, Portland operates the state’s largest concentration of homeless services and receives people from communities throughout Oregon. Reduced shelter capacity can increase demand on hospitals, emergency departments, behavioral health programs, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations when people unable to obtain shelter remain outdoors or depend on other public services. The financial circumstances behind the Portland reductions also carry statewide relevance. Oregon communities routinely depend on combinations of local revenue, state appropriations, federal programs and grants to operate shelters, transitional housing and homelessness programs. When temporary money establishes continuing services, cities and counties eventually must determine how those programs will be financed after the original funding disappears. That problem can be particularly acute in smaller Oregon communities, where the loss of a single provider, grant or government contract can eliminate a significant portion of available shelter capacity. Housing availability further complicates the equation. Emergency shelters depend on residents being able to move into permanent housing. When affordable apartments, supportive housing or rental assistance are unavailable, people remain in shelters lon-

ger, beds turn over more slowly and fewer spaces become available for people still living outdoors. Seasonal conditions will soon place additional pressure on the remaining system. Western Oregon’s cold winter rains routinely increase

demand for indoor shelter. Portland and Multnomah County can activate additional emergency spaces during qualifying severe-weather events, but temporary weather shelters do not replace permanent year-round capacity. Bybee Lakes now represents an immediate test of whether private fundraising can preserve 100 shelter spaces no longer supported at their previous county funding level. Across Portland and Multnomah County, the broader reduction is already taking shape: fewer permanently funded shelter spaces, greater reliance on moving residents into housing and a regional system adjusting to the expiration of money that financed its earlier expansion. For Oregon, the outcome will extend beyond the Portland metropolitan area. The same financial pressures surrounding temporary funding, permanent operating costs, affordable housing and emergency shelter are present in communities across the state, where the margin for absorbing comparable reductions may be considerably smaller.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY GRANTS PASS WEATHER 5 DAY OUTLOOK SOURCE: WEATHER.COM

WEDNESDAY Rain 62/50

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny 68/49

Grants Pass Housing Grant Program Offers Financial Assistance for Home Repairs and Weatherization By John Oliver Low-income homeowners within the Grants Pass city limits have an opportunity to obtain financial assistance for qualifying home improvements through a federally supported program designed to address accessibility needs, weatherization and residential rehabilitation. The City of Grants Pass administers the Weatherization/Rehabilitation Program through its Community Development Block Grant program, providing eligible homeowners with grants that can offset the expense of approved repairs. The program represents one component of the city's annual allocation of federal housing and community development funding. Established in October 2022, the program is financed through Community Development Block Grant funds awarded to Grants Pass by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The amount available for residential projects varies from year to year because funding depends upon the city's annual federal CDBG award. For qualifying households, the program can provide financial assistance for improvements that might otherwise represent a substantial expense, particularly for homeowners with limited incomes. Eligible projects can include certain accessibility modifications, weatherization work and rehabilitation repairs, although approval depends upon program requirements and the nature of the proposed work. Eligibility is narrowly defined. Applicants must own and occupy their homes, and the property must be located within the Grants Pass city limits. The program is available exclusively for owner-occupied, stick-built houses. Manufactured homes and mobile homes are not eligible, nor are rental properties. Household income is also a determining factor. Applicants must satisfy the

program's income requirements before receiving assistance. Meeting the income threshold, however, does not automatically guarantee that a project will receive funding. Federal allocations are limited, individual repairs must qualify under program guidelines and available resources can restrict the number or scope of projects funded during a given year. The program also places limits on repeat participation. Homeowners who previously received repairs through the program must wait three years before submitting another application. That requirement allows available funding to be distributed among other qualifying households while maintaining an opportunity for previous participants to seek assistance again after the waiting period. Housing rehabilitation and weatherization programs can address several practical costs associated with maintaining an owner-occupied residence. Within the Grants Pass program, qualifying work is evaluated under CDBG requirements before funding is approved, meaning homeowners should confirm eligibility before beginning work or assuming a particular repair will qualify. Although the program is administered locally, its funding originates with the federal government. Community Development Block Grants are distributed to communities for eligible projects and programs, with Grants Pass determining annual allocations for its Weatherization/Rehabilitation Program based upon the CDBG funding it receives. The assistance is limited specifically to Grants Pass residents and does not extend to homeowners elsewhere in Josephine County who live outside city boundaries. That geographic restriction is particularly important for prospective applicants because a Grants Pass mailing address alone does not necessarily establish that

a property is within the incorporated city limits. Homeowners interested in the program can obtain additional information about income qualifications, eligible repairs and the application process from the City of Grants Pass. Questions may be directed to Anne Ingalls at aingalls@ grantspassoregon.gov or by telephone at 541-450-6060.

FRIDAY Mostly cloudy, rain 70/47

SATURDAY Partly cloudy 77/50

SUNDAY Mostly cloudy, rain 72/51

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

TAKE A BREAK

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

August 31, 2

August 31, 2026 Posti

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY Grants Pass Extends Small Business Survey Deadline as Task Force Seeks Local Input City of Grants Pass Grants Pass business owners have additional time to provide the city with information about the challenges and priorities affecting local commerce after officials extended the deadline for the Small Business Task Force survey through Friday, Sept. 4. The online survey will remain available until 5 p.m. Friday, giving eligible business owners several more days to participate in the citywide effort. The survey covers a range of subjects intended to identify concerns within the Grants Pass business community and provide the Small Business Task Force with data it can use to establish priorities. The Grants Pass City Council created the Small Business Task Force to gather information about issues affecting business owners and provide the council with a clearer assessment of conditions facing local enterprises. The survey is one component of that work, allowing businesses operating within city limits to submit information directly for consideration. City officials announced the extension Mon-

day, Aug. 31, after receiving responses from some members of the business community while determining that additional time could broaden participation. “We’ve heard from some business owners and want to give others an opportunity to respond, so we’ve extended the deadline for the Small Business Taskforce Survey to 5 pm on Friday, September 4, 2026,” the city stated in announcing the extension. Participation is restricted to business owners conducting business within the City of Grants Pass. Respondents are required to enter their Grants Pass Business Tax Certificate identification number before the survey can be completed and submitted. The requirement provides a mechanism for limiting responses to businesses eligible to participate in the city’s outreach effort. Business owners who cannot locate or do not know their Business Tax Certificate ID number may contact the city at 541-450-6039 for assistance. Information collected through the survey

will be used by the Small Business Task Force as it evaluates issues affecting the local commercial sector and determines which subjects warrant greater attention. The results are intended to help task force members organize business concerns according to the information received from participating owners and inform their work

with the City Council. The extended response period runs through the end of the business week, with submissions closing at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. Eligible Grants Pass business owners can complete the Small Business Task Force survey at bit.ly/GPSBTFsurvey.

Mt. Ashland Taps Veteran Mountain Operator Rachel Canada to Lead Ski Area Through Challenging Transition By Bryce Robinson After several difficult winters marked by unreliable snowfall, Mt. Ashland Ski Area is turning to a veteran mountain operator to lead the Southern Oregon destination through major infrastructure investments and a broader push toward year-round recreation. Rachel Canada will become general manager of Mt. Ashland on September 1, bringing more than 20 years of ski industry experience to a mountain where weather, aging equipment and the economics of operating a community ski area have increasingly converged. Canada most recently served as director of mountain operations at Willamette Pass. Since entering the ski industry in 2002, she has worked across virtually every component of mountain operations, including chairlifts, grooming, vehicle maintenance, ski patrol support and resort infrastructure. Her experience also reaches into human resources, rental operations, retail purchasing and guest services. That range of experience will be put to work immediately at Mt. Ashland. The nonprofit ski area has endured difficult conditions during recent winters as inadequate and inconsistent snowfall disrupted normal operations and shortened opportunities for skiing. For a mountain dependent heavily upon winter recreation, poor snow years can quickly translate into fewer operating days, reduced visitation and greater financial pressure. Canada will inherit those challenges while overseeing one of the most substantial periods of planned investment at Mt. Ashland in years. The association is preparing for the replacement of historic chairlifts while simultaneously expanding summer and off season programming, an effort that could give the mountain more activity beyond the increasingly unpredictable winter season. The Mt. Ashland Association conducted a

competitive search before selecting Canada. Board President Adam Reiss said her background at smaller independent mountains closely matched the experience the organization wanted in its next general manager. “Many experienced candidates applied and were interviewed for the open General Manager position at Mt. Ashland; however, none checked the boxes quite like Rachel,” Reiss said. “Rachel's professional goal of managing a community ski area, backed by over 20 years of experience facing the challenges of small, independently owned mountains, made her the perfect choice as the next leader of the Mt. Ashland team.” Canada brings an unusually broad operational résumé to the position. Rather than specializing solely in administration, she has spent her career working within the machinery and daily logistics of mountain recreation, from maintaining lifts and grooming terrain to supporting patrol operations and managing the services encountered by visitors. Reiss said that practical background

weighed heavily in the association's decision. “Rachel has extensive hands on experience across nearly every aspect of ski area operations,” Reiss said. “She is ready to do what it takes to lead Mt. Ashland into a significant period of growth and investment, even if it means jumping in a Cat, flipping burgers, or turning a wrench. She really can do it all.” Canada's connection to skiing began long before it became her profession. She learned to ski at Montana's Big Mountain, now Whitefish Mountain Resort, through its ski school program. The sport eventually carried her to six countries on three continents and into a career spanning more than two decades. She will now relocate to the Rogue Valley, where she will oversee Mt. Ashland's winter operations as well as its expanding role outside the traditional ski season. Canada also spends her personal time biking, exploring trails and visiting national parks. “Local ski areas like Mt. Ashland are

the foundation of our sport. I'm excited and honored to join the team here and make the Rogue Valley my home,” Canada said. Her September arrival puts the new general manager in place as preparations intensify for the 2026 to 2027 winter season. The immediate work includes the familiar demands of staffing, maintenance, equipment readiness and mountain preparation, but the larger assignment reaches considerably further. Mt. Ashland must continue operating as a winter ski destination while confronting the vulnerability that accompanies poor snowfall, modernizing important infrastructure and building recreational opportunities capable of drawing visitors beyond ski season. Canada will take responsibility for that combination of daily operations and long range development beginning September 1, placing a manager seasoned in the realities of independent mountain operations at the helm as Mt. Ashland prepares for its next chapter.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Busy B’s Brings a Personal Approach to Home Cleaning in Grants Pass By John Oliver A clean home can make life feel a little more manageable. Getting it that way, and keeping it that way, is another matter entirely. That familiar challenge is behind Busy B’s Home Cleaning LLC, a locally owned cleaning business serving Grants Pass, Josephine County and surrounding communities. The company offers residential housekeeping with an emphasis on personal service, consistency and giving clients some breathing room in schedules already crowded with work, family and everyday responsibilities. Busy B’s is owned and operated by a local mother of four boys who understands the realities of keeping a household together when life refuses to slow down. Years of cleaning her own home and helping maintain others eventually developed into something she realized could become a business. “Cleaning has always been a big part of everyday life, but more than that, it’s something I genuinely enjoy,” she said in introducing Busy B’s. “There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a space that feels overwhelming and transforming it into a place that feels fresh, clean, comfortable, and inviting.” That enjoyment became the starting point for Busy B’s, but the service addresses a practical need that extends well beyond having a spotless kitchen. The beginning of another school year across Southern Oregon has families returning to schedules that leave considerably less room for everything else. Workdays are now joined by school mornings, afternoon pickups, homework, sports, activities and appointments. Parents who already spend much of the week keeping everyone else on schedule can easily find themselves using their

remaining free time to catch up on the house. Seniors can encounter the same problem for different reasons. Floors, bathrooms, baseboards, appliances and other routine household cleaning require time and physical effort. Tasks that were once handled in an afternoon may become more demanding, while some residents would simply rather devote their time and energy elsewhere. Busy B’s was developed to fill that space without operating like a large cleaning company. The business is a solo operation. Clients work directly with the owner, and she is also the person who comes into the home and performs the cleaning. For homeowners who place a premium on knowing who is entering their residence, that consistency is an important part of the service. “As a solo cleaner, Busy B’s Home Cleaning LLC offers something special: personal attention in every home,” the company explains. “Each client’s needs are listened to, details matter, and every home is treated with care and respect.” Busy B’s is insured and bonded and provides

several levels of residential service depending upon the condition of the home and the work requested. Routine cleaning and deep cleaning are available, along with move-in and move-out cleaning and post-construction work. More detailed jobs can be incorporated when needed. Ovens and refrigerator interiors can be cleaned, along with interior windows, baseboards, pantries and cabinet interiors. Bed linens can be changed, and homes with heavier accumulations of grease, pet hair, soap scum, dirt or other buildup can receive additional attention. Rather than turning those services into a rigid package for every customer, Busy B’s can tailor the work to the household. Professional personalized quotes are available by appointment, giving clients an opportunity to discuss what needs attention and determine the appropriate service before the cleaning begins. That approach also recognizes that people hire professional cleaners for very different reasons.

A family with young children may need recurring help simply to stay ahead of the week. A senior may want assistance with the more strenuous portions of maintaining a home. Someone preparing to sell or move may need a thorough cleaning without adding another major job to an already long moving list. Construction and remodeling projects create their own aftermath, often leaving fine dust and debris in places that require considerably more than a quick pass with a vacuum. Others may not need a particular reason at all. Time has value, and there are only so many hours available after work and household responsibilities have taken their share. Hiring a professional cleaner can mean spending a Saturday with family instead of cleaning bathrooms, attending a child's activity without wondering when the floors will get done, or simply enjoying a home after somebody else has handled the work required to get it there. For Busy B’s, that is ultimately the purpose behind the company. “The goal at Busy B’s Home Cleaning LLC is simple: provide dependable, thorough, and thoughtful cleaning services while making life just a little easier for the people being served.” In a community filled with parents racing between obligations, professionals protecting increasingly scarce personal time and seniors who may appreciate an extra hand around the house, making life a little easier can be a worthwhile service all by itself. Busy B’s Home Cleaning LLC serves Grants Pass, Josephine County and surrounding areas. Professional personalized quotes and appointments are available by calling 541-761-2629.