ASHLAND, Ore. – The City of Ashland’s Parks and Recreation Department is grappling with a substantial budget shortfall, forcing potential cuts to some of the city’s most cherished amenities, including the Daniel Meyer Pool, the ice rink, and various educational and senior programs. The $1.4 million in budget reductions come as part of the city’s biennial budgeting process, designed to address a general fund shortfall estimated at between $8 and $9 million. Parks and Recreation Director Rocky Houston explained that the department’s efforts to mitigate these cuts included evaluating new assets and identifying areas for potential reductions. However, these measures…
Author: Sarah Prescott
MEDFORD, Ore. – Medford held its first Council Town Hall of 2025 on April 30 at the Medford Police Headquarters, with a primary focus on emergency preparedness. The event aimed to equip residents with essential resources and provide a platform for questions about the city’s readiness for fire season and other emergencies. City Councilors Jessica Ayres, Mike Kerlinger, Kevin Stine, and Garrett West, along with Mayor Michael Zarosinski, were in attendance to host the event. The town hall provided a unique opportunity for residents to hear directly from key city leaders about the plans and measures in place for wildfire…
HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. — The Harney County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that remains discovered by volunteer searchers have been positively identified as those of Kaylee Birt, a woman who had been missing since April 4. Birt, 32, was traveling from Klamath Falls to Iowa when she was last seen leaving the Fields Store in Southern Harney County, a rural area in southeastern Oregon. Her disappearance prompted an immediate search, which led to the discovery of her vehicle in a remote part of Southern Harney County the following day. The car was found abandoned and empty, fueling concerns about her safety. Despite…
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. — A 31-year-old man was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly fired shots at two individuals and stole an ATV in Cave Junction. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at approximately 3:15 p.m. on the 5200 block of Dick George Road. Upon arriving, deputies learned that the suspect, identified as Blaine Case, had arrived at a private property and fired shots from a handgun toward two people. While the victims were unharmed, investigators discovered bullet holes in the home, confirming the threat of gunfire. The two victims reported that Case fled…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – This Sunday, May 4, the vibrant culture of Lowriders will take center stage in Grants Pass as the community comes together for the second annual Lowrider gathering, set to begin at 9 a.m. The event, organized by R&B Events in partnership with Lupita’s Taqueria, is a celebration of custom cars, family-friendly entertainment, and the rich culture that has deep roots in Southern California but is now making waves in Southern Oregon. The gathering, held at Lupita’s Taqueria located at 147 NE E Street, aims to highlight the Lowrider culture that has become a defining symbol of…
Medford, OR — The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued a preemptive recreational use advisory for Emigrant Lake due to the presence of a harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by cyanobacteria. The advisory, which is aimed at protecting public health, comes as the cyanobacteria in the lake produces toxins that can lead to severe illness when ingested or inhaled. While the OHA assures that the toxins cannot be absorbed through the skin, they advise against swimming, water skiing, and power boating in affected areas of the lake. The risks arise from the potential for individuals to ingest or inhale water…
Butte Falls, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) successfully completed a prescribed burn near Butte Falls on Thursday, marking a critical step in the community’s ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risks as fire season approaches. Over the course of two days, crews burned approximately 70 acres of brush, specifically targeting hazardous fuels that could fuel larger wildfires in the future. Natalie Weber, a spokesperson for ODF, explained the strategic importance of the burns. “We’re burning it so that essentially if a wildfire were to come here, we have a much bigger fire break,” she said, emphasizing the role…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A 35-year-old man from Grants Pass has been charged in connection with a fire that occurred at the A Street resting site on Monday evening. The fire, which broke out at around 5:10 p.m., prompted an immediate response from Grants Pass Police Department (GPPD) and Grants Pass Fire and Rescue. According to GPPD, individuals at the scene attempted to control the fire by pouring water from bottles onto a tarp that had caught fire. The flames also caused damage to approximately eight feet of screening attached to the site’s fencing. Investigators quickly determined that the fire…
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Seven months after the passage of House Bill 4002, which recriminalized the possession of hard drugs and reversed the effects of Measure 110, Jackson County officials are reporting progress in both law enforcement and rehabilitation efforts. Sheriff Nate Sickler of Jackson County expressed cautious optimism regarding the law’s impact, noting that the county has become one of the most active in the state for drug-related arrests. Since the law took effect last September, the county has recorded more than 800 arrests for misdemeanor drug possession. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” Sheriff Sickler said in an…
COLESTIN VALLEY, Ore. — Southern Oregon conservation groups have taken a significant step toward enhancing the region’s wildlife preservation efforts with the recent purchase of a 142-acre parcel in Bear Creek Gulch. The acquisition by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) strengthens ongoing initiatives to create a connected network of protected habitats for migratory species. The newly acquired land, one of the largest properties within the conservancy’s network, is a critical addition to a broader conservation strategy aimed at protecting Southern Oregon’s diverse ecosystems. The region, known for its varied topography and rich biological diversity, includes a mixture of rocky…