“My daughter suffered for 21 days in the hospital. I can suffer for 30 hours in the wilderness, running in her memory.” That’s what Tim Smith, a pharmacist at Asante Ashland Community Hospital, says about his plan to run 100 miles through the Siskiyous six years after the passing of 11-year-old Kharma Smith in 2019 and days before what would have been her 18th birthday, Sept. 28.
Loss of access to a pair of popular Ashland watershed trails for a half-year ended up lasting less than three weeks after public outcry and the realization a temporary pedestrian bridge could be installed in a former creek-crossing site without undergoing a time-consuming permitting process resulted in opening of a temporary bridge on Aug. 8, just 19 days after the July 21 trail closure.
Southern Oregon residents interested in learning more about composting have multiple upcoming chances to get acquainted with the details of scraps-to-soil and its importance and role in a changing climate.
Despite an expected loss of $750,000 over the next two years, the Siskiyou Mountain Club is devising ways to continue its mission of maintaining and improving public lands in Southern Oregon and far Northern California.
Following her visit to Japan earlier this month for the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, Hiroshima survivor Dr. Hideko Tamura shared her experiences of the memorial and of the bombing with those at a Southern Oregon Japanese Association gathering at the Medford Public Library’s Community Room Sunday, Aug. 17.
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now will host a free educational talk on how climate change impacts wildfires and ways Southern Oregon residents can take action from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Medford Public Library.
A 16-person crew has taken on trail improvement work in the Fremont-Winema National Forest’s Mountain Lakes Wilderness.
The Amigo Club of Ashland hosts a community fundraiser in support of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Ashland–Guanajuato, Mexico, sister city relationship on Saturday, Aug. 16, at The Historic Ashland Armory. The evening will feature live music by Salsa Brava, free dance lessons, and a selection of tapas and beverages, with proceeds supporting people-to-people cultural exchange between the two cities.
Riding Beyond is taking signups for volunteer training and four-week sessions. The Ashland nonprofit assists individuals who have experienced trauma through breast cancer treatment and, since 2021, have extended services to those who have experienced trauma related to COVID-19 and wildfires.
The Jackson County Animal Shelter announced that the shelter near Talent will offer reduced and waived adoption fees through Aug. 17. Dogs who have been at the shelter for 75 or more days are available with all fees waived. All other dogs are available for 50% off regular adoption rates.
The Oregon Legislature is meeting this week to consider some major cuts to current spending levels as a large revenue deficit looms. That’s because the state’s tax code automatically replicates new federal tax cuts, including ones passed by Congressional Republicans this summer that will reduce state revenue
Michael O’Looney: Trump and the Texas Legislature are responsible for a partisan power grab that has unleashed bitterness and partisan vindictiveness, all in an effort to subvert an electoral system for partisan ends.
Councilor Bob Kaplan: While the cost of delivering kilowatt-hours to our homes has risen, Ashland Electric has been able to hold our rates steady with just one increase of 5.1% in 2021. I’m sorry to say we’re due for an increase, but fortunately it’s not likely to match recent increases elsewhere.
An estimate for the cost to abate asbestos found in the shuttered Lincoln School recently should be available as early as sometime this week, according to Steve Mitzel, operations director for Ashland School District. The cost to remove asbestos would be separate from the as yet-unknown cost for structural repair.
“We are still here” was the theme for Saturday’s Native American Heritage Celebration at Southern Oregon University, hosted by the SOU Native American Student Union (NASU) and SOU Native Nations Liaison Kenwanicahee (Kenwani) Kravitz (Madesi Bandi, Pit River Nation Winnemem, Nomtipom and Nomsus Bands Northern Wintu).
As Oregon lawmakers stare down a deficit of at least $373 million over the next two years — and brace for the possibility of a bigger shortfall in the state’s next quarterly revenue — they asked state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their approved budgets.
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