City Government
Ashland officials close Oak Knoll Golf Course due to storm damage
Ashland’s Oak Knoll Course is closed due to “extensive damage” from a wind storm Tuesday evening.
November 6, 2025
Ashland’s Oak Knoll Course is closed due to “extensive damage” from a wind storm Tuesday evening.
A debate among Ashland City Councilors is already heating up over a prospective ballot measure that might ask voters to approve a permanent food and beverage tax. The existing 5% food and beverage tax, originally approved by voters in 1993 but renewed several times, provides about $3 million a year in revenue and will sunset in 2030.
A looming fiscal cliff was top of mind at a joint meeting of the Ashland City Council and Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission Tuesday night. Councilors pressed the Parks Department to come up with plans to cut costs before a temporary parks fee sunsets in less than two years.
Time is getting short to see and experience Crater Lake up close. The Cleetwood Cove Trail, which provides the only access to the lake, is open but will be closing for up to three years for reconstruction.
KS Wild celebrates its annual dinner event Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St. A second “Groundtruthing the Last Chance timber sale” field trip is scheduled for Oct. 8.
Ashland’s Parks & Recreation Commission plans to vote Sept. 10 on a nearly $3.4M budget—up $500,000 from earlier estimates. Phase one won’t include a playground, but commissioners say it’s time to move forward.
The conversation about the troubled East Main Park project — now $500,000 over budget — continued on Monday, Aug. 18, during the Ashland City Council study session.
Around 80 individuals — from neighbors who have lived in south Ashland for years to cyclists from Ashland DEVO, a youth mountain bike group — overflowed the chairs at Ashland Senior Center for an open house about East Main Park hosted by Ashland Parks & Recreation on Thursday evening, Aug. 14.
The Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday recommended updated rental rates for the historic Ashland Community Center and Pioneer Hall. The rates, which factor in cleaning and administrative costs, go to the City Council on Sept. 16 for review.
An ongoing verbal volley over pickleball again played out at a meeting with city officials and residents on Tuesday, July 15, at Garfield Park as Ashland’s Parks and Recreation Department implements a $20 per hour fee to reserve pickleball courts at Lithia Park.
Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market is offering $40 in emergency market money to help SNAP recipients buy food and support local farmers amid the legal battle over funding the federal program.
ICE raids, food insecurity and looming cuts to Medicaid and Medicare topped the conversation at a rally and food drive hosted by State Sen. Jeff Golden on Saturday in Medford that drew about 100 people.
George Kramer: Three members of the Ashland City Council voted against putting the question of whether residents should have a say before new fees or taxes are added to our monthly utility bills. Three others supported asking voters that question. Mayor Graham voted no, against democracy, which means the only way this question can be put to the voters is through the petition process.
Kaytlin McIntyre: “Theater is a team sport — it’s the most collaborative art form, and a successful show at OSF will often require dozens, if not hundreds, of people to be operating in seamless coordination.”
Plans for Ashland Mill — the largest development proposal in Ashland’s history — are now in the hands of the city. In early October, Townmakers LLC filed a formal application to build what the developers call a “complete community” on 61 acres of Ashland’s southeast side.
Obituary: Harriet L. Williams passed away on Sept. 19, 2025. She was 97. Harriet had lived in Ashland for five years, having lived in Chicago, Skokie and Scottsdale before.
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