Ashland Dairy Queen Owner Jason Federico opened the back door to the fast food franchise restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, but instead of a bustling and cheery ice cream eatery, he stepped into an echoey, bare-bones remnant that still smelled of smoke, a far cry from what it was when he opened it in April 2022.
An Alaska food company that wowed the likes of billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban on national television with its just-add-water adventure meals is charting course for Southern Oregon. Heather’s Choice, an Anchorage-based maker of lightweight packable meals featured in a Jan. 12 episode of “Shark Tank,” is preparing to move its operations to Ashland.
Public funding to boost early child care options in Oregon has grown by millions during the past few years, but options are still limited for many parents who are forced to choose — and lose — jobs, according to a survey from Portland State University.
Following the open application process for the city of Ashland’s Early Childhood Affordability Grant Program that launched in September, two have been selected among several applications received. The two applicants that met the grant criteria and are slated to be awarded funds are the Ashland Family YMCA and Children’s World Montessori.
The tens of thousands of Oregonians who buy their own health insurance can now start shopping for the best plan for next year. Open enrollment on the federal online marketplace, which Oregon will continue to use for the next few years, runs this year from Nov. 1 through Jan. 16.
Ashland Fire & Rescue has new resources and a new vision for the future. In July, three new first responders were hired for the department, but unlike the hires of the past they are not necessarily firefighters but “single-role” staff — they are focused on wrangling medical calls.
Southern Oregon University has relocated its Career Connections office on campus and expanded its services to help students prepare for finding a job before and/or after graduation. SOU faculty and staff are invited to an open house to see the new space on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 3 to 5 p.m.
A three-day event on workplace safety and health will be held Tuesday, Oct. 17, through Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites, 2525 Ashland St., Ashland, according to news release.
Gas station attendants and residents in the Rogue Valley are adjusting to Oregon’s new law allowing patrons to pump their own gas, with encouraging feedback. Gov. Tina Kotek signed House Bill 2426 into law last week, repealing a 72-year ban on self-serve gasoline in the state.
Oregon workers can apply for benefits through the state’s new paid leave program starting Aug. 14. The program, Paid Leave Oregon, covers family leave, medical leave and safe leave for Oregonians with jobs. Oregon is the 12th state in the nation with paid family and medical leave for workers, due to a bill the Legislature passed in 2019.
Mt. Ashland Ski Area’s first new chairlift in more than three decades will open this weekend. The Lithia Chair will open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, giving skiers and snowboarders greater access to easy and intermediate slopes, according to a release issued Tuesday from the nonprofit ski area.
Review: This year’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” playing at the CTP and directed by Tommy Statler, is original, imaginative and lighter than last year’s production of the same. The story of the miserly curmudgeon who finds redemption in the meaning of Christmas keeps with the spirit of the season.
The Salvation Army in Jackson and Josephine counties is pleading for volunteers to help ring in the holidays during the annual Red Kettle donations campaign as the organization faces a critical shortage of staff. “We are sounding the alarm,” said Capt. Yohani Ortiz with The Salvation Army Grants Pass.
Obituary: It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia “Patti” Ann Metz (Seely), a devoted mother, friend, and pillar of the Rogue Valley community in Southern Oregon for the past 44 years. On Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, Patti left us at the age of 86, after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering dedication to those she cherished.
Real Estate Corner: I’ve been noticing an interesting trend. There’s movement both ways — people discovering Ashland as their dream destination and others leaving for the next chapter in their lives. So, what’s driving these shifts? Let’s examine why people are moving to (and from) our fantastic town.
Ashland’s TC Chevy has shifted into high gear on sustainability, becoming a shining example of clean energy innovation with the addition of three new Stracker solar arrays to its existing five units. The dealership now is in a position to run entirely on sun power, achieving net-zero status and proving that the road to a greener future starts at home.
(It’s free)