John Paul Valdez: The necessity for service model reform in Jackson County is starkly illuminated by the failure of the centralized system to recognize the organic, effective mutual aid operating within sparse communities.

Ambuja Rosen: On weekends, college kids had loud parties late into the night. … Who would throw a respectable, middle-class student out of his own neighborhood, interrupting his important college education? Yet if a poor, homeless person gets three strikes for noise, he’s out.

Tom Dimitre: Will the City Council use its oversight of parks in order to rebuke Rocky Houston’s increased use of herbicides — and the increased uglification of Ashland streets with rocks?

John Frank: I want to give a special “thank you” to Ashland Fire & Rescue for providing holiday treats and kindnesses to the areas senior citizens at the Ashland Senior Center on Nov. 24. Not only were there firemen present but some brought their children to help out.  That made it special!