Obituary: Over her career teaching in Ashland, Rita Katherine Mahoney taught in four different elementary schools and spent a year at SOSTIC. She loved teaching and possessed a kindness and empathy for children, especially those with special needs.
Obituary: Mary is best known as the author of the performance classic “Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies” and the biography “Nicholas Pennell: Risking Enchantment.” Her 50-plus articles focused on Shakespeare in performance on stage, in film, and on television.
Obituary: Leo Joseph Champagne, who passed away on Aug. 10, taught electrical apprenticeship classes at City College in San Francisco and was a member of the electrical workers union.
Matthew Mark “Oostburg” Vander Sande passed away tragically on Sept. 7, 2025. He was a friend who loved deeply, cherished every connection, and left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
Obituary: Bettie Lou Sheldon Frye passed away at her daughter’s home in Talent on Aug. 19. She was 97. A celebration of her life will be held this fall.
Obituary: Kenneth “Shady” Wendell Challman passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Aug. 21. A celebration of life will be held on Oct. 11 at Oak Knoll Golf Course in Ashland from 4 to 6 p.m.
Obituary: Gladys Sonja Stalions passed away peacefully in her Medford home on July 30. She was 87.
Obituary: Ted Mularz, 91, passed away Feb. 20 in Sedona, Arizona. The architect was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of service to the profession and the public. A memorial mass in memory of Ted’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland.
Obituary: Born in Chicago in 1936, Judith Elizabeth Small transitioned out of this life on July 27 at age 89, at Celia’s House in Medford. She was 89.
Obituary: Stephanie Clark, beloved mother, grandmother, innkeeper, animal lover and an unofficial “Christmas Queen” of Ashland, passed away on Aug. 13, surrounded by family.
At just 21 years old, Ashland native Brooklyn Williams is stepping into her biggest role yet — the lead in Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s adaptation of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” playing through Dec. 31.
A women’s singing group with member from the 27 Ukrainian families now taking refuge in Ashland will perform at a benefit concert Dec. 14.
The Trump administration will require that homeless service providers force people to receive behavioral health treatment in order to access long-term, federally supported housing, a move that could mean organizations across Oregon would have to choose between receiving federal dollars or state dollars — but not both.
A local artist who arrived in Ashland three years ago is having his first solo art show at the White Rabbit gallery in downtown Ashland. Micah Blacklight has been waiting for the chance to show the personal perspective of an injustice he has witnessed over decades.
his bonus “variety” puzzle is an acrostic with a quote about newspapers and journalism — in support of year-end fundraising efforts. Solve it in your browser or download and print; how to solve acrostics. Next Friday’s crossword: Yule Be Puzzled #01. Check out the Mini crossword on Tuesdays.
This year marks the 10th annual Thanksgiving Community Peace Meal and the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland has offered to share their space with the community. SOJWJ is lining up volunteers and cooks, as well as those who can give financial support. They are expecting to feed more than 300 people.
(It’s free)
