A fallen tree knocked out power to some neighborhoods in southeast Ashland Tuesday evening as high winds and rain swept into the area. Power to most of the area was restored after about two hours, but electricity was till out to some homes along Normal Avenue which may not have service restored until Wednesday morning.
Tuesday evening a weather system driven by what’s described as a “bomb cyclone” off Washington state will send copious amounts of moisture in the form of rain and snow over much of the Northwest, with the coasts of Southern Oregon and Northern California taking the brunt of the incoming system.
A thought-provoking discussion Sunday about Ashland’s evolving homeless situation was overshadowed by fears the country is on course to treating it more as a criminal issue. Guest speaker Echo Fields, a retired Southern Oregon University sociology professor who has been actively involved in homeless issues, said the country appears to be reverting to 19th century laws that penalized the poor.
Ashland City Council will review a master plan for the 2200 Ashland St. property during the Monday evening study session. The plan was recently completed by the ad hoc committee created to draft the plan and will be reviewed by council for the first time Monday. It is scheduled to come before council again for further discussion and possible action at the Dec. 3 business meeting.
Two men were arrested in Ashland Nov. 5 for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine from California into Southern Oregon, according to Medford police. After executing a search warrant on a vehicle, authorities seized approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a news release.
Two measures on the Nov. 5 ballot ask Ashland voters to make alterations to their city government — Measure 15-233 would make the municipal judge no longer an elected office and Measure 15-232 would change the process of electing city councilors.
A training to help volunteers at the city of Ashland’s severe weather shelter offer trauma informed care will be held by registration only from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. The shelter needs volunteers for this season. Those interested in learning more can contact longtime Ashland shelter volunteer coordinator Avram Sacks at 541-220-7307.
In a special meeting Wednesday evening, Ashland City Council ended up voting unanimously to appoint Ryan Mulkins as municipal judge for the city, even though three councilors voted for another candidate as their top choice in an initial round of voting.
The Ashland Police Department will be out and ready to ensure a fun and safe annual children’s Halloween parade, according to a department release Wednesday. The parade begins at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Halloween, in front of the Ashland Public Library at 410 Siskiyou Blvd., then proceeds west along East Main Street to the Plaza.
After six decades of helping to provide fire protection for his rural community on the flanks of Mount Ashland, lifelong Colestin resident Steve Avgeris has yet to hang up his hose. Nearing a full year since residents of the rural community voted to dissolve the Colestin Rural Fire Protection District — with plans to be annexed by Jackson County Fire District No. 5 just months later — the former chief of the now-defunct district maintains his fire apparatus and still responds to calls for help.
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)