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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... EDITOR'S NOTES The rest of the story Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community... • MISSING ASHLAND TEEN: 'Why?' still unknown in Thomas-Garner case... • Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe • Editor's Notes: Agonizing uncertainty in runaway case » Social News The good news about Hannah Thomas-Garner in the Tidings on March 9 included one line that was chilling: “Of the 28 runaway reports in Ashland in 2014 ... this one got the most attention.” Hannah didn’t come downstairs for breakfast at her Ashland home on Nov. 30. Her family, by all accounts, did not hear from her again until Saturday, March 7, 97 days later. A few hours or days are bad enough when a loved one is uncounted for; going weeks, then months without knowing must have been agonizing. But here’s the thing: What’s up with those other 27 Ashland kids? Are they reunited with their families? Ashland Police Department Deputy Chief Tighe O’Meara took the time this week to dive into the figures and shed some light on what’s going on with local runaways. Because more than one juvenile appeared in some reports, the actual total was 35, O’Meara found. Of those who went missing, a total of 11 were from private Ashland homes we’re likely to picture when we hear about a runaway. Those three boys and eight girls were all found within a day of going missing — which makes Hannah’s case a real standout. No wonder it got the most attention. What about the other 24 runaways? Those 17 boys and seven girls went missing from the Lithia Springs Residential Treatment in Ashland. The separate boys and girls homes “are basically a half-way house” for juveniles convicted of crimes, O’Meara said. Each residence has approximately 10 to 15 residents. Far from running away from home, they’re running away from the Oregon Youth Authority, which has jurisdiction over them. The residences are operated by Community Works, a Medford-based nonprofit organization. “Community Works serves children, adolescents, young adults, women and families who are working to overcome a severe life crisis or trauma,” according to its website. “We help people move forward using their own strengths in a productive and positive way.” The Lithia Springs program “is a long-term community-based treatment program for youth offenders. ... The program approach is a behavioral rehabilitation model that provides a diverse array of integrated services. The length of the residential program is approximately 9-12 months.” When the kids, who come from all over Oregon, leave Lithia Springs, they’re violating terms of their probation and a warrant is issued for their arrest. “I can’t say how long they’re gone,” O’Meara said. “It gets more complicated.” Once they’re picked up, which usually happens in a “day or two,” O’Meara said, they’re taken to another location, not returned to Lithia Springs, “and we might not get notified.” “They don’t fit the traditional mold of a runaway,” he said. “Some are running back to their parents.” For those parents whose children run away, besides calling the police (541-482-5211), another resource is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com, 800-THE-LOST). Also helpful in the search for Hannah, O’Meara added, was the Polly Klaas Foundation of California (www.pollyklaas.org, 800-587-4357). So now, as you might say if you're old enough to remember radio newsman Paul Harvey’s catchphrase, you know the rest of the story. Are there any other loose ends you’d like us to tie up from stories in the Tidings? Give me a call or send me an email. We’ll do what we can to follow up. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling .   By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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