Document text
0 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 Students send heartfelt message to missing Ashland girl End-of-month sale set at Ashland library Rose Circle volunteers help mentor children 10 things to know for Tuesday Mt. Ashland Ski Area looks for ways to diversify Education A connection between Charlie Hebdo, MLK and the classroom Crunching the numbers Chickenpox in rear-view mirror? Ashland schools expand chicken pox exclusion rules Students go behind the scenes at hospital Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi Q5 Silvio Calabi: Chrysler 200S — hey, who is that? Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets The heart of Brammo will remain Silvio Calabi: Ford Escape Still a Solid Player Politics and elections Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets Volunteer award, State of City address presentations Tuesday City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Chief Holderness retiring, wants to help find successor State News State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries May E. Harrison James Bernard Death Notices Death Notices James Bernard Shareable Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Sports Latest Stories Sacks, Gooding claim Century title Sacks, Gooding claim Century Tourney title Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Fourteen Raiders earn CCC academic honors Four Raiders up for SOSC honors High school Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown A Grizz sweep Comets press past Grizzlies Raiders put on a show Southern Oregon University Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Fourteen Raiders earn CCC academic honors Four Raiders up for SOSC honors Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Mariota wins Manning award Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Whole lotta shakin' ... Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Other Views: Managing wild horses Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Editorial Our View: Whole lotta shakin' ... Other Views: Managing wild horses Our View: Adjusting the lines Our View: City gets high marks Our View: King's other message Letters Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 22 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 21 Guest opinions Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Guest Opinion: The relevance of socialism in the U.S. Herb Rothschild Jr.: Support single-payer Guest Opinion: We're Oregonians, but we're not stupid Chris Honoré: The Lewis Glacier on Mount Kenya — an elegy Revels Latest Stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Brian Freeman presents 'An Evening of Scottish Music' Best Bets: Jan. 22-29 Ballyhoo! brings reggae and rock to Brickroom 'Sniper' reveals the total cost of war Theater Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Theater is an act of co-creation Music The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore The Farr Side: Top 10 album count-up for 2014 Visual Art Schneider winter exhibits on tap: 'Baker's Dozen' and 'New Works' First Friday kicks off a new year Movies Movie review: ‘Mortdecai’ majorly misses the mark Movie review: Aniston’s performance is the icing on ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Cake’ showcases Jennifer Aniston at her best Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Sniper' reveals the total cost of war Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Rose Circle volunteers help mentor children Eleanor's dog and the veil between worlds Buying a home? Consider its walkability Shayne Looper: ‘Unanswered’ prayers can challenge one’s faith Food for Thought: These healthy Super Bowl snacks are game-changers Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Students send heartfelt message to missing Ashland girl ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area looks for ways to diversify ... Our View: Whole lotta shakin' ... ... Students send heartfelt message to missing Ashland girl ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area looks for ways to diversify ... Our View: Whole lotta shakin' ... ... SKI AREA LAYOFFS Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Loan payments coming due Comment By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 3:24 pm By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 3:24 pm » Social News The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is down to a skeleton crew of five after a lack of snow forced deep layoffs. The ski area had 139 permanent and seasonal employees ready to work this winter, General Manager Hiram Towle said. Enough snow fell on the mountain to allow the ski area to open Dec. 19, 2014, and run for 13 days. But with a light snow pack, managers ran a lean operation with 82 people working on days when all chairlifts were running, Towle said. "We've taken actions to run lean even when we were open," he said. The ski area then closed, and staffing fell to 15 people. More layoffs last weekend cut employment to five people, Towle said. "We're making difficult decisions in the best interest of the ski area," he said. Last year, the ski area was closed all winter because of inadequate snow. It took out a $750,000 Small Business Administration loan to stay afloat in spring 2014. Payments on that low-interest loan are now coming due. "We'll begin making payments next month," said Towle. The ski area must pay $3,100 in February and has money budgeted to make the payment, he said. Meanwhile, managers and the Mt. Ashland Association board of directors, which oversees the nonprofit ski area, are developing plans to deal with a worst-case scenario if the ski area remains closed for the rest of this season, Towle said. "But our focus is on getting reopened when the snow comes. We still have 2½ months left in the season," he said. "There's quite a bit of season left." The ski area emailed an open letter to supporters Thursday saying there had been layoffs. "We're trying to get the message out and be open and honest. It's the Rogue Valley's ski area," Towle said. The email also announced the Mt. Ashland Ski Area has reached a deal with Mt. Bachelor ski resort outside Bend for Mt. Ashland season pass holders to be able to buy a pack of four Mt. Bachelor tickets for $189, a $127 savings off regular ticket prices. Mt. Ashland 2014-15 season pass holders must show their passes to get the deal. Tickets must be used by the season pass holder. Tickets cannot be used Feb. 14-15. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park in Northern California — the closest back-up option for Rogue Valley skiers and snowboarders — remains closed due to a lack of snow. Mt. Ashland Ski Area's snow pack ranges from nine inches near the bottom of the resort to 32 inches high on the mountain. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park is fairing even worse, with five inches at the base and 10 inches at the top. Mt. Bachelor resort snow depths range from 46 inches to 74 inches. The National Weather Service is forecasting no precipitation for the Siskiyou Mountains — which include Mount Ashland — and the Mount Shasta area until Tuesday, when there is a chance of rain. For Mt. Ashland Ski Area updates, visit www.mtashland.com or call the snow phone at 541-482-2754. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 3:24 pm » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501