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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 Ashland Middle School student spearheads Nepal relief effort 10 things to know for Tuesday Fourth of July celebration theme is 'Be Active, Live Healthy!' Police Reports Rogue Valley police receive training in interacting with LGBTQ community Education Ashland Middle School student spearheads Nepal relief effort Southern Oregon University's week-long Arts & Research showcase offers a potpourri of academics Ashland Middle School students put their Spanish-speaking skills to the test Grizzlies claim speech championship Levy backers eye final push Environment Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Stopping fire in its tracks Some trails, roads remain closed due to controlled burn Earth Day: Hope for our 'pale blue dot' Business Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery 'Fill'er up' will mean with beer, not gas Ride & Drive: 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe Ashland Safeway closes Thursday, to reopen as Haggen on Sunday Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were ‘more different’ Politics and elections City of Ashland to consider making recorder position appointive, not elective Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Gray's death Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved State News Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Death Notices Ronald Mitchell Betts Dickie Miles Hayes Death Notices Ines Tracey Thompson Compton Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Stormy weather for footgolf kick-off day Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet Chris Singleton: No need for a rematch Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge High school Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Southern Oregon University Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Same old Raiders Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Voices Latest Stories (No heading) Kent Bush: Moral and ethical standards need to be higher Letters to the editor: Tuesday, May 12 Granlund cartoon: Grad party Dianne Williamson: Enough of ‘Say it isn’t so’ Editorial Our View: Forest work is a bargain Our View: What price history? Our View: Waging peace after war Our View: Rail car roulette Our View: Reading the tea leaves Letters (No heading) Letters to the editor: Tuesday, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Columns Chris Honoré: Supreme Court grapples with tradition, suffrage Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Herb Rothschild Jr.: The courage to ask Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s important election – in royal political context Matthew T. Mangino: Aging prisoners: An American crisis Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Movie listings: May 8-14 Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' 5 picks for live entertainment Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Theater Ticket Availability OSF to commission three new 'American Revolutions' plays Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music Visual Art Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Movie listings: May 8-14 Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Tammy Kelly: Add springtime crunch with cucumbers Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Dr. Elaine Heffner: Mothers-in-law Fourth of July celebration theme is 'Be Active, Live Healthy!' Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average ... Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average ... ASHLAND Ashland youth Alex Shepherd, 13, dies of brain cancer Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 at 6:30 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:03 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 at 6:30 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:03 PM » RELATED CONTENT • 'An amazing, brave young man' » Social News Thirteen-year-old Alex Shepherd of Ashland died Tuesday evening of brain cancer, with his family at his side. Alex, an avid snowboarder, bicyclist and cat-lover was diagnosed in 2013 with anaplastic astrocytoma and underwent dozens of radiation treatments, chemotherapy and four brain surgeries. As a gift from Make-A-Wish Foundation, he and his family in winter 2013 were flown to Hawaii for a happy four-day vacation and some surfing and paragliding — a main wish of Alex. On the way, Alex and his parents, Dan and Aushna appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show, where they were given $10,000 to help with bills and a new Mazda in which to make frequent trips for treatment in Portland. On team-alex.com, his mother posted her thoughts about the passing, noting it was peaceful and his sister Lily and lifelong cat pal were there also. He had five cats.  DeGeneres gave a delighted Alex a DVD called "Best Moments of Cat Week" from her show. “Alex is a huge cat fanatic,” Aushna said at the time. “He started really loving the ‘Ellen’ show when she started doing cat week, and that's why he wanted to meet her so much.” Alex, a student at Ashland Middle School, played soccer, got good grades, voluteered at the animal shelter and wanted to become a doctor, “so he could help people,” his Team Alex website said. On the show, DeGeneres said, “You're an amazing, brave young man.” She showed a video of Alex snow skiing just months after extensive radiation and chemotherapy, as well as surgeries, which included the removal of a “banana-sized tumor,” Aushna Shepherd says. Alex was a healthy, normal child until one day in April 2013, when he suffered a grand mal seizure, said his father, a critical care nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, in an interview in 2014. “Till then, he was a totally fine, smart, good-looking athletic boy, whose dream was to become a surgeon," says Aushna. "Then one day, the seizure. Then the diagnosis, the worst thing you could ever hear about your own child.” On the show, Dan said, “It was a major turning point in all our lives — beyond belief.” Ashna Shepherd’s posting describes a loving passing, a visit from the minister and assurances he would see soon see departed family members. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. Alex's age has been corrected in this version. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 at 6:30 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:03 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 Propel Marketing 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. 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