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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 All roads open after weekend work at Fern Valley Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Howard Prairie up for a makeover Ashlanders share seeds Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Education Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Northwest Pizza to raise money for Ashland Schools Foundation Prisoners in their own home Louie's to donate sales to Helman Hug Fund Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday 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 Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano Ashlanders share seeds Breaking ground on organic vineyard practices Southern Oregon University: Recent and pending projects at SOU total about $132 million Politics and elections 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 Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Norman Christlieb James Ellis York Death Notices Death Notices Shiela R. Ettlich Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Fantasy Sports: Clayton Kershaw a clear-cut ace Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Ashland baseball players head to Mexico for inaugural 'Sister City Baseball Classic' Raiders roughed up at Corban High school Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Ashland High's Honsinger tops field in final nordic ski meet Southern Oregon University Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Ducks survive, advance Wiese scores 23 as Oregon State tops South Dakota in first round Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Ted Cruz enters the 2016 race Mark L. Hopkins: Two years of free college tuition? Neal Simon: I’m finally ready to roll Letters to the Editor, March 23 Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Editorial Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Our View: Ashland is at risk as a bad fire season looms Letters Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Guest opinions 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 Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Jeffrey Gillespie: The return of the neocons Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Theater Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Ticket availability Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music 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 The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws It Is What It Is: When in Rome... Kitchen Call: Cobblers, crisps and crumbles Get a Life: Shopping as a short person Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano 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 Howard Prairie up for a makeover ... Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' ... Ashland Calendar ... Howard Prairie up for a makeover ... Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' ... Ashland Calendar ... CITY OF ASHLAND Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Drought stresses trees, making it easier for variety of bugs to worm way into trunks Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   » Social News It wasn't a pretty moment for Jeff McFarland, city forestry and trails supervisor, when he had to oversee the toppling of a “much loved,” 100-foot tall — but beetle-infested — Ponderosa pine at the Oredson-Todd Woods trailhead south of Ashland. Measuring 38.5 inches in diameter at breast height, the once-stately gem of the forest got weakened by drought and was brown from crown to half-way down. With it, in recent weeks, went five pines at Mountain View Cemetery, four at the nearby IOOF Cemetery (both near the new fire station No. 2 on Ashland Street) and 40 above Lithia Park, says Stu Wilkie, city maintenance and safety supervisor for Public Works. “These were mature trees, not small at all,” said Wilkie. “Anytime you take out big trees, you leave a big impact on the surrounding esthetics. We’ll replant it, though, with cedar or broadleaf maple.” Since the big drought slammed down its calling card in the winter of 2013-14 and the following summer, notes McFarland, the town’s pines have been under attack by four types of beetles: the Ips Beetle (kills from top down), the Turpentine Beetle (kills from the ground up to 8 inches), the Western Pine Beetle (attacks the main trunk) and the Mountain Pine Beetle. The Western Pine Beetle is certain death, McFarland says, while the others may spare some trees that they infest. “The beetles detect which trees are stressed, then they bore under the bark,” he says. “They release phermones that shout 'I made it in; come and get it!' When their job is done and larvae are hatched and tunneling, they release another phermone that says, 'The inn is full; don’t come here anymore.'" The young larvae start “chewing around” and create galleries, a latticework of tiny tunnels that essentially girdle the tree. When the tree gets past 15 percent dead, they take it out. If a tree looks like it can survive, they give it a chance, but a tree weakened by one beetle leaves it open to easy assault by the other types.  Hiking through the woods, Prof. Steve Schein, a neighbor to the infested zone of Oredson-Todd, says all the neighbors pitch in with the city, U.S. Forest Service and Lomakatsi Restoration Project to try to preserve the forest.  “We’re trying to preserve a poly-culture out here. Some species need to be thinned so they have enough water, sun and wind to survive.”  The beetle isn’t all bad and Schein adds that “beetle activity helps us thin and lessens fire danger, so we like to take the ones they've killed.”  McFarland emphasizes the city seeks to be a good steward of public lands, so it’s very difficult to see a lot of nice pines taken out by the beetle.  “This tree was much loved by hikers on White Rabbit and the neighbors around here. It accelerates real suddenly, the browning,” he says. “We’re seeing a lot of nice pines get taken out by the beetle now, what with the drought.”  The Parks Department gets asked why they don't fight back against the beetle but, he notes, they’ve had a no-chemical policy for years now. They will use organic compounds. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 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. 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