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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 Work planned on Hosler Dam sirens this week 10 things to know for Monday Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter AGING HAPPENS: Two considerations for in-home caregivers Connections essential as women continue to make history Education Willow Wind students raise money for water Getting its balancing act together Pulling strings for youth music education Bee college takes to the air Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Environment With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Politics and elections Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Ramona G. (Austin) Fletcher Death Notices Earl Dean King Death Notices Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Fantasy Sports: There are plenty of quality producers at third Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals SOU's Maguin advances to 400 final Blazers likely to look to Afflalo in Matthews absence Gimme a break High school Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Grizz boys fend off Eagles, earn second straight win Southern Oregon University Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals SOU's Maguin advances to 400 final Gimme a break Fourth-ranked Raiders, Gutches try to make noise at NAIA nationals SOU relay team secures spot in title race Voices Latest Stories Wry & Ginger: Cable news of future a different breed Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Letters to the Editor, March 9 Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Editorial Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Our View: Spelling out safety Our View: Our View: A growing concern Our View: A change of scenery Letters Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Letters to the Editor, March 4 Letters to the Editor, March 2 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Columns Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Herb Rothschild: A meaningful freedom Philip Maddocks: Homeland Security is prepared to let its protection of Congress run out after this week Matthew T. Mangino: Pennsylvania officials battle over possibility of rare execution Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Community blog: Writers, submit Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Review: OSF keeps the comedy afloat in 'Much Ado' SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Music Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Laid-back Liam Neeson and Ed Harris get vicious in ‘Run All Night’ Pop Culture Notebook: ‘Community,’ ‘Avengers’ and ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ on the horizon Antionette Kerr: Nimoy’s legacy lives on in ‘Star Trek’ Movie review: ‘Chappie’ is charming sci-fi with a violent edge Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Prudence Hilburn: Cookbook compiler finds best of the best in Southern recipes Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW AGING HAPPENS: Two considerations for in-home caregivers ... Calendar: Monday, March 9 ... Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... AGING HAPPENS: Two considerations for in-home caregivers ... Calendar: Monday, March 9 ... Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... ENVIRONMENT With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Comment By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 at 8:19 PM By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 at 8:19 PM » Social News Record low snowpack amid a second straight drought year has wildland managers bracing for what they consider an upcoming wildfire season in which catastrophic fire in the Cascades or Siskiyous "seems inevitable." State and federal wildfire experts said Thursday in Medford that they expect mid- and high-elevation forestlands to be prime for generating a 2015 fire season that will start earlier, last longer and likely burn hotter than normal in this area known for summer fires. With minimal or no snow around places such as Howard Prairie and Mt. Ashland, the sun's rays that normally would melt snow and wet the forest instead will be cooking it tinder dry this spring, making slopes more able to carry flames and more susceptible to fire starts caused by lightning downstrikes. "It seems inevitable," said Allen Mitchell, fire management officer for the Medford District of the federal Bureau of Land Management. "It will depend on lightning." Forest Service and BLM teams are training firefighters earlier than most years while trying to amass resources that will help combat fires expected to break out if the region sees a repeat of last year's 130,000 lightning strikes, Mitchell said. The primed fuels ranging from downed and dead trees to brush killed during the intense freezes in the 2014 winter will mean fire crews will require larger safety zones around fires and potentially alter attack plans, Mitchell said. "We have to rethink our risk management," Mitchell said. "We're re-inventing stuff as we go." Mitchell's assessments came during a Thursday wildfire conditions briefing for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who also announced the securing of more than $2 million in U.S. Forest Service grants to curb wildfire risks and improve drinking water in the Ashland watershed. This latest installment in the decade-old Ashland Forest Resiliency Project will allow contract crews to clear the forest floor of hot-burning brush and woody debris in thinning and burning projects designed by the Forest Service and implemented by private contactors. The grant includes $1.2 million worth of work on Forest Service lands plus $1 million on private lands within the 7,600-acre project area within the Ashland watershed, considered at very high risk for catastrophic wildfire that could threaten the city. The grant follows $6.2 million in federal stimulus money that ended in 2013 with about $4 million worth of work left. Since then, the city of Ashland has spent about $175,000 per year to treat federal lands within the watershed. Most of the work has been done by the Lomakatsi Restoration Project, which will hire about 150 seasonal workers, 17 full-time employees and about 10 outside contractors for work under the new grant. "This project is a model for collaboration," Wyden said during his Thursday briefing. The grants were announced jointly by Wyden and his fellow Senate Democrat Jeff Merkley, and the pair have pledged to find future grants to finish the project. Thursday's upbeat discussion of the Ashland project was tampered by what federal wildfire officials were calling the worse pre-season wildfire conditions in at least 25 years. Meteorologist Ryan Sandler from the National Weather Service said Medford's temperatures have been 4 degrees warmer than normal this past fall and winter, during which normal rainfall levels were recorded but the snowpack at Crater Lake is at just 3 feet — less than a third of its typical early March level. "It's unprecedented," Sandler said. "We've never had a (winter) with near-normal rainfall and low snowpack." The dearth of mid-elevation snow will mean the sun will cook hillsides into tinderboxes waiting for a lighting strike. "Instead of melting snow, they'll warm up and dry everything," Sandler said. "They'll be more susceptible to lightning and carrying fire. "You're probably going to have a lot of starts and a lot of fires," Sandler said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman .     By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 at 8:19 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. 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