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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: No set rules for noisy car chirps and honks Better than a giant nutcracker A New Song Get Up & Go: Nov. 30 5 Things to do This Week Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services Wrap Up, Nov. 28 Former Central Point residents accused of abusing their adopted children Homemade bomb found inside stolen car after arrest of fleeing transient Politics and Elections Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Education Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Les AuCoin recommended for SOU board Good news for SOU: Enrollment's up Mom gives school lobby a makeover Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Environment Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill Mt. View Estates' fill, riprap work lacked county permit Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em State News Bend retirement community brews for charity Cover Oregon, pot, guns on state's legislative agenda for 2015 Photo of hug between boy, officer at Portland protest goes viral Bill would tighten limits on license plate readers UO teaching assistants prepared to strike Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Morrie Dean Harvester Carla Louise Mahlon Edward Sprague Gaylord Lincoln Hallett Peter Kip Norvell Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Standing O-vation Beavers look to the future after tough loss Focus shifts to Arizona rematch for Ducks Wichita St. cruises by Tulsa, remains unbeaten Sixers nearing worst start in NBA history Varsity 541 College Sports Standing O-vation Beavers look to the future after tough loss Focus shifts to Arizona rematch for Ducks Wichita St. cruises by Tulsa, remains unbeaten SOU stuns top-ranked Carroll Pro Sports Sixers nearing worst start in NBA history Seahawks’ defense rounding into top form Donaldson doesn’t blame A’s for trade Grizzlies snap Blazers’ streak Spurs win second straight without Popovich Community Sports RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: 'Twas the 12 Days of Deals... Asante expands cardiac center Jackson County sees workforce and job growth Regional hotels and motels outperformed statewide marks in October Incorrect labeling prompts Kroger ice cream recall Real Estate News Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Agriculture Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really Letters to the Editor, Nov. 30 Dana Milbank: Bob McCulloch is the face of injustice Michael Gerson: In Ferguson, where next? George Will: A case for presidential self-restraint Editorials Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really Other Views: Klamath Basin agreement deserves approval Our View: Cheers (too thankful for a jeer this week) Our View: Day of abundance, season of sharing Another View: Logging still has a place in Oregon Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 30 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 28 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 27 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 24 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Lifestyle Latest stories 'Wild' at Heart If Social Security was run like a business Rogers-Horn I love Lucy, who's good for your health New Arrivals Food Community blog: In soup or salad, savor pumpkin with leeks Be a gravy-making star on Thanksgiving Food for Thought: Add new twists on Thanksgiving favorites Community blog: Feast on this blog's Thanksgiving recipes, tips Kitchen Call: Both sides of the kiddie table Home and Garden 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Home Help: Quick tips for getting your home ready for the holidays Mortgage insurance: Your questions answered Home Help: Spruce up your home with quick DIY painting projects Health Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Community blog: Appreciating Clouds: Year-Round Gratitude Community blog: A Little Toilet Talk 'Tis the season to be jolly Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements A New Song Rogers-Horn New Arrivals Madi-Stiles ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Brunch at Loft Brasserie 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas Theater OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' Music Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Community Events 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas New exhibits highlight Third Fridays Dining Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really ... A New Song ... Photo of hug between boy, officer at Portland protest goes viral ... Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really ... A New Song ... Photo of hug between boy, officer at Portland protest goes viral ... CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES Phoenix, Jacksonville make 'safest cities' list Police chiefs credit townspeople who care about stopping crime By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 pm By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 pm » Social News Two Rogue Valley towns earned the distinction of being among the safest places in Oregon, based on a recent listing by the Oregon Home Security and Crime Prevention Center. A clearinghouse for public safety information hosted by the for-profit Safewise.com, the list outlines the 30 safest towns based on FBI crime statistics. Jacksonville was named No. 3, while Phoenix, tucked between Medford and Talent, capped off the list at No. 30. Both police departments’ chiefs were appreciative of the listing but admitted they were apprehensive when first notified they made the cut. Of more than 470 cities, the list was narrowed to 108 burbs with populations of 2,500 or more. All told, the 30 safest cities ranged from Baker City, the No. 1 safest with only 62 reported crimes in the last year of collected data, to historic towns such as Umatilla (No. 10), Gervais (No. 17) and Lake Oswego (No. 12). Phoenix, with just over 4,600 residents, earned mention of its community dinners, per the site report, and community events that include a summer jazz festival. When contacted about the “top 30” list, Phoenix police Chief Derek Bowker said City Manager Steve Dahl only added to Bowker’s own skepticism by suspecting the list was an email spam. “Yea, my city manager thought it was a hoax, too, until we checked the website,” Bowker said. “It was good to be listed, and Phoenix is pretty low crime. Phoenix has never been a real hotbed of criminal activity, but we’ve worked very hard to keep it that way,” he said. Bowker said he was proud of his officers but also acknowledged a close-knit and active community. “We have a great, small community where a lot of people look out for each other in Phoenix, so the public is as much to thank as (the police) are for Phoenix being a safe place to live,” he said. “We’re a small town, so we only have one, sometimes two, officers on duty. So by no means are we canvassing the city 24/7. A lot of the safe feeling has to do with neighbors being aware and calling us if something is off.” Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said a joint effort between police and residents was to thank for Jacksonville’s safe reputation, in addition to its off-the-beaten-path locale. Towe, the “senior chief” in the state — with the longest tenure among chiefs for any one department — also credited a close-knit community. “I’ve had a rare glimpse watching the town evolve. In the 20-some odd years I’ve been there, we’ve had one bank robbery and one homicide — and the homicide was a love triangle kind of thing, someone that was known to the victim,” Towe said. “I’ve always felt like it’s a very safe community. If anything is out of place, we get a call, and our cops are very active. When you ask people how many police they think there are in Jacksonville, people usually will give you a number four times as many as there actually are.” Towe added, “I think with the bigger towns, it’s harder to stay connected, and law enforcement, in general, has lost its face with communities over the years. We don’t have that problem. Today, for example, I’m the only guy on the road, so if a call comes in, I’m handling it.”  To learn more about the list, see www.safewise.com/blog/30-safest-cities-oregon/ Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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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