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3 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 Emergency services, May 23 Cedar Links developers drop commercial area Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Workers put finishing touches on parking lot Memorial Day travel expected to hit 10-year high Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 23 Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Emergency services New suspect arraigned in 2014 robbery of Ashland gas station Flood warning issued for southwestern Jackson County Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Education Departing Ashland High principal Zundel looks to next challenge Jacksonville Elementary students on stage at Britt Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Environment OR-7, mate may be adding to their pack Rogue jet boat tour company eyes TouVelle for permanent home Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster State News Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns State investigates spray crew exposure to herbicide Corvallis-based Bravo company returns home from Afghanistan Judge's order could de-escalate Josephine County gold mine dispute Nation - World Uh oh .... Apple Watch demand is weak There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Warren Irving Paul Dorothy Isabelle Murphy Bayliss Bruce Michael McGregor Walter Schweiger Dawn Borns/Hagler/Huttl Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 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 Na leads at soggy Colonial Ghelfi, Sanders secure more All-American accolades South's Bartlett falls short at state tourney Spieth claims share of lead at Colonial Warriors fend off Harden, Rockets Varsity 541 College Sports Ghelfi, Sanders secure more All-American accolades SOU's Sanders takes fourth in hammer SOU hires Carlson as coach Ducks down Beavers in 11 innings, 3-2 Raiders prepare for NAIA national meet Pro Sports Na leads at soggy Colonial Spieth claims share of lead at Colonial Warriors fend off Harden, Rockets Ducks beat Blackhawks, take lead in Western finals Giants again blank Dodgers Community Sports Business Latest Stories The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly Blog: The Gateway to Summer Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Two Crown Markets planned for Talent Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house People In Business People in Business Transportation Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Opinion Latest Matthew T. Mangino: Is Nebraska a death penalty game-changer? Letters to the Editor, May 22 Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in Michael Gerson: The Clintons' cloud of deviancy Arthur I. Cyr: Secretary Kerry’s reply to North Korea Editorials Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in Our View: Josephine voters choose lawlessness again Our View: Renovating the Capitol is important but costly Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees Our View: Kicking state government down the road Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 22 Letters to the Editor, May 21 Letters to the Editor, May 20 Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 18 Columns Michael Gerson: The Clintons' cloud of deviancy Arthur I. Cyr: Secretary Kerry’s reply to North Korea Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Dana Milbank: Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy Kathleen Parker: Unswaddling the bab(i)es on campus Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Hiking the fringes of the monument Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Looking Up: Spica stands out in spring’s sky Fishing Report: Friday, May 22 Food Community blog: Roasting rhubarb riffs on beet-goat cheese salad Page H. Onorato: Saturday brought treat for supper Taste of Alba Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can Potluck: A Gooey Butter Cake to cherish Home and Garden Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Dear Monty: Novice homebuyer’s first attempt disappointing Home Help: Keep a man cave top of mind when choosing a new home Health Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Health Watch: How to avoid the diet rut Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 things to do in the Rogue Valley Live Music in Local Clubs Memorial Day celebrates veterans Rogue Rage Duo at The Point SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' Theater SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time Music Live Music in Local Clubs Rogue Rage Duo at The Point The Farr Side: Swift dominates Billboard Music Awards Interview: Country mainstay T. Graham Brown reflects on career Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Community Events Memorial Day celebrates veterans Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Movies Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Movie review: Disney takes us to ‘Tomorrowland’ Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in ‘San Andreas’ Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Dining Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Cedar Links developers drop commercial area ... The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly ... Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in ... Cedar Links developers drop commercial area ... The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly ... Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in ... LOCAL EVENTS Celebration event planned for hockey program serving developmentally disabled youth By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 @ 4:56 pm By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 @ 4:56 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> With meticulous concentration, 11-year-old Brayden Edelman passes a puck across the ice to 8-year-old Tanner Bowers. Tanner snags the pass and sends the puck into the goal as nearby coaches hold their sticks above their heads and cheer. It's just one special moment of many in the Southern Oregon Junior Spartans Special Hockey program, which teaches the sport to youth with autism and other developmental disabilities.  The team plans to celebrate a recent milestone — a donation of 20 sets of gear from the NHL Players Association — with a free skating event for youth with disabilities. The event will run from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 30, at the RRRink, 1349 Center Drive, Medford. Skates and walkers will be available.  "It's a really big thing, so we're putting on this event to kind of bring people out and celebrate that we got this grant," says program director and founder Shad Bowers. "We're getting acknowledgement from the biggest game there is."  Bowers says he's been working on the program for more than a year. It started because of Tanner.  "It was really hard going to big events and gatherings," Bowers says. "Crowds freaked him out." Then came a Southern Oregon Spartans hockey game where Bowers took Tanner. Tanner loved it. A lot.  "He wanted to come every single time they played," Bowers says. "It was the first time we were able to get him out with other people, and he was OK with it. And that's one of the loudest things you can be at."  Because of the positive results, Bowers decided to try getting a team together.  "Hockey is probably the number one sport for (developmentally disabled) kids, especially with autism," Bowers says. "Kids with autism, their brains function so fast. They're not really delayed, they're way out ahead of everybody else. With hockey, it syncs up with them because it's fast. They're moving fast. They have to make their movements quick. Their mind syncs up with what their body's doing at the same time." Bowers started working with the Spartans program to obtain some funding and gear. The team allowed use their logo. Word got out, and the team began to grow. Charlotte Edelman says her son Brayden heard about it from a classmate and wanted to join up. She was concerned at first, but then she saw how her son took to the ice.  "There aren't even words to explain how great it makes me feel as a parent," Edelman says. "He loves it. He's very dedicated."  The team is now 10-strong, with players from 5 years old up through their late teens. And they're having a blast.  "I love shooting pucks," Brayden says.  Players are preparing for a tournament in Valencia, Calif., in January. Assistant coach Vladyslav Plakhotnyi, formerly of the Southern Oregon Spartans, says he has seen improvements in his athletes every practice — held anywhere from once a week to twice a month.  "It's not that different. You have to give time to each kid. They all have their own style," Plakhotnyi says. "We're just trying to give our best to every kid."  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 @ 4:56 pm » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 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. 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