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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 Timber funding bill heading to House Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Emergency Services, March 24 10 things to know for Tuesday Forest Service fire truck found crashed after Cave Junction theft Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 24 Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Emergency services, March 23 Crisis intervention: Medford police take training in response to surge in mental health calls Emergency Services, March 22 Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Environment Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Odd visitors found off Oregon Coast State News Dave Frohnmayer remembered at Eugene memorial Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? Nation - World Obituaries Rosalind Dee Katherine Newcomb Death Notices Fred Max Middlebusher M."Dolly" Cecilia Wood Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Miscues cost North Medford in Vegas setback Princeton's perfect season comes to an end RESULTS / STANDINGS Proposal to owners: Order unstable players off field Punter Loomis hopes to land on NFL team Varsity 541 College Sports Princeton's perfect season comes to an end OIT's Miles to receive Wooden award Holding their ground Badgers advance No. 11 Gonzaga stuns No. 3 Oregon State Pro Sports Proposal to owners: Order unstable players off field Punter Loomis hopes to land on NFL team Every wins Bay Hill for second straight year Bledsoe gets hot, fuels Suns Aldridge injured as Blazers lose fourth straight Community Sports Business Latest Stories Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford 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 Blog: Three Cheers for Today! Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Opinion Latest Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Landgren cartoon: Arsenic wine Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Letters to the Editor, March 24 Editorials Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Our View: Medford police tried to avoid confrontation Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 24 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 22 Letters to the Editor, March 21 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Columns Michael Gerson: How to block a bad nuclear deal with Iran Kathleen Parker: Dear Starbucks: Let's not talk George Will: Social inequality's deepening roots Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Dana Milbank: Can Israel remain a democracy? Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Lifestyle Latest stories Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Food for Thought: Watermelon is the perfect smoothie ingredient Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws It Is What It Is: When in Rome... Food Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Food for Thought: Watermelon is the perfect smoothie ingredient Kitchen Call: Cobblers, crisps and crumbles Community blog: Stoke meat-smoking passion with these tips Prudence Hilburn: Head to kitchen for delicious cabbage dishes Home and Garden Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Home Help: How green is your house? Plant a few dahlias, Dahling Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Health Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Eat this, not that Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories The Brothers Reed win a slot in the Rising Stars finals Pimps of Joytime play Historic Ashland Armory Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Theater Camelot's 'Sunset Boulevard' ambitious, not as dark Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Music Pimps of Joytime play Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money ... In-N-Out construction could start this spring in Medford ... Fern Valley interchange work hits Phoenix businesses hard ... Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money ... In-N-Out construction could start this spring in Medford ... Fern Valley interchange work hits Phoenix businesses hard ... Jacksonville embraces digital marketing Hours at the town's visitor center will be reduced By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 1:40 pm Updated Mar 20, 2015 at 4:54 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 1:40 pm Updated Mar 20, 2015 at 4:54 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" --> Jacksonville business boosters are going digital. The town’s Visitor Information Center will reduce its hours in response to a nearly 40 percent drop in people served over the past six years, and the Chamber of Commerce will put its focus on marketing through electronic media. Outdoing chamber President Tim Balfour explained the change to the City Council Tuesday. The council approved the reduced hours called for in a contract between the city and the chamber, which oversees the center. The city supplied $33,329 from the transient room tax to run the center in 2014. “It’s past time to make changes in the center to address the changes in the travel and tourism industry,” said Balfour. Nearly 60 percent of lodging reservations nationwide are now made from mobile devices, Balfour told the council. Most people are using Internet searches and online resources to obtain destination information. The chamber board has approved the creation of a half-time executive director post with 75 percent of the time allocated to marketing and 25 percent to center oversight. Emphasis of the new position will be to push out information through the chamber’s website, social media and other travel websites, Balfour said. The center manager and chamber assistant position, held by Sandy Torrey for 13 years, was eliminated earlier this month. A part-time staff of three will serve visitors at the center in person, on the phone and electronically. A center is still needed for people who don’t use electronic information devices and to provide a personal touch, Balfour said. The center will remain closed on Sundays. Other days it will be open for five hours rather than seven, but Saturdays from November through April it will be open for three hours. Councilors gave the chamber flexibility to set hours. “Sundays are dead at visitor centers. Visitors come in early to get information,” said Balfour. Sunday has been the center’s lowest use day, he added. Last year the center had 7,230 walk-in visitors and fielded 3,500 phone inquiries. One suggestion was to use volunteers to help man the center. Balfour noted that is done in Medford, which has a much larger population from which to draw. “I’m not really fully ready to embrace the volunteer model,” said Balfour. Councilor David Jesser urged the flexibility in scheduling, saying there should be no constraints and that the center is a work in progress. “I’m convinced the direction the chamber is going is something the business community has been waiting for and a wonderful opportunity for the city of Jacksonville,” said Jesser, who is on the board of the Jacksonville Oregon Business Association. He wants that group to be a financial resource for the chamber. Jesser said he foresees a relationship developing between the chamber and JOBA that might be similar to the one between the city and the Jacksonville Urban Renewal Agency. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 1:40 pm Updated Mar 20, 2015 at 4:54 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 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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