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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 Emergency services, May 2 Medford police join in move to body cams Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Book giveaway planned Saturday at Crater High School Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 2 Gold Hill man torched his foreclosed property No leads on who smashed about 20 windows in Ashland before dawn Thursday Ashland man allegedly dragged woman with vehicle Jacksonville man who summited Everest will help in Nepal relief efforts Politics and Elections BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. 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Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Education More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Neal Simon: This is a test Environment Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste State News US, Canada unveil rules to boost oil train safety Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge Fixit tag for Portland's noted Portland Building: $175 million Fee targets rail cars that haul oil, other flammables Boyfriend of psychic sentenced in con of Oregon timber heir Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Tim Lawrence Yockey Penelope Catherine (Turner) Martens William "Bill" Geisslinger Alice Irenia (McFall) Calkins Dennis Dean Ekwall Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Making her pitch Wheeler's hit boosts Challengers Rams take Beavers' Mannion in third Raiders go 1-1, advance to today Singler shines in Raider spring game Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders go 1-1, advance to today Singler shines in Raider spring game National champ SOU's spring game is tonight Oregon coaches, players ready to ‘split up and play’ Donahue, Beavers down USC at home Pro Sports Rams take Beavers' Mannion in third Singler shines in Raider spring game Hawks beat Nets 111-87 to wrap up series in Game 6 Mariota eager to get to work 49ers keep Ducks' Armstead close to home Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Blog: Do You Want Cheese with Your Wine? Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Comcast deal dropped along with Pac-12 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option Real Estate News Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 2 Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Philip Maddocks: Candidates eager to reconnect with everyday billionaires Matthew T. Mangino: Baltimore boils over again Granlund cartoon: Cities and fire starters Editorials Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Our View: Medical marijuana market not at risk Our View: Don't wait on public records reform Our View: Yes to faster speeds, no to lane splitting Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 2 Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Letters to the Editor, April 28 Columns Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore George Will: What stands in Lindsey Graham's way Dana Milbank: Billionaire politics Kathleen Parker: Comedy, tragedy and fear of free speech Michael Gerson: Weighing the baggage Hillary brings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Lifestyle Latest stories Go with the (low) flow Find the starry ‘kite’ in the eastern sky Life Lessons & Loves: An ode to the sane and wonderful mothers-in-law Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! 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Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Dear Monty: 10 tips to avoid tenant complaints Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Costa Living: Basking in flower power Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Milestones and Achievements ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Theater Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Thanks for the Memories stages 'Company' one night only Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Music Thunder's Edge, Steel Cranes tonight at Club 66 The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Live Music in Local Clubs Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Movies Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Quick Flicks: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Insurgent’ and more Dining Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 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 Since You Asked: Manholes can give you a wake-up jolt ... US, Canada unveil rules to boost oil train safety ... Medford police join in move to body cams ... Since You Asked: Manholes can give you a wake-up jolt ... US, Canada unveil rules to boost oil train safety ... Medford police join in move to body cams ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Comment By Tim Palmer MailTribune.com By Tim Palmer Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Tim Palmer Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News On the morning of Oct. 16, 2013, the residents of Cedar Valley, not far from the lower Rogue River, were greeted by a rain of herbicides sprayed onto them from a helicopter under contract by the timber industry. Forty people got sick. For weeks, doctors at Gold Beach hospital were not even able to determine what the chemicals were. Neither the perpetrator nor the state agency responsible for regulating him came forth with a truthful answer. This event, and a long history of state agencies ignoring public complaints, were exposed in The Oregonian Oct. 21, 2014. And Cedar Valley is not alone. Extensive pesticide spraying poisoned people in the Triangle Lake area west of Eugene. According to the nonprofit group Beyond Toxics, residents in 11 Oregon counties have been sickened from aerial spraying of industrial timberlands. Symptoms include nausea, rashes, diarrhea, headaches, asthma, blurred vision, bleeding noses and dead pets. One might speculate that the helicopter pilot at Cedar Valley veered off course, or that he just didn't pay attention to when he released his toxic cargo, or that the wind blew. But there is no speculation about the state laws governing pesticide spraying. They are woefully inadequate to protect the people and the grand landscape of Oregon. Aerial spraying of weed killer on national forests stopped 20 years ago. But on the 5.8 million acres of industrial forest property — 20 percent of all woodlands statewide, including most of the lower-elevation terrain where rural neighborhoods and the best fisheries are found — the spraying continues under outdated state regulations. We're talking here about the Oregon Forest Practices Act, administered by the Department of Forestry, plus pesticide regulations administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture — two agencies at once obligated by law to protect public safety and obligated by politics to promote the timber industry. Could there be something wrong with this picture? To be fair, some timber companies exceed the lowly standards. But on an uneven playing field that allows for ludicrous public safety measures, too many don't. The forestry law is an outdated relic of industrial influence. Last month, two federal agencies ruled that Oregon fails to protect fish and water from pollution caused by clearcutting next to streams, by runoff from logging roads, by logging-induced landslides and by aerial spraying of pesticides. If you don't trust the federal government, just look at the facts. The state law allows hazardous chemicals to be sprayed within 60 feet of fish-bearing streams — as if an atmospheric mist jetted from a hovering helicopter didn't drift in the wind (consider, for a moment, nothing more than the wind that the helicopter makes). The state requires no setback at all from streams lacking fish — as if those waters don't flow directly into larger streams, rivers, and estuaries, which are all critical to sport and commercial fisheries worth billions. And state law requires no buffer for small domestic water supplies, for schools, or for homes — as if nobody drank water or lived there. Oregon's standards for timber harvest rank rock-bottom when compared to every surrounding state. Even Idaho. Now — a tedious 17 months after the Cedar Valley debacle — Oregonians have the opportunity for something better. A bill in the state Legislature would require industrial applicators to post the list of chemicals sprayed within 48 hours. Buffers would be required for drinking water sources, schools and homes. However, no specific buffer distances are named (a previous draft of the bill called for only 200 feet). The bill is a step in the right direction. But that's not saying much. If you were doused with weed killer and had to go to the emergency room, wouldn't you want your doctor to know how to treat your persistent nosebleed before the day after tomorrow? And if you imagine a helicopter disgorging atrazine and 2,4-D from 200 feet upwind, do you really think you'd be spared that acrid mist in your eyes and lungs? Unless you want to trade places with the residents of Cedar Valley, this measure should be passed with bipartisan support, which it does not, at the moment, have. More important, the bill should be improved to bring forest management in Oregon up to standards of the 21st century. Our fish, rivers, and fellow citizens all deserve better than a bath in weed killer. Tim Palmer lives in Port Orford and is the author of Field Guide to Oregon Rivers and other books. By Tim Palmer MailTribune.com By Tim Palmer Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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