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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 Ashland joins Talent as a Bee City Oregon flight targeted in bomb threat Session will focus on GMO lawsuit against Jackson County SORCC sued by Commission for the Blind Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services Oregon prisoner linked to 1976 killings Drug dealer gets 57 months in fed prison Medford police scramble to slow car break-ins Politics and Elections Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post Education Ballroom dance class is a hit with North Medford students Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Local elementary and middle school students qualify for state chess championships Unfair labor complaint against Medford School District resolved Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Public sounds off on gas pipeline Mt. Ashland ski area announces layoffs Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California State News Oregon focus of effort to expand background checks for guns TripCheck adding more weather stations, cameras Oregon prisoner linked to 1976 killings Superbug blamed for hospital deaths UO seeks return of released documents Nation - World Obituaries James Bernard Robert Clinton Gerber Death Notices Merry Carol Elizabeth Patricia Joanne Otto Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? 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Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Opinion Latest Other Views: Governor should not forget rural Oregon Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Amy Gehrt: President Obama not finished just yet Michael Gerson: The fight for the middle class Our View: Edible marijuana risks demand strict rules Editorials Other Views: Governor should not forget rural Oregon Our View: Edible marijuana risks demand strict rules Our View: Public salaries move only upward Our View: Restrictions on civil forfeitures are reasonable Other Views: Clearing the way for hemp farming Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 22 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 21 Letters to the editor, Jan. 20 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 19 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline A fair shot for all: addressing our low-wage crisis Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Lifestyle Latest stories Going Greensprings Fishing Report: Friday, Jan. 23 Looking Up: Comet Lovejoy is a binocular treat Get Out: Friday, Jan. 23 Over the rainbow? 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Oregon flight targeted in bomb threat ... SORCC sued by Commission for the Blind ... Oregon focus of effort to expand background checks for guns ... Oregon flight targeted in bomb threat ... SORCC sued by Commission for the Blind ... SKI AREA LAYOFFS Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Loan payments coming due The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is down to a skeletal crew of five after a lack of snow forced deep layoffs. Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 12:06 pm Updated Jan 23, 2015 at 1:51 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 12:06 pm Updated Jan 23, 2015 at 1:51 PM » Social News The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is down to a skeleton crew of five after a lack of snow forced deep layoffs. The ski area had 139 permanent and seasonal employees ready to work this winter, said General Manager Hiram Towle. Enough snow fell on the mountain to allow the ski area to open Dec. 19, 2014, and run for 13 days. But with a light snow pack, managers ran a lean operation with 82 people working on days when all chairlifts were running, Towle said. "We've taken actions to run lean even when we were open," he said. The ski area then closed, and staffing fell to 15 people. More layoffs last weekend cut employment to five people, Towle said. "We're making difficult decisions in the best interest of the ski area," he said. Last year, the ski area was closed all winter because of inadequate snow. It took out a $750,000 Small Business Administration loan to stay afloat in spring 2014. Payments on that low-interest loan are now coming due. "We'll begin making payments next month," said Towle. The ski area must pay $3,100 in February and has money budgeted to make the payment, he said. Meanwhile, managers and the Mt. Ashland Association board of directors, which oversees the nonprofit ski area, are developing plans to deal with a worst-case scenario if the ski area remains closed for the rest of this season, Towle said. "But our focus is on getting reopened when the snow comes. We still have 2½ months left in the season," he said. "There's quite a bit of season left." The ski area emailed an open letter to supporters Thursday saying there had been layoffs. "We're trying to get the message out and be open and honest. It's the Rogue Valley's ski area," Towle said. The email also announced the Mt. Ashland Ski Area has reached a deal with Mt. Bachelor ski resort outside Bend for Mt. Ashland season pass holders to be able to buy a pack of four Mt. Bachelor tickets for $189, a $127 savings off regular ticket prices. Mt. Ashland 2014-15 season pass holders must show their passes to get the deal. Tickets must be used by the season pass holder. Tickets cannot be used Feb. 14-15. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park in Northern California — the closest back-up option for Rogue Valley skiers and snowboarders — remains closed due to a lack of snow. Mt. Ashland Ski Area's snow pack ranges from nine inches near the bottom of the resort to 32 inches high on the mountain. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park is fairing even worse, with five inches at the base and 10 inches at the top. Mt. Bachelor resort snow depths range from 46 inches to 74 inches. The National Weather Service is forecasting no precipitation for the Siskiyou Mountains — which include Mount Ashland — and the Mount Shasta area until Tuesday, when there is a chance of rain. For Mt. Ashland Ski Area updates, visit www.mtashland.com or call the snow phone at 541-482-2754. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 23, 2015 @ 12:06 pm Updated Jan 23, 2015 at 1:51 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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