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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 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline Attempted murder suspect pleads to lesser charge Grants Pass man a Star rescuer Odd Fellows out? Greg Walden holding art competition for students Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Attempted murder suspect pleads to lesser charge Two dogs perish in east Medford house fire Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Oregon legislature mulls improvements to state ethics, public records law Fireballs spotted Monday night as Chinese rocket booster burns up Oregon to launch investigation into Kitzhaber email leak Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute Nation - World Obituaries "Billy" Geyer Gregory Paul Harlow Everett Raymond Evon "Bud" Pennington Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories LOCAL REPORT Locals pick up MVL awards Tornado out to prove itself at state Ducks back in position for a tourney berth Winding Down Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks back in position for a tourney berth Winding Down No. 8 Kansas victimized by K-State comeback Raiders host Yotes in quarterfinal round Beavers a win away from outright Pac-12 title Pro Sports Harden's triple-double boosts Rockets Playoffs could use overhaul A-Rod back, but avoids PED specifics Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Community Sports Business Latest Stories Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action People in Business Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business People in Business Transportation Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Landgren cartoon: Old Man Winter Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Mark L. Hopkins: History speaks to us on our present economic situation Editorials Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Columns Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Clean anything with lemons, baking soda, vinegar Wry & Ginger: Nobody nose sternutation consternation Donna Knight: Going through priceless memories Shayne Looper: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled Dr. Elaine Heffner: Oscars and reality Food Community blog: Clean anything with lemons, baking soda, vinegar Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom 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 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline ... Oregon legislature mulls improvements to state ethics, public records law ... Attempted murder suspect pleads to lesser charge ... 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline ... Oregon legislature mulls improvements to state ethics, public records law ... Attempted murder suspect pleads to lesser charge ... Odd Fellows out? Gold Hill lodge could be shuttered and group merged with Central Point By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 4:41 pm Updated at 4:42 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 4:41 pm Updated at 4:42 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" --> GOLD HILL — With only about six active members left, a civic lodge open since 1898 soon could be shuttered. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows notified city officials this winter that if membership did not increase and the century-old lodge did not receive community support, lodge officials in Portland could revoke the local lodge's charter. Lodge treasurer Pat Coniff said this week that the lodge likely would merge with a group in Central Point and that proceeds from sale of the historic lodge would follow suit. Coniff said grand lodge officials in Portland, which at one point had offered to cover 25 percent of renovation costs, had been pressuring the small membership to increase its ranks and more actively use the historic lodge. Coniff and fellow member Greg Walsh, who said the lodge's membership of fewer than 20 includes only a half-dozen active members, voiced disappointment this week, saying the lodge's days are likely numbered. Without drastic changes by the beginning of March, the city will have a vacant historic structure on its tax rolls, said Coniff. "After all that we went through and everything we tried to put together, it just wasn't happening. You have to put forth your best foot to make it work. Then, if it doesn't work, you have to just move on because the community just doesn't seem very interested in what you're doing," Coniff said. "There is basically nothing happening at this point. We wanted to get the community to come down and take a look at what we wanted to offer. We had about five people that showed up at all. It's like the community is saying to us, 'Well, we don't care about a community center.' So we're saying basically we will just close it down, and you can figure out what you want to do in this community." Coniff approached community groups and City Council about partnership opportunities, but city officials said funding was limited for such endeavors, with the city facing other large expenses for its water and wastewater systems. Eric Hodderson, chairman of the CanDo community organization, said his group was open to working with the Odd Fellows but felt the lodge was "a few steps ahead of us." Lodge member Greg Walsh said closure of the lodge would be "a great loss" to the town. Councilor Donna Silva encouraged council members to join the lodge and discuss possible partnerships with the city, but Coniff said meetings with city officials had yielded no membership increase. "We gave it until throughout February to try and get some new blood in here," Coniff said. "But I think the final decision is going to look like we will have to do a consolidation with Central Point and just close the lodge." Coniff said he would maintain his role as caretaker for the IOOF cemetery, located within the historic Rock Point Cemetery. "I'll still be busy because I'll just shift my focus from keeping the lodge going to taking care of the cemetery," he said, noting he had plans to build an informational kiosk and provide maps for cemetery visitors. "We have until the end of February or around there to get about 15 members. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and we move on from there." The Odd Fellows lodge in Gold Hill is one of 49 in Oregon, according to the Portland group's website. Odd Fellows got its name from a comment made during the 1700s that "it is odd that a person might help another and expect nothing in return," the website said. For information about Odd Fellows membership, contact Coniff at 541-621-1899. 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 Feb. 24, 2015 @ 4:41 pm Updated at 4:42 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 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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