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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 Coalition pans proposed spring bear hunt County hopes to spur renewable energy Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home White City foster parent accused of sexually abusing child Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home White City foster parent accused of sexually abusing child Cave Junction man cited for assault, DUII following crash Man crashes car during high-speed chase in north Medford Politics and Elections Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Dotterrer-Bates Senate race goes negative? Education Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue SOU's first governing board appointed Environment Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters Marijuana growers are threat to salmon, biologists conclude State news Nation - World Obituaries Lester "Les" Nugent John Kenneth Gardner No farewells were spoken Death Notices William (Bill) D. Meeker Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon SOSC tackles sports tourism in region Ryder Cup players get back to work on PGA Tour Kyle Busch takes pole at Charlotte as JGR surges Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Ducks' defense gets defensive after loss Raiders rally in five sets to deny Owls again Undefeated SOU returns to Raider Stadium Pro Sports Ryder Cup players get back to work on PGA Tour Kyle Busch takes pole at Charlotte as JGR surges Peterson could be arrested again for smoking weed Pence thrives in the strangeness of October Butler, Gordon relish Royals’ postseason success Community Sports Business Latest Stories County hopes to spur renewable energy Medford airport has busiest September ever Local homeowners not borrowing against their homes Rental vacancies increase 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Real Estate News Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Tenants begin moving into One West Main People In Business Transportation Agriculture 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Carter faults Obama on ISIS Jim Brock: Whose fault is it, anyway? Granlund cartoon: Quiet Atlantic hurricane season Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 George Will: Is Chris Christie running for president? Editorials Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Another View: Forest Service comes to its senses Our View: Equal rights measure is unnecessary Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 6 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 5 Guest Opinions Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Birds sound the alarm on climate change Lifestyle Latest stories Barry Lewis: Where are my glasses? Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Lucy-Part 2 Food Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Kitchen Call: Delicious autumn vegetables have arrived Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Community blog: Lucy-Part 2 The easiest move we ever made Dr. Jeff Hersh: Ringworm is a very common infection Community blog: "What Most People Really Need is a Good Listening to..." 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Man caught after allegedly stealing 15 pairs of Jordan shorts ... Tactical operations center to receive dedication ... Coalition pans proposed spring bear hunt ... Man caught after allegedly stealing 15 pairs of Jordan shorts ... Tactical operations center to receive dedication ... CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES Phoenix, Jacksonville make 'safest cities' list Police chiefs credit townspeople who care about stopping crime By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 pm By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 pm » Social News Two Rogue Valley towns earned the distinction of being among the safest places in Oregon, based on a recent listing by the Oregon Home Security and Crime Prevention Center. A clearinghouse for public safety information hosted by the for-profit Safewise.com, the list outlines the 30 safest towns based on FBI crime statistics. Jacksonville was named No. 3, while Phoenix, tucked between Medford and Talent, capped off the list at No. 30. Both police departments’ chiefs were appreciative of the listing but admitted they were apprehensive when first notified they made the cut. Of more than 470 cities, the list was narrowed to 108 burbs with populations of 2,500 or more. All told, the 30 safest cities ranged from Baker City, the No. 1 safest with only 62 reported crimes in the last year of collected data, to historic towns such as Umatilla (No. 10), Gervais (No. 17) and Lake Oswego (No. 12). Phoenix, with just over 4,600 residents, earned mention of its community dinners, per the site report, and community events that include a summer jazz festival. When contacted about the “top 30” list, Phoenix police Chief Derek Bowker said City Manager Steve Dahl only added to Bowker’s own skepticism by suspecting the list was an email spam. “Yea, my city manager thought it was a hoax, too, until we checked the website,” Bowker said. “It was good to be listed, and Phoenix is pretty low crime. Phoenix has never been a real hotbed of criminal activity, but we’ve worked very hard to keep it that way,” he said. Bowker said he was proud of his officers but also acknowledged a close-knit and active community. “We have a great, small community where a lot of people look out for each other in Phoenix, so the public is as much to thank as (the police) are for Phoenix being a safe place to live,” he said. “We’re a small town, so we only have one, sometimes two, officers on duty. So by no means are we canvassing the city 24/7. A lot of the safe feeling has to do with neighbors being aware and calling us if something is off.” Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said a joint effort between police and residents was to thank for Jacksonville’s safe reputation, in addition to its off-the-beaten-path locale. Towe, the “senior chief” in the state — with the longest tenure among chiefs for any one department — also credited a close-knit community. “I’ve had a rare glimpse watching the town evolve. In the 20-some odd years I’ve been there, we’ve had one bank robbery and one homicide — and the homicide was a love triangle kind of thing, someone that was known to the victim,” Towe said. “I’ve always felt like it’s a very safe community. If anything is out of place, we get a call, and our cops are very active. When you ask people how many police they think there are in Jacksonville, people usually will give you a number four times as many as there actually are.” Towe added, “I think with the bigger towns, it’s harder to stay connected, and law enforcement, in general, has lost its face with communities over the years. We don’t have that problem. Today, for example, I’m the only guy on the road, so if a call comes in, I’m handling it.”  To learn more about the list, see www.safewise.com/blog/30-safest-cities-oregon/ 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 Oct. 3, 2014 @ 7:04 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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