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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, February 19, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classifieds Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 18, 2005 Nude entertainment will be kept ‘classy’ By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A second club featuring nude dancing is opening Monday in downtown Medford. Called Private Encounters, the small club at Central Avenue and 11th Street will offer lingerie modeling and dancing for customers in private rooms. It will also host bachelor parties and provide body rubs, said owner Barbara Bransford. Bransford claims her establishment is different from places such as the Hot Body Club, on Riverside Avenue and Main Street. "The place has no alcohol," she said. "Our hours are going to be open only until midnight. It’s just going to be very private and low-key — we want to keep it classy." She said there will be three "girls" working per shift. Advertisement "A gentleman could come in and meet with them and decide if they want to have a private meeting," she said. She said managers will check the rooms to make sure everything is kept legal, and workers will sign contracts stating they will be fired if they violate the law. Bransford has obtained a valid business license for her establishment, at 328 S. Central Ave., Suite 201, from the city of Medford. The maximum occupancy is 22 people, and the license does not list serving food or beverages, according to Kathy Cannon in the Finance Department. The license also says Bransford plans to build a "dungeon" for entertainment at a later date. Bransford described the "dungeon" as "bondage and dominance-type stuff — that sort of entertainment." Joyce Lloyd of the Heart of Medford Association does not believe that kind of entertainment is appropriate for downtown. "We are trying to build up foot traffic downtown," said Lloyd, who added she was speaking for herself, not the entire board. "We don’t need nude dancers downtown." She said the Heart of Medford is dedicated to promoting a friendly atmosphere for residents and shoppers. "I think personally it brings an element downtown that is not family-oriented," she said. Medford police Lt. Tim George said police spoke extensively with Bransford and explained what she legally could or couldn’t do as the owner of a sexually oriented business. He said for starters, patrons and employees must be at least 18 years old. Other laws govern contact between patrons and employees. "You can’t have any sexual contact for a fee. That’s prostitution," George said. He said whenever there is nude entertaining, the patron must be four feet away and there can be no physical contact. "The other thing that is a bit of concern for me is this dungeon. We’ll have to see it first," he said. "It’s unlawful to commit sadomasochism or sexual conduct in a live show." He said police will keep a close eye on the business, as they do for all night clubs. "We do from time to time do audits and visitations," he said. Bransford said she’s worked in other states in similar businesses for 10 years, but this is the first time she’s owned a club. "I really, really will run a tight shop and keep it run tastefully," she said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers Advertisement s