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1 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, March 6 App Finder: Nice nutrition apps Arkansas man arrested for robbery in Medford A chance to 'feel normal' Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 6 Arkansas man arrested for robbery in Medford Convicted rapist gets life without parole Learn to protect yourself in free class on identity theft Emergency services Politics and Elections Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries 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 Education Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Ashland district rethinks transfer approval process MSD to save taxpayers nearly $10.5 million by refinancing Medford schools superintendent gets high marks St. Mary's robotics team qualifies for state competition Environment Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? 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Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs (No heading) Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Milestones and Achievements Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Live Music in Local Clubs Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Theater TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Music Live Music in Local Clubs Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Dining Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine 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 Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Biologists and politicians taking turns with trout ... Columbia boaters face new distress rules ... Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Biologists and politicians taking turns with trout ... Columbia boaters face new distress rules ... GRANTS PASS Disciplined student has new ride to school Community gives van to family of first-grader whose lunch detention photo went viral Comment By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 6:54 PM Updated Mar 4, 2015 at 6:55 PM By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 6:54 PM Updated Mar 4, 2015 at 6:55 PM » Social News The family of a Grants Pass first-grader at the center of a school discipline controversy that made headlines around the country got a pleasant surprise Tuesday: a new ride to school. Nicole Garloff and Mark Cmelo arrived with their two children, 6-year-old Hunter and 3-year-old Savannah, at Kelly's Automotive Service early Tuesday evening. They may have wondered why a swarm of local news media stood out front of the business when they showed up to discuss options for fixing their Dodge Durango. Cmelo said they were "blown away" to find they'd been given a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country minivan, by caring community members, since the Durango was deemed irreparable. "It's just amazing. We're really grateful," Garloff said, as she loaded Savannah and Hunter into the new van. "All we ever wanted is for the school to change its policy," Cmelo said. "We thought the best way to do that was to take our story to the public." The donation of the minivan was just the latest development in the controversy, which began a week ago after a photo of Hunter serving detention for being tardy went viral on Facebook. Hunter, a first-grader at Lincoln Elementary School, received tardy detention on Feb. 24 at a partitioned-off table in the lunchroom, in view of classmates who were eating their lunch. The detention followed his fourth time being late to school this semester. Under school policy, a note warning he would get detention was sent to his parents after the third tardy. The punishment went viral after Garloff and the boy's grandmother, Laura Hoover, posted a photo on Facebook showing Hunter sitting alone behind the cardboard shield during lunch. The incident incited angry calls and emails to the school, district headquarters and the news media as people across the country "shared" the photo thousands of times. Garloff has cited car trouble as one of the reasons why she has been late in getting her son to school. She has also said health problems preclude her from walking her son to school. The family lives about four blocks from Lincoln, too close for eligibility to ride the bus. After Medford radio talk show host Bill Meyer saw the photo, he called Lisa McClease-Kelly, who co-owns Kelly's Automotive Service, and asked her if she'd be willing to help the family. "All I did was say 'yes,' and the ball started rolling," McClease-Kelly said. Her husband, Dave Kelly, called Star Collision Centers, which towed Garloff's Dodge Durango to Kelly's, where the automotive service promised up to $500 in repairs. However, mechanics at Kelly's found the Durango to be "in pretty rough shape," said Curtis Barnes, manager at Kelly's Automotive in Grants Pass. That's when even more folks from surrounding cities became involved. David Stepp, a supervisor at Rapid Repo & Collections in Medford, told the Daily Courier he heard about the little boy, and he and his wife looked up the incident on Facebook. "I was so shocked and heartbroken when I saw the photo. I actually lost sleep over it," he said. "A picture says a thousand words and though you couldn't see the little guy's face in the picture, his posture told it all, and that's what really bothered me." He contacted Kelly's, which let him know about Garloff's vehicle, which had a blown engine. Stepp talked with his boss, Ronald Sherrard, the owner of Rapid Repo, about a vehicle the business owned, which needed some minor repairs. The business donated the Chrysler minivan. After checking out the van and making repairs, the vehicle was presented to Garloff and Cmelo on Tuesday afternoon. Kelly's Automotive also has pledged to provide the family a year's worth of free oil changes and $100 in gas. Advanced Glass in Grants Pass supplied a new windshield for the van, and Advantage Tire of Medford donated two new front tires. Other community members also gave money toward repairs to the van, McClease-Kelly said. Meanwhile, Grants Pass schools Superintendent John Higgins said calls to district headquarters have begun to wane but are still going strong at Lincoln Elementary. Higgins said there are two categories of people contacting the school: "Local, more constructive and supportive people, and those outside the area," whom he said tend to call names and use profanity. The reaction has been so intense that officers have been stationed outside the school for several days. The large volume of phone calls has been detrimental to educational activities at the school, Higgins said, adding that the district really doesn't need more input. "We've heard just about every view we can hear," he said. Although the district connected with Garloff and Cmelo to resolve the issue last Thursday, and by Friday had a new detention policy in place, there are still some folks calling for the resignation or firing of Lincoln Principal Missy Fitzsimmons. Students will now serve detention in a separate room, away from the prying eyes of classmates eating lunch. Citing the district's human resources policies, Higgins would not comment about any action being considered against Fitzsimmons. However, he said, the district is going through it's normal protocol and investigating, evaluating employees, and gathering information that includes the school's ratings, culture, and accomplishments. "Lincoln is accomplishing amazing things," he said. Reach reporter Ruth Longoria Kingsland at 541-474-3718 or [email protected]. By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 6:54 PM Updated Mar 4, 2015 at 6:55 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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