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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 Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Ashlanders root for Guthrie in Game 7 Medford stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial, sent to mental hospital Above and beyond: Postal worker honored for helping catch fraud suspects Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial, sent to mental hospital Above and beyond: Postal worker honored for helping catch fraud suspects Emergency services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Politics and Elections Blue corn seeds stir debate Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Local gas prices lowest in years Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Education Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring State news Nation - World Obituaries Lisa Anne (Scott) Burns Death Notices Bess Hamers Mary Frost Newcomb Jassen M. Hatley Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Blazers surge by Thunder Bulls spoil Fisher's NBA coaching debut Bumgarner, Giants shine in Game 7 SOU faces big test with No. 21 Rocky Mountain Prep Football Statistics Varsity 541 College Sports SOU faces big test with No. 21 Rocky Mountain Tinkle takes first steps in rebuilding Oregon State Oregon (almost) starts from scratch Stanford trying to upend No. 5 Oregon a new way Ducks try to loosen up a bit for Stanford Pro Sports Blazers surge by Thunder Bulls spoil Fisher's NBA coaching debut Bumgarner, Giants shine in Game 7 Seventh Heaven Ashland's Guthrie to start Game 7 tonight Community Sports Results / Standings LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories UO report shows Rogue Valley economy on the rise Will TV makeover do the trick for Mystic Treats? Local gas prices lowest in years Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor, Oct. 30 Dana Milbank: The 'dictator' is a bystander Granlund cartoon: Netanyahu insulted Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Editorials Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 30 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Religion news: Mormon church acknowledges founder’s teen bride Spices of Autumn 17 things you never knew about turkeys Travel: Quiet time on Cape Cod Food Spices of Autumn Community blog: Seven spooky snacks are savory Halloween fare Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Living and cooking in pear-a-dise Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Home and Garden 17 things you never knew about turkeys Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Ashlanders root for Guthrie in Game 7 Guide promotes better food system Where do all those leaves go? Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Community Events Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Cheers and jeers ... Ashlanders root for Guthrie in Game 7 ... Medford stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial, sent to mental hospital ... Our View: Cheers and jeers ... Ashlanders root for Guthrie in Game 7 ... Medford stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial, sent to mental hospital ... Conservative group joins battle over 'Redneck' flag An Talent school bus driver fired after he refused to remove a Confederate battle flag flying from his pickup has enlisted the help of a conservative civil liberties group in hopes of getting his job back. By JEFF BARNARD MailTribune.com By JEFF BARNARD Posted Mar. 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 10, 2011 at 8:50 AM By JEFF BARNARD Posted Mar. 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 10, 2011 at 8:50 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Judge: Confederate flag dispute should go to trial • Fired bus driver files suit over right to free speech • Redneck, not racist? » Social News An Talent school bus driver fired after he refused to remove a Confederate battle flag flying from his pickup has enlisted the help of a conservative civil liberties group in hopes of getting his job back. The Rutherford Institute of Charlottesville, Va., sent a letter Wednesday to First Student Bus Transportation Services demanding that Ken Webber of Medford be reinstated. The institute said flying the flag — which shows the word "Redneck" printed over the symbol of the Confederacy — on the pickup truck while it was parked at the bus yard was protected by Webber's First Amendment right to free speech. "These are important free speech issues," institute President John Whitehead said from Virginia. "We are facing a crisis in this country of political correctness." First Student spokeswoman Bonnie Bastian did not respond to a call and e-mail for comment. Webber said he was fired Tuesday for gross insubordination after refusing for the second time to take the flag off his CB antenna while parked in the bus yard in Talent. "The flag's flying," he said from Medford. Schools Superintendent Ben Bergreen had demanded the flag be removed from school property, citing a policy prohibiting symbols that could be offensive to minorities. Bergreen said he had received a copy of the letter, but did not want to comment, because there might be a lawsuit. Married with four children, Webber has maintained the flag is not a political or racist statement, but an expression of his "redneck" identity, also expressed in a tattoo on his left arm. "We're doing the best we can," Webber said of the financial hardship the loss of his job means to his family. "I must say, my 8-year-old makes me proud. She took my picture from the Mail Tribune to school for show and tell. She was telling the kids in her class, 'This is my dad standing up for what he believes in and I'm proud of him for that.'" In the letter to the school bus company, Rutherford attorney Douglas R. McKusick cited a 2002 federal court ruling that upheld the right of a city worker in Kansas to display a vanity license plate on his truck with a Confederate battle flag and the words, "Heritage, Not Hate," while parked at work. In another case last November, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the right of a Tennessee school district to suspend a student for wearing a T-shirt and belt buckle bearing the image of the Confederate battle flag. By JEFF BARNARD MailTribune.com By JEFF BARNARD Posted Mar. 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 10, 2011 at 8:50 AM » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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