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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 Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Wimer pig farmer might play active role in her double murder trial Gov. Kate Brown gets an up-close look at ailing Medford viaduct Cougar seen in Ashland's Lithia Park Jackson County Library District approves $5.62 million contract with LSSI Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Wimer pig farmer might play active role in her double murder trial Medford man dies after being struck by truck in crosswalk Emergency Services, April 13 Emergency services, April 12 Emergency services, April 11 Politics and Elections Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. 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Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Road to health: Bike and pedestrian paths play greater role in transportation project funding Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Granlund cartoon: Hillary 2016 bid Letters to the Editor, April 13 Kathleen Parker: Rolling Stone gathers dirt — on itself Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Editorials Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Our View: Emails contradict claims of Kitzhaber, Hayes Our View: All ethics reform bills should get a hearing Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 12 Letters to the Editor, April 10 Letters to the Editor, April 9 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Columns Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Kathleen Parker: Rolling Stone gathers dirt — on itself Dana Milbank: After another tragedy, signs of progress George Will: Containing Iran's nuclear intoxication Charles Krauthammer: The Iran deal: What we've given up Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Wry & Ginger: Commencement-speech gigs have a hold on academia Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Odyssey It Is What It Is: The importance of the pick-me-up Food Community blog: U.S. dietary guidelines change little with the times Season Stepp: Try farmer’s market sunchoke in a creamy potato soup Page H. Onorato: Bringing spring to the dinner table Tammy Kelly: Asparagus is in season Power of 5 Home and Garden Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Home Help: 3 upgrades to help give your bathroom spa-like panache Cry babies, it’s time to plant onions Garden Cameos: Good soil foundation of fabulous garden Ceramic tile: How it’s made and what’s new Health Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Dr. Murray Feingold: Keep laundry detergent packets away from kids Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Haga-Parks Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners The ABBA Show comes to the Craterian Theater in Medford Five picks for entertainment this week The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Live Music in Local Clubs Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music The ABBA Show comes to the Craterian Theater in Medford The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Gene Burnett tonight at Liquid Assets in Ashland Community Events 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Dining Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Study analyzes how the Northwest would escape a massive tsunami ... Wimer pig farmer might play active role in her double murder trial ... Cougar seen in Ashland's Lithia Park ... Study analyzes how the Northwest would escape a massive tsunami ... Wimer pig farmer might play active role in her double murder trial ... Cougar seen in Ashland's Lithia Park ... FOOTBALL Talent principal Santi gets call from NFL He's one of eight officials, including a woman, in historic class Comment By Dan Jones Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 8:11 PM By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 8:11 PM » Social News Before he even answered his phone, Aaron Santi knew the call he was about take on April 2 could be a major one. “When I look down at the phone and see that 212 area code, you know that’s coming from New York,” said the 40-year-old Talent Middle School principal, whose other job as a college football referee took him around the nation. “There aren’t many reasons for people to call from New York.” Indeed, the news was big. On the other end of the line was NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, who informed Santi that he had been picked as one of eight new officials. Sarah Thomas, who will be the league’s first full-time female official, is also part of the historic rookie class. Santi has worked in the Pac-12 Conference the past 12 years. He applied for an NFL position two years ago and was eventually selected for its Advanced Development Program last season. Santi interviewed for a spot in the program in New York last February and was accepted a few months later. After completing an orientation clinic last April, he worked the Seattle Seahawks’ organized team activities and minicamp and then attended a four-day officials clinic in Dallas. He was assigned the Denver Broncos’ training camp that summer and officiated the San Diego Chargers’ preseason contest at Seattle on Aug. 15. Santi then continued officiating as a side judge in the Pac-12 as NFL officials further evaluated him. Following the regular season, he officiated the TaxSlayer Bowl featuring Tennessee and Iowa in Jacksonville, Fla., on Jan. 2, and then worked the Medal of Honor Bowl in Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 11. The NFL has developed a regional network of 92 officiating scouts to canvass the country in search of officials, according to NFL.com. A couple thousand hopefuls applied for the league’s Officiating Development Program, but only 21 were invited to join the Advanced Development Program. The NFL liked what it saw in Santi and seven others, leading to the phone call from Blandino. “I’ve been an NFL fan since I was 5 years old and ever since I started officiating it was my ultimate goal, and it’s absolutely a realization of a longtime goal,” Santi said. “It’s just really exciting and rewarding to have the honor to do it.” He’s now a member of a groundbreaking class of referees headlined by line judge Thomas. The Mississippi native — who worked eight years with Conference USA — was assigned the New Orleans Saints’ training camp and she later officiated the Seahawks/Chargers preseason contest with Santi. “Knowing that the journey an official goes through,” Thomas said in a sit-down interview with NFL Media’s Judy Battista, “pee-wee, high school, if you’re fortunate enough to even go to the junior college level, small college, Division I, then of course the National Football League. But you never dream that this would really come true.” She also did the Medal of Honor Bowl with Santi. “Obviously having Sarah as part of the group of rookies coming in has raised the awareness level in the country of officials entering the NFL,” Santi said. “It has cast more of a spotlight on the situation than would ordinarily be the case. … I had a chance to get to know her a little bit and she is a really strong official. I think she’ll do a good job.” Santi will continue to work as a side judge at the next level nearly every weekend (crews typically get one to two weeks off every season, he said). With four officials from last season retiring, four of the new ones will not be assigned a certain crew, the Los Angeles Times reported. During the 2012 season, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association agreed to terms of an eight-year collective bargaining agreement after replacement referees were used through Week 3 following a labor dispute. Game officials’ compensation was estimated to increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013 and $205,000 by 2019, according to NFL.com. Retirement benefits will be provided for new hires beginning in 2017. Along with Santi and Thomas, the other NFL rookies are line judge Kevin Codey from the American Athletic Conference; head linesmen Hugo Cruz (Conference USA) and Bart Longson (Pac-12); umpire Clay Martin (Conference USA); side judge Jabir Walker (SEC); and field judge Shawn Smith (Big Ten). Santi will next attend an orientation clinic and have a physical examination done in New Jersey in May. Until then, he’ll work hard in the gym to ready himself for the pro game. “I go to the gym four to five times a week, trying to do cardio and weight training to keep myself in shape,” he said. “I guess (refereeing at the highest level) is a good thing because it encourages me to stay in shape and stay active. It’s a good incentive.” Tomorrow is never promised in the NFL, he said. “Nothing in this business is guaranteed,” Santi said. “The level of scrutiny is extremely high and the level of accountability is extremely high.” Away from the field, Santi is in his third year as principal at the middle school after serving in the same capacity at Talent Elementary School for five years. Just like when he refereed college, he said he’ll continue to take on busy weekends of officiating before returning to his duties at school in the fall. Santi graduated from Mount Shasta High in 1993. He began officiating local high school games when he was 18 and worked his way up. He’s since worked some of college’s biggest contests, including the 2013 BCS championship. Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4499, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt By Dan Jones Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 8:11 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. fantasy football Biggest Fantasy Winners, Losers in Free Agency Apr. 8, 2015 at 2:45 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Bears Stars Apr. 7, 2015 at 1:09 am RBs Ready to Break Out on New Teams Apr. 2, 2015 at 10:21 am Who Will Be QB1s with New Teams in 2015? 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