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WAKE-UP CALL NO MO' SNOW Really wintry weather passes, but it'll be back soon enough A chill that lingered over the region Thursday hinted at snow, but a National Weather Service representative said the moisture in the air had all but disappeared by late afternoon. The area's next chance for rain likely won't come until early Sunday, said Chuck Glaser, a weather service technician. Snow that began falling Wednesday night in the Siskiyous led to a partial closure of Interstate 5 Thursday morning. But a rising freezing level means the flakes that fell Wednesday will be the last for a while, Glaser said. On Thursday, Ski Ashland officials said the ski area had collected 5 new inches of snow, bringing totals to 18 inches at the base and 25 at the top. Gene Landsmann, Ski Ashland marketing director, said the base must reach 25 inches before the mountain opens for the season. PANTHER PROWLS This time it's Talent's turn to keep an eye out for cougar A cougar was spotted early Thursday morning in Talent, across the street from the city's police department. About 3:30 a.m. Thursday, the cougar was seen rummaging through trash cans near Talent Avenue. Chief C.W. Smith said the cougar appears to be a young one. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received a report Thursday of a sheep kill nearby, and Smith said the cougar also was spotted last week near Talent Avenue and Rapp Road. Smith said residents are being advised to keep pets indoors at night and asked that anyone who spots a cougar immediately call 911. Missing livestock or pets should be reported to the Talent police at 535-1253 or 776-7206. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA