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CLOUDY Temp: 36 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, April 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 18, 2003 Central Point misses out on visitor’s guide By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT � With 13,000 residents, it wouldn’t seem that this city was in danger of disappearing. Yet, to thumb through the local phone book or tourist guide, the area is practically a void between Phoenix and Gold Hill. For the second year in a row, City Council member Dick Halley reported to council members Thursday, the city was left out of the annual Southern Oregon Visitors Guide. Halley pointed out that a map in the guide did not even show that a town existed along Highway 99 north of Medford. Other cities — Ashland, Jacksonville and even the unincorporated area of White City — have extensive listings for lodging, dining and attractions. "Even Gold Hill’s in there," said Halley. "And Central Point isn’t even on the map!" The only listing for the city was in an ad for the new Comfort Inn and Suites, which Halley says is advertised as "part of Medford" on a billboard near Rogue River. To add insult to injury, City Administrator Phil Messina pointed out that all city telephone numbers (for both Central Point and Medford) had been omitted from the 2003-2004 QwestDex phone directory. Messina said a Qwest representative suggested the city advise residents to tear out the section of city numbers before discarding last year’s directory. "I think that stinks," said council member Donna Higginbotham. Council member Kay Harrison agreed, adding that she was more upset at Qwest’s error than with the Visitors Guide. "Qwest has been putting out all these ads about good customer service, how they’re there for us and they’re community-minded. I guess they’re gonna have to pull those ads," she laughed. "I guess they need to keep working on that customer service they keep talking about." Central Point Area Chamber of Commerce President Carol DeKorte said she had been working with the Southern Oregon Visitors Association to include Central Point in the next edition of the guide. "It’s all fixed. They’re presenting a new one and we’ve joined (the Southern Oregon Visitors Association) and we will be on the map and in the guide this time," DeKorte said. "It’s one of the biggest publications of this type for Southern Oregon and it’s a really good deal for the city to be included." DeKorte also suggested a fix for residents who might already have thrown out last year’s phone book. Copies of the chamber’s annual Resident and Visitors Guide, which includes all important city numbers and businesses, are still available at the Chamber office at 27 S. Seventh St. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S