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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland cancels homecoming parade after 'alarming' Facebook remark ... UPDATED: Official names shooter who killed 10 at UCC ... Rogue Valley customers line up for first day of recreational pot sales ... Ashland cancels homecoming parade after 'alarming' Facebook remark ... UPDATED: Official names shooter who killed 10 at UCC ... Rogue Valley customers line up for first day of recreational pot sales ... PUBLIC SAFETY Grant will build life jacket loaner stations Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 6:03 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 6:03 PM » Social News Jackson County Fire District 3 and Jackson County Parks will build stations with free life jackets for public use at two sites, thanks to a $2,500 grant from the Oregon State Marine Board. The funds come from the Marine Board's "Let's Go Boating" Assistance Program. Its goal is to promote boating safety and reduce the number of drowning incidents statewide. So far in 2015, there have been 15 drownings related to recreational boating, according to Marine Board data. All but three victims were not wearing life jackets. There have been three confirmed drownings in 2015 in Jackson County alone thus far, according to fire and life safety specialist Ashley Lara. The two stations will be built at Jackson County Fire District 4, 21200 Highway 62 in Shady Cove, and at the Agate Lake recreation area off Dry Creek Road. The sites were chosen because of high recreation use in the area. Lara said construction on both sites should be complete by year's end. "They just won't be housing the life jackets until spring (2016)," she said. Each station will have four to seven life jackets, with a mixture for children and adults, though more will be available for youth. Lara said the department has considered the possibility that some of the life jackets will not be returned. "We've looked into a lot of this, and there is some of that that goes on," Lara said. "The rate of having them returned is actually surprisingly high. "Hopefully we'll have a good success of getting them returned." Information on proper life jacket use also will be printed at each site. The life jacket loaner program began in the state in 2006. Since then, more than 50 such stations have been built across Oregon, officials said. Lara said more stations are likely on the way to Jackson County. "That is definitely what I foresee happening. We will apply for this grant as many times as we can," Lara said. "We'd like to have them at all boating ramps, swimming areas, anywhere we can." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 6:03 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501