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82 °F 5 Day Forecast Saturday, October 25, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend May 29, 2003 False alarm sounded for dam failure interrupted Shakespeare plays ASHLAND — A silent test of the Hosler Dam warning system was heard all over town around 2 p.m. Wednesday, prompting a flood of calls to police. The wrong test code was punched in as city officials attempted to run a silent test from the police station, said Public Works Director Paula Brown. Hosler Dam holds back the city’s Ashland Creek water supply in Reeder Reservoir above Lithia Park. In the unlikely event of a failure in the dam, the inundation zone would include the densely developed area immediately around Ashland Creek and Bear Creek where the two meet. One siren located atop the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Angus Bowmer Theatre went off eight to 10 times, said OSF Executive Director Paul Nicholson. As the sirens continued, theater managers declared 10-minute intermissions for "Hedda Gabler" and "Antony" in Bowmer and New Theatre, respectively, because the actors couldn’t be heard. Neither venue is in the designated flood area. After the sirens sounded, a message announced it was safe to return to areas that could be flooded if the dam failed. Advertisement The system was installed earlier this year and had already been tested once. Sirens are also at the Parks Department in Lithia Park, the Dog Park near Oak Street and at Mike’s Muffler on Highway 99. An audible test is scheduled for Monday at noon, and will go ahead as planned. OSF does not have Monday performances. Monday’s test will include a five-second, full-power blast followed by the message: "This is a test of the Hosler Dam warning system. This is only a test." The sirens will sound again for five seconds. 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 | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times