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54 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 5, 2005 ‘Applegate Valley Highway’ up to ODOT By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Highway 238 could soon be known as "Applegate Valley Highway" in an effort to resolve residents’ objections to changing the name of Jacksonville Highway. Jackson County commissioners appeared willing to consider the new name Wednesday, but said they would like to discuss it with officials from the Oregon Department of Transportation. "I have no objection," said commissioner Jack Walker. "That makes sense." ODOT proposed calling the older route "Old Jacksonville Highway," but neighbors objected, saying it would confuse customers and vendors. Jacksonville Highway resident Steven Strauss presented a petition signed by 100 residents opposed to the name change. Advertisement "We did not find a single person in favor of this ridiculous name," he said. ODOT rerouted Highway 238 when it changed the "Big Y" intersection at the Rogue Valley Mall into the "Big X." Jacksonville Highway has historically followed West Main Street out of Medford. The realignment makes that route "Jacksonville Highway" only west of Hanley Road, changing a street name for dozens of businesses and residents. ODOT maintains that the name "Jacksonville Highway" is the official name for Highway 238. However, the county has been stuck with two routes that are both named Jacksonville Highway. Commissioner C.W. Smith said, "It is my belief that none of the names have to change at all." He then announced that the name of the new route for Highway 238 could be "Highway 238." County officials received a letter from the Oregon State Police asking that the confusion over the names be resolved because it makes it difficult for dispatchers sending out emergency vehicles. Strauss said many residents didn’t receive a notice letter sent out by ODOT, announcing the change, or if they did they couldn’t understand the legal phrasing in it or thought the name change was a done deal. "It was apparent that the bureaucrats were indeed trying to sneak something past the residents," he said. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said, "I certainly identify with you folks." After the meeting he pointed out to Strauss that the name change hadn’t been set in stone. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s