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SUNNY Temp: 81 °F Wind: W at 3 mph Friday, August 2, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 31, 2002 Callahand Restaurant & Lodging's sign finally rises above the trees on the restaurant property near the Siskiyou Simmit. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Callahans’ embattled sign goes up The new sign replaces a 720-square-foot billboard visible from Interstate 5 which will be torn down soon By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune ASHLAND — It may not the biggest in the state or even Jackson County, but the 504-square foot sign hovering 85-feet above ground is large enough to be seen by Interstate 5 travelers. And that’s all Callahans Restaurant and Lodge owners Ron and Donna Bergquist say they need. "It’s not going to cast a shadow over Ashland," Ron Bergquist added. "It’s high up enough that people can see it." The pale green, illuminated sign was installed July 22 at the highest point of the Callahans property — an advertisement clearly visible to north and south-bound motorists. It has a height of 18 feet and a length of 28 feet. "That’s been the goal all along, for people to see us," Donna Bergquist said. "That’s all we really want." The Bergquists have succeeded with at least one traveler. Redding, Calif., resident Catherine Quines on Monday said she had no problem spotting the sign on a routine visit to Portland. Quines, who had stopped in Ashland, said she hasn’t paid much attention to the fact that a restaurant and lodge was nestled among the trees of the Siskiyou pass before the new sign sprouted. "I didn’t really realize what was down there (before the new sign)," Quines said. "I think it looks just fine. Maybe sometime we’ll stop if its easy to get to." Ron Bergquist said plans are already in the works to tear down the 720-square foot billboard advertisement near the freeway. That work is expected to begin next week, he added. The large billboard has raised controversy among neighbors and county officials for several years. "I can pretty much say everybody up here will be glad to see it go," said Anne Bailey, who lives near Callahan’s. "The (new) sign to me seems OK." Bailey’s one complaint about the new sign is its bright lights that shine at night. Bailey said those lights blinded her last week while she was driving south along I-5. Ron Bergquist said work is under way to adjust the lights, and the problem should be resolved next week. The extra light was intended to light up Callahan’s parking lot, he added. The sign came with a $100,000 price tag. David McMillian, project manager for Medford-based Signs Etc., said the project was completed on time and without complications. "I love it," McMilian added. "I think it will do well for them." The Bergquists got a county building permit for the new sign in April. The proposed dimensions came from county officials, and Ron Bergquist said they accepted. "We responded strictly to proposals from the county," he added. The battle over the Bergquists’ request for a sign — and their installation of the 72-by-24 billboard — has been ongoing. The county argued the sign posed a traffic hazard and destroyed the area’s aesthetic value. The Bergquists maintained the restrictions violated their freedom of speech. In March, U.S. District Judge John Cooney ruled that the county’s sign ordinance was unconstitutional. The county’s existing ordinance was tossed out and a new, temporary ordinance adopted later. The final ordinance is expected to be adopted in August. Callahans first opened at a different location atop the Siskiyous in 1945. It was moved when the freeway was built in 1965. The Berquists purchased the lodge and reopened the ailing business in 1996. The couple estimate that they have invested $1.5 million into property improvements and expansion. Installing the sign has been a goal from day one, and Donna Bergquist said they are unhappy about the controversy it caused. "We really want our neighbors to know why we fought so," she added. "We’re just small business people who support our economy. The sacrifices we’ve made to give Callahan’s a future has been substantial." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S