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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Gold Hill wants private company to run wastewater plant Seeing is believing 10 things to know about the Ducks and Buckeyes Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Emergency services One killed Friday in single-vehicle crash in Rogue River Emergency services Men sentenced in heroin case Politics and Elections Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Education Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School College on the K-12 dime Students forge links between forest health and people Medford School Board meeting deferred because of Ducks game Medford bulks up student support for math, reading Environment OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock State News Oregon State University plans $60 million forestry complex Washington man arrested in Portland hotel slaying Timber group updates green label forestry standards Attorney: Use Boy Scout files in sex-abuse trial Oregon capitalizes on championship run Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Ricardo Ruiz-Santillan Richard Thompson LuErna Mae Jacobson Robert Charles Pollock Bob Lozano Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories Orange Alert Lillard heats up in Blazer victory Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Varsity 541 College Sports Orange Alert No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again N.C. State hands No. 2 Duke first loss Will players show wear and tear? UO’s resilient receivers stay ready Pro Sports Lillard heats up in Blazer victory Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Luck leads Colts to upset of Manning, Broncos Packers shake Cowboys, to play for NFC title Community Sports Business Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: The cars of the year Business briefs People in Business Blog: Former Meier & Frank stores avoid Macy's hit list Ride & Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Trax Real Estate News Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers People In Business Transportation Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Opinion Latest Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Another View: A few questions to make the AG nominee squirm Another view: Politicians retreat from racism Editorials Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Other Views: ACLU leader helped change Oregon Our View: It's best to prepare for the worst Our View: Falls has work to do to restore trust Our View: WISE project offers many benefits Letters to the Editor Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 9 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 7 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Guest Opinion: East is east and west is west Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Lifestyle Latest stories Get A Life: The helping hand of humor It Is What It Is: There’s more to rejection than meets the eye Community blog: Dont Let Fear Run Your Life Silvio Calabi: The cars of the year Home Help: Heighten your home’s style this year Food Community blog: Happy New Beer Year! Community blog: Scanty spuds stretch winter greens into salad Entertaining with a gift of treasure Food for Thought: Save time on weeknight meal prep Community blog: Farm share boosts resolve to eat more veggies Home and Garden Home Help: Heighten your home’s style this year 11 reasons why we love wrought iron fencing Dear Monty: Eight great tips to ponder before investing in real estate Home Help: Timeless or trendy? Achieve both in your home decor this year Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Health Community blog: Dont Let Fear Run Your Life Dr. Murray Feingold: Separation anxiety common in adults Health Watch: Staying fit as a frequent flyer Community blog: Tale of the Tape Community blog: We Don't Have To Conspire Against Good Health Hiking Biking Faith Churches start new year with messages of hope (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Old stained-glass windows face threats 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Since You Asked: Sheriff's Office sells off foreclosed homes Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Chamber Music Concerts presents Tesla Quartet Theater Tangled up in Dylan OSF's 'Great Society' up for Kennedy Prize Next Stage presents a tribute to an iconic folk artist Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Music Live Music in Local Clubs 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Chamber Music Concerts presents Tesla Quartet Blues jam tonight at Little Brown Jug Community Events Art Presence showcases 'Naked Art' New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dining Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Entertaining with a gift of treasure Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Seeing is believing ... 10 things to know about the Ducks and Buckeyes ... Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School ... Seeing is believing ... 10 things to know about the Ducks and Buckeyes ... Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School ... GOLD HILL Council will consider public safety levy Monday Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 5, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 5, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News Gold Hill city leaders will consider a public safety levy Monday to increase law enforcement protection for a town that's gone without a police department since 2007. City Manager Rick Hohnbaum estimates that if each household were to pay an additional $15 per month, $100,000 could be raised annually to increase police protection. Currently, Gold Hill is assigned a community service officer from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department 20 hours per week.  Current tax rates provide about $114,000 annually for law enforcement, of which $35,000 pays for the community service officer. Councilor Christina Stanley said she sensed residents wanting an increase in law enforcement services. "I think that if this council wanted to put a levy on the ballot for May or June ... then it would be a good idea," Stanley said. "I really get the feeling that something like that may pass right now." Stanley said young families seemed to favor increased police presence in the city. "There's been a lot of turnover in this town, just in the last few years. There are a lot of young families in this town now and they seem to want more law enforcement protection," she said. City Budget Committee member Deb West, an active participant on community websites and Facebook pages that serve as "neighborhood watch" efforts, said she would support increased law enforcement as long as the city itself did not manage the added service. "I would definitely, definitely want it managed outside the city. There is no way I would want the City Council to have their hands in that pot," West said. "Even if we're going to have a contract for deputies, I would rather it be managed at the county level with county oversight and, if possible, a separate service district. The city has not got a good track record at managing law enforcement." West said she was concerned over the increase in break-ins and other crimes reported on community group websites. "I've heard over and over again from people who have had their homes broken into and cars broken into and things stolen," West said. "Do we need more than we have? Yes. We definitely need something more than we've got." The council will consider several options, including a tax levy or special service area that would incorporate properties outside city limits. Hohnbaum said a city-only levy could appear on ballots as early as May. A service area covering a broader geographic area could take until the November ballot to iron out. Also on Monday's agenda are discussions for contracting with a local firm for management of the city's water and wastewater treatment plants and possible rate structure for an improvement project to the city's wastewater collection system. The council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 420 Sixth Avenue, Gold Hill. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]   By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 5, 2015 @ 12:01 am » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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