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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County pot regulations in limbo ... Oregon Senate approves bill to increase minimum wage ... Last hours of armed standoff play out online for listeners ... Jackson County pot regulations in limbo ... Oregon Senate approves bill to increase minimum wage ... Last hours of armed standoff play out online for listeners ... CHEERS AND JEERS Our View: Cheers and Jeers Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Cheers — to the thousands of hardworking firefighters braving heat, flames and smoke to battle the wildfires raging in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Our hats are off as well to the pilots of retardant bombers and water-carrying helicopters, who also face risks as they drop their loads over rugged terrain. Jeers — to the smoke that apparently has become an annual feature of summer in Southern Oregon. Blistering heat, lingering drought conditions and the lightning that is common at this time of year combine to make smoke season a foregone conclusion. Where we once had to suffer through a month or so of too-hot weather, now we have an added layer of discomfort to deal with. Cheers — to the Jackson County Fair, which bounced back this year to post some of its best numbers ever, including breaking $1 million at the Junior Livestock Auction for the first time. Attendance was up as well, hitting nearly 81,000 despite this year's fair starting a day later than in the past. Cooler weather helped — the wildfires had not yet started, so smoke wasn't an issue — and a solid entertainment lineup brought crowds to the Lithia Amphitheater. Congratulations to new Fair Director Helen Funk for a successful debut, and special thanks to Butler Automotive Groups for paying for free parking, which no doubt helped encourage more people to attend. Jeers — to whoever thought it was a good idea to "murder" hitchBot, the hitchhiking robot who made it across Germany, visited the Netherlands and thumbed its way 3,600 miles across Canada. The creation of a pair of Canadian college professors, hitchBot had set off from Marblehead, Mass., on July 17, with its plastic thumb in the air and sporting a sign reading, "San Francisco or Bust!" The robot made it only as far as Philadelphia, where someone ripped off its pool-noodle arms, stole its electronic innards and left it on the side of the street. A fan tweeted, "Really, Americans? This is why you can't have nice things." MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 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. 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 2016 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