Document text
1 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 Bybee Creek fire jumps into Crater Lake caldera ... Fire damages White City mobile home ... Emergency Services, August 2 ... Bybee Creek fire jumps into Crater Lake caldera ... Fire damages White City mobile home ... Emergency Services, August 2 ... Witnessing History Some Jackson County residents are braving the cold in the nation's capital to experience historic event up close With a light snow falling on the trip to Washington, D.C., Arlene and Claude Aron found the nation's capital a tough place to negotiate even before they hit town Monday for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Comment By Damian Mann MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Posted Jan. 20, 2009 at 12:15 AM Updated Jan 20, 2009 at 12:18 AM By Damian Mann Posted Jan. 20, 2009 at 12:15 AM Updated Jan 20, 2009 at 12:18 AM Locals support day of service --> Many Jackson County residents joined in President-elect Barack Obama's call for a national day of service Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. In Medford, a constant stream of visitors brou... » Read more X Locals support day of service Many Jackson County residents joined in President-elect Barack Obama's call for a national day of service Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. In Medford, a constant stream of visitors brought clothing, food and other donations to the Democratic headquarters. "My husband cleared out his closets," said 50-year-old Medford resident Dana Rayburn. Her daughter, 9-year-old Aja, said, "We brought two bags of clothes." The Medford Democratic office was overwhelmed with donations for local organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Veterans Affairs clinics in White City, the Southern Oregon Humane Society and Committed Alliance to Strays, organizers said. "It's been crazy wonderful," said Denise Cyr, who heads up the community outreach program for local Democrats. "You've got people here with hearts the size of Texas." For the donation drive, which continues today, the Salvation Army sent over two barrels, one to collect food and the other for clothing. Cyr said two cars loaded from the passenger seat to the trunk with clothes, blankets and shoes brought the donations to the Salvation Army. "We had a lady stop by and ask if we still needed pet food, and we said yes," said Cyr. "She opens the hatch on her car and brings out three 50-pound sacks of dog food." » Social News With a light snow falling on the trip to Washington, D.C., Arlene and Claude Aron found the nation's capital a tough place to negotiate even before they hit town Monday for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The bus ride was a little slower than the Applegate couple expected on the congested highways heading toward Union Station. They worried about arriving in time to make the mile walk to the Rayburn House Office Building to get their tickets before it closed. "We were too late to get the tickets," said 61-year-old Arlene Aron. Luckily, a representative from Rep. Greg Walden's office called her by cell phone on the bus to see whether she and her husband could make other arrangements. Then, a Sams Valley man, Allen Hallmark, arranged for his brother, who lives in Arlington, Va., to stand in line for 45 minutes to pick up the Arons' tickets. Aron acknowledged she doesn't always agree with Walden's politics, but she appreciated how his staff members went out of their way to help her. Walden's office collected the cell phone numbers for 198 Oregon residents who were getting tickets and made arrangements so each one would get them before 5 p.m. Monday. Others wanting tickets were not so lucky, waiting more than three hours at times to get into their representative's office. As the relieved couple stepped off the bus Monday afternoon, Aron said, "We made it. The streets are filled with smiling people." The nation's capital is filling up with possibly millions of spectators who are expected to see Obama's inauguration, and many Jackson County residents will brave temperatures in the 30s today and fight traffic to edge their way to the Mall. Hallmark, 66, joined in Obama's call for a national day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, helping pick up trash in a park in Alexandria, Va., and finishing the day with sore ankles and knees. "There was a lot of briar patches," he said. His brother, Shelby Hallmark, who lives about two miles from the Pentagon, opened his house to six Southern Oregonians who wanted to see the inauguration. Early this morning, Allen Hallmark and his friends planned to get as close as they could by car to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, then walk about two miles to the Mall. Vehicle traffic going into many parts of the capital will be blocked, a move that has upset many Virginians, said Hallmark. Washington has been packed with people, Hallmark said. On Monday, he ducked into the United States Botanic Garden to warm up while his brother picked up the tickets for the Arons. He found many other visitors had the same idea. "I'm sure it was the largest day of visitation they've ever had," he said. Hallmark, who doesn't have a ticket, said he will prefer just standing in the Mall watching the inauguration on a big-screen television. He plans to head into the Smithsonian Institution if he needs a moment's shelter from the cold. Medford resident Tiffany McCormack, 30, said she rode the Metro Friday and it was packed. She's been avoiding the more popular sites in the city because of the crowds. "It's a madhouse," she said. "I'm not venturing out much because of the amount of people." She did see workers erect public address systems and test speakers in the Mall. "I've never seen so many port-a-potties," McCormack said. Despite the swarms of people expected to show up today, McCormack plans to be on the Mall to see what many are calling a momentous and historical event. But for residents in the Washington area, the crowds have proved too much, said McCormack. "A lot of people who live here have left," she said. "They don't want to deal with it." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or [email protected]. By Damian Mann MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Posted Jan. 20, 2009 at 12:15 AM Updated Jan 20, 2009 at 12:18 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