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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 Emergency Services Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Family rallies help for Mexican community Preview of pot legalization plays out across Oregon border Since You Asked: County will consider pot tax Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Family rallies help for Mexican community Emergency services Iron Mike loses his rifle ... again Emergency services Politics and Elections Kitzhaber embattled as he seeks fourth term Five compete for three council seats Jville Council Q&A: Brad Bennington Jville Council Q&A: Jim Lewis Jville Council Q&A: Ken Gregg Education Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Foundation kicks off ambitious 'Count Me In' fundraising campaign 100 hours and counting SOU students protest university's free-speech zone Boys & Girls Clubs bursting at the seams Environment Work begins on Southern Oregon's first dedicated mountain bike trail Applegate Dam hydroelectric project dead in water Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past State news Nation - World Obituaries Marylen Agrell Kocks Lillian (Hulinsky) Kamarad Carol Erenst Reynolds Jay P. Greenwade Harriet Sheehan Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Impact of a Comet Keselowski keeps title hopes alive at Talladega Tim Lincecum waits his turn, still yet to pitch Denkinger’s miss revisited as Series returns to KC UO’s Dargan sets the tone for improving defense Varsity 541 College Sports UO’s Dargan sets the tone for improving defense Mariota keeps touchdown streak alive Royce Rolls SOU shuts down Beacons for weekend sweep Raiders drop wild game to Carroll, 42-40 Pro Sports Tim Lincecum waits his turn, still yet to pitch Denkinger’s miss revisited as Series returns to KC Vickers wins pole in strange Talladega qualifying Spurs' Popovich jabs Suns owner Sarver Golovkin stops Rubio to defend WBA title Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Rogue Credit Union awaits southeast Medford opportunity People in Business Blog: Early Holiday Shopping Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 19 Our view: Endorsements include Bates, Talbert, Hoppe Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Another view: GOP 'war on women' is a feminist figment Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Editorials Our view: Endorsements include Bates, Talbert, Hoppe Reversing course: Hoppe for judge Our view: With respect, our support goes to Bates Our View: Bearnson, Stine, Lane for Medford council Our View: No clear favorite for county commissioner, position 1 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 19 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 18 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 15 Guest Opinions Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Oregonians have a right to know what's in their food Infill is the answer to growth issues Guest Opinion: Who’s really to blame for 2014 wildfires? Lifestyle Latest stories Scenic byway showcases colors of the Cascades New arrivals Held captive by whimsy How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Food Community blog: Southern Oregon Micro and Nano Brewing Scene Fall 2014 Community blog: Eggs make for economical, unconventional curry Mobile meals perfect for autumn forays Community blog: Green beans go global from gleaning garden Kitchen Call: Pumpkin is nothing without the spice Home and Garden How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? The best way to store your books A list to help you get ready for winter How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Health Held captive by whimsy Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Dr. Jeff Hersh: The enterovirus is not new Dr. Murray Feingold: The first successful uterus transplant Health Watch: Skip the energy drink and reenergize naturally Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Milestones and Achievements New arrivals Southern Oregon Pride parade celebrates gay marriage ruling New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out A cappella fellas sing for schools Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Theater Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners Music A cappella fellas sing for schools The Farr Side: Bryan Adams releases album of influential hits Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians Community Events Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Family rallies help for Mexican community ... Green Party candidate drops from state Senate race ... Judge OKs dispensary ban in Cave Junction ... Family rallies help for Mexican community ... Green Party candidate drops from state Senate race ... Judge OKs dispensary ban in Cave Junction ... Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 am Posted Oct. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News Talbert looks beyond surface I have served two terms on the Rogue Community College board with Kevin Talbert and can honestly say that his service as a county commissioner will be a gift to the voters of Jackson County. More than one name on the November ballot wouldn't know an unintended consequence if it bit them on the leg. Not Kevin. He looks beyond the surface of an issue to find the impacts that others miss. He will hear all points of view, then he takes action. He does not exist in an "ivory tower," but will serve at the intersection of reason and responsibility. This is not an endorsement by the RCC board or by the college. It is the voice of one voter and a colleague on the board who has witnessed his good work first-hand. Tim Johnson, Medford Opinion ignored the research In writing about wildfires in Southern Oregon, Jeremy Wuerfel seems briefly to acknowledge global warming but then resorts to bashing environmentalists. In his drive to blame tree huggers, Mr. Wuerfel totally ignores the research on what promotes wildfires and how the climate trends in the region are promoting them. Forestry research reveals that bad forest fire years occur when early snowmelt and annual average temperatures are just 1 degree Fahrenheit above normal wildfire years. It is easy to blame environmentalists for wildfires and ignore actual data showing that as regional temperatures have climbed nearly 2 degrees in the last century snowmelt is arriving earlier. Additionally, a review of the soil moisture trend reveals this is dropping and will continue such a trajectory. A result of the combination of regional global warming consequences is that fire season has expanded some 2½ months since 1970. Furthermore, Mr. Wuerfel should review the impact that projected climate trends will have on the commercial tree species in the region. He will find our most important species severely compromised through the century. Mr. Wuerfel would serve the region better by acknowledging the real cause of the fires instead of denigrating fantasy culprits. Elizabeth Hallett, Ashland Use Alba Park instead I believe that we can solve the problem with the lunches being handed out to the homeless at the Railroad Park. How about we have the homeless pick up their free lunches at Alba Park? It seems like a perfect place as they would have access to the new Health and Human Services building, as well as many other city, county and state offices that are available for helping the down and out. Sean Jepsen, Central Point Bus service valuable Our community needs a good public transportation system. Rogue Valley Transportation District provides an exceptional system, but it needs a small amount of help from the voters in the district. The average homeowner in the district will pay less than $2 a month, which equates to less than one-third of a tank of gas a year to ensure this vital service to the public continues. Without the passage of this levy, Saturday and evening service will end and other cutbacks in service will be necessary. This will have a disastrous impact on people needing to get to work, seniors getting their daily transportation needs met, students getting to school and much, much more. Please vote yes on Ballot Measure 15-128. Connie Skillman, Ashland Dyer has the background Rick Dyer is running for Jackson County commissioner, and if you don’t know him, you should. He’s lived in the Rogue Valley for over 40 years, graduated from college here, worked here his whole career and is raising his family here. He will make a great county commissioner, because he has: a degree in accounting and business administration from SOU been a general manager for large auto dealerships here in the Rogue Valley; owned his own energy/construction business; a law degree he earned while running his business and raising a family; been very active in his son's education and youth sports; served on the RVTD Board for the past five years; Rick values and will work to preserve Jackson County’s good financial position. Just check out his website at www.electrickdyer.com. Please join me in voting for Rick Dyer. Brian Dickens, White City Lights are too bright Just a few words about the effects of “high intensity directional lights” that are so prevalent now in residential neighborhoods. Please consider how it is for your neighbors to have them shining into their houses, yards and decks. Even after having spoken to our neighbors who are doing it, they continue to invade our privacy and the other neighbors in the vicinity. So whenever you are considering buying a home, check it out in the evening before you do. It will be easy to see. In our area the people doing it are the only ones in the neighborhood with these high intensity directional lights. Adults can be bullies, too. J.A. Sanderson, Medford Medford's architectural fate Rusty bridges that ooze rust beneath their supports (Barnett bridge), that was a $2 million project? The ugly, newly built Human Services building that resembles a prison cell or major storage facility. In addition, the new police station will also have this look, how nice. Yes, that's what we all want to see in our surrounding area on a daily basis, more depressing, dull, uncreative flat-roofed buildings, as well as more electronic message boards. How many people decide on the final architectural fate of Medford and its surrounding cities? It's really getting depressing what's being done. L. Borum, Central Point Dyer brings business sense Just looking around at neighboring counties, those of us in Jackson County are reminded of what can happen, financially, if our leaders aren’t careful. Our past county commissioners have done a good job protecting our financial future. Rick Dyer (running for Jackson County commissioner, Position 1) will continue that excellent financial stewardship. He has a degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and also holds a law degree. He’s been responsible for large budgets for big Rogue Valley automobile dealerships. Most recently, he’s run his own energy/construction business, and knows the importance of sticking to a budget. He knows how hard the citizens of Jackson County work to pay their taxes and will be mindful of that when making tough budgetary decisions. If you want Jackson County to continue to enjoy a healthy budget, join me in voting for Rick Dyer for county commissioner on Nov. 4. Ron Galbreath, Medford GMO risks unknown One of the measures on this November’s ballot concerns the labeling of food that contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Earlier this year, we wisely voted to make Jackson County an island of GMO-free sanity. That’s great for the crops we produce, but over 70 percent of the foods in our supermarkets contain GMOs. Industry proponents foster the misconception that splicing DNA from totally unrelated species is no different than selective breeding, practiced for thousands of years. There is no similarity, and GMOs haven’t been around long enough to learn all the risks they pose to health and the environment. The same chemical companies that brought us napalm and Agent Orange are effectively experimenting on us. If people want to be their guinea pigs that’s fine, but they have no right to impose it on those of us who have better sense. Vote yes on Measure 92. Michael Steely, Medford Still voting for Winters Well, I'm voting for Sheriff Winters. He has done an excellent job. And, he knows the job like the back of his hand. Moreover, Sheriff Winters has managed to run our county's Sheriff's Department respectably on a lean budget. That takes know-how, and Sheriff Winters has it, and we should keep hold of him for as long as we can. He stands up for what he believes is right. What Sheriff Winters did for the Shady Cove school was exemplary. (As a parent, it brought tears to my eyes.) Sheriff Winters cares. The security measures installed for protecting innocent schoolchildren reflect Sheriff Winters' knowledge, foresight, vision, implementation and tremendous deep caring for our community. As a citizen of Jackson County, I encourage all Jackson County voters to vote for Sheriff Mike Winters for county sheriff. Patti Morey, Ashland MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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