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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 Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commission pans new spring bear hunt Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Disk golf course coming to Cave Junction park Bicycle group wants to change Hwy. 99 corridor plan Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Education EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue Environment Commission pans new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries Elizabeth Anne Jones Jesse Jay Gilchrist Lorraine Antcha Death Notices Lester "Les" Nugent Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Rivalry Renewed Macias boosts Pirates to win over KU Phoenix runs Skyline record to 7-0 Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Burke has 22 to lead Jazz past Blazers Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Ducks' defense gets defensive after loss Raiders rally in five sets to deny Owls again Undefeated SOU returns to Raider Stadium Pro Sports Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Burke has 22 to lead Jazz past Blazers It won't be personal for Bryant against Sherman Ryder Cup players get back to work on PGA Tour Kyle Busch takes pole at Charlotte as JGR surges Community Sports Business Latest Stories Lithia buys Clovis dealership Blog: When Life Gives You Lemons... Medford airport has busiest September ever County hopes to spur renewable energy Local homeowners not borrowing against their homes 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 Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. Mangino: Trials, pleas and the burden of proof: A search for justice Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Granlund cartoon: Carter faults Obama on ISIS Editorials Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Another View: Forest Service comes to its senses Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 6 Guest Opinions Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Lifestyle Latest stories Nibbling away at the Earth Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Name that wolf Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Food Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Dr. Murray Feingold: Take precautions to prevent home accidents Health Watch: Make TV time workout time Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers tasty tacos Call for musicians Works in progress A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Rogue Valley Symphony season debut combines virtuosity, emotion Community Events Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Dining Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Barn fire may have been human-caused ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Barn fire may have been human-caused ... TRANSPORTATION Medford airport has busiest September ever More than 59,000 passengers flew in and out of the Medford airport last month. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated at 4:18 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated at 4:18 PM » Social News The Medford airport had its busiest September for commercial service on record. The 59,215 passengers who passed through the gates easily topped the 2012 standard of 56,077. The cessation of commercial service to Crater Lake / Klamath Regional Airport when United Express pulled out in June proved an immediate windfall for Medford, turning a mediocre year into what now looks like its best in history. "When you are an hour to an hour and a half from an airport that closes, you'll definitely see an impact," said George Hobica, founder of Los Angeles-based Airfare Watchdog. "The converse is true too. If Appleton, Wisc., gets new service, Milwaukee catches cold." Through nine months, the Medford airport has seen 492,368 passengers. September's 8.4 percent gain over the 54,615 a year ago pushed the annual pace 2.1 percent ahead of 2013. No airline has benefited more from the Medford airport's resilient second-half run than Alaska. Seattle-based Alaska Air Group, whose Horizon Air arm operates flights in and out of the Rogue Valley, will easily blow away annual combined passenger totals prior to 1986 by year's end. Alaska accounted for 32,449 passengers, a 16.6 percent jump from September 2013. "There are all kinds of reasons Alaska is doing good, the main one is their service," said Brian Mein, owner of Caveman Travel in Grants Pass. "When problems come up, they fix it; they really take care of their people. Looking at what they are doing, it's more than just what happened in Klamath Falls." Mein said it would be nice to see Alaska flights to Phoenix, a current hole in the Medford airport's coverage, but he doesn't expect to see major changes. "We're in between San Francisco, Portland and Seattle," Mein said. "If they added more cities, it would make Medford like a hub." Rather than ratchet up passenger options, however, Alaska is standing pat, a spokesperson for the Alaska Air Group said. "We've increased service over the past year or so already, going from three flights daily between Portland and Medford to six daily flights," Alaska's Bobbie Egan said. "We don't have any further plans to expand at this time." Most of the passengers who would have flown United Express out of Klamath Falls now board Alaska's fleet of 70- and 90-seat Q-400s. United Express recorded a 12.9 percent drop in passenger count, but remained the second-largest player in Medford with 15,103 passengers last month. "United has been cutting unprofitable regional routes for some time," Hobica said. "They intentionally cut their market share in Cleveland, where they used to have a hub, because they weren't making money. It used to be airlines added planes to gain market share, but now they are happy to be whatever size — and to make money." While Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air saw a 65.5 percent gain in passenger count, Delta Connection added 5.6 percent. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated at 4:18 PM » 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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