Document text
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 South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Costco tables plans for new store near Trader Joe's Charges dismissed against ex-head of high-tech crimes unit (No heading) Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Alleged ringleader of Prospect burglars wanted by police Man says he shot nagging girlfriend by accident Emergency Services, May 12 Medford man sentenced in home-invasion robbery Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Environment Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford State News West Linn police officer leads state in DUII arrests Oil industry challenges rules meant to stop train explosions Crooked River Ranch residents stumped by bare shoe tree Mom plans to sue after autistic daughter removed from plane Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Doris Oka Chang Patrick Joseph Mulcahy Dr. Stephen Gallier Dippel Ronald Mitchell Betts Wallace Harry Greer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories MLB pumps up ball security after Brady flap Mariners 'Cruz' to win over Padres Last one standing Ayers sparks Eagles past Ashland South Medford prevails over Grants Pass Varsity 541 College Sports Baldovino, Concordia upset No. 1 Oklahoma City Northwestern’s Wu chosen for NCAA field Oregon State AD De Carolis to step down Beavers, Utes tie in 15 OSU tosses second straight shutout Pro Sports MLB pumps up ball security after Brady flap Mariners 'Cruz' to win over Padres Houston avoids ouster, routs Clippers Stevens looking to turn tables in Preakness LeBron powers Cavaliers to 3-2 lead over Bulls Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Pacificorp plans solar farm at former Bly mill site Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Letters to the Editor, May 13 Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Kent Bush: Moral and ethical standards need to be higher Editorials Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Letters to the Editor, May 10 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Columns Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Kathleen Parker: Geller has the right, but commits speech abuse Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers George Will: The gospel according to Huckabee Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories 5 Things to Do This Weekend (May 15-17) Dave Ramsey: Out of step with the Baby Steps Lost in Suburbia: Open wide and say, ‘Yawn’ Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Quick, easy, versatile Food Quick, easy, versatile A classic dish: Celery Victor Tammy Kelly: Add springtime crunch with cucumbers Prudence Hilburn: Mexican-inspired dishes easy to make, delicious to enjoy Community blog: Kids in Brewpubs....... Home and Garden Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Green roof gardens have several benefits Gardens: Simplicity, sanctuary, delight Health Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Community Events 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Dining Quick, easy, versatile Restaurant Inspections: April 2015 Restaurant inspections: May 10, 2015 Wood-fired pies at Peace of Pizza Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong ... Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again ... Referendum provides only eventual funding for Schneider Children's Center ... Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong ... Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again ... Referendum provides only eventual funding for Schneider Children's Center ... SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL Rocks and Rhetoric Comment By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News I don’t believe it’s coincidental that election day and Halloween land within a week of one another. Along with all of the wonder that is autumn, tricks and questionable treats abound. Television becomes a brew of entertainment sprinkled with endorsed commercials of politicians duking it out in color, eerily fading to black and white. It’s a scary time. I’ve yet to curl up by the fireplace with a mug of cocoa and face the reading of ye olde Voters Pamphlet. Who were these people, really? All I caught from the latest TV onslaught, with my head in the refrigerator, was that someone was doddering, with an opponent named after a notorious motel from a Hitchcock film. Not sure I liked the odds there. Then there were names appropriate to the season, at least — Webby and Murky, I think I heard. I see that some of my neighbors have even gotten into the spirit and decorated their homes accordingly. I believe that my motivations were subliminally affected by the igneous rhetoric and stone-throwing, because I was suddenly inspired to make a visit to the Crater Rock Museum. It had been a while, and just maybe it would ease the weight of decision making that lies before me. I realized right off that the name doesn’t begin to cover all that awaits the uninitiated. A simple metal building deceives from the outside, because the CRM holds far more than a rock collection. An extra-large gift shop, filled with hand-polished stones and jewelry, was impressive. The actual museum was like a corn maze only better because of the map. One room lead to another, each filled with colorful and beautifully displayed gems, minerals, fossils, Native American artifacts and shells. Stephen Miller is the dedicated curator who keeps displays neat and rotates items in a timely fashion. The Roxy Ann Gem & Mineral Society, founded in 1952 by Delmar Smith and Cap Mentzer, birthed The Crater Rock Museum, an outcropping of the members’ love of rock-hounding. One such member is Rick Flory, a friendly geology enthusiast who’s the shop steward on Wednesdays and has been a regular there since he was 7 and tagged along with his dad. He and other members encourage anyone who’s interested to join the group, accompany them on monthly field trips, and take advantage of the lapidary shop out back. The museum is easy to miss located in a neighborhood at 2002 Scenic Ave. in Central Point, across from Scenic Middle School. Doors are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $5 entrance fee I paid was well worth the investment. Seniors and students get in for $3, and it’s free for children 6 and younger. See www.craterrock.com I soon realized I could spend hours there studying the tiny worlds within each specimen. I reflected back to when I was about 8 and sprouted entrepreneurial roots. I could peddle anything door-to-door to warm-hearted moms, including leaves and rocks. I would dig rocks out of the field, water them down and sell them for a penny apiece. But, standing there before a museum case, I recalled how the rocks I sold were only appealing when they were all wet, and, again, it was difficult to shake the election heebie-jeebies. I’d stumble upon a label like anglesite or worm calcite, and the specter of politics would erupt. A large thunder egg, abalone, maybe a case of corundum, and I would be thrown off. With schist here and sponges there, it required effort to free my mind. Then, of course, there was the petrified dino dung. Finally, I discovered pegmatites (I’m not making any of this up. See for yourself.) These were, apparently, formations named for me eons ago. I felt empowered as I read the description — intrusive, coarse-grained, igneous rocks, most often having a backbone of, I mean, composition of granite. I knew then that I would return home, remove my ballot from its confines, and perform my civic duty. Peggy Dover is a freelance writer who works from a 1900 farmhouse in Eagle Point. Reach her at [email protected]. By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 26, 2014 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. 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 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 2015 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