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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 Computer crash hit Tuesday paper, website Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Local gas prices lowest in years Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Two injured in Hayes Hill crash OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop Emergency services Politics and Elections Local gas prices lowest in years Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Democratic contender not conceding victory to Walden Education Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring State news Nation - World Obituaries Bess Hamers Mary Frost Newcomb Jassen M. Hatley Steven M. 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Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Measure 89 provides equality for women Granlund cartoon: Haunted White House 2014 Southeast center offers new approach to growth Editorials Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home Dave Ramsey: Extra savings takes away volatility Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Spices of Autumn Food Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Spices of Autumn Living and cooking in pear-a-dise Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Home and Garden Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Guide promotes better food system Where do all those leaves go? Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Our Opinion: Swimming on borrowed time Jackson Pool is still operating; maybe when it's gone, voters will replace it Medford parks officials say they think they can keep Jackson Pool operating for a few more years, but when it inevitably reaches the end of its life, city residents will have a decision to make. Do they want to live in a city of 76,000 people that refuses to provide even one public swimming pool? MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 18, 2014 at 2:30 AM Posted Jun. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 18, 2014 at 2:30 AM » Social News Medford parks officials say they think they can keep Jackson Pool operating for a few more years, but when it inevitably reaches the end of its life, city residents will have a decision to make. Do they want to live in a city of 76,000 people that refuses to provide even one public swimming pool? Voters were not inclined to provide two in 2012 when they voted down a $14.5 million bond levy proposal that would have replaced Hawthorne and Jackson pools. Hawthorne was closed in 2011 because it was leaking 30,000 gallons of water a day and could not be repaired. It was removed last year as part of the renovation of Hawthorne Park. Jackson, opened in 1960, is not quite as old as Hawthorne, which was built eight years earlier. But Jackson, too, is showing its age. The most recent casualty: a 20-year-old slide that had become unsafe and had to be removed. It may be replaced if money can be found in the city's budget. Meanwhile, city residents who use Jackson may find long lines, or be turned away on busy days. Jackson was seeing more than 25,000 swimmer visits a year when the levy failed two years ago; demand will only increase from there as the city continues to grow. City parks and recreation officials initially proposed a $25 million plan to build an aquatics park, but residents objected to the price tag. So the proposal was scaled down to $14.5 million, enough to build two standard swimming pools, one covered for year-round use. Voters still rejected that proposal, 55.4 percent to 44.6 percent. The city will continue to keep Jackson operating as long as possible, but at some point it will no longer make economic sense, and Jackson will close as Hawthorne did. The 2012 pool levy proposal drew criticism from opponents who questioned why a private operator had not stepped forward to provide aquatic recreation. The answer is simple: To make a profit, private operators would have to charge more for admission than most people would be willing or able to pay. That's why some government functions cannot realistically be provided by the private sector. The public apparently understood that in 1952, when Medford was home to 17,305 people and Hawthorne Pool was built; or in 1960, when the population was 24,425 and the city built its second public pool. Today, one of those pools is gone and the second will be gone before long. Perhaps then, Medford voters will decide that public swimming facilities are something a city the size of Medford ought to provide. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 18, 2014 at 2:30 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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