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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 Since You Asked: Changes coming at Cedar Links The science of Star Wars Rogue Valley seeks to get on the map in search for new businesses HOLA program helps Latino students ease into college Emergency Services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Blaze erupts in mountains west of Grants Pass Emergency Services Man convicted in 1998 Wolf Creek carjack murder to be set free Fire on Foots Creek Road near Rogue River destroys garage Politics and Elections Mark L. Hopkins: What the next election should be about Senate race could be expensive Talent to consider taxing recreational, but not medicinal marijuana Candidate files false statements Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Education HOLA program helps Latino students ease into college Phoenix-Talent gets grant to create teacher-leaders Alert system kept parents in the loop during shooting threat Ink Out provides inexpensive tattoo removal for those trying to move on State tests show a mixed report card Environment New disease strikes Roseburg deer herds Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves ODFW director Elicker will step down State news Nation - World Obituaries Wanda M. (Duval) Rasor Patricia Ann Navarro Lois Manley Thomas Jeanne Carol Coffin Homer Kaai Hayes Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories North Medford soccer girls top Summit Tickets still available for Tornado HOF ceremony Golleneck goal carries Phoenix to win Cascade Christian hires two coaches Alvarez scores win for Spartan Boxing Varsity 541 College Sports Thompson leads Huskies to rout of Illini No. 2 Oregon pulls away from Wyoming Loyd nets emotional assist for Oregon No. 2 Ducks not looking past Wyoming No. 25 BYU gets past Houston, 33-25 Pro Sports McIlroy, Horschel tied for Tour Championship lead (No heading) Mercury finish sweep of Sky for third WNBA title (No heading) Horschel takes two-shot lead in Tour Championship Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Rogue Valley seeks to get on the map in search for new businesses Blog: Busy Week Survival Tips Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Back-to-back 66,000-plus months puts 2007 passenger record within sight Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Real Estate News Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Cover Oregon won't be mourned by many Ferguson tragedy becoming a farce? Letters to the Editor, Sept. 14 Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Editorials Cover Oregon won't be mourned by many Balance needed in rules protecting streams Obama does what must be done in the Mideast Our View: Good riddance to Super PAC attack ads Fighting back against domestic violence Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 14 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 12 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 11 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 10 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 Guest Opinions Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Lifestyle Latest stories Rogue Valley's latest aerobics craze is Insanity Wedding Why did the chicken cross the road? Zucchini abuse: a national shame Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Food Community blog: Rise to challenge of eating more local tomatoes Quail Run Vineyards expands into Talent drainage A cook's contest Community blog: Dukkah dresses up hummus, spreads and dippers Community blog: Middle East's 'peanut butter' on the rise in U.S. Home and Garden Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Health Rogue Valley's latest aerobics craze is Insanity Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Community blog: A Fish Tale Community blog: A Healthy Way to Enrich the College Experience Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Hiking Faith Religion Briefs Religion briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Ink Out provides inexpensive tattoo removal for those trying to move on Grange memberships going like hot cakes Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Creedence Clearwater Revival Jeff Fest to feature an all-star lineup of musicians ... named Jeff 'Cocktail Hour' shows at the Craterian Theatre Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Theater OCT's Ginger Rogers tribute sparkles 'Cocktail Hour' shows at the Craterian Theatre CultureFest at Oregon Shakespeare Festival Musical 'Backwards in High Heels' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" Music Creedence Clearwater Revival Jeff Fest to feature an all-star lineup of musicians ... named Jeff Live Music in Local Clubs Rob Zombie plays Lithia Amphitheater Jennifer Nettles plays Britt Community Events Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet Dining Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Fire on Foots Creek Road near Rogue River destroys garage ... Serial arsonist gets 3 years ... Medford police found to be justified in killing armed man last month ... Fire on Foots Creek Road near Rogue River destroys garage ... Serial arsonist gets 3 years ... Medford police found to be justified in killing armed man last month ... AUTO SALES New Mercedes-Benz dealer is luxury car fan Making the 2,000-mile move from Texas Matt Burkholder may not be as well-known as Ronnie Lott, but local auto buyers likely will see more of the new Mercedes-Benz dealer By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 4:41 pm By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 4:41 pm » Social News Matt Burkholder likes luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz in particular. He also finds Southern Oregon to his liking. The 45-year-old Texan assumed control of the Medford Mercedes-Benz franchise last month after acquiring the dealership from fellow Texans Ron Heller, Bill Bird and Bob Crow. “I love luxury cars,” Burkholder said. “That’s what I prefer.” Unlike his predecessors operating the Medford Mercedes-Benz franchise, including NFL Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott, Burkholder is all-in when it comes to the Rogue Valley. He moved his family here this summer and his two teenagers are enrolled at Ashland High School. “I came here pursuing the brand and I fell in love with the community,” he said.”It was very easy to make the 2,000-mile move. My wife and family came here a number of times prior to the closing on the deal. The community, people and the environment really made it a very easy sell; you can imagine the stress of whether two high school kids would like it or not.” Burkholder studied political science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas before finding his niche in upscale cars in the 1990s. He worked for Park Place Motorcars, which sells Mercedes, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in San Antonio. For the past decade, he’s been a part owner at Barrett Motor Cars, also in San Antonio, selling Jaguar, Maserati and Ferrari lines. He began working on the deal last November, making a couple of visits north beginning in February. The dealership also sells Smart cars and Sprinter, a commercial van line. “My theme is reintroducing Mercedes-Benz to the Rogue Valley,” Burkholder said. “There is not another brand that is more iconic than Mercedes-Benz has been in design, technology and safety. Sometimes, people are apprehensive when they come into dealerships because they think Mercedes-Benz are expensive, but at $30,000 and up, you can satisfy a lot of people.” He noted BMW does very well in Southern Oregon and thinks that underscores the potential when a franchise has a hands-on owner. “There are 350 automobile markets and Mercedes-Benz thought this was a good one,” Burkholder said. “When BMW is selling as many cars as it does, Mercedes-Benz should do equally as well.” Burkholder has beefed up the staff to 30, adding a sales manager, consultant and service adviser. “I’m not just here to sell cars,” he said. “This is my family business now and I want to be part of the community.” 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 Aug. 28, 2014 @ 4:41 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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