Document text
3 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, May 23 Cedar Links developers drop commercial area Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Workers put finishing touches on parking lot Memorial Day travel expected to hit 10-year high Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 23 Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Emergency services New suspect arraigned in 2014 robbery of Ashland gas station Flood warning issued for southwestern Jackson County Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Education Departing Ashland High principal Zundel looks to next challenge Jacksonville Elementary students on stage at Britt Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Environment OR-7, mate may be adding to their pack Rogue jet boat tour company eyes TouVelle for permanent home Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster State News Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns State investigates spray crew exposure to herbicide Corvallis-based Bravo company returns home from Afghanistan Judge's order could de-escalate Josephine County gold mine dispute Nation - World Uh oh .... Apple Watch demand is weak There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Warren Irving Paul Dorothy Isabelle Murphy Bayliss Bruce Michael McGregor Walter Schweiger Dawn Borns/Hagler/Huttl 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 Na leads at soggy Colonial Ghelfi, Sanders secure more All-American accolades South's Bartlett falls short at state tourney Spieth claims share of lead at Colonial Warriors fend off Harden, Rockets Varsity 541 College Sports Ghelfi, Sanders secure more All-American accolades SOU's Sanders takes fourth in hammer SOU hires Carlson as coach Ducks down Beavers in 11 innings, 3-2 Raiders prepare for NAIA national meet Pro Sports Na leads at soggy Colonial Spieth claims share of lead at Colonial Warriors fend off Harden, Rockets Ducks beat Blackhawks, take lead in Western finals Giants again blank Dodgers Community Sports Business Latest Stories The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly Blog: The Gateway to Summer Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Two Crown Markets planned for Talent Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories 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 People In Business People in Business Transportation Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Opinion Latest Matthew T. Mangino: Is Nebraska a death penalty game-changer? Letters to the Editor, May 22 Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in Michael Gerson: The Clintons' cloud of deviancy Arthur I. Cyr: Secretary Kerry’s reply to North Korea Editorials Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in Our View: Josephine voters choose lawlessness again Our View: Renovating the Capitol is important but costly Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees Our View: Kicking state government down the road Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 22 Letters to the Editor, May 21 Letters to the Editor, May 20 Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 18 Columns Michael Gerson: The Clintons' cloud of deviancy Arthur I. Cyr: Secretary Kerry’s reply to North Korea Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Dana Milbank: Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy Kathleen Parker: Unswaddling the bab(i)es on campus Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking 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 Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Hiking the fringes of the monument Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Looking Up: Spica stands out in spring’s sky Fishing Report: Friday, May 22 Food Community blog: Roasting rhubarb riffs on beet-goat cheese salad Page H. Onorato: Saturday brought treat for supper Taste of Alba Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can Potluck: A Gooey Butter Cake to cherish Home and Garden Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Dear Monty: Novice homebuyer’s first attempt disappointing Home Help: Keep a man cave top of mind when choosing a new home Health Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Health Watch: How to avoid the diet rut Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford 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 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 things to do in the Rogue Valley Live Music in Local Clubs Memorial Day celebrates veterans Rogue Rage Duo at The Point SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' Theater SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time Music Live Music in Local Clubs Rogue Rage Duo at The Point The Farr Side: Swift dominates Billboard Music Awards Interview: Country mainstay T. Graham Brown reflects on career Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Community Events Memorial Day celebrates veterans Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 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 Movies Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Movie review: Disney takes us to ‘Tomorrowland’ Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in ‘San Andreas’ Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Dining Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food 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 Cedar Links developers drop commercial area ... The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly ... Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in ... Cedar Links developers drop commercial area ... The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly ... Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in ... FOURTH DEFEAT Josephine County rejects public safety levy, again Comment By Jim Moore Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jim Moore Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 20, 2015 at 2:41 PM By Jim Moore Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 20, 2015 at 2:41 PM » Social News Josephine County voters said no to a public safety levy Tuesday for the fourth time since 2012. This time, the margin was 54 to 46 percent. The proposed five-year levy of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value would have raised about $9 million a year to restore patrols, add capacity to the county jail and reopen the detention unit and shelter at the shuttered Juvenile Justice Center. The language and tax rate were the result of a survey commissioned by a local organization called Community United for Safety, which gathered signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Scott Draper, a spokesman for the group, in a prepared statement, said that the organization respects the vote of the people and he thanked those who supported the group's effort. "We most importantly want to thank all those who voted, whether in favor or against," Draper said. "It is the exercising of this right to be heard that makes our country and our county great." A group called We're for a Constitutional Government actively campaigned against the levy. "I'm glad the people of the county could see through the smoke and mirrors of the other side," said Jim Rafferty, a founder of We're for a Constitutional Government. Various local groups have campaigned on behalf of three other public safety levies since 2012, when federal subsidies were so meager the county had to make widespread layoffs at the Sheriff’s Office, the Juvenile Justice Center and the District Attorney’s Office. Tuesday’s defeat was by the widest margin since 2012 when a proposed $1.99 per $1,000 levy failed 57 to 43 percent. One consequence was a reduced capacity at the Josephine County Jail. Subsequently, Grants Pass officials for the past two years have carved out about $1 million each year to lease jail beds from the county in an effort to curtail crime in the city. The city may be forced to repeat that. “We’re going to go to work on solving our jail bed issue,” Grants Pass Mayor Darin Fowler said, in the aftermath of the vote. “We want to make sure the county is amicable to renting more beds” Fowler said city officials will also look into creating its own municipal court and will hire more police officers to “make sure city streets are safe.” Fowler also lamented the recently announced two-year extension of the federal county payment program. The first year will bring the county $4.6 million and the second will be $4.3 million. At one time the county received more than $12 million annually in county payments, which were designed to replace declining revenue from timber sales on federal land. “We thought, as a city, that this had a chance to pass countywide until the federal government came through with their county payments,” Fowler said. “We thought that undermined our efforts.” The levy would have boosted county government’s woeful financial situation, but its failure won’t affect how county officials proceed with budget talks, which are under way, because no money from the levy was included in their projections. “We will continue with what we have to do,” Commission Chairman Keith Heck said. “The people have spoken.” Reach reporter Jim Moore at 541-474-3721 or [email protected]. By Jim Moore Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jim Moore Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted May. 20, 2015 at 2:41 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + 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