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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 Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Mail Tribune 100 Comcast moves to replace Charter in Southern Oregon Emergency Services Former Medford gymnastics teacher arrested again on child pornography charges Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Former Medford gymnastics teacher arrested again on child pornography charges California women sentenced in travelers check scheme UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash Emergency services 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 Students flock to Ashland schools Central Point launches language immersion program UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Bear spotted near Central Point school 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 Arlene Louise Kornstad Donald Chester Erickson Norma Jean Snow Marcia L Allen Jerilyn J. Schoenhals Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Carter, Black Tornado fend off Grants Pass Pena drives Crusaders to shutout (No heading) Mercury crush Sky in Game 2 of WNBA Finals (No heading) Varsity 541 College Sports Adjusting on the fly Raiders will return to Ashland High gridiron Challengers open season with win Washington cornerback suspended after last week’s sideline tantrum Young Ducks grow up in hurry Pro Sports (No heading) Mercury crush Sky in Game 2 of WNBA Finals (No heading) Goodell: No one at NFL saw video earlier Healthy at last, Wheaton shines for Steelers 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 Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Blog: So just what will those investigative law firms find beneath the Harry & David rock pile? Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales Sustainable Valley receives $50,000 SBA grant Blog: And the Award Goes to... Real Estate News Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture 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 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 10 Catherine Rampell: Only college graduates need apply Fighting back against domestic violence Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 Kent Bush: Law enforcement’s routine acts of bravery taken for granted Editorials Fighting back against domestic violence Tablet computers are a tool, not a frill Other Views: The time is now to start disaster planning Harry & David: the next chapter An unresolved conflict; A judge declines to say if county laws trump city laws Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 10 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 We march for mental health on Saturday. Who’s watching? Letters to the Editor, Sept. 8 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 7 Guest Opinions 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 The power of local philanthropy Lifestyle Latest stories Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Community blog: Middle East's 'peanut butter' on the rise in U.S. Community blog: We Need to Talk Oregon's Top 5 wilderness areas Food Community blog: Middle East's 'peanut butter' on the rise in U.S. Community blog: 'Crispy Treats' a cut above rice-cereal originals The peace potential of cobblers and crisps Lunchbox recipes Community blog: Try this sweet treat for back-to-school snacking Home and Garden 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 Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Health Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Community blog: We Need to Talk Down-size is the right size Oregon Health Policy Board to meet in Medford Community blog: Health is More than Meets the Eye Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Milestones and Achievements Grange memberships going like hot cakes New Arrivals Engagement Wedding: Gibson-Hodnefield New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Musical 'Backwards in High Heels' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Kathleen Madigan to perform at the Craterian Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" Live Music in Local Clubs Rodney Carrington at Britt Theater 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" 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre OSF presents 'The Alchemy of Gender' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Rob Zombie plays Lithia Amphitheater Jennifer Nettles plays Britt Keith Greeninger and Matt Hill at the Rogue Theatre Britt Festivals adds to indoor fall concert lineup Community Events 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 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Dining Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Jackson County crow found to be infected with West Nile virus ... California women sentenced in travelers check scheme ... UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash ... Jackson County crow found to be infected with West Nile virus ... California women sentenced in travelers check scheme ... UPDATED: Five vehicles involved in Monday evening crash ... OUR VIEW Our View: A vote for common sense in Gold Hill MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 27, 2014 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 27, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Gold Hill residents voted resoundingly for common sense on Monday, defeating attempts to recall four City Council members for doing their jobs in a way that upset some people. At issue was the council's decision to lift a moratorium and approve a medical marijuana dispensary downtown. Unlike other communities in the county, where civic leaders seem determined to block dispensaries for as long as possible, Gold Hill councilors made a reasonable decision in favor of fairness. It's a decision that has so far paid off. Despite the fears of opponents, the county's first marijuana dispensary has been operating for more than two months with no reported problems. In addition, the move has been a revenue success for the cash-strapped city, because the tax the city enacted on medical marijuana transactions has yielded about $2,000 a month, which might permit Gold Hill to pay for more police protection than the half-time sheriff's community service officer it has now. Gold Hill has a long and unfortunate history of recalling City Council members over decisions some citizens disagree with. That is a fundamental misuse of the recall process, which ought to be reserved for actual wrongdoing or ethical lapses by public officials. The council acted properly and within the law in approving the dispensary. Some residents objected to that decision, but the remedy for policy disagreements is to elect someone else at the next opportunity. That's what elections are for. Recalls over policy disagreements are a waste of public money, and can leave the city ungovernable. If all four council members had been recalled, the council would not have been able to conduct business until replacements were appointed. Budget Committee member Deb West, the recall's organizer, said she was sorry the dispensary became the focus of the effort, because there were other issues that needed to be addressed. She accuses the City Council of not listening to residents. If there were truly a groundswell of public sentiment against four council members in a town the size of Gold Hill, the outcome would have been much different. As it happened, a large majority of those casting ballots clearly did not agree with the recall supporters. Nearly half the registered voters in town had their say. More than half didn't bother to vote, but the turnout was unusually high for a single-issue special election. The next time they disagree with a council decision, perhaps the recall supporters will exercise their civic duty in a more constructive way and run for office themselves. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 27, 2014 @ 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 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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