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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, March 6 App Finder: Nice nutrition apps Arkansas man arrested for robbery in Medford A chance to 'feel normal' Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 6 Arkansas man arrested for robbery in Medford Convicted rapist gets life without parole Learn to protect yourself in free class on identity theft Emergency services Politics and Elections Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Education Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Ashland district rethinks transfer approval process MSD to save taxpayers nearly $10.5 million by refinancing Medford schools superintendent gets high marks St. Mary's robotics team qualifies for state competition Environment Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade State News Eastern Oregon dig uncovers ancient stone tool Team tracks new baby orca Motor-voter bill sent to Gov. Brown Mother blames deputies, stun guns for son's death Officials: High court ruling won't affect Oregon health care Nation - World Obituaries Robert Lee Bennett Paul Orvil Fallgreen Earl Dean King Gary Taylor Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Blazers downs Mavericks but lose guard Matthews No. 5 Arizona steamrolls Cal, 99-60 Moore is better for Bulls Rothfus leads St. Mary's into state semifinals Manning reworks deal, will be back for Broncs Varsity 541 College Sports No. 5 Arizona steamrolls Cal, 99-60 SOU distance relay qualifies for NAIA finals Cougars hold off Ducks in tournament One step at a time Ducks have edge in Civil War victory Pro Sports Blazers downs Mavericks but lose guard Matthews Moore is better for Bulls Manning reworks deal, will be back for Broncs Holmes opens four-shot lead at WGC MLS ready to kick off its 20th season Community Sports Business Latest Stories New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Harry & David announces new president Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Local businesses still feeling effects of port slowdown Real Estate News New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business People in Business Transportation CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Our View: Cheers and Jeers Letters to the Editor, March 6 Michael Gerson: Negotiating from weakness Arthur I. Cyr: Brutal murders in Russia a reminder and challenge Our View: Take it slow on legal marijuana Editorials Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Take it slow on legal marijuana Our View: Small climate steps add up to big ones Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Other Views: Brown's list of challenges is lengthy Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 6 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Letters to the Editor, March 4 Letters to the Editor, March 3 Letters to the Editor, March 2 Columns Michael Gerson: Negotiating from weakness George Will: Stopping the IRS Dana Milbank: Netanyahu's fighting words Kathleen Parker: The GOP — A tragedy in 52 acts Michael Gerson: Scott Walker's cynical comments on faith Guest Opinions GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Lifestyle Latest stories Fishing Report: Friday, March 6 Looking Up: Fiery red Betelgeuse shines bright Biologists and politicians taking turns with trout Health Watch: Get prepped for spring break Columbia boaters face new distress rules Food Page Onorato: Please don’t take my Goo Goo Clusters away Season Stepp: Celebrate Pi Day with these tasty pie recipes Tammy Kelly: Bring back the potatoes Pantry pride Tips for a Pacific Northwest crab feed Home and Garden Dear Monty: Home seller seeks to start bidding war Paul Rogers: Looking for signs of new life Home Help: Enhance your home-office experience Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Dear Monty: Home seller questions agent ethics Health Health Watch: Get prepped for spring break HealthStyle: Marriage care and maintenance Community blog: How I Became Radical: The Power of Acceptance Community blog: The Guest List: Check! Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs (No heading) Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Milestones and Achievements Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Live Music in Local Clubs Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Theater TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Music Live Music in Local Clubs Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Dining Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Biologists and politicians taking turns with trout ... Columbia boaters face new distress rules ... Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Biologists and politicians taking turns with trout ... Columbia boaters face new distress rules ... TOUGH TRUCKS A chance to 'feel normal' Paralysis hasn't slowed Josephine County woman on the race track By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 5:58 pm Updated at 5:59 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 5:58 pm Updated at 5:59 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> WILDERVILLE — For Kelsey Box, tough truck racing is freedom; a chance, as she says, to "feel normal, like nothing ever happened." What did happen — a 2013 car accident that paralyzed Box from the waist down — could have put an end to her laps and leaps around dirt tracks. But the 23-year-old chose to keep going, and two years later, is still doing it. It comes with a radical change in how she competes, however, specifically in customizing a Ford Ranger she helped her dad build with hand controls. “It took me about a month to fully get used to it just because of how the brake and the gas is,” Box says. She's apparently quite comfortable now. Last year, Box netted $3,500 in winnings from races across Oregon and in Northern California. She will participate in tough truck races today and Saturday at The Expo in Central Point during the Monster X Monster Trucks Tour. Ready, set ... Box started tough truck racing in 2008. Her sister had done it first, tearing around the turns and jumps of courses at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. She stopped after a back injury, and Box gave it a try. She started with her sister's truck, then upgraded to another she built with her father. The races continued in that truck from 2012 into early 2013. Then came Jan. 19, 2013. Box says she had been going through an emotional rough patch when she drove her car off New Hope Road, near Grants Pass, into a ditch.  “I was just not in the right mind. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t there,” Box says. Arriving firefighters and paramedics thought the crash had been fatal, at first. "They called a fatality when they first came up. They didn’t even know I was alive,” Box says. Emergency responders rushed Box to Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, where it was discovered she had broken her T11 and T12 vertebrae, paralyzing her near her belly button down to her feet. Box was later taken to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for surgery and additional recovery. She spent four days in an intensive care unit, then was able to speak to a doctor. “He told me I had a one-in-a-million chance to walk again,” Box says. "(But) my main concern was me being able to race again. I asked him if that was possible." He answered yes, but to give it a year or so. Box did. During that time, she got busy adapting to her new life. She mastered getting in and out of her wheelchair, dressing herself, basic hygiene. "I basically had to learn how to live over again. I think that’s the toughest part for me," Box says. "I have to learn to do everything else in a different way. But I make it work." ... Go While Box recovered from her injuries, a custom-made truck started to take shape. Her father, Rob Box, took the lead on the project. He installed hand controls and modified the steering wheel to make turning easier. Kelsey helped where she could, painting, welding and doing some detail work. In about three months, it was finished. Box dubbed the silver Ford Ranger with a pink and silver wrap "Chunky Chick," and started getting used to the controls. “When I got the hang of it, it wasn’t that bad," she says. "I still wanted to use my feet when I first did it." Box started racing again in February last year. Rob Box says it was difficult to watch at first because of her injury, but he felt better when he saw her renewed skill behind the wheel. "She's a natural," he says. "No fear. She's totally in focus with what she's doing. She just handles it. "It was therapy for both of us. It gave us something to look forward to." Kelsey Box's travels have taken her as far north as Portland and as far south as Red Bluff, Calif. She races once or twice a month. "It's good to have competition," Box says, adding that meeting other tough truck racers, many of whom admire that she's still racing despite her injury, has been great. "It’s competition and fun getting to know and learn about new people." Ultimately, Box hopes her racing will inspire others with disabilities. "You can do whatever you want," she says. "Just because you're in a wheelchair doesn't mean it's the end of your life." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 5:58 pm Updated at 5:59 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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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