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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 Body found in creek north of Central Point Emergency services, Feb. 8 Emergency Services, Feb. 9 Man stabbed by wife during argument in Medford Saturday Strong winds, possibly more rain expected through Monday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Body found in creek north of Central Point Emergency services, Feb. 8 Emergency Services, Feb. 9 Man stabbed by wife during argument in Medford Saturday The Sovereign Among Us Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Helmut "Harry" Podlech Alson "Al" Velma "Ruth" Thornton Trudy Butler Jean Yvonne Baumer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Young, Oregon dominate Washington State Plum, Washington overwhelms Oregon Blazers take charge late in Houston Spartans come up short on road Perfect Fit Varsity 541 College Sports Young, Oregon dominate Washington State Plum, Washington overwhelms Oregon Perfect Fit No. 7 OSU downs WSU Beavers defeat Cal Poly, 26-10 Pro Sports Blazers take charge late in Houston Spartans come up short on road Great day for Day Mavericks rally, down Blazers in OT With Davis hurt, Bulls rout Pels Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Erickson layoffs land hard in Jackson County People in Business Blog: Stay Calm Erickson announces 150 layoffs, mostly in Oregon 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest George Will: Education is the business of the states Dana Milbank: Ashton Carter likely to break hawks' hearts Our View: Call for resignation is premature Letters to the Editor, Feb. 8 Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Editorials Our View: Call for resignation is premature Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Our View: A gesture, but one worth making Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 8 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 5 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Guest Opinion: Health professionals don't always act that way Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Simple Solutions A long-harbored dream may be realized Plenty of life in Death Valley Setting the stage for garden dramatics Just an ordinary roadside miracle Food Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Community blog: Cupcakes can be good for sweetheart's heart Cupcake love affair Fish stew is a winter delight Home and Garden Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Dear Monty: First time home buyer seeks differences in housing lifestyles Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? 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Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family 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: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... Our View: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... FRIDAY STORM Heavy rain, high winds flood roads, topple trees Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 9:47 am Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 6:09 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 9:47 am Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 6:09 PM » Social News Road and maintenance crews will earn the chance today to dig out, clear out but not dry out from Friday's storm that washed out roads, downed trees and swelled urban creeks. More than 2 inches of rain fell in Ashland and more than an inch fell in Medford Friday, but only a quarter of those totals and much less wind is expected today as the second of three storms forecast for the region moves in. Ashland's winds will ebb to 20 mph and Medford's will wind down to 15 mph, according to the National Weather Service. "We'll be chasing water, we'll be chasing trees and cleaning up all weekend," said spokesman Gary Leaming from the Oregon Department of Transportation, which grappled Friday with mudslides and creek overflows that closed a 13-mile stretch of Highway 66 deep into the afternoon. While tonight might bring a halt to the rain, another front will move into the coast Sunday evening and inland Monday to bring more of the same, weather service meteorologist Fredric Bunnag said. A combination of water, mud and high winds conspired Friday to cut Greensprings residents off from the valley. A raging Emigrant Creek jumped its banks at the Highway 66 bridge and flooded the roadway there near milepost 1, while ODOT crews faced a mudslide that cloaked both highway lanes near milepost 14. Also, several downed trees blocked Hyatt-Prairie Road between Highway 66 and Dead Indian Memorial Road, isolating Greensprings residents until Highway 66 reopened at about 3:20 p.m., said John Vial, Jackson County's roads and parks manager. Tyler Creek Road was closed after a failed culvert there caused the road to wash out near milepost 3, and high water covered the road at its intersection with Buckhorn Springs Road, leaving both impassable most of Friday. Wagner Creek Road was closed at milepost 4 because winds toppled trees over power lines, and the road will open when Pacific Power crews can fix the lines, Vial said. The volume of runoff in the city of Ashland late Monday morning began to tax the city's stormwater system with clogged drains flooding streets. Ashland Fire & Rescue activated its Citizens Emergency Response Team shortly after noon to begin creating sandbags in anticipation of growing water problems. "We'll get these sandbags out for people to use if they need them," Fire Marshal Margueritte Hickman said. "We just want to be ready." There was plenty to get ready for. Ashland had Friday rainfall totals ranging from 1.75 inches to 2.24 inches, according to the National Weather Service. The Buckhorn Springs gauge hit 2.64 inches, accounting for why that area southeast of Ashland erupted with water problems Friday. But what was forecast to be rain on Mount Ashland turned out to be snow, giving hope to skiers and snowboarders locked off the mountain for close to two months due to a dearth of snow. "Mother Nature erred on our side for a change," ski area Manager Hiram Towle said. While Medford saw its Friday rainfall levels hit 1.19 inches, there were very few problems in Oregon's first city designated as "storm-ready" by the Weather Service. The only street flooding occurred around Lewis and Eighth streets, where water volumes were simply too much to handle for Elk Creek, a small Bear Creek tributary. "Elk Creek's grade is just too flat to move a lot of water," Medford Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said. Neighbors were busy laying out sandbags around a flooded house on Beverly Way in Jacksonville, and there were initial reports of a mudslide in the Savage Creek Road area near Rogue River. Conditions were progressively worse toward the west, near Cave Junction. The rain gauge at O'Brien measured 5.4 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, and ODOT crews scrambled to address water spilling onto highways. High water closed two of the four lanes of Highway 199 at the Sauers Flat area, a low-point east of Cave Junction. Water also was crossing Highway 238 between mileposts 20 and 23 near the town of Applegate. Brookings saw its rainfall levels hit 4.59 inches, but it and other coastal towns saw less rain than earlier forecast. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 9:47 am Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 6:09 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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