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Around the valley Ashland SOU commencement will be on campus Raider Stadium on campus, rather than Lithia Park, will be the setting for the 73rd commencement of Southern Oregon University six months from now. SOU President Stephen Reno said the change for the June 12 ceremony will be on a trial basis for this year. The change was made to accommodate the growing number of graduates, families, friends and the public, and to allow for more parking than is possible downtown. The number of graduates has been as high as 675, up from the 300 or 400 two decades ago. The result is less space for other attendees at the Butler Memorial Bandshell in Lithia Park. The move to the stadium provides covered seating for 2,140, and additional seating for 1,900. People with disabilities would be shuttled to the stadium in electric cars. Graduates, faculty members, special guests and the band would be seated on the football field, and their procession would be in full view of the spectators. Tents could accommodate graduates, faculty and special guests if the weather is poor. Jacksonville Grant will allow new look at history Jacksonville's historic district could grow if a historic inventory finds significant buildings outside the landmark district. A $12,000 state grant to underwrite the year-long survey was approved Tuesday by City Council. "This is basically an update of the 1980 inventory," said planning associate Jason Locke. "Now what they're going to look at is up through the 1940s." The new inventory will include digital photographs of all historic structures that will be linked to the maps that are part of the city's geographic information system. In other action, the council indefinitely tabled a proposed land swap for properties on Cemetery Hill. George Adams of Medford owns land that can only be accessed via Cemetery Road, which is locked each night. He asked the city to consider exchanging his parcel for a smaller city-owned lot on Miner's Way. Both properties are outside Jacksonville's urban growth boundary and thus not immediately developable. Locke said City Council members want to explore other options before making a decision on Adams' request. Pinehurst School play features all Pinehurst students All 30 students at Pinehurst School will take part in its holiday play, "All in the Christmas Family," at 7 tonight at the school about 20 miles east of Ashland. Admission is free to the play, which will last more than an hour. Refreshments will be served afterward. Teacher Pat Alvord wrote the play about a holiday reunion of the Christmas family. Pinehurst's holiday play usually draws the entire community to the school. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA