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66 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 1, 2004 A full-grown, 90-foot �Ponderosa pine� planted in July at the Rogue Valley Country Club in east Medford helps cell phone users stay on the line in a former �dead zone.� Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Cell phone dead zone grows ‘tree’ By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Months have passed since a 90-foot camouflaged cell phone tower was erected, and it is so well disguised that even those involved in the decision-making weren’t aware it had gone up. "It was up for months before I even noticed it," said Pete Naumes, a member of the Rogue Valley Country Club board of directors, which approved the tower at the edge of their property on Hillcrest Road. Club manager Hugh Graham said U.S. Cellular approached the country club a couple of years ago about leasing land and erecting a cell phone tower in a neighborhood that has been a "dead zone" for cell phone users. Part of their proposal included disguising the tower as a Ponderosa pine so it would fit with its surroundings, he said. He’s still hearing from club members who just noticed the fake tree, which went up in July. "It looks very much like a huge Christmas tree," said Graham. Advertisement After towns were denying applications for cell towers based on aesthetics, cell phone companies began exploring camouflage. Now there are towers around the country disguised as trees, flagpoles and cacti. Transmitters are even hidden in architecture such as church steeples and stadium lighting. Graham said he’s seen photos of other tree-like towers in the country, but to his knowledge there’s nothing else like this one in the Rogue Valley. Naumes said he’s heard very few comments. "I’ve heard nothing negative," he said. "It seemed to fit in with the neighborhood." Graham said people are mostly glad that there’s cell phone service in a section of town where reception used to go out. He said club members have spoken favorably about the "tree," and some have made lighthearted comments about placing a fake osprey or squirrel in its branches. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times