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Attacks close local firms By GREG STILES It wasn't business as usual for many Rogue Valley businesses Tuesday as news spread of massive tragedy on the East Coast. The Rogue Valley Mall closed Tuesday morning in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. "It's a companywide thing to show respect for those who lost their lives," said mall manager Jeff Barber. "A lot of major developers are doing the same thing. "We feel it is important to take every necessary precaution both for the physical and emotional well being of employees and customers and to provide families the opportunity to be together for comfort and support." Two of the mall's three department stores - Meier & Frank and J.C. Penney - were closed by noon. Mervyn's closed at 3 p.m. Both the mall and area department stores were scheduled to re-open today. Passenger jets collected at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport as a result of the Federal Aviation Administration's order to ground all flights. Federal Express flies four planes in and out of Medford daily. One got in before all planes were grounded at 6:45 a.m. today. A substantial part of the 10,000 daily pounds shipped through the local FedEx station are by air. "We got lucky that we got one in before the freeze came," said FedEx senior manager John Philip. "We heard it from our ramp in Portland, because we're usually in touch with them minute-to-minute. "Our ground system does not stop and so far things here on the ground are not effected. But our overnight guarantees are not in effect." There were no guarantees of any kind for travelers. Travel agents anxiously scouted for information to pass on to their clients. "For the period of Sept. 11-25, United is allowing all travel plans to be changed or canceled for no penalty. Rules are changing by the minute," Jackson Travel Agency reported in an e-mail. "We expect that when airline traffic resumes, there will be long delays at all airports. Expect to allow for two and a half hours for the check-in process in the days and weeks to come." "In my eight years in travel, there hasn't been anything even close to this," said Joe Moulton of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Medford. "There are 1,900 commercial planes at any given time over the nation and the nation's transportation has just shut down." Jackson Travel Vice President Kelly Rasmussen headed for the airport first thing in the morning. "We're dealing logistically, emotionally and spiritually with this," Rasmussen said. "Half of the people we're dealing with are in tears. I think this event will touch more people in America than any other." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.