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OLCC honors two men for helping to reduce liquor sales to minors The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has recognized two Rogue Valley men for their excellence in efforts to promote responsible alcohol service in Jackson County. Medford police officer Richard Renfro will be honored for his development of a program that reduced illegal alcohol sales at 11 stores by nearly 60 percent. "More or less, I just felt that this was part of my job," Renfro said. "So to be recognized is a nice thing." Renfro established a six-month sting that targeted convenience stores in west Medford. The first time out, underage community service officers who presented identification with their real birth date were able to purchase alcohol from 8 of the 11 targeted stores. By June, only one of the 11 stores sold alcohol to an underage agent. James Conklin, owner of the Ashland Liquor Store, will be recognized for his record in keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors. OLCC representatives said Conklin, who has operated his store since 1977, has made it his priority to train staff to adhere to liquor commission regulations and guidelines. Conklin and Renfro will be honored with 11 other individuals Dec. 6 during the OLCC's annual tree-lighting ceremony in Portland. Other award recipients from elsewhere in the state include one alcohol server, four owners of businesses that sell liquor, one police officer, a liquor agent, a mayor, a Portland city employee, a county sheriff's office reserve unit and two OLCC employees. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA