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September 26, 2009 - Police on Alert for Attempts to Sell Pieces of Foreclosure

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September 25, 2009 - Medford Explores Hwy. 62 Bridge

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September 24, 2009 - Medford Will Track Unoccupied Property

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Since February, Erik Roth has looked warily from his porch at a burned-out house on Tripp Street in Medford.

Roth, 35, said he is happy the city is stepping up efforts to keep track of vacant properties to help ensure they are not illegally occupied or becoming an eyesore.

"That would be good just to make sure that nobody moves in," he said.

Medford will require property owners to sign a registry with the city if a dwelling is going to remain vacant for more than 10 days. The ordinance approved by the City Council last week will be enforced after Oct. 1 once the forms become available.

There would be no fees to have a house on the registry, but if the property owner fails to heed warnings to clean up or make repairs, it could lead to a $250-a-day fine.

Vacant homes around the country have attracted vagrants and others who illegally move in, pay the utilities and go as far as setting up drug operations, said Medford Police Sgt. Greg Lemhouse.

So far, squatters haven't been found in vacant homes in Medford, he said.

An empty house with broken windows, dead vegetation and overgrown weeds is an eyesore in any community and brings down property values, Lemhouse said.

The new ordinance will give police one more tool to keep track of vacant properties and forces the owners to monitor their houses.

"It keeps the neighborhood from being blighted," he said.

For vacant properties, the new registry will contain the name of the lender, the mailing address of the lender, a contact name, a physical address for the lender's agent to receive legal notices and the contact information for any property manager.

The lender would be responsible for ensuring that the property doesn't become a public nuisance. Regular watering and pruning would be required to maintain vegetation. Pools and spas would have to be maintained in working order so the water remains clear, or the pool or spa would have to be drained and covered. All windows, doors and other openings would have to be secured.

If the lender is out of the area, it would need to hire a property management company to perform the maintenance.

The city would have the authority to require additional security lighting, frequent on-site inspections, security guards or other measures to prevent the decline of the property.

So far, police officials have identified about 400 vacant houses in Medford.

Lemhouse said that once houses are placed on the registry, they will be visited by police and code enforcement officers periodically.

Even with the registry, the city could have problems on some properties that have multiple owners or multiple lending institutions involved, he said.

For instance, it took city officials about eight months to contact lenders involved in a run-down property on Delta Waters Road.

The city already cleans up blighted properties by cutting weeds or draining pools, charging the owners or placing liens on the property to recoup its costs.

Residents can report vacant houses directly to the city at 774-2016.

Lemhouse said the city plans to contact lending institutions and property managers to get the word out about the registry.

While the registry won't solve all the city's problems with vacant homes, Lemhouse said, it should be a big help.

"Fewer properties would go through the cracks," he said.

Russ Milburn, chief financial officer at People's Bank of Commerce in Medford, welcomed the registry, and the patrols.

"Banks in general want to be good corporate citizens," he said. "We don't want any urban blight with our name on it."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.



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July 26, 2009 - Legally in the U.S.; Illegally Driving

MEDFORD — As 78-year-old John Vousden drives the streets of Medford to take his wife to a medical appointment, he's understandably nervous.

"I'm watching my back every minute, man," said Vousden, who moved to the U.S. from England 48 years ago.

A year ago, Vousden lost his driver's license after the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services told him his green card was no longer valid.

"They said they couldn't read the number on the green card," Vousden said with a distinctly English accent. "Mine is really beat up and worn. It's bound to be beat up and worn, like me."

Vousden showed the 1961 green card, which is ragged around the edges but still very legible and doesn't have an expiration date on it.

That means he is in the country legally, just as he has been for almost a half-century. But it apparently carries little weight with either federal immigration officials or Oregon's DMV, both of whom have failed to respond to repeated requests to resolve his dilemma.

Even without a driver's license, Vousden sometimes needs to take his 76-year-old wife, Rose, for medical appointments when she is unwell, keeping his fingers crossed he doesn't get pulled over. His wife also has a similar type of green card and received a new driver's license two years ago before the DMV adopted new rules that required more identification papers.

Vousden said he has considered alternative ways of getting her to the doctor's from their home on the outskirts of Medford, but nothing seems practical.

"There is no transportation around here," he said. "I can't afford bloody taxis."

He said he needs to go to Portland to visit immigration offices, but is wary of leaving his wife for such a long journey.

The DMV said Vousden's problem actually is not with the legibility of the green card, but that it is outdated.

"We've run into this before," said DMV spokesman David House. "It's not on the list of documents that we accept."

House said Vousden should continue to keep in touch with the DMV's customer-care unit to see whether he can get further extensions. Vousden will need to resolve his green-card issues before he can get a driver's license, House said.

Vousden, who initially received two extensions on his driver's license, isn't the only resident of Oregon who has found the new DMV rules daunting.

Government-issued birth certificates, marriage certificates and other paperwork now are required but often are difficult to obtain, particularly for the elderly.

The new rules require proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. and official documents to verify a Social Security number. The rules were created to weed out people falsely claiming to live in Oregon, which corresponds with regulations already in place in other states.

Chris Rhatigan, spokeswoman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said some green cards had no expiration dates on them, which means the person is legally in the U.S.

"If he does possess a legitimate green card, he is considered a permanent resident," she said.

Even if someone has a green card that has no expiration date, immigration services advises they still should be renewed because vital statistics and the picture have changed markedly over the years, Rhatigan said.

If a green card expired, she said it would require applying for a new one.

Vousden has sought help from an attorney because he has become overwhelmed dealing with immigration and the DMV.

"It's the craziest setup you've ever heard," he said.

His wife of nearly 60 years said she's not worried that anybody will take her husband away because of this mess.

"Nobody's seen my temper," she said.

Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, said his office has contacted the ombudsman for the DMV to see whether there is any way to resolve this problem.

"The DMV is trying to find out what flexibility they have on this," he said.

Buckley said it is a constant struggle for state government to come up with rules, but allow for flexibility to deal with situations like this in a commonsense manner.

"It's frustrating," he said. "We shouldn't treat people like this."

Teresa Galindo, legal assistant with Kellington and Kellington Attorneys in Medford, said the Vousdens have appealed to immigration officials to be placed under a special program designed to help the elderly or people with medical conditions. Even after signing up for the program, in which immigration officials would come to the Vousdens' house, there has been no response, said Galindo.

"He would have his green card by now," she said. "He would have had his license by now."

All the paperwork has been sent to immigration officials, but she said they now are requiring Vousden to get police clearance for the past 40 years.

Galindo said she accompanied Vousden to the sheriff's office to get the clearance, but officials had never heard of the requirement before and weren't equipped to deal with it.

"A sheriff's deputy is going to accompany him to the OSP (Oregon State Police) to get the police clearance," she said.

Galindo said Vousden lives in constant fear when he has to drive his wife to the doctor's office.

"It's just been such a hassle for him," said Galindo. "All he wanted is to renew his license."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.

March 8, 2009 - Closure

The dismantling of the last large-scale sawmill in Jackson County has hit White City residents hard as they watch equipment being hauled away, entire buildings being gutted and a way of life rapidly disappearing.

"I've been watching the demolition of this mill for the past couple of months," said Ann Hathaway, 65, who lives a little more than a mile from the former mill that turned logs into lumber at Agate and Antelope roads. "It just makes me want to cry."

Its contents auctioned in December, Boise Cascade's sprawling sawmill is vanishing, with gaping holes in the sides of buildings to remove equipment.

The mill began closing in January 2008, with 32 of 59 workers losing their jobs. Boise closed its other sawmill in north Medford in 1998 after a fire, and announced in January it is shutting down its White City plywood mill and will lay off 110 workers March 13.

Over the past 25 years, Jackson County has seen at least 17 mills close their doors.

Last week, a huge metal shearer tore into a roof at the Boise sawmill while salvage crews separated materials for recycling. Other metal buildings have been sold off, and workers removed lights and sprinkler systems and stacked up siding. Once the work is completed, only a few of the dozens of buildings that produced millions of board feet of lumber on the property will remain.

"How many more jobs are we going to lose?" asked Hathaway. "It's like a ghost town."

For many Jackson County residents, the mill along Highway 62 near White City's business district is a landmark. The property will continue to store stacks of logs that will be used to make other wood products.

When the mill used to operate three shifts a day a decade ago, it produced up to 50 million board feet of lumber annually, enough for the equivalent of 3,000 homes.

Boise isn't sure what it will do with the property in the long-term, but officials say they may eventually consider selling off the industrial-zoned land. Boise will continue to operate a veneer mill and engineered wood products plant in White City and a plywood mill in north Medford.

Jackson County Commissioner C.W. Smith said the closure of the sawmill means the valley no longer has sufficient production facilities to process raw timber from local forests when the economy turns around.

"We are not only losing jobs, but we're losing the infrastructure, as well," he said.

The closure of other mills in recent years has devastated an industry that supplied high-paying jobs and will make the economic recovery in the valley all the more difficult, said Smith, who has lobbied at both the federal and state level for increases in logging on federal land.

"That's six or seven mills in White City that don't exist," he said.

The economy has been a major factor in the downturn, but Smith said lawsuits and pressure from environmental groups have meant less logging in federal forests in recent years.

Boise officials decided to permanently close the sawmill rather than mothball it because the amount of lumber flowing out of local forests has slowed markedly. Boise needed sufficient quantities of Ponderosa and sugar pine, which was processed at the sawmill then sold to companies that made doors, windows and other finished wood products.

"This is the last of an era — it really is," said Dave Schott, executive vice president of the Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association.

He said a large-scale sawmill is still in operation in Josephine County and another in Klamath County.

Across the country, the wood products industry is struggling because demand has declined sharply.

"We have a very soft, actually a no-demand, economy right now," Schott said.

In addition, the timber industry is nervously eyeing the long-term prospects for timber harvest in Southern Oregon, particularly on federal land.

Schott said that in recent years, 85 percent of the wood used in Jackson County has come off private lands, but in years past 85 percent came from national forests.

Bob Smith, human resources manager for Boise Cascade's Western Oregon Region, said the economy has dealt a crippling blow to his industry.

In 2005, the country recorded 2,068,000 housing starts, according to statistics he released. In 2008, that number slowed to just 904,000 starts. According to a comparison over the past 50 years, 2008 was the worst year on record for housing starts.

Bob Smith said Boise hopes to reopen the White City plywood mill when the economy rebounds, but the future looks less certain for the sawmill.

"We didn't anticipate a renewal of the timber supply to allow us to operate again," he said.

He said there are no immediate plans to sell the sawmill property.

A plant in north Medford will handle all Boise's plywood needs for the near future.

"We don't have any plans to close (the Medford plant)," he said.

Joseph Vaile, campaign director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, said conservationists don't want to see the timber industry decline.

"We don't want to see a loss of this infrastructure," he said.

Vaile said a vital industry is needed locally to handle what he expects will be an increasing demand for thinning of forests, though some plants may have to retool to handle smaller diameter trees.

Vaile disputes claims the environmentalists are causing some of the mills to shut down, pointing out there is a backlog of small-diameter thinning and timber sales that haven't found buyers.

"You can blame the environmentalists all you want, but the economy is having the effect of shutting these folks down," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.

February 11, 2009 - Government Plans Trillions In Aid

Over doughnuts and a cup of joe, two different coffee klatches offered mixed feelings Tuesday about President Barack Obama's plans to help revive the economy.

"At least he's trying to do something," said Marlene Skipple. "They've got to do something."

The 72-year-old Medford woman said she is tired of hearing complaints from her fellow Republicans that the proposed $838 billion stimulus package passed by the U.S. Senate Tuesday is loaded with unnecessary spending.

Skipple describes the economic outlook as scary, requiring some kind of government action to reverse the downward spiral.

"It's going to have to go through, or we're all in a big hole," she said.

The debate over what to do with the economy rages from Medford to Washington, D.C., as politicians and economists look at public works projects and tax cuts to help prime the financial pump.

At another table in Donut Country in east Medford, a group of conservative coffee buddies who can trace their gatherings back to 1946, had a different impression of Obama's economic stimulus.

"It sucks," said Norm Owens. "There's too much garbage in it, too much pork."

However, the 65-year-old Central Point resident said the stimulus package might work for a little while, but it would be bad for the economy in the long run.

Even though local residents have different opinions about Obama's plans, they do agree it is a difficult problem to wrap their heads around.

"This is so involved," said Dr. Gene Chamberlain. "I don't have the answer."

At age 81, the Medford resident said he has some dim memories of the Great Depression, and he worries that Americans might not have as much fortitude to deal with those difficult times again.

"Most people are not going to go through this very easily," he said.

Keith McLean said many of the problems Americans face can be traced back to the times of easy credit, when people received home loans but didn't have the salary to make their mortgage payments.

"These people just can't afford a home," said the 79-year-old Medford resident.

But he didn't have any ready answers as to how to get the country out of the mess.

"It's pretty tough to get a solution," said McLean.

Dan Rubenson, a professor of economics at Southern Oregon University, said the steps Obama proposes are based on well-established research in the economic world.

Politicians might be divided over how to get the country out of this mess, but Rubenson said there is not that level of division generally in the economic world.

"Among professional economists there is a lot more agreement than most people would realize," said Rubenson, whose class in macroeconomics is conducting an analysis of the stimulus package.

At the same time, he said it is difficult to predict how soon the plan would help the economy, or whether it will be enough to turn the corner without greater infusions of dollars from the federal government.

"Is it enough to turn the economy on a dime? Probably not," he said.

Rubenson said there is general agreement among economists about where to spend the money to do the most good.

The most stimulative portion of the package will be investing in buildings, mass-transit systems and other public works projects, he said.

Sending money to states, which will eventually filter down to cities, is another good way to get money back into the economy, said Rubenson. He said this idea gained support during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Unfortunately, he said the Senate version of the stimulus bill gives less money to the states than the original House version.

"I would say the House package is considerably stronger than the Senate package," Rubenson said.

One of the least stimulative portions of the bill is the tax cuts, he said.

"In general, when people receive a tax cut, part of it will be saved, and will not be going into the economy," he said.

Last year, the federal government passed out a one-time tax rebate. Under the current bill, taxpayers would receive a slight decrease in taxes each paycheck. Rubenson said this would be better for the economy because people will be more apt to spend smaller amounts of money than save them.

Whatever version of the stimulus package gets signed off by Obama, Rubenson said it will be analyzed for years to determine what worked and what didn't.

"That will keep economists entertained for quite a few years," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.

January 25, 2009 - A Crisis of Need

Five-week-old Robert eagerly suckles on a bottle of formula, while his brother and two sisters look on hungrily.

His whiskers glisten white as he bites down playfully on the tip of the bottle, to the delight of a teenage girl who's passing by.

Robert and his siblings are orphaned kittens who depend on KMR milk replacement, containers of which were recently donated by generous families throughout Jackson County to Committed Alliance To Strays.

"This will really help," said Jan Whetstone, CATS director. "The number of kittens being born will hit us very hard in the next month."

CATS and other organizations are more dependent than ever on donations of everything from pencils and office furniture to canned foods and pet food as they struggle to meet the growing demand of families hit hard by difficult economic times.

Whetstone said she appreciated the donation drive at the local Democratic headquarters in Medford as part of Barack Obama's call for a national day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Dozens of phone cards were collected for veterans, and the Southern Oregon Humane Society received enough pet food to feed animals for a month and a load of gravel to repair the driveway. Local residents cleared out their closets and brought in blankets, clothing and even new socks still in the original wrapper for the Salvation Army.

Many organizations are seeing donations decline while demand increases as people lose their jobs and their homes. Families struggle to pay the utility bills or squeeze out enough money for food.

At CATS, the news has been both bad and good, Whetstone said.

In December, 100 cats and kittens were adopted out, the largest month ever. So far in January, 38 cats and kittens have found new homes, which she said is a good start for the year.

On the down side, donations are off roughly 10 percent for an organization that exists on a budget of $198,000 a year, Whetstone said.

In addition, the number of cats abandoned has risen. "We're still getting calls from Realtors finding cats in foreclosed homes," she said.

Whetstone said her organization has a policy of taking pets back if a family can no longer afford them. Last week, three cats were returned by people who lost their homes.

CATS also is seeing more felines brought in from abusive family situations as the economic downturn worsens, said Whetstone.

"An abusive person goes after the animal more times than you would believe," said Whetstone. "People don't realize that the abuser will take on an animal."

Gary Miller, executive director at ACCESS Inc., which provides food and assistance to low-income families, said he has seen demand escalating and donations increasing.

During the holidays, ACCESS had 261 first-time donors.

At the same time, for the first two weeks in January, people needing energy assistance increased 20 percent over the previous year. ACCESS received 795 inquiries from people needing help to pay utility bills.

Looking ahead, Miller said his organization is concerned about donations declining during the next six months.

"We're all on pins and needles," he said.

At the Salvation Army on Central Avenue in Medford, donations to the store are down.

"What we're really hurting on is the larger items," said Debbie Hopkinson, director of the three Salvation Army stores in the county.

She said the big-ticket items help pay for the overhead on the stores, which have to pay at least minimum wage to its employees. She said a room would normally be filled with couches and tables, but she had only two couches available on Friday.

Her shelves also are barer than she would like.

"We just have less items," she said. "We have more people coming in needing things and less to give them."

In addition to the stores, the Salvation Army has a charitable outlet that gives food and clothing to low-income families free of charge.

Other organizations also are feeling the effects as families cut back.

Jamie Kaufman, program director at Kids Unlimited, said she has noticed more parents withdrawing children from after-school programs at the popular youth organization in Medford.

"I hear daily about a car that broke down, or someone moving in with a relative because they can't pay the rent," she said. "Every day there is a new story."

Families are getting overloaded and don't take advantage of volunteering their time or applying for scholarships to offset the $30 a month fee for the after-school program.

"For us it's trying to get creative about what to offer," she said. "We can suggest payment plans or suggest someone carpool with another family to offset the cost of gas."

Dee Anne Everson, United Way of Jackson County executive director, said nonprofits exist on the generous donations from businesses and individuals.

Her office, for example, is outfitted with hand-me-down furniture from other businesses.

"Nonprofits need people, money and stuff," she said. "Generally, many people have enough for themselves, and they even have some to share."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.

September 27, 2007 - County Libraries Will Reopen

Book lovers could see Jackson County's libraries open their doors before November after commissioners Wednesday unanimously approved a five-year contract to outsource the operation of all 15 branches.

Maryland-based Library Systems and Services LLC expects to hire 50 to 60 library workers by the end of next week for its initial startup, said Frank Pezzanite, president and chief executive officer for the company, known by the acronym LSSI.

"We've been through this before," said Pezzanite, who remembers hiring 101 workers in Riverside County, California, over a weekend. "It's nothing new for us."

Jackson County's libraries will become the second-largest system operated by LSSI, just behind Riverside, which has 32 branches.

The Medford library, at 83,000 square feet, is the largest single facility operated by LSSI, which operates a total of 65 libraries throughout the country.

The company began interviewing former county library employees and others this week. LSSI plans to open the libraries during the first week in November, but Pezzanite said it could be sooner if a quicker way can be found to reestablish Internet connections for all the branches.

"It will be exciting to get the libraries open for the community," said Pezzanite.

He predicted that library patrons should notice very little change in the way the libraries function, apart from reduced hours. "We put a lot of emphasis on public service," he said. "We try to get our people out of the back room to help the public."

The county's contract with LSSI is $3,048,948 for the first year of the agreement, but because the contract starts on Oct. 1 — three months into the budget year — the county will pay 75 percent, or $2,286,711. For fiscal year 2008-09, the LSSI contract is $3,140,416. Another $1.3 million will be spent by the county annually for utilities, facility maintenance, landscaping, telephones, custodial services and the computer system known as SOLIS.

The total amount to run the library system is about half what it was previously.

Pezzanite said salaries will be roughly comparable to what employees received from the county. He said the benefits also will be about the same except the retirement package will not have the Public Employees Retirement System benefits.

He said LSSI offers other benefits the county doesn't provide, such as tuition reimbursement and a bonus program.

Opening the Medford library for only about 24 hours a week isn't optimal, said Pezzanite, who said it would be preferable to have a big library like Medford's or Ashland's open for 60 or more hours a week.

The county's libraries closed April 6 after the loss of a federal timber safety-net funds. Since then the county received a one-year extension of about $23 million that will help pay for the libraries to reopen.

"This has been a fairly difficult process," said Commissioner C.W. Smith. "This has been a fairly painful process. We took a lot of criticism from the community."

Smith said the county will be working with various communities that might want to augment the hours of operation at their local branches. The county anticipates it will be able to fund the libraries for two-and-one-half years to three years.

"Is it perfect?," he said. "No it's not perfect, but it's a good beginning."

Commissioner Dave Gilmour said the county still must figure out a permanent solution to fund the libraries, possibly by creating a special library district.

Kathleen Davis, chair of the Library Advisory Board, said she reviewed the county's proposal with LSSI and applauded the effort in putting it together and reopening libraries.

"Thanks for taking this courageous step," she said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.

Saturday

September 19, 2009 - Circuit Court Ruling Goes Against Medford in Retiree Health Plan

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

The city of Medford will have to pay potential damages to retired employees who had been wrongly denied continuing health coverage, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Mark Schiveley ruled this month.

On Sept. 4, Schiveley wrote in his opinion that former City Attorney Ron Doyle and three other former city employees should have been covered by a bridge health insurance plan until they reached age 65. The other former employees who joined in the suit were Robert Deuel, Benedict Miller and Charles Steinberg.

Schiveley denied a motion for a class-action suit, but said Doyle and the others could be entitled to different damages based on different legal theories that would be applied on a case-by-case basis. The damage amounts will be determined later during a trial.

The judge earlier dismissed Medford's argument that it wasn't possible to provide a health plan to these retired employees.

"It is apparent from the record that other insurance which provides bridge coverage for employees indisputably is and has been available," wrote Schiveley.

At issue is the contention by former employees that Oregon law requires a government entity to provide bridge health insurance after they retire.

Schiveley stated Doyle and Deuel correctly claimed the city breached a contract to provide them with the option of electing to have a bridge health plan that was described in employee handbooks.

"There is undisputed evidence that the city failed to provide them with the election when they retired, thus breaching the contract," stated Schiveley.

According to Portland attorney Steve Brischetto, who represents Doyle and the other retirees, the city has different kinds of health insurance for different workers. Those in unions such as firefighters have a bridge plan, representing about 40 percent of employees. The remaining 60 percent of employees, such as police, managers and parks and recreation workers, don't have the bridge coverage.

Brischetto said that his interpretation of state law indicates the city has to provide the same level of coverage for everyone.

"If the city makes available health insurance to its current officers and employees, it must make it to its current retirees if that's possible," he said.

Brischetto said it has been a hardship on city employees who scrambled to find health coverage, but found it difficult because of preexisting health conditions. In some cases, they had to opt for plans with high premiums or settle for a plan that gave them lesser coverage.

He said these situations could have been avoided if the city had offered them a bridge insurance plan.

Springfield attorney Robert Franz, who represents the city, and City Manager Mike Dyal could not be reached for comment Friday.

Doyle, who retired in April 2005, initially asked the city for the opportunity to purchase the same health-insurance coverage that is available to current employees, or else provide a lump-sum payment of $90,000 to cover additional insurance and prescription costs.

In a separate, but similar case, Schiveley issued a summary judgment in July in favor of a public works employee, Joseph Bova, and others who asserted Medford is required by Oregon Revised Statute 243.303 to provide coverage to its retirees if that insurance is available to current employees.

Bova was treated as a separate case because he was employed by the city at the time of his lawsuit, while Doyle and others already had retired.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.


Wednesday

September 16, 2009 - Rancor Splits Local Lawmakers, Chamber

By

Fallout from the last legislative session has strained relations between two Democratic legislators from Jackson County and the Medford chamber of commerce.

Rep. Peter Buckley of Ashland sent the chamber a strongly worded e-mail on Aug. 14, criticizing the organization tor taking a partisan stance that he characterized as sometimes personal — an accusation that surprised chamber officials say is untrue.

"I read through chamber publications and there is a consistent demonization of Democratic politicians, like (Sen. Alan) Bates and myself," he said. "I did not deal with a more partisan group than the Medford chamber of commerce."

Bates, an Ashland Democrat, agrees with Buckley's comments, saying he had several hostile conversations with chamber members.

Brad Hicks, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, said he is confused by what he describes as unfounded accusations.

He said he only remembers the two legislators being treated with respect, though many of the chamber members disagreed with their position on tax increases.

"If anybody is being attacked here it might be us," he said. "I'm still kind of flabbergasted by the whole thing."

Hicks said he can understand Buckley being under stress after tackling a very difficult legislative session, but he said the chamber is obligated to take a stance on issues — particularly tax increases — that could have a profound effect on local businesses.

He said this stance shouldn't be construed by the legislators as partisan, but rather pro-business. He said the chamber often sides with Democrats on issues as well, noting he had received a thank-you note from the governor's office over the chamber's support for a transportation bill that will help build a Highway 62 bypass.

Hicks said the chamber took exception to tax increases on corporations and the wealthy because they could result in an estimated loss of about 70,000 jobs.

"I represent a bunch of folks that think that is unacceptable," said Hicks. "Economic prosperity starts one person at a time. It all starts with a job."

The e-mail from Buckley came after the chamber invited the representative to present a position on why the tax increases should be supported, Hicks said.

Buckley said his e-mail was written out of a sense of frustration with what he perceived as the chamber's mistakes in its approach and understanding of the legislative process.

In the e-mail addressed to both Hicks and John Watt, the chamber's lobbyist, Buckley said, "At this point, you are clearly partisan at all times while holding a pretense that you are not. This makes it extremely difficult for a Democratic legislator, no matter how much I want to find common ground, to see you as a credible stakeholder in the legislative process."

Buckley said the chamber didn't give enough credit to legislators for creating jobs through the transportation bill as well as the new education building in downtown Medford. An expansion of the Oregon Health Plan to cover more kids would result in more jobs, even though it was opposed by the chamber, he said. In addition, thousands of jobs such as teachers, state police, corrections workers and court personnel were saved by difficult decisions made by the Legislature, he said.

Buckley said he has no problem with people disagreeing with his policy, but he said the kind of rhetoric coming out of the chamber branded him as an uncaring politician who did not work hard enough.

The August 2009 chamber newsletter cites Buckley and Bates as playing a key role in increases in taxes, giving them the lowest marks of any local legislator for their votes on tax bills opposed by the chamber.

In the newsletter, it describes Bates as a legislator who presents himself as a moderate who supports business, but made a dramatic plea for tax increases on the Senate floor.

In the newsletter, Hicks stated, "It was as though the only jobs that Salem seemed to think were worth saving or even supporting were ones that draw a state paycheck. They didn't want to consider the impact on businesses and their employees. They just needed someone to tax and didn't seem to understand or care about the real economic impact of those decisions."

Buckley said he took exception to the pointed language Hicks used in the newsletter, which he perceived as a personal attack on Bates and him.

"To say we don't care — I'm saying why are you doing this?" he said.

Watt said he has a very different memory of the conversations chamber members had with the two legislators during conference calls.

"There were absolutely, and I emphasize absolutely, no personal attacks," he said. "I was stunned to hear that accusation that it was personal."

Watt said he was at every one of the phone meetings and he heard lots of frustration about some of the issues, but nothing approaching hostility.

"If someone doesn't agree with policy, is that personal?" he said.

In Buckley's e-mail, the legislator accuses Watt of partisanship because he disseminated a press release immediately after it was written by House Republicans who were critical of the corporate tax bill.

Watt, a lobbyist for many businesses, said he routinely gathers press releases from both parties that he e-mails as part of a news and opinion piece he prepares nearly every morning. The day after the Republicans sent out a press release, Democrats did likewise and Watt said he sent that out as well.

In addition, his Web site has links to different stories from both parties throughout the state, he said.

"We do not do this service on behalf of the chamber," he said. "We do this service for the people of Oregon. It is not tied to my client."

Watt, a former legislator, said he strives not to be labeled a Republican in his dealings as lobbyist.

Praising Buckley as a person who stands up for his beliefs, Watt said he understands legislators are exhausted after one of the most difficult sessions in recent memory.

"I highly respect those people," he said.

Bates said the local chamber showed a lack of understanding about what was going on in Salem to craft the state budget, which was designed to preserve jobs and critical community services.

He said the chamber had no problems endorsing an increase in taxes for transportation projects that will benefit many local businesses, but objected to what he describes as a small tax increase on the very wealthy to help shore up schools and other critical services in Oregon that faced $2.5 billion in cuts.

In conversations with chamber members, he said it was taken to a personal level at times.

"It was more and more strident, with more and more anger," he said.

He said many of the verbal attacks took place during chamber telephone conferences, where he wasn't allowed to respond to the accusations.

"The chamber wasn't there to be a part of the conversation in a positive way, a progressive way," he said.

In one session with a local health care company that is a chamber member, he said, "I couldn't get a word in edgewise. It was just strange."

Bates said he is used to disagreeing with people who have views that are different than his own.

"I can understand political differences," he said. "I can't understand personal attacks."

Chris Borovansky, a chamber board member and Jackson County fair manager, said he is surprised at the statements made by the two legislators.

In phone conversations with Buckley and chamber members, he described the give-and-take as polite.

"I thought Buckley comported himself well, and I thought chamber members comported themselves well," he said.

In Buckley's e-mail, he stated the chamber thought any budget cuts to county fairs was unacceptable. But Borovansky said that differed from his memory of the conversation. "We certainly expected cuts," he said. "If he took it to mean any cuts are unacceptable, that's not what we meant."

Borovansky said he's hoping the chamber and the two legislators can eventually patch up their differences.

"I hope that out of this thing, there comes renewed dialogue," he said. "What's important is not the dispute, but the resolution."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.



Tuesday

September 15, 2009 - Highway 62 Bypass May Cut Traffic 25 Percent

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A plan to shift a quarter of the traffic off congested Highway 62 in Medford is taking shape as transportation officials move forward with a $100 million bypass route.

The project would begin just east of Poplar Avenue and create a two-lane highway running roughly along the old Medco Haul Road for 3.5 miles to just south of White City.

Motorists would use the route as a way to avoid the busiest stretch of Highway 62, which has more than 40,000 vehicle trips a day in the heavily traveled shopping areas in Medford.

Projections indicate that 26 percent of drivers on the highway would use the bypass.

The project would be funded through Oregon House Bill 2001, which provided more than $900 million in transportation projects over 10 years throughout the state.

The money will be raised through bonds and by increasing motor vehicle fees and the gas tax by 6 cents per gallon.

To qualify for the $100 million locally, the project must begin by 2013. Tim Fletcher, project leader for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the bypass could go to bid by June 2012.

Fletcher said one major issue to be resolved is whether to construct a signal so motorists can enter the bypass west of Whittle Avenue in Medford or to build a bridge to allow the free-flowing movement of traffic. Whittle Avenue is about three-quarters of a mile east of Interstate 5.

The bridge would be built on the existing Highway 62 to accommodate vehicles driving toward I-5. Motorists traveling away from I-5 would drive under the bridge to reach the bypass road.

The bypass would have no on- or off-ramps from that point until it ends near White City, about a mile past Vilas Road.

A bridge would be built over Vilas that could ultimately accommodate four lanes, but no ramps would be built there during the first phase of the project. Another bridge would be built over Justice Road.

Fletcher said transportation officials are debating whether to use a signal at the White City end of the bypass or to build another bridge to make it easier for traffic to get on and off.

Because more turn lanes would be needed to merge traffic onto the bypass, Highway 62 in Medford would have to be widened in certain sections.

ODOT spokesman Gary Leaming said the main goal is to design a route that motorists can use to avoid the congestion through Medford.

"It has to work from day one," he said.

To maximize the length of the bypass and to save money, Leaming said it would be built with only one lane in each direction.

"We're trying to push this as far north as possible," Leaming said. "We're trying to push it past Vilas Road."

Eventually, transportation officials would like to extend the bypass along the north side of the Department of Veterans Affairs' domiciliary in White City, from where it would reconnect with the existing Highway 62.

Leaming said it will take several years to finalize designs and to purchase property along the route.

Leaming said transportation officials have been working for years to find a way to build the bypass. The Legislature's funding plan gave it a critical boost.

"Anybody who drives on Highway 62 knows we need to get the first phase of the project on the ground and operating," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.



Monday

September 11, 2009 - Water Park Makes A Splash With Council

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Medford will dive into a proposal to build a $13.5 million water park that would be larger than similar parks in Redding and Fremont., Calif.

City Council members agreed Thursday to spend $300,000 from a contingency fund to develop plans for the park, which would include slides, a lazy river, family beach areas, splash pads and a wave machine.

The aquatic center could be built in Bear Creek Park, where the existing dog park and BMX track are located, parks department officials told the council. The city would relocate those existing facilities as part of the project.

Hawthorne Park would be closed, while the more popular pool at Jackson Elementary would remain open.

The water park could pay for itself or generate a substantial profit for the city, depending on admission prices. Additional revenues could be generated from concessions and renting umbrellas.

"I think we have come up with a way that will pay for itself and be a revenue generator for itself," said Craig Stone, chairman of the Medford Parks and Recreation Foundation.

"This will be a better facility than what they have in Redding."

It costs $19 to use Waterworks Park in Redding. Charging the same in Medford would bring a profit of $1.6 million annually to city coffers, said Brian Sjothun, Medford Parks and Recreation director.

At one point during the council's study session Thursday, about half the people in attendance raised hands indicating they knew of someone from this area that had gone to Waterworks.

Some parks charge as little as $5, a rate that would require an annual city subsidy of $68,300 to maintain the Medford facility. The city subsidizes Hawthorne pool with $128,300 annually to keep it open during the summer.

Fremont's Aqua Adventure charges $15 for local residents and $16 for nonresidents.

Sjothun said his department would develop up to five funding strategies that would be presented to the council at a later time.

Visitors to the park would spend $2.2 million a year at local businesses and create 61 jobs, according to a study of the park proposal by REMI Northwest of Medford.

"This would keep people in Medford, attracting people to our restaurants and shops," said Sjothun.

Councilman Al Densmore said the city has to be careful not to charge fees that would put the facility out of reach for low-income families, who spend $1 to let their children use the local pools.

"We cannot just view it as an income producer," he said.

Densmore said the fee should strike a balance between generating revenue and remaining viable for the community. He also wanted to know whether enough income could be generated to make repairs at Jackson pool.

Sjothun said significant studies of the fees would be conducted, including whether to charge more for nonresidents. A scholarship fund could be set up to help low-income residents attend the aquatic park.

If the council ultimately agrees to build the park, the grand opening could be May 5, 2012. It would be open on weekends in May, then daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, cutting back to weekends through the end of September.

With about 20,000 square feet of water area, the park would still use less water than the pool at Hawthorne Park, which loses about 7,000 gallons a day, Sjothun said. The water features at the park are generally fairly shallow.

If the city received 30-year revenue bonds of $13.5 million, the annual debt payment would be $900,000. Most of the revenues would be generated through admissions.




September 10, 2009 - U.S. Economy 'Isn't Getting Better Here'

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Time has run out for 153 Jackson County residents who exhausted their unemployment benefits last week.

The residents are part of the first wave of 3,000 Oregonians who have no extensions left after losing their jobs about a year and a half ago, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

The Employment Department estimates 500 Oregonians will run out of benefits each week, though they will get a three-month reprieve when another extension approved by the Legislature kicks in on Oct. 4.

Dempsey Haller, who was looking for jobs at the Medford employment office Wednesday, calculates he's only got a month left before his benefits run out.

"It's sad," he said. "But I know I'm not alone."

Haller said he's received only a few responses to dozens of resumes he's sent out since he lost his job 18 months ago as an executive director at a Chico, Calif., veterans housing facility.

The 58-year-old Medford resident said it's difficult getting any interest in the applications he's sent out, a sentiment shared by others at the employment office.

Waving his resume in the air, Steven Johansen said, "Nobody will look at this."

The 51-year-old Medford resident said he's sent out more than 300 resumes in just over a year since losing his job at a health care company.

He said he wants to work and doesn't like being unemployed, adding this is the first time in his life he has received the benefits.

"It gets to be really discouraging," said Johansen. "You just keep putting in applications."

Craig Spivey, spokesperson for the Employment Department, said those who are without benefits can continue to use the resources of his department to look for a job. They also can go to the www.worksourceoregon.org to find information about shelters, food banks and other services.

The Employment Department and the governor's office are attempting to get further extensions in January to help unemployed workers.

"We are trying to raise awareness at the federal level," said Spivey.

Currently, an unemployed person could get up to 79 weeks of benefits if they qualified for all the extension programs offered, he said.

Employment officials say Oregon needs additional help because its unemployment rate is 11.9 percent. Jackson County's rate is 13.2 percent and Josephine County's is 14.9 percent.

In July 2008, Congress passed the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which added 13 weeks of benefits on top of the 26-week regular claim. Since then, further additions to the EUC program, plus Oregon's continued high unemployment rate, meant unemployed Oregonians could receive a total of 79 weeks of benefits. On Sept. 5, those who qualified at the beginning of the extension programs exhausted all benefits.

In 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon Emergency Benefits program to add 13 more weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted all extension programs. The program however, does not go into effect until Oct. 4.

With the clock ticking, many of Jackson County's unemployed worry about how they will pay their bills.

Larry Stauth said he's not sure about all the extensions the Employment Department has available to him, but he thinks he's only got another eight or nine weeks of benefits.

"I was told that after that, it is done," the 41-year-old Medford resident said.

He's worried that his $600 a month temporary health insurance program is about to expire and he will have to pay a higher rate.

"The cost will go up and the coverage will go down," said Stauth, who lost his job as a shipping and receiving clerk for a parts and service company for semitrailers.

His wife, Sherri, lost her job six months ago as an insurance agent.

Stauth said they need to have insurance because his wife has diabetes. His 20-year-old stepson works at Jack In The Box, but had his hours cut.

Stauth said he's been trying to juggle a part-time job as photographer at the Ashland Daily Tidings to supplement the $300 a week he receives from unemployment.

With so much at stake for his family, Stauth said he's particularly worried about running out of unemployment benefits with no signs the job market is improving.

"Everybody's saying it's getting better, but it isn't getting better here," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.



September 7, 2009 - Standoff Ends Peacefully

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A 47-year-old Alma Drive resident who allegedly threatened to harm himself and others voluntarily surrendered to Medford police Sunday night, ending a 24-hour marathon standoff with a small army of SWAT team officers and snipers.

The tense situation began at 5:30 p.m. Saturday during a reported domestic dispute between 47-year-old Bradley Leon Cathey and his wife, Sandra Cathey, 45. When police arrived, the wife left the residence with a 7-week-old baby in her arms, police said.

"It was a good ending to a very tragic case," Lt. Tim Doney of the Medford police said. "Nobody was hurt, no citizens were hurt, no officers were hurt and he wasn't hurt."

It also was one of the longest standoffs in recent memory in Medford, said Doney. No shots were fired during the incident.

Cathey walked out of his 2448 Alma Drive house, a few blocks west of Crater Lake Avenue, and obeyedorders from police officers who quickly put him under arrest almost exactly 24 hours after the situation erupted. He was unarmed at the time.

After a search warrant was issued on the house, officers found a shotgun, two .22-caliber rifles and a .38-caliber handgun. He had barricaded himself in his garage, threatening to harm himself and officers, the Medford police reported.

Even though the suspect suggested there were explosives, none were found, said Doney.

Cathey will be taken in for psychological evaluation and will be charged with coercion, menacing and disorderly conduct.

Police haven't determined whether drugs or alcohol were a factor, said Doney.

The Jackson County District Attorney's Office could decide to file additional charges after it reviews the case, he said.

Neighbors, who had been evacuated 24 hours earlier, returned to their homes and police pulled down yellow tape that blocked both entrances to Alma Drive.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department SWAT team relieved Medford police officers Sunday morning after officers had worked through the night. No estimates have been made yet on how much it cost to mount the police response to the standoff.

Officers shut off water and electricity to the home to prod Cathey into contacting police and ending the standoff peacefully.

Police wanted to avoid bursting into Cathey's home unless he took some sort of provocative action at the three-bedroom house that he and his wife bought in 2005.

Residents offered up their homes to officers during the standoff, providing them with water and a place to go for restroom breaks.

"We would like to express our appreciation to the neighbors," said Doney.

On nearby Gould Street, police set up a mobile command center.

Neighbors and other onlookers strolled past police tape Sunday afternoon, trying to peer down the street as officers occasionally drove by carrying weapons and dressed in camouflage gear.

While some nearby residents weren't sure what the commotion was about, others said the Catheys had a history of domestic disputes and developed strained relations with some of their neighbors, many of whom feared having their names disclosed. Some residents said Cathey was generally a fairly quiet man.

Rick Cavalli said the couple had moved out about five months ago, and had only been back about two weeks.

"It was nice having them gone," he said.

In one dispute with a neighbor, Cavalli said the Catheys had installed video cameras and erected halogen lights.

He said his family adopted an 11-year-old girl who was one of three foster children that formerly had been cared for by the Catheys.

"They're not what you'd call your June and Ward Cleaver couple," Cavalli said, referring to the 1950s and '60s sitcom "Leave It To Beaver."

Medford police didn't refute the suggestion that they had dealings with the Catheys prior to the standoff.

"It's fair to say we haven't had a lot of contact with this family prior to this," said Doney. "That's not to say we haven't had any."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.




September 6, 2009 - Cycle Oregon Spins Back South

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Debby Richter has practiced for months in anticipation of this year's Cycle Oregon, riding about 400 miles in one week over some of the toughest terrain Southern Oregon and Northern California have to offer.

"I turned 50 and said, this is your present to yourself," said the Medford resident.

Richter is one of 2,200 riders from 40 states and 10 countries who have paid $850 to participate in the Cycle Oregon tour that begins and ends in Medford Sept. 12-19.

The 2009 ride will take cyclists down Highway 99 over the Siskiyou Summit and dip down to Yreka and Happy Camp in Northern California, then head up to Grants Pass and swing through Glendale before finishing where it started in Medford. This is the first time the tour will head into Northern California and is being billed as a ride through the mythical State of Jefferson, referring to the failed separatist movement in this area.

Riders will climb a number of mountain passes, offering a new challenge each day while traveling through local communities such as Jacksonville and Wimer.

"It's a pretty challenging route in some places," said Richter, who last rode in Cycle Oregon about 10 years ago. "I think some people will be surprised how many hills we have in Southern Oregon."

While many riders will be taking the roughly 70 miles a day at a leisurely pace, Richter said she expects some elite riders will use the tour as a training exercise.

Cycle Oregon is more than just a ride. On the first and last night, many cyclists will camp in Fichtner-Mainwaring Park in Medford, where they will receive food and entertainment. Other riders will stay in local hotels or eat at local restaurants.

"Our mission is economic development in rural communities," said Jerry Norquist, ride director for Cycle Oregon. "We will bring cyclists into Southern Oregon for the first time, and many of them will return year after year."

A shuttle service will ferry riders to downtown Medford while they're here, and they can participate in wine-tasting events at RoxyAnn and EdenVale wineries, where they also can sample local cheese and chocolate.

Cycle Oregon will spend $125,000 to set up the event and handle everything from food to camping to portable toilets and showers.

Cycle Oregon's last ride through Southern Oregon, in 2004, was marred by the death of a West Linn woman who lost control of her bicycle on a twisting mountain road near Williams. It was the first death since the ride began in 1987.

Tara Corbin, community relations and logistics director for Cycle Oregon, said this year has been the most popular yet for the ride.

"We sold out in the fastest time ever this year — in less than four weeks," she said.

Most of the vendors are from out of town, but teams of local volunteers will be helping out all week long, Corbin said. Crater FFA students will handle baggage, for example, and meals will be served by the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Southern Oregon Visitors Association. The Britt Festivals will take care of entertainment.

Cycle Oregon has teamed up with local Lions Clubs to put on a barbecue, providing those organizations with money they will use for projects that will benefit the community.

Corbin said the route chosen this year is completely different than in 2004 and will require riders to head down a portion of Interstate 5, from about Hilt to Hornbrook, Calif.

Sue Stephens of the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau said Cycle Oregon is hoping local residents turn out to cheer the riders on as they leave town and when they return.

"We would like this to be a great opportunity to showcase our area and to hopefully create the potential for many of these visitors to return," said Stephens, who has been instrumental in bringing the ride back to Southern Oregon.

Local businesses and volunteers are preparing to help with the ride, though in some cases not directly.

Dave Patterson of Marty's Cycle & Moore in Medford said he will be assembling a couple of bikes sent from riders on the East Coast before they arrive next week.

"Then when they're done, we box them up and ship them back," he said.

Mike Smith, president of the Siskiyou Velo Club, said he will be volunteering to help feed riders.

On Thursday, he will be in Wimer helping dish out beverages and snacks during a rest stop for the riders.

"That sounds pretty hilarious to me," he said. "That's a pretty sleepy community to me and in comes 2,200 riders in their finest Spandex."

On Saturday, he will be helping the Lions Club pass out food. His organization will get about $50 per man for volunteering, but he said the money will be used to help fix up the Bear Creek Greenway or benefit a helmets for kids program.

"It's kind of fun being there with the music and people to talk to," he said.

John Ford, owner of Bear Creek Bicycle in Ashland, has had a lot of inquiries about the ride, but the question he's received the most is how will cyclists ride over the Siskiyou Summit.

"For almost $1,000, to ride on I-5 is strange," he said.

Ford said he knows of only one Ashland man who will be making the ride. Ford said his store installed new tires for the man's bicycle.

"It's pretty expensive, and it takes quite a bit of time," he said.

Debby Richter said she doesn't think it strange to ride on I-5 for a small portion of the tour.

"It's actually got a fairly wide shoulder and it's a pretty easy part of the ride," she said.

She said she is familiar with most legs of the tour.

"I've ridden on about 90 percent of it at various times," she said.

Reach Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.