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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2025)
2 Summer 2025 Applegater OBITUARY Richard Lee Goodnough June 1, 1948 - April 20, 2025 Richard Lee Goodnough was born to Howard Miller (Mickey) and Thelma Cleo Goodnough on June 1, 1948, in Lakeview, Oregon. Raised in Lakeview, he graduated from high school as part of the class of 1966. He worked in the family business, Rose Cleaners, and after high school, went on to begin a short career with the United States Forest Service (USFS). In 1968, he married the love of his life, Thelma Lenore Flick (Goodnough), whom he had met at school in Lakeview, and together they moved to Ashland, Oregon, to attend college at Southern Oregon College (now Southern Oregon University). They bought property in the Applegate in 1973, where they continued to build a life together, building two homes and raising a son, David “Cody” Goodnough. Richard worked for USFS, Oregon State Forestry, and as a potter. He eventually began working as a self- employed contractor and handyman, and he made a living working primarily for customers in the Applegate Valley. As a local carpenter and handyman, Richard touched many lives and worked on many houses here in the Applegate. He may have used his skills as a carpenter, electrician, or plumber to assist you with any number of projects in which you sought his services, or he may have assisted you in an emergency situation. He was one of the founding members of the Applegate Valley Rural Fire Protection District #9, which took over fire protection duties from the local Lions Club in 1980. He served in various ranks within the fire district, including Firefighter, Captain, and Battalion Chief. He was also certified as an Emergency Medical Technician and served multiple terms as an elected member of the Board of Directors. In total, he served with the fire district for 34 years. Richard passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Howard and Orvelle. He is survived by his wife, Thelma; his baby sister, Thelma Cox (yes that is correct; his mother, sister, and wife were all named Thelma); his son Cody; his grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all those who have reached out with words of condolence and support. We’ve always believed, and now we’re assured, that he touched many lives in a positive way, and for that we are grateful. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, June 14, at Cantrall Bucley Park Group A. Please consider bringing your own lawn chairs. Thelma and Cody Goodnough cgoodnough@gmail.com A loss in the community I lost a dear friend of 50 years and Applegate residents lost another of our finest people with Richard Goodnough’s passing this past April. We met in 1974 while working at Star Ranger Station, and we were perhaps unlikely friends—he having resisted the draft and I having returned recently from Vietnam. But we became very close, and we worked in the woods together, cutting firewood and poles in the off-season. Genealogy shows that in Virginia in the 1770s, the “Goodenough” and “Typton” families intermarried, and I’ve always felt that Richard was truly “my brother.” When my wife, Janis, and I were trying to purchase property near them in 1977, Richard and Thelma offered us half ownership of their property, along with half the milking duties that come with a fresh Jersey cow and everything that trickles down from that—calves, pigs, turkeys, and chickens. Some of the best years of my life were spent living there with them. We also worked together in construction, along with others, as Billy Mountain Builders Cooperative. Later, Richard and Chris Bratt formed a construction company named Cottage Green. Richard touched the lives of many people over the years. Personally, I’m going to miss our 30-year tradition of weekly pool games that assured we’d stay connected. Paul Tipton • ptipton4u2c@gmail.com ■ FIRE DISTRICT Continued from page 1 you need is the heart to help, the time to train, and the willingness to be there when your neighbors need you most. Applegate Fire District provides everything you need to get started: training, gear, support, and a clear path toward becoming a firefighter or emergency responder. We also have roles for those who want to assist behind the scenes—driving water tenders, supporting wildland crews, or providing rehab and logistics at fire scenes. There’s a role for everyone who’s ready to step forward. Volunteering is more than answering alarms. It’s about presence. It’s about knowing that your contribution helps keep your neighborhood protected. It’s about ensuring that when something goes wrong, help is already nearby—not coming from a station on the other side of the valley. Over the years, we’ve had generations of families serve in our ranks—parents, children, siblings. That tradition of service has helped shape who we are, and we hope to see it continue. Whether you’re just starting out, have recently retired, or are somewhere in between, this could be your moment to carry the torch. When people talk about the Applegate Fire District, they speak with respect and gratitude—not just for the service we provide, but for the heart we bring to every call. We’re honored to be part of such a caring community, and we’re always looking for others who feel that same sense of purpose and pride. We invite you to visit a station, meet our crews, and explore how you might fit in. It could be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make. For more information or to apply, visit applegatefd.com or call 541-899-1050. We’ll guide you every step of the way. Chris Wolfard, Fire Chief Applegate Fire District cwolfard@applegatefd.com Food, wine, music, and more at Troon Vineyard BY DIANA COOGLE No w h e r e e l s e i n t h e Applegate on June 7 can you find such an afternoon of good food, wine, inspiration, knowledge, and fun as at Troon Vineyard. Join us there for the Siskiyou Crest Coalition’s 2025 fundraiser. Here’s the scoop What: An afternoon and evening of tours, speakers, music, delicious food, and great wine. Where: Troon Vineyard, 1475 Kubli Road. W h e n : S a t u r d a y, J u n e 7, 1-7 pm. Who: You! Why: For all this: • Weed identification workshop with the Pollinator Project of the Rogue Valley at 1 pm. • Butterfly walk with Linda Kappen, the Applegater’s butterfly columnist (see page 13 ) at 2:30 pm. • Inspirational nature talk by biologist and writer Pepper Trail, winner of the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy’s 2 0 2 4 C o n s e r va t i o n Aw a rd at 3 pm. • Tour of Troon, the only Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Certified winery and farm in Oregon, led by Garett Long, Troon’s Director of Agriculture at 3:30 pm. • Tour of the native plant garden by garden architect Suzie Savoie at 4 pm. • Music by country blues and folk musician Scott Knickerbocker, starting at 5 pm. • Artisan pizza dinner by Chef Carl, of Wilder Cooking, with salad, dessert, and a complimentary glass of Troon’s wine at 5 pm. Kangaroo Mountain as seen from a flight over the Siskiyou Crest with Ecoflight. Photo: Frank Lospalluto. • Words of inspiration and delight by Siskiyou botanist Kristi Mergenthaler and others during dinner. • Music, socializing, another glass of wine (but not complimentary), another stroll through the garden, contemplation of the mountains, and talk of plants, hikes, and Siskiyou adventures with friends and botanical experts until 7 pm. The best reason: To support the work of the Siskiyou Crest Coalition, which endeavors to find permanent protections for the public lands of the Siskiyou Crest, not only because of the world-significant botanical diversity and the wildlife that lives in the Siskiyous, but for the viewshed and watershed that are so important to Troon, other vineyards, and, indeed, to all of us who live in the Applegate. How: Tickets are available for $50 at siskiyoucrestcoalition.org/fundraiser/. You can also buy tickets at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/siskiyou-crest-coalition- fundraiser-at-troon-vineyard-tickets- 1343175206199?aff=oddtdtcreator. See you at Troon on June 7! Diana Coogle • dicoog@gmail.com Three Rivers Community Orchestra Spring Concert BY COLLEEN KIRKLAND The Three Rivers Community Orchestra (TRCO) will hold our Spring Concert on Sunday, June 1, at 3 pm at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center, located at Grants Pass High School. We will be under the direction of our new conductor, Dr. Jason Heald. Dr. Heald is the Director of Music at Umpqua Community College and an award- winning composer, performer, educator, and clinician in the Pacific Northwest. We are very excited to have him, as he is challenging us to new heights of musical performance. He became our conductor in January and has already conducted our April Concert, which included a local piano soloist, Anna Christina Streletz, and brought the Roseburg Concert Chorale to sing with us. For this concert, we will be performing Mozart’s “Exsultate, jubilate (Motet), K. 165” with a soloist, the Schubert “Overture in D,” Sibelius’s “Valse Triste,” Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances,” and Heald’s own composition “Three Dances.” Our musicians are all from the local area and love classical music. We meet on Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm at North Middle School in Grants Pass and are looking for musicians of orchestral instruments who are passionate about sharing music with others. Our concerts are all free, though donations are welcome. If you have questions, feel free to contact me. Colleen Kirkland, Vice President Three Rivers Community Orchestra dekirklands@gmail.com 541-476-0860 Coming Soon: Rat Route 238 Paragliding Event! On June 8-13, watch paragliders land daily at local businesses in the Applegate Valley during this week-long event! Spectators are invited to enjoy the show, take in the views, and explore local flavors and goods. Landings will take place each afternoon between 2-5 pm at featured venues, including LongSword Vineyard, KingFisher Lavender Farm, and Red Lily Vineyards.
