Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1959)
Wted p (Mews shland Forest j Stay Thursday. Dec 31, 1959 MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Or. C ?. m (1-wrapVv,,,. . . . . - ! rr-A'PtfTF i - , ... fill ... fire I' li r! - jS'q "? ... sir pollution study starts ... fe '.-.V. .... , v, - - " v " - 1 . - ' " b - - r - ' v "V ...:"U- . v -'"i ... Centennial Stockade constructed ... ft - 1 i ,5 "1 -j-, ; f ' b s ' Ni 5 Cb' -y -'- I a" , . malarial for 'new bridge approach aftermath of Roseburg disaster destroys Modh Milling company ... ... .j Fire No. 2 Spot Story of Year The Aug. 7 explosion which leveled several blocks of the downtown Roseburg area was selected unanimously as the top "spot news" story of J 959 by members of the Mail Tribune's news department. The story also was selected by press associations as the top news story of the year in Oregon. Although it was not a "local story" in the sense that it happened within the Mail Tribune's circulation area, the explosion had its effect here. Many city and county officials went to Roseburg to offer assistance. Ranking next to the Roseburg disaster in spot news was the Ashland forest fire, which started the. afternoon of Aug. 8 and continued for most of the following week. The vote also was unanimous among tile 11 news staff members. Six of the 11 members of the staff selected school reor ganization in Jackson county as the most important news story of the year. Selection of the most important' story is based on the effect of the news over a period of time, and the number' of residents affected by it. - Other first places votes on the most important story were distributed among the Rogue basin 6urvey, the Tal ent project and the state's position on recreational uses of county streams. Human Interest Stories In the "category of "human interest stories, the news staff selected the hassle be tween water users and the Eagle Point Irrigation dis trict as the one with the most interest. The story received five first place votes. The European and Russian trip taken by Dr. Leonard B. Mayfield, Medford school su perintendent, received two first place votes for the best human interest story, while Centennial activities received one vote. Ranking second in human interest was Wilbur Gardner's national . campaign to have shoes labeled with the mater ial with which they are made, Other stories which received votes as being among the top human interest stories were the Medford Shopping Center, and Centennial activities. Other, stories mentioned as among the top spot news stor ies were the Morton Milling company fire and the family tragedy in which a boy killed his father and sister and then took his own life. Visits by Senators John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey also re ceived votes as being one. of the better spot news stories of the year. Among other stories which received votes as being among the top 10 more important stories of the year were the new Shakespearean theater in Ashland, the county subdivis ion bill, the Highway 99 free way development, the Med ford Shopping Center, and air and creek pollution. Following is a month-by- month review of activities in the area during the past year. JANUARY Three new county officials, judges take oath of office . . . Members of Jackson County Bar association pay tribute to retiring Judge Herbert K. Hanna . . . C. Rease Braley, well-known southern Oregon- ian, died at home . . . Coun cilman James Dunlevy named president of city council . . Wilbur Gardner, crusading shoe repairman, informed that bill to require labeling shoes will be introduced in congress . . Michael Hanley, prominent rancher, dies in Boise, Ida. . . . Medford po lice put new radar set into operation . . . $32,977 collect ed for Shakespearean Festi val fund . . . Attorneys for Eagle Point Irrigation dis trict and California Oregon Power company to disqualify Judge Edward C. Kelly in circuit court case- of five wa ter users against district and Copco . . . Hugh D'Autremont, convicted of 1923 Siskiyou train robbery, . released from state penitentiary . . . Dr. Ray Casterline, Medford, named to state board of medical ex aminers ... State Senator Philip B. Lowry urges Pub lic Utilities Commissioner Howard Morgan to decide case of Southern Pacific's abandonment of passenger service between Eugene and Ashland . . . Contract award ed for clearing Emigrant res ervoir area . . . Stockade to be built at Siskiyou summit . Ashland considers new junior high school . . . Med ford school board authorizes series of meetings with other boards on reorganization . . -. Bids called for grading High way 99 freeway between Grants Pass and Jackson county line . . . Mrs. Maxine A. Click indicted for first de gree murder of husband . . . . i State water resources board 1 agrees that recreation can be beneficial use of Bear creek, Applegate river and Little Butte creek . . . Illegal cut ting of trees on government land reported . . . Work starts on new sports center south ' of Medford ... Evans Valley residents oppose school consolidation with Rogue River ... Dr. Frank Wilson receives Junior Cham ber .. of Commerce disting uished service award . . . County court may legally es tablish separate parks and recreation commission, ac cording to district attorney's opinion. FEBRUARY Trial run of Centennial Pony . Express goes off smooth . . . Harold Lee Park er, 41, Butte Falls Star route, killed in tractor accident . . . Griffin Creek school district ready to start consolidation proceedings ; . . 362 govern ment officials, parents and students take part in Student Government day .'. . School census shows 21,252 children between 4 and 19 years of age . . . January ' employ ment at unusually high level. . . ..Prominent Prospect res ident, Robert B. Grieve, dies. . . . . . Medford school board authorizes - plans for consol idation for four districts . . . Mrs., Maxine Click pleads innocent- -to first degree mur der . . . Medco gives City of Medford old shay locomo tive . . . Steady downpour dampens Centennial parade. . . . High water possible in Rogue and Umpqua basin streams . ... . Angus Bowmer given Ford Foundation grant. . . . 21 drivers cited since re cent radar installation . . . Mrs. Sarah - G. Riley, 99, pi oneer's daughter, dies . . . On to Oregon Cavalcade will car ry souvenir envelopes ... Mail Tribune Managing Edi tor Eric Allen Jr. receives award from Freedoms Foun dation . . . Denzil Hubert Shilts, Blue River, and Mabel E. Lilja, Redmond, killed in crash . . . Applegate Grange holds Centennial pageant . Miss Elaine Kroon, Crater High school senior, and Bob Pone, Medford High senior, win most 'valuable student contest. MARCH ' Preparations for full-scale study of air conditions in Medford area to begin . . Mental health committee plans family counseling agency . . . Mrs. Harlan Bos- worth named Oregon's Moth er of the Year . . . Construc tion of new Shakespearean Festival theater in Ashland continues on schedule . . , Sen. and Mrs. John F. Ken nedy arrive for annual Roose velt dinner . . . New lethal chamber for county dog pound readied . . . Bill Jess, Eagle Point, reelected presi dent of Rogue River Flood Control and Water Resources association ... County court prepares subdivision bill for action . . . Rogue River Irri gation district discuss plans for reservoir in Agate area. . . Local stations for air sampling set up . . . Termo meters are checked for com ing orchard heating ... Es timated 500 attend Wilson school dedication . . . Old covered bridge over Antelope creek on Riley dr. dismantled. . Berrydale Sanitary sewer approved by Medford city council . . . Dr. Ira Dell Phipps, 80, dental surgeon, dies at home . . . Body of 81-year-old Andrew Kolstad found by search party . . . 2,r 000 join Centennial associa tion's '59er membership pro gram ... Testimony begins in Click trial . . . Dewey Blackmail, 100, dies at Cen tral Point . . . Mrs. Click found not guilty . . . Bids to be called on Rogue Valley Manor . . , Hugh D'Autre mont, recently paroled from state penitentiary, dies in San Francisco . . . Condemnation suits brought by state high- way commission begin. I ST? JCTi.!l?E95S:STJ5JCTliR5 . 57 w;irT?iJSa: ! snmk GRANTS, JX PASS 'i APRIL Medford parks and recrea tion commission discusses plans for West Jackson st. swimming pool . . . Miss Caro lyn Mencke selected for Euro pean stay . . . Rogue River school district voters approve bond issue to finance elemen tary school construction . . . Jury awards Joe Allisons. Rogue River, $3,000 for prop erty on freeway right-of-way . . . Little Frank Allen Hunt and Margaret Stephen rule over Pear festival . . . Irriga tion water supplies said poor est in many years . . . Consoli dation of six school districts approved . . . Pear festival parade and sportsfair sched uled in Medford . . . Wiley's packing house, Ashland, de stroyed by fire . . ." Ray Charles D'Autremont, in peni tentiary, petitions district court for speedy trial . . . State police arrest Leland Duane Benson, 33, wanted for kill ing in St. Louis, Mo. . . . Har old Dagis Schuck, 22, killed in highway crash . . . Shop ping center expected to pro vide jobs for 200 ... J. Russ Acheson- hired as assistant superintendent . for Medford schools . . . 6,000 ponderosa pine seedlings planted on Roxy Ann butte and 42 con crete pots placed on down town sidewalks . . . Bud dam age reported from freezing temperatures . ... City and county officials speak of smoke problem from orchard heating . . . Fruit growers dis cuss orchard heating and air pollution ...Wagon train leaves Independence, Mo., for Independence, Ore. . . .' Ash land approves bond issue for new junior high school . . . 1,000 folders inviting . people to visit Jackson county sent to Medford Trail Riders wa gon cavalcade . . . Danger of forest fires reported . . . Coun ty court petitioned by citizens objecting to orchard heating smoke ... Glenn Jackson named to state highway com mission . . . Vincent Bevis, Hedrick Junior High school principal, dies in Portland . . . Talent Irrigation district starts use of storage water . . . County officials meet with budget committee to plan year's budgets . . . Construc tion of music and classroom addition at Medford High school expected soon. MAY Paul D. and Mary G. Con rad, awarded $214.75 dam ages from Eagle Point Irriga tion district . . . Epidemic of flu - like illness reported in county ... Robert L. Ha worth, new city parks direc tor, arrives . . . Smoke-reducing program announced by fruit growers committee .' '. . Bids opened for Rogue Val ley Manor construction . . . Retiring school superintend ent, H. P. Jewett, honored in Central Point ceremonies . . . Plans approved for further freeway construction . . . Mel vin Cook, Ashland logger, killed in Calfornia lodging accident . . . Bear creek pol lution discussed at public meeting . . . Medford School Superintendent Leonard May- field selected for trip to Rus sia .. . Billy Lee Millard, 2-year-old Ashland boys, dies in hay shed blaze . . . City planning commission passes subdivision bill . . . Dedica tion ceremonies held at Sis kiyou summit stockade . . . Robert Lee Jolliffe, 24, Butte Falls, killed in motorcycle mishap . . . Hail research program started in county. . . Dr. Annie Inskeep dies in Cal ifornia . . . County court ap points new parks and recrea tion commission . . . Oregon Sportsmen club seeks anti pollution law enforcement . . . Phoenix school patrons defeat consolidation measure . . . Thirty-nine slot machines con fiscated by law enforcement agencies . . . R and M Con struction company low bid der for construction of new Bear creek bridge. JUNE Plan to increase off-street parking for shoppers in down town Medford approved by Jackson County Chamber of Commerce's board of direc tors . . . Medford city council awards contract for construc tion of Eighth st. bridge' - r -3a ... Highway 99 freeway work outlined - S : ' : - v. - ... ' - nj j. - f v v $jr: ' f ,&mrtiy - ........ across Bear creek ... Sub division ordinance approved by Medford city council . . . Southern Oregon College President Dr. Elmo N. Stev enson presents diplomas to 339 Medford High school graduates ... Covered wa gon train begins 13-day trek to 4-H summer camp at Cor vallis . . . Well-known Med ford attorney, Porter J. Neff, 87, dies after lingering ill ness ... "Park and Shop" plan approved for Medford by Jackson County Chamber of Commerce's retail mer chants group . . . Medford parks and recreation commis sioner urges city countil to adopt plans for West Jackson st. swimming pool . . . Big forest fire breaks out in Star Gulch area 20 miles south west of Medford . . . Charles A. Meyer named to succeed H.P. Jewett as superintendent of School District 60 . . . Medford city council ap proves campaign to raise $15 000 for swimming pool . . . Police use huge hydraulic press to smash, slot-machines collected m valley roundup. John Bowman, 15-year-old student from Hyatt lake, named grand champion at 24th annual Catfish Derby at TouVelle state park Burg lars net more than $1,100 from safe at Coca Cola Bot tling company in Medford . . . United Medford Crusade an nounces 1959-60 goal of $138 782 .. . Dr. A. Erin Merkel, Jackson county public health officer, resigns to take posi tion in San Diego . . . Steam locomotive "Old No. 4" makes last trip, carries passengers instead of logs . . . Question of purchasing five cars for Jackson county sheriffs ot fice boils over in county court . ,. . Rock Point school, built sometime . before 1874, destroyed by fire . . . Local Democrats attend dinner hon oring Medford Attorney Ro bert Duncan ... JULY Purchase of 40-acre county recreation site on Applegate assured by county parks and recreation commission chair man . . . Swimming pool at West Jackson st. estimated to cost $90,000 . . . County resi dents celebrate a generally safe, sane Fourth of July . . . Medford American Legion post launches drive to raise funds for $40,000 Veterans Memorial building . . . Two New Mexico men arrested, ad mit burglarizing 14 local bus iness establishments . . . U.S. Army corps of engineers com pletes study of potential proj ects for Rogue River basin ... ... forest fire threatens Ashland ... Medco engine Jackson county fiscal 1959-60 budget of over $3.6 million approved . . . Some sheriffs deputies drive own cars as result of continuing - hassle over purchase of new autos . ' . . U.S. fish and wildlife service announces opposition to any dams on main stem of Rogue river . . . County Asses sor Ray Schumacher declares Medford and Eagle Point school districts' budgets in valid because of recent inter pretation of attorney general's ruling . . . Medford's school traffic safety education pro gram wins National Safety Council certificate of achieve ment . . . Heat wave strikes, several sections of Rogue River National forest ordered closed because of fire danger . . . Water supply nears critic ally low stage at both Med ford and Talent irrigation dis tricts . . . Pinehurst residents protest proposed reorganiza tion of their non-high school district with Ashland fe!hooI district . . . Assessed value of land, buildings, personal prop erty and utilities reported up more than $600,000 over last fiscal year . . . Medford'regis ters seventh straight day of over 100-degree temperatures . . . Harry Holmes, co-founder of nation's largest gift fruit packing firm, dies at 68 . . . Pacific Northwest conference on higher education opens at Southern Oregon college . . . Opening night of Oregon Shakespearean festival sea son attended by standing room only crowds . . . Nearly 1,000 men battle forest fire in Sis kiyou county . . . Miner, 76, later arrested for causing blaze . . . Mercy Flights, Inc., buys two new aircraft . . . Medford city council passes ordinance permitting jury trials in municipal court ... ' 3' : V i ; "i Is i " ; " f k i ' ' SKsi . .' giren to city park ... AUGUST Jacksonville Gold Rush Ju bilee opens . . . Mrs. Esther Lonch, 31-year-old mother of four, charged with murdering William B. Simmons, 62-year-old .Camp White veterans domiciliary member . . . Forest fire in hills threatens entire city of Ashland; rages for two days, eventually covers nearly 5,000 acres ... Roseburg downtown area leveled by ex plosive Week-long Jackson county 4-H and FFA fair opens .' . . County Judge Earl Miller returns money paid his garage for repair of his county car . . . Talent teen-ager, Carolyn. Tiegs, named champion poul try showman and grand champion poultry exhibitor at fair . . . New shopping center opens on East Jackson st, . . . Medford city council approves plans and specifications and calls for bids for construction of West Jackson st. swimming pool . . . Kiwanis-sponsored county fair opens as 4-H-FFA fair draws to close . . . Jack son county planning commis sion slates public hearing on prepared new interim zoning ordinance . . . 200 Mexican laborers begin to arrive to re lieve critical fruit picker shortage . . . Morton Milling company plant in Medford gutted by $400,000 fire . . . SEPTEMBER Jackson County Chamber of Commerce's board of direc tors considers possibility of constructing new building to house chamber . . . Unemploy ment in Jackson county drops to lowest level in four years . . . Two gunmen rob Safeway food store at Medford Shop ping center of $2,000 to S5.000 . . . Record total of 36,338 at tend plays at Oregon Shake- (Continued on Page 7) ,
