The flood of Christmas week 1964 was the top news story of the past year, and it has prospects of becoming one of the major news stories of 1965, when the major part of the damage repair work will be done or started.
    Repairing flood damage and cleaning up debris left by the flood was complicated as the year closed with heavy snowfall.
    The unanimity of what was the top news story of the year was never in question by members of the Mail Tribune news department in voting on the top stories of the year. All staff members selected the Christmas week flood as the top story.
    The flood overshadowed most other major news developments during the year, a review of which shows several stories which may have been included in the top five had it not been for the flood.
    The second top news story was the general election, selected for that spot by 11 of the 14 votes cast by the news department personnel. Other votes for second best news story went to the voters' approval of a new Medford City Hall and development of a civic center, which received two votes, and the McLoughlin Junior High School fire, which received one vote.
    Third place was well divided among news department staff members, with votes going to the city hall proposal and the Mt. Ashland development getting three votes each; the general election, the Ashland hailstorm and West Coast Airlines' proposal to eliminate United Air Lines service in Medford each got two third-place votes.
    The school bond election in the Medford district and the discharge of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rucker as superintendents of the Jackson County Farm Home received one vote each for third place.
    Five staff members listed the Rucker incident as the fourth-ranked story. Other fourth-place votes went to stories about Mt. Ashland, the civic center and new city hall, the Job Corps proposal for a camp near Grants Pass, the new cancer center and the Ashland hailstorm.
    Fifth place was divided among Mt. Ashland, the school bond election, recreation development in Jackson County, the Ashland hailstorm, the Rucker incident, the new cancer center at Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital, the Job Corps proposal and the new city hall.
    In the news feature category, staff members were divided on what they considered the top five, but the visit by a group of Alba, Italy residents received the most number of votes as the best news feature.
    Restoration of the U.S. Hotel in Jacksonville received four first-place votes, the festivals--Shakespeare and Britt Music--received two votes, and the "big cat" incident along Bear Creek and the city dropping from fourth to fifth in population each received one vote.
    Most of the second best news feature story votes went to the U.S. Hotel restoration and the festivals, with other stories receiving one or two votes.
    Third-place votes were almost evenly divided among the U.S. Hotel restoration, the festivals and the Alba visitors.
    Several other news developments during the year probably would have rated mentioning among the top stories, but late year floods dominated the news of the year.
    Water, its excess or lack of, entered into several stories during the year, although not all of them were among the top news developments of the year.
    With the December flood still fresh in the minds of area residents, among other news stories affiliated with the subject of water were these:
    --Snow surveys early in the year indicated a more than adequate supply of irrigation water.
    --Last January, a welcome rain washed away a thick fog covering the valley.
    --Members of the Izaak Walton League sought means of increasing the flow of Bear Creek.
    --And last summer, federal agencies were asked about the possibilities of designating the Rogue River as a wild river.
    The latter two items came to pass unassisted by man last week, and its effect will carry over into the new year starting tomorrow.
    Following is a month-by-month review of the past year:
    City considers three streets connecting Riverside Avenue and Central Avenue . . . Welcome rain washes away fog . . . State budget cut is felt by extension service in Jackson County . . . 10 county, state and federal offices to be filled by election on May 15 . . . Trio charged with extortion arraigned in Jackson County Circuit Court . . . William Singler elected president of Medford City Council . . . Post office statistics show increase for year . . . Mt. Ashland schedules limited skiing . . . Robert Y. Thornton accepts invitation to attend platform convention in Jackson County . . . Firemen rescue three persons from burning house in Ashland . . . First official day of activity noted on Mt. Ashland . . . Snowstorm closes Diamond Lake Road . . . County Commissioner Ed Taylor plans trip to Hawaii and National Association of Counties meeting . . . Jacksonville sewer system accepted by city . . . Charles O. Porter may seek congressional post again . . . Nelson Rockefeller to speak at Lincoln Day dinner in Medford . . . Record high for winter term at Southern Oregon College noted in registration . . . Hyatt Lake Resort open for skiing . . . Airport opened to five flights due to seeding of fog . . . Sam B. Harbison elected vice president of National Council of United Presbyterian Men . . . Gov. Mark O. Hatfield speaks at Southern Oregon College . . . Master development plan for Howard Prairie area sought . . . Work to start on transportation study in valley . . . Jacksonville city council elects George Brewer president by toss of coin . . . Retired Army officer named secretary for Girl Scout Council . . . Lumber industry notes increase in employment . . . John North elected president of Parks and Recreation Commission . . . Grants Pass city council approves fluoridation . . . Glenn Smith files for county commissioner . . . 33,563 votes registered . . . Gov. Mark Hatfield to be in county to dedicate section of Interstate 5 . . . Rainfall, snow and high winds threaten valley . . . Drilling under way at Agate Dam site . . . Crater Lake Park attendance in 1963 totals 475,684 . . . Chains needed all ways out of the valley . . . Judges Edward Kelly and James Main file for reelection . . . Lost Creek, Agate dams included in federal budget . . . March 10 set for election on school bond issue . . . High school plan and site approved by school board . . . Mark Boyden files for reelection . . . Richard Travis files for state representative post . . . Worthless money orders circulated in area . . . South Talent zoning bill defeated . . . Dr. Edwin Durno named Oregon chairman for Barry Goldwater . . . New White City particleboard plant to use wood waste . . . Increased budget sought by library.
    Medford School District Citizens Committee's work is discussed at public meeting . . . First serious ski accident occurs at Mt. Ashland . . . Downtown problems discussed by Retail Merchants Association . . . Downtown doors and windows broken . . . Large budget for curriculum materials center noted . . . Hearing on school budget set in Eagle Point . . . Annexation election called in Bellview area near Ashland . . . Jackson County Court discusses using funds for Bear Creek temperature study . . . Armory board to consider parking lot lighting . . . Medford City Council and planning commission discuss zone change . . . Unemployment reaches high . . . Commissioner Ed Taylor files for second term . . . Nelson Rockefeller addresses Lincoln Day dinner . . . Diana Marie Collis arraigned on assault charge in connection with shooting of Colleen Knapp and her mother . . . Edward Branchfield seeks reelection . . . Pete Ruef named chairman of United Crusade campaign . . . Parks and Recreation Commission discusses Bear Creek Park . . . Butte Falls school budget hearing set . . . Phoenix plans American Field Service chapter . . . Circuit court jury views Lowery family property in connection with condemnation suit . . . Democrats outnumber Republicans in county voter registration . . . Volunteers tour area to discuss school plan . . . New bank branch opens . . . Exchange project for young adults in planning stage . . . Particleboard plant to be built in Medford area . . . Postmasters state meeting to be held here . . . Boat launching ramp completed at Emigrant [Lake] . . . Medford High wins grand sweepstakes at Linfield Speech Tourney . . . Interstate 5 to be completed [through Siskiyou County] by 1971 . . . Jury awards $8,000 to Lowery for right of way . . . Pacific Power and Light crew honored for safety . . . Trust formed to supervise hotel restoration in Jacksonville . . . Phoenix school addition bid opened . . . Bloodmobile reaches quota . . . Sacred Heart calls for bids on new hospital building . . . Master park plan for city presented . . . James Redden to seek reelection . . . Truman Collins, principal stockholder in Elk Lumber Company, dies at home in Portland . . . United Airlines will not protest petition to cut Medford from itinerary . . . County Clerk Marvin Madden to seek nomination for state representative . . . Ashland school budget approved . . . Valley residents view unidentified flying objects . . . Republican Central Committee meets . . . Lack of election candidates noted . . . Chamber directors favor approval of school bond issue . . . Interest in Kennedy memorial program noted . . . Thomas Reeder to run for legislature.
    L. L. Sawyer to seek election to circuit court . . . United Crusade reaches goal . . . Central Point telephone rates increased . . . White City site being considered by 3M Company . . . Crater Lake snowfall totals 397 inches . . . Search for Grants Pass plane and man continues . . . Meeting announced for highway relocation . . . Shakespearean festival ticket sales running ahead of 1963 . . . Ministerial association favors school bond issue . . . Auction proposes to raise funds for master development . . . Property owners oppose school bond issue . . . Robert B. Duncan to seek reelection . . . Construction of gospel mission building starts . . . John R. Dellenback to seek reelection . . . 58 file for precinct posts . . . Henry D. Padgham and Chester Guches file for election . . . Crater Lake National Park superintendent to retire . . . Medford debate teams win district speech contest . . . Six candidates file for office on final day . . . Chamber of Commerce endorses bond issue . . . Employment up during February . . . Funds pledged for new library and science facilities . . . Search for missing Grants Pass flier suspended . . . Community Bible Church destroyed by flame . . . Water supply declared adequate . . . County budget may exceed $5 million . . .Voters turn down school bond issue . . . JFK memorial candidates to be picked . . . 101-year-old Ella Piercy dies . . . School District 6 budget hearing scheduled . . . Beckie's Cafe, old landmark, sold . . . West Side Water District hearing slated . . . MHS academic honors group selected . . . Frost forecaster to arrive in county . . . Kathy Foley named Oregon Homemaker of Tomorrow . . . Officials consult with engineers on Rogue Basin study . . . Water, sewage study to be completed by November . . . Lost Creek area survey scheduled . . . Jack Hoffbuhr resigns from irrigation district position . . . St. Mary's High expansion planned . . . Wilbur Gardner to serve as chairman of international shoe meeting . . . Miss Rogue Valley pageant plans being made . . . Charles Champlin, city police chief, dies . . . County employees to discuss civil service proposal . . . Medford High basketball team enters state tourney . . . Medford council takes steps on civic center land option . . . Frank Bash named Oregon education citizen of 1964 . . . Increase of Bear Creek streamflow urged by Izaak Walton League . . . Group organizes for purpose of beautifying valley . . . Snowfall at Crater Lake reaches 501 inches . . . 13 departmental budgets approved . . . JFK half dollars arrive in Medford . . . Orchard heating planning session scheduled . . . Cleanup drive gains impetus . . . Bids called for on construction of new federal building and post office . . . Local firm submits low bid on Sacred Heart Hospital construction . . . Educators visit Air Force fields . . . Increase in funds sought by hospitals for charity cases . . . City water supply system gets award . . . Goldwater plans Southern Oregon whirlwind tour . . . Local groups offer aid to Crescent City tidal wave victims . . . County relief, health department budgets approved . . . Committee urges streamflow study . . . Body of Grants Pass plane victim found.
    Medford girl wins IOOF United Nations contest . . . Pear Blossom royalty to be selected . . . Miss Rogue Valley Pageant interviews held . . . School board member contest shapes up . . . Phoenix district budget shows drop . . . Scattered orchard heating reported . . . Goldwater visit postponed . . . Budget increase for improvements at jail granted . . . Increase in Medford employment noted . . . Secretary of Interior Stewart Udall speaks at Roosevelt-Kennedy memorial dinner . . . Juvenile home asks for larger staffs . . . SOC enrollment up 11.5 percent . . . Goldwater plans visit April 24 . . . Survey of need for county recreation center requested . . . Proposed Medford city budget includes tax millage decrease . . . India to be destination of first young resident adult ambassador . . . 26 enter contest for Pear Blossom king and queen . . . Ward Yeager, superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, retires . . . Jacksonville gets federal grant for restoration study . . . Irrigation water supply outlook is best since 1958 . . . Groundbreaking for new hospital set . . . Cleanup days proclaimed . . . Ten girls become pageant contestants . . . Survey for Lost Creek Dam project under way . . . Preliminary school budget of $4.8 million proposed . . . Jacksonville study agency formed . . . Dr. Ray Casterline elected president of Oregon Board of Medical Examiners . . . Shortening of truck operating hours opposed . . . Ordinance makes it unlawful to leave children unattended in car . . . Martin Grier named Jackson County father of the year . . . Kaiser Corporation plans plant in White City . . . Church takes top prize in Pear Blossom parade . . . Grants Pass boy dies in fire . . . Cuts in juvenile department budget made . . . 250 tons of trash collected in cleanup drive . . . Goldwater calls off Medford visit . . . 3.4-mill increase seen in school budget . . . Dr. Leonard Mayfield invited to evaluate language institutes . . . Oregon Shakespeare Festival season gets under way . . . Norman Luboff Choir signed for civic music season . . . Ashland ski area expansion scheduled . . . Bellview area voters approved annexation to city of Ashland . . . Harry Wright named first JFK memorial ambassador . . . Mary Ann Cantrall wins state 4-H contest . . . Recreation season opens in forest and lake areas . . . Porter challenges Duncan to debate on campaign issues . . . Rockefeller arrives in valley . . . Hatfield to speak at Britt Music Festival opening . . . Tetanus immunization program planned . . . Omar Bacon elected president of Oregon Library Association . . . County budget items for capital improvements set . . . Two Medford families selected as American Field Service hosts . . . Committee adopts school budget with 0.2-mill increase . . . Academic Honors Banquet held at country club . . . Goldwater's son visits Medford area . . . Yellowstone Park official named to Crater Lake post.
    Law Day observed . . . Michael Goldwater arrives in area . . . Medford girl second in nation in Betty Crocker search . . . Tetanus clinics start . . . Construction bids on new federal building opened . . . Firemen offer home inspections . . . Orchard heating above average . . . Additional Rogue Basin funds sought . . . Voters pass school budget in seven of eight districts . . . Frank Bash, Wayne Wakefield and Dr. Billy Blackstone win school board elections . . . Split schedule for parcel post delivery planned . . . Citizens' committee accepts preliminary $4,489,499 budget . . . Roosevelt memorial dinner held . . . Students participate in local and county student government day . . . Dedication of Applegate park held . . . Columbus Avenue paving approved by city council . . . April employment figures up . . . Diana Collis pleads innocent on assault with intent to kill charges . . . Water supply outlook good . . . Medford High troubleshooters win first in state contest . . . Dedication of county public health center held . . . Manor appeals true cash evaluation by assessor . . . SOC students conduct marathon in support of Ballot Measure No. 1 . . . West Side Water District election scheduled . . . Oregon Bankers Association meets in Medford . . . Oregon voters go to polls as nation watches . . . Work on Shady Cove area land use plan starts . . . Medford school budget hearing slated . . . Jackson County turnout at polls estimated at 50 percent . . . West Side Water District proposal defeated . . . Damage caused by wind at Howard Prairie Lake . . . Jerry Olson killed in plane crash . . . J. F. Eberhart to head Jackson County Parks and Recreation Commission . . . Redevelopment of downtown block in Ashland planned . . . United Crusade executive Harold Cook dies . . . Rogue River voters approve city budget . . . County's rural fire districts form association . . . French girl to visit area this summer as JFK ambassador . . . Kathy Ross chosen Miss Rogue Valley for 1964 . . . Above average pear crop expected . . . Bond issue for new city hall to be put on ballot . . . Local architects engaged for post office project . . . Breach of contract suit by Ashland firm enters fourth week . . . Assessed valuation boost drops school tax rate . . . Area businesses aid Crescent City firms . . . Ashland council votes to annex Bellview sections . . . New recreation site along Rogue to be dedicated . . . F. L. Clower named city police chief . . . Memorial Day events planned in city . . . Medford building permits exceed $3 million . . . Don McNeil, Chamber of Commerce manager, resigns.
    Medford School District budget exceeding 6 percent limitation passes . . . Frank Applegate dies . . . Capital improvement program planned for Ashland . . . New police chief spends day in city . . . Dr. Leon Minear to speak at MHS commencement exercises . . . Shakespearean festival rehearsals begin . . . "Build a Greater Medford" program outlined by Chamber of Commerce . . . Diana Collis receives life sentence on assault with intent to kill charge . . . Josephine County school budget voted down again . . . 1,000 hear report on Medford Master Plan . . . U.S. National Bank plans $1 million project . . . Tetanus clinic begins . . . 1964 water supply outlook said good . . . BLM dedicates park sites near Gold Hill . . . JFK ambassador to visit France and Italy instead of India . . . Postmasters hold state convention in Medford . . . Rogue, Klamath areas urged to coordinate tourist effort . . . 31-ton Douglas fir log stops on trip south . . . Employment totals show one-year gain . . . Medford receives traffic safety award . . . Crater Lake Lodge opens . . . Buildings razed on new federal site . . . Girls' and Boys' State participants attend conference . . . Ashland Festival company leaves for Stanford run . . . Applications for Medford postmaster accepted by U.S. Civil Service Commission . . . Medford girl nominated for Girls' State governor . . . Rogue River may be named a wild river . . . Library budget increase to provide for additional books and personnel . . . Bill Barker elected school board chairman . . . City and council speed up plans for joint airport commission . . . Medford budget passed by city council . . . Seven temporary rooms authorized for the high school . . . Medford girl named Girls' State governor . . . Water carnival and catfish derby held in Rogue Valley . . . Portland firm to design new city hall . . . County youth work program begins . . . Fire destroys two rooms in county jail . . . Rooster Crow event features governors' roosters . . . Miss Rogue Valley begins competition for state title . . . Shakespearean stamp to be unveiled at opening night performance in Ashland . . . Joint airport committee to seek federal assistance . . . One-year extension granted to Jackson County Court on Beekman house lease . . . Lt. Lyle Perkins wins firearms trophy at FBI school . . . Mac's Joe wins Rooster Crow contest . . . Applegate forest fire under control . . . Miss Rogue Valley places third in Miss Oregon contest . . . Caution urged for fireworks use . . . Alarm telephone system placed in operation . . . Miss Rogue Valley program captures top state honors.
    McLoughlin Junior High School badly damaged by fire . . . Manor appeals proposed cash valuation . . . United Air Lines fog dispersal study reviewed . . . JFK ambassador given send-off and Alba visitor welcomed . . . Industry-financed air pollution study to be made . . . Postal officials to attend stamp unveiling in Ashland . . . School board takes action to expedite McLoughlin repairs . . . July 4 events slated in Central Point, Ashland and Eagle Point . . . County buys land for recreation area on Applegate . . . Wayne Morse in Medford to confer with fruit growers . . . Hailstorm damages 200 acres of pears . . . San Francisco woman lost on Mt. McLoughlin found after search . . . Festival prepares for July 11 opening . . . County courthouse being remodeled . . . Postal officials arrive for stamp unveiling . . . Medford mayor named to American Municipal Association's committee on airports . . . Jackson County June employment high . . . Ashland to request federal funds for expansion of airport . . . Robert Church to retire as meteorologist . . . Jim Jarvis, former valley ranger, dies . . . Oregon County Clerks Association to convene in Medford . . . Two groups petition county planners for interim zoning . . . Medford Chamber drive exceeds minimum goal . . . Festival opens, stamp unveiled before capacity crowd . . . Obscenity at University of Oregon attacked at anti-Flemming meeting . . . Rogue, Klamath forests report numerous fires . . . Hailstorm strikes Ashland . . . Cleanup efforts start in Ashland . . . Ashland delegation seeks better signs, lighting on freeway . . . Alternate proposal to increase creek streamflow outlined . . . Roxy Ann Road accident claims three lives . . . Bear Creek Basin sewage study half complete . . . Ashland hailstorm insured loss totals $1 million . . . Mayor James Dunlevy files to run for second term . . . Retail Clerks Union accepts three-year contract agreement . . . Jail fire damage being repaired . . . Medford population estimated at 27,991 . . . Eighteen bids received on Agate Dam project . . . Visitors from Alba to arrive in valley . . . Variety of events planned for Alba visitors . . . Applegate area fire closure announced . . . Mt. Ashland ski area road near completion . . . Medford mayor leaves for airport meeting in Florida . . . Seven people hurt in Trail fight . . . Plans for future Ashland indoor theater outlined . . . JFK ambassador from France arrives . . . Architects confer on city hall plans . . . Use of new voting system considered . . . Lightning causes fires, power outage . . . Longtime resident Will Hansen dies . . . City given awards for traffic safety . . . Portland woman and six-year-old son drown in Rogue River.
    Five lifts planned at Ashland ski area . . . Crater Lake notes tourist increase . . . Education group plans meetings in Medford and Ashland . . . Eighth man held in connection with Trail fight . . . Medford wins award for pedestrian safety . . . Terry Green files nomination position . . . Reconstruction of U.S. Hotel in Jacksonville set . . . Superintendents of Jackson County Farm Home dismissed . . . Nine now arraigned as result of fight . . . Pay increase for several city employees adopted . . . July employment in county reported as unusually high . . . Peter Britt Musical Festival opens . . . YMCA secretary Bob Jones resigns . . . Ruckers' dismissal said economy move . . . Bloodmobile visits slated . . . White City gets city mail delivery . . . Forest personnel from area assist in fire fighting . . . Governor welcomes 900 at first Britt Festival concert . . . Civil rights act to be discussed . . . Contract for McLoughlin work awarded to Salter . . . Bloodmobile short of quota . . . 450 acres burned by Hukill Fire . . . Tony Manno invited to White House conference . . . Fire controlled as wind dies down . . . Planners propose hearing prior to zoning county area . . . Joint House-Senate Appropriations Committee approves funds for Rogue Basin Project . . . Airport welcome, motorcade planned for Alba visitors . . . Ashland festival attendance reaches 33,216 . . . Pilots' convention and Prospect airport dedication set . . . Alba group arrival postponed . . . 4-H, FFA Fair begins with horse show . . . Alba delegation delayed in Ireland . . . Demurrers filed for five of the men involved in Trail brawl . . . Pear harvest to start soon . . . Federal plan for Medford master plan authorized . . . Alba group arrives in Medford . . . Wrong tree removed at service station site . . . Applegate woman bitten by rabid fox . . . Hearing set for merger of Evans Valley and Rogue River school districts . . . Henry Padgham Jr. to run for councilman from Ward 1 . . . Livestock champions of 4-H and FFA fair selected . . . Huckleberries begin to ripen in Rogue Forest . . . Forest fire danger reaches high for season . . . Rogue Elk Recreation Area to be dedicated . . . Jackson County youth work camp termed successful . . . Medford City Hall plans discussed . . . Architectural critic to speak in Jacksonville . . . Britt Festival viewed by 6,214 persons . . . FFA Fair winds up with auction . . . 12-year-old Medford girl accidentally shot . . . Pear harvest well under way . . . Christmas Day celebrated at Crater Lake National Park . . . Critic urges that Jacksonville be made to have special character . . . Alba group leaves valley . . . Upper Applegate rabies clinic set . . . District attorney studies request for probe of farm home incident . . . Vernon Rasmussen files for city council . . . Eugene Hopkins picked as manager of Medford Chamber of Commerce . . . Pear harvest labor adequate but decline seen.
    Peak work force for Rogue Basin Project to be 2,000 with $2½ million monthly payroll . . . City Planner Ned Langford to resign . . . Pear picking delayed by rain . . . Crater Lake Park reports snow, and Rogue River National Forest has fire . . . Festival begins final round of plays . . . Four more file for city councilman posts . . . Labor bureau opens branch office in Medford . . . Eight council filings received, mayor unopposed . . . Agate Dam site being cleared . . . Jacksonville mayor resigns position . . . City council authorizes vote on city hall and land acquisition . . . Percentage of travelers visiting Crater Lake and Oregon Caves still up . . . Medco veneer dryer provides 42 additional jobs . . . 1964 Oregon Shakespeare Festival closes . . . Labor Day weekend reported quiet . . . Doberman pinscher wins top honors at dog show . . . Medford schools open with increases in enrollment . . . Ashland festival attendance exceeds 60,000 . . . Youth camps may be set up in county . . . Plans for new Medford City Hall and civic center announced . . . County grand jury won't investigate discharge of county farm home managers . . . Bond issue for new high school reduced . . . Mountain rescue techniques demonstrated by members of Mountain Rescue of Oregon . . . Medford planners turn down request to operate kindergarten . . . City attorney suggests that West Coast Airlines be eliminated from Medford service . . . Republican vice presidential candidate to visit Medford . . . McLoughlin Junior High School opens after fire damage restoration . . . Trophy established honoring the late Medford Police Chief Charles Champlin . . . United Crusade drive under way . . . Joining of Rogue River and Evans Valley school districts approved . . . Parks and Recreation Commission to take action on new park sites and improvements . . . Oregon clerks and recorders open convention . . . Airlines tentatively accept fog dispersal plan . . . French girl has praise for JFK program . . . Work at Ashland ski area reported progressing well . . . Bartlett pears already picked; pear season may end early . . . Bowen Creek site considered for Job Corps camp . . . Ernest R. James elected president of Jackson County School Superintendents Association . . . Fire danger high in area forests . . . Vice Presidential candidate William Miller attacks war on poverty . . . High independent registration noted . . . United Airlines to terminate two Medford flights . . . Area has most explosive fire weather of season . . . Medford voters pass school bond issue . . . Post office substation slated in Medford Shopping Center . . . SOC enrollment reaches all-time high.
    Forest lands still in dry condition . . . Council denies appeal on permit for kindergarten . . . Fruit growers to cooperate in effort to bar "wetbacks" . . . Mid-September employment highest in six years . . . SOC enrollment reaches 2,405 . . . Statement issued concerning dismissal of county farm home superintendents . . . Chester H. Wendt, former county commissioner, dies . . . Jackson County voter registration exceeds 40,000 . . . League of Women Voters candidates fair set . . . Dr. Clifford Cordy, Jackson County extension agent, receives national award for educational program . . . Steps authorized toward Ashland airport expansion . . . Former Cuban air force commander visits Medford . . . Refinancing plan approved by ski area stockholders . . . Planners oppose zone change for shopping center . . . Bids to be received by 3M Company on plant . . . Columbus Day storm-felled timber in area reported sold . . . High of 85 Oct. 12 sets new record . . . Mayor says loss of United Airlines would impair economy . . . Cleanup project scheduled at Howard Prairie Lake . . . All candidates except one to be at candidates meeting . . . Dunbar Carpenter to head Ashland Festival Association . . . Portions of county have power outage . . . Mt. Ashland road open . . . FFA allocates $55,034 for local airport projects . . . United Crusade drive at 84 percent . . . Forest products parade and exhibit planned . . . Memorial honoring late president held at Hoover School . . . Meeting slated with architects on school plans . . . Full schedule of events slated for United Nations Day here . . . Window painting registration set . . . County to study Ashland airport financial request . . . Good weather instrumental in successful pear harvest . . . Governor to lead 3M Company groundbreaking . . . C. C. Hoover offers trees to line highway . . . Thousands watch forest products parade . . . Medford to have post office substation in shopping center . . . Pedestrian killed in auto accident on city street . . . Stewart Avenue hazards studied . . . 327 Medford phone lines out of order . . . Ashland rabies scare ended; skunk found not rabid . . . Voters approve joining of Rogue River and Evans Valley school districts.
    Absentee ballot total reaches 2,303 . . . Ernest B. DeVoe, lumberman, dies . . . Slash burning started in area . . . Howard Prairie area cleaned by 120 Scouts . . . New purge law may increase challenges at polls Nov. 3 . . . Morning turnout indicates possible heavy vote turnout . . . Rodney Keating, Mark Boyden and Chester Guches elected in county races . . . Medford voters pass civic center bond issue . . . Boxcar shortage hurts area firms . . . Election turnout in county exceeds 85 percent . . . Deputies believe large cat seen in city is cougar . . . Opening of Jacksonville bank in U.S. Hotel tentatively set for Jan. 15 . . . Civil Aeronautics Board hearing date set for Jan. 12 . . . Big increase in local mail noted . . . County accepts offer of trees for roadsides . . . City council to study zone change for shopping center . . . Unemployment in county remains at record low . . . $8 million cost estimated for Bear Creek sewer system . . . Old style checks planned for Jacksonville bank . . . Young bobcat shot near Perrydale Avenue . . . Snow falls above 3,000 feet; work progresses on ski area . . . Veterans Day plans include parade . . . County Court continues hearing on proposed formation of the Rocky Point Cemetery District in the Gold Hill area . . . Sebastiano Fagone honored at Veterans Day event . . . Work to start on expansion of Ashland airport . . . Lake of the Woods highway dedication set . . . More snow falls; chains required on some roads . . . General snowfall covers much of Southern Oregon . . . Mt. Ashland ski area opening set for Nov. 27 . . . Federal grant awarded for Bear Creek region study . . . Ski area road closed to public . . . Park association discusses youth work programs . . . Canvassing board completes final election tally . . . Hospital members approve proposal for cancer center . . . Second rabid fox found in county . . . School board approves evening high school program . . . Shady Cove and Trail residents oppose development plan . . . R. H. Rucker, former farm home manager, dies . . . Mysterious Bear Creek animal spotted again . . . Council denies zone change for shipping center . . . Snow holds at higher elevations; highways open . . . City's fog seeding experiment unique . . . Jackson County checking results of Votomatic . . . General fair suggested for the area . . . Christmas season to open Nov. 27 . . . Committee opens search for next JFK ambassador . . . Wet weather predicted through Thanksgiving Day . . . United Crusade close to goal; victory dinner planned . . . Shriners' parade and ceremonial slated in city . . . Work progresses on stream study . . . Ashland Ski Area to open Saturday; more snow expected . . . James Rowan named chairman for hospital cancer center project . . . Mary Cantrall, 4-H member, attends national 4-H congress . . .  First day of skiing draws crowds . . . New bank model unveiled . . . Mt. Ashland's first weekend of skiing called successful.
    County assessors may have set qualifications . . . New Lake of the Woods Highway dedicated . . . Business Education Day observed . . . New snow reported at Ashland ski area and Crater Lake . . . City council considers obtaining full-time legal service for the city . . . United Crusade victory dinner held . . . Fog dispersal costs total $331 to date . . . Police chief commends local teenagers . . . Chamber of Commerce elects eight directors . . . Proposed reservoir design approved . . . Firm county economy denoted by small job decline . . . Clear, cold weather brings out skiers . . . Celebration set for Jan. 15 and 17 in Jacksonville . . . Christmas lighting contest scheduled by Medford Junior Chamber of Commerce . . . Proposed Job Corps camp reviewed in Grants Pass . . . Hearings planned on grading and paving of Crater Lake Highway between Biddle Road and White City . . . Mt. Ashland has crowd of 3,000 . . . Christmas tree permits total 777 . . . Bear Creek "cougar" may be big cat named Sandy . . . Attorney Robert Boyer to head JFK memorial program for 1965 . . . Area vocational study plan presented . . . Mt. Ashland road, other projects keep county crews busy . . . Valley rainfall expected to ease . . . Expanded post office hours start . . . Cat shelter to be built at dog pound . . . Third fog seeding held . . . Bear Creek survey completed . . . Agate Dam and reservoir fencing bids are opened . . . Medford loses fourth ranking in population to Corvallis by 52 persons . . . Grants Pass group voices objections to youth camp site . . . Post office has busiest day on record . . . Spinal meningitis death reported in valley . . . Omar Bacon, head librarian, asks for storage space . . . Seven-day-a-week ski area schedule starts . . . Selective salary increase for city employees approved . . . Medford population count may be reviewed . . . Bus arrivals several hours late . . . Rogue Valley gets light snowfall; more predicted . . . 30 enter local Christmas lighting event . . . Heavy weekend rains cause flooding in valley . . . Rogue River runs wild; homes evacuated . . . Mail delivery from south halted . . . Most valley cities without natural gas as main line breaks . . . Emmitt Tucker, Sno-Cat founder, dies . . . Many bridges destroyed as Rogue River rises . . . Valley gets 24-hour break in heavy rain . . . Major highways now open; secondary roads closed . . . Natural gas service restored . . . Flood damage in county set at $10 million . . . Rain, colder air forecast for valley . . . Skiing resumes at Mt. Ashland . . . Rescue workers reach more isolated families . . . Plows strive to keep roads open as snow covers valley . . . Snow hampers rescue work . . . Caravan of trucks go to Shady Cove with emergency supplies and clothing . . . Mail delivery routes altered . . . Road and bridge flood loss may reach $1.7 million . . . Bridge repair starts in county . . . Snow continues in valley.

Last revised July 31, 2012