Mail Tribune (Medford, OR) articles from August 2003

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR) archives from August 2003

Medford, Ore., Resident Steamed over Demise of Water Heater Guarantee.
August 22, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 22--When Stan Ewanoski signed up for Pacific Power's Hassle Free Water Heater Guarantee back in 1995, it made a plenty of sense. His hot water heater was eight years old, and tanks reaching double-digit...

Medford, Ore., Candle Shop Closes Storefront, Relies on Internet Sales.
August 21, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 21--When Cheri Pollard purchased Candle Connection at the Rogue Valley Mall from its Redding, Calif., owners in June 2001, the benefits of on-site ownership were soon apparent. Monthly revenues climbed as she...

Medford, Ore., Retirement Counselor Launches Web Site.
August 20, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 20--Tim Johnson has dealt with death and dying. He knows the ins and outs of nursing homes and senior care facilities. He's asked questions most people don't until they're forced to make snap decisions....

Medford, Ore., RE/MAX Office Moves to Roomier, More Accessible Quarters.
August 16, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 16--The view out Bob Gervais' window is about to change in dramatic fashion. The local RE/MAX Real Estate franchise holder presently looks out over South Central Avenue, a few roof tops to the east and the...

Gas Prices Soar in Medford, Ore.
August 15, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 15--Carlton Smith doesn't need to pull up to the neighborhood filling station pump to understand how gas prices have soared to near-record levels in recent days. Every day, the owner of ORCA Delivery Service...

Medford, Ore.-Based Credit Union to Open Downtown Branch.
August 14, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 14--Rogue Federal Credit Union has long sought an affordable entry into downtown Medford. The 47-year-old financial services organization now claims 37,000 members and has $265 million in assets. But it's...

Jackson County, Ore., Home Appraisers Busy, despite Rise in Interest Rates.
August 13, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 13--If the recent surge in mortgage interest rates is slowing down Jackson County housing sales, it hasn't filtered down to the appraisers. "I don't think anyone has noted any kind of changes," says Dorris...

Lithia Motors Climbs to Top as Oregon's Second Largest Publicly Traded Company.
August 9, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 9--Less than seven years into its existence as a publicly traded company, Medford's Lithia Motors Inc. is now Oregon's second largest publicly traded company. Although Lithia's $2.377 billion in revenues...

Thunderstorms Not Severe Enough to Damage Wine Grapes in Medford, Ore., Area.
August 8, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 8--While pear growers scurried about Wednesday night and Thursday morning to assess damage from Wednesday's thunderstorms, the area's growing collection of wine grape growers breathed a sigh of relief. "We...

Storm Damage to Pears in Medford, Ore., Area Delays Harvest for Some Orchards.
August 8, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 8--As moist air clung to the valley floor, Luis Balero made his rounds Thursday morning, surveying pear orchard blocks following Wednesday's thunderstorms. What the Associated Fruit orchard superintendent...

Agricultural Conditions Make for Mixed Results at Oregon Farmers Markets.
August 7, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 7--A wet spring, a blistering July and fewer local produce growers have led to mixed results for local farmers markets and fruit stands this summer. The area's small retailers say berry crops were thin and...

Couple Finds Jacksonville, Ore., Perfect for Kitchen Wares Store.
August 6, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 6--JACKSONVILLE, Ore.--Carmel was too far away and Florence much too wet. So making like Goldilocks, Steve Abandonato and his wife Joann Freeland scoured Southern Oregon for a place that was just right for...

Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore., Business Question and Answer Column.
August 5, 2003... Byline: Shari Downhill Aug. 5--BUSINESS: Metal Masters OWNERS: Siblings Debra Cate and Tom Shipley AGE: 51 and 45 ADDRESS: 3825 Crater Lake Highway, Medford; and 4168 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls. PHONE NUMBER: 779-1049...

New Fly-Fishing Shop Opens in Medford, Ore.
August 5, 2003... Byline: Meg Landers Aug. 5--There's a new nymph in town. And a new green-butt skunk, a new egg-sucking leech and a new silver Hilton. With today's 9 a.m. opening of Trophy Waters, local flyfishers have a new source for flies and...

Utility Seeks Hefty Rate Increase in Oregon.
August 5, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 5--Avista Utilities has filed for a rate increase that will boost commercial and industrial customer rates by more than 20 percent. Residential customers will see their typical bills hiked nearly 18 percent. ...

Oregon River Widening Proposal Makes Waves.
August 3, 2003... Byline: Mark Freeman Aug. 3--GRANTS PASS, Ore.--A proposal to scrape gravel from three shallow Rogue River riffles to make room for excursion tour boats is dredging up an old debate over whether the Rogue should be altered for powerboat...

Medford, Ore., Television Station Celebrates 50th Anniversary.
August 3, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 3--The Medford City Council met on Tuesday evenings back in the mid-1950s. Tuesdays were as good as any night they didn't compete with church meetings or school athletic events. Then along came KBES-TV,...

Southwestern Oregon Economic Development Leaders Court California Business.
August 1, 2003... Byline: Greg Stiles Aug. 1--Southwestern Oregon economic development leaders are attempting to capitalize on the business malaise and political angst plaguing California. Three teams representing five counties have been knocking on...