MEET AMANDA ANDERSON, a clay artist who lives on a small farm in the Applegate Valley, with her husband and a mixed-species herd of alpacas and emus. Talking with her, you will detect the lilt of a mid-Western accent from the Scandinavian-based culture of her childhood in Minnesota, which explains the […]
IN MY EARLY 20s, I traveled alone to Guanajuato, Mexico. I’ll never forget that clumsy attempt at adventure. I wandered the streets of that UNESCO World Heritage city waiting for something exciting to happen to me. There was […]
THE JACKSONVILLE GARDEN CLUB is preparing to bring some holiday cheer to our homes and businesses! Members use their skills and creativity to make beautiful wreaths, table arrangements and swags, featuring fresh natural greens and cones, holly, bows, dried fruits and flowers, and festive decorations. […]
EVERY YEAR, dozens of caring businesses participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Toy Drive program to brighten the lives of families here in the Rogue Valley. Last year, the Salvation Army provided gifts for over 1500 local children (over 600 families total). This year, participating businesses will collect toys for […]
Robert Brian Heltberg, who had a remarkable physical likeness to Peter Britt, spent many years donning a top hat and formal coat to portray Peter Britt as well as Mr. Beekman in Jacksonville at the Beekman Bank and Hanley Farm and other places or events. He also was one […]
Andy Hellenthal
ANDY HELLENTHAL
Jacksonville City Council • Incumbent
I am honored to seek re-election to the Jacksonville City Council and continue serving the community that my wife and I have proudly called home for several years. My education, professional experience, and […]
Register at https://roguevalleynursery.com/classes/
Sept. 19th, 10-noon- Deer Resistant Plants with Christie at OSU Extension—One of the most common challenges of gardening in the Rogue Valley is the plentiful deer population. For the past 21 years, Shooting Star Nursery has gained expertise working with customers […]
JACKSONVILLE’S WILDFIRE Community Preparedness Day is back this October—with a new self-serve format. The event will take place on Saturday, October 3, from 9am-noon in the D Street Parking Lot.
Please note: This year’s event will not include a chipper and no assistance will be provided for unloading materials. Residents are invited […]
September 23, 2026—Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is delighted to announce that Dan Ruby will be joining our team as Executive Director, beginning October 1, 2026. Dan brings a deep understanding of climate and environmental issues, Southern Oregon and non-profits throughout the region. Southern Oregonians may recall Dan from his days as CEO of ScienceWorks […]
JOHN AND JANE HOWELL are a living example of a local family dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. As John notes, it’s proven to be a struggle and a blessing all at once. In the case of the Howell family, “it has brought us closer together.” About 11 years ago, the family […]
WHEN MY 10 YEARS with Art Presence Art Center ended, it enabled me to return to my Studio/Gallery to provide classes in Life Drawing, Beginning Drawing, Watercolor, Calligraphy and Colored Pencil—just doing what I have loved doing for forty years.
Three years ago, I approached Britt Festivals’ Abby McKee about providing art […]
AS THE Citywide Yard Sale date approaches, it is important to remember that the City of Jacksonville does not sponsor this event and that there are public safety issues associated with it. When our town is full of bargain hunters and treasure seekers, parking becomes an issue in some areas. Here […]
THE SMELL OF FRESH-BAKED sourdough drifting across a sun-drenched lawn. A glass of estate wine that tastes unmistakably of this valley’s soil. A farmer handing you an heirloom tomato still warm from the vine, and telling you how it grew. This is what Saturday, September 5 looks like at the inaugural […]
YOU MAY HAVE driven past the orchards a hundred times. Picked up a bottle of local wine on your way home from work. Grabbed a loaf of sourdough at the Saturday market without thinking twice about the hands that made it. For those who live here, the Rogue Valley’s remarkable bounty […]
IT WAS A BIG NIGHT of announcements from Police Chief Matt Hannum at the 07/07/26 Jacksonville City Council Meeting! Our police department welcomes new Officer Emily Kaselonis, Officer Nick Nelson is promoted to Sergeant, and Officer Cody Fuhrman received a Special Certification after extensive hours of training. Congratulations all!
Featured image l-r: […]
THE JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT is excited to announce its participation in the 39th-Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, marking the first time Jacksonville has hosted this nationwide event.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong partnerships between law enforcement, first responders, and the communities they […]
A FEW YEARS AGO, Jacksonville faced a difficult decision about the future of our local law enforcement. When faced with the possibility of replacing our police department with contracted county sheriff’s services, the community response was immediate and overwhelming. Residents and business owners affirmed they valued having a local police […]
FOR GENERATIONS of Applegate Valley residents, Ryan’s Outpost has been more than a collection of buildings along Upper Applegate Road. It has been a grocery store, gas station, hardware store, restaurant, repair shop, gathering place, and community landmark. Few properties in the valley have played such a significant role in the […]
IF THIS HOUSE COULD TALK, it would have a lot to say…. According to a copper plaque on a wall inside the house, Chester R. Pursell built the home for Alphonse and Gertrude Boone (reportedly related to Daniel Boone). However, not long after completion, Chester married Boone’s daughter, Virginia, and the […]
SUMMER GREETINGS to one and all, as one of the busiest times of the year gets underway! As with every season, but especially now, we must prepare for fire season, lots of little fawns running around, and many more visitors who may not pay attention to our well- enforced speed limits, […]
THE SIX FARMS of the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail open their gates over the weekend of July 10-12. Guests will discover a wide variety of lavender plants, hand-crafted goods, and u-pick opportunities at most of the participating farms. From fresh bundles to culinary products and artisan creations, lavender appears in countless […]
ONCE UPON A TIME, 60 years ago, on Britt hill, a group of moms got together to create an outdoor festival where children could celebrate their imaginations through stories, and creativity. What began as a small, community event has grown into Southern Oregon’s most cherished family tradition.
This summer, the Children’s Festival […]
WITH THE 4TH OF JULY rapidly approaching, the Jacksonville Fire Department and city staff would like to remind the public that Jacksonville prohibits the use of Fireworks within the City limits and also discourages the use of fireworks outside of City limits for the following reasons:
Wildfire Risk: We are surrounded by forests and grassy areas […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from the annual City Budget Letter…a full-length version and the entirety of the adopted budget may be found on the city website.
Mayor Donna Bowen, Councilors, Members of the Budget Committee, and Citizens of Jacksonville:
As we conclude Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026, we are submitting […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Jacksonville’s “Walk through History” tours are back! At 10 a.m. every Saturday from May 30th through September 5th, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will be offering one-hour guided walks through Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District, the first on the West Coast! Participants will take a stroll through history, visiting government and commercial buildings, fraternal lodges, and […]
AN ANTEBELLUM Mississippi cotton and indigo slave plantation is the opening setting for Jacksonville resident Tom Withenbury’s recent debut novel of historical fiction: The Color of Indigo. The protagonists are Indigo, a young slave laundress, and her budding love interest, Major, a slave man who works tirelessly as the plantation blacksmith.
Indigo […]
EACH SUMMER, the six farms of the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail open their gates for two memorable weekends celebrating lavender in full bloom. This beloved annual festival invites visitors to slow down, explore the countryside, and experience the fragrance, beauty, and creativity inspired by lavender.
During the festival weekends, guests will discover […]
Long time Jacksonville, Oregon, resident John Ubhaus passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on March 28, 2026, at the age of 77. Born in Mill Valley, California, on September 20, 1948, John lived large from beginning to end. His sudden passing leaves an enormous void in the many family members […]
WE KNOW SOUTHERN OREGON is a great place for wine, hiking, mountain biking, food and a vibrant cultural scene, but did you know that it’s home to one of the best free-flight sites in the country?
Free-flight is non-motorized aviation that relies on paragliding and hang gliding wings. Instead of gasoline, the […]
LAST MONTH, I highlighted the recent accomplishments of our Police Department and its strong commitment to community policing. This month, the focus turns to the Jacksonville Fire Department and the many programs and services it provides to educate residents and enhance safety throughout our community as we enter fire season. The […]
May 21, 2026 — MEDFORD, Ore. — Today local real estate brokers from Jackson County are kicking off a summer clothing drive for children in need across Jackson County, running now through Friday, June 30. The effort is in partnership with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Jackson County, a nonprofit serving as the voice […]
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Jacksonville-Applegate Rotary Club is bringing back one of the Rogue Valley’s most beloved fundraising evenings, Fork & Cork, on Sunday, May 31, from 4:30-7:30pm at Rellik Winery, 970 Old Stage Road, in Central Point.
Fork & Cork guests can expect live music, a delicious tri-tip dinner, and a […]
Jacksonville, OR – Monday, April 27, 2026: This summer, Britt will host a special community event, Honoring Britt’s Founder: A Dedication and Picnic Celebration, recognizing the life and legacy of founder and longtime music director John Trudeau, whose vision helped establish Britt as a cultural cornerstone of Southern Oregon.
The celebratory evening will take place on […]
IN APRIL, a Wind Phone was installed in the Jacksonville Cemetery, thanks to the efforts of local, John Howell. John is no stranger to community projects—he spearheaded the restoration of the large Catholic cross in the cemetery about four years ago.
After completing that project, he saw a story about wind phones […]
A SMALL TOWN with hidden history and secrets is one of the settings of Michelle St. Romain Wilson’s debut novel, Song of Belonging, which was released in April. For fans of Kate Morton, Amy Harmon, and Sally Page, the book is a dual timeline story set in a rural town in […]
THERE WILL BE A TOWN HALL on Tuesday, May 19, from 5:30-6:30pm, in the Naversen Meeting Room at the Public Library, at 340 W. C Street.
Organizers expect a good turnout with our new Police Chief, Matt Hannum, who will be on hand to answer any questions about the new changes to […]
THE JACKSONVILLE Fire Department, Police Department, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) invite you to join us for an important Community Evacuation Forum on Wednesday, May 13, from 6-7pm, at the Jacksonville Fire Station, 180 N. 3rd Street.
The one-hour session is designed to provide critical information and open discussion on […]
SPRINGTIME’S JOY and promise is reflected in the beautiful work of the members of the Jacksonville Garden Club at their annual Spring Sale. Using fresh-cut flowers, they create arrangements in a mix of sizes and prices—for a sweet Mother’s Day surprise or a gift to yourself or a friend. The sale […]
JACKSONVILLE’S WILDFIRE Community Preparedness Day returns in May—with the new self-serve format. The event will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 9am-noon, in the D Street parking lot.
Please note: This year’s event will not include a chipper, and no assistance will be provided for unloading materials. Residents are invited to […]
City Council Meeting, April 7, 2026:
ABUNDANT THANKS!—During Public Comment, members of the community expressed the following positive sentiments to Council:
AT A RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, members of the public stepped forward to praise our Jacksonville Police Department. It is hard to imagine that not that long ago we were looking at the possibility of losing our department entirely and entering into a contract with Jackson County sheriffs. What a difference […]
IN THE ROGUE VALLEY, we are surrounded by beauty as springtime unfolds in our hills, forests, and gardens. Jacksonville Garden Club members are well known for making interesting and creative arrangements from the array of beautiful spring flowers, which they then offer at their annual spring sale, to be held this […]
ON MAY 15 & 16, the public is invited to attend the Southern Oregon True Crime Summit at the Bigham Knoll Campus, founded and produced by local Melynda Cordes. The event features professionals and experienced voices in forensic science, investigative journalism, law enforcement, victim advocacy, and ethical true crime media. This […]
Jacksonville, OR – Friday, April 10, 2026: Britt is unveiling its last multi-show lineup announcement for the 2026 summer season, adding a fresh mix of rock legends, hip-hop favorites, and genre-blending artists. This latest wave of performances builds on an already dynamic season, while also inviting the community to kick things off with a beloved […]
Robert “Allen” Stewart was born in November 1945 to Peggy Oglesby and Gene Allen Stewart in Turlock, California. Growing up, he lived in Merced, Turlock, San Francisco, and Manteca, California, where he ran marathons and held various auto, farm and architectural positions. He graduated from Manteca High in 1963 […]
EVIE KALINA, a 5th-grader at Jacksonville Elementary School, is the winner of this year’s Art Poster Contest! Her piece is titled, “A Different View,” and based upon the theme for the contest, “Kindness Grows.” Evie’s favorite projects so far have been clay animals from 2nd-grade and this year’s Chinese watercolor koi […]
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ~Madeleine L’Engle
IN NOVEMBER 2024, Rebel Heart Books held our first Local Author Book Fair at the Jacksonville Public Library. It’s safe to say that […]
GREETINGS TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORS! We are looking forward to welcoming Spring to our town, and it seems an appropriate time to provide everyone with an update of our 2026 goals and objectives, plans, and new ideas! With our new Police Chief, Matt Hannum, and a full staff of Police Officers, […]
JACKSONVILLE was recently named the recipient of the 2026 National Wildfire Mitigation Award. This is the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. Established in 2014, the Wildfire Mitigation Awards are jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters […]
SAVE THE DATE!—Rebel Heart Book’s Local Author Book Fair is Saturday, April 18, 1-3pm, at Jacksonville Public Library
Due to the overwhelming response from the community and burgeoning group of talented local authors, Rebel Heart Books is hosting a second Local Author Book Fair this Spring!
Come join us on Saturday, April 18, […]