This Week In Rogue River History
AUG. 12, 1981
The Ford Foundation announced a grant to the Oregon Shakespearean Festival Association in Ashland of up to $250,000, payable in four installments of $62,500 over a five-year period.
Designed to improve and stabilize the Festival’s financial position, the grant could not be used for operations. Instead, it would help create a restricted working capital reserve fund that the Association could use to meet short-term cash-flow fluctuations.
The terms of the grant required the Festival to complete each fiscal year during the five-year period with current assets at least equal to current liabilities. Any money borrowed from the reserve also had to be repaid in cash.
AUG. 14, 1986
Asked at Market Basket: What are you doing to keep cool?
Mike Lopa: “I’m riding around in an air-conditioned car. We’re going swimming up in Gold Hill.”
Terry Abegg: “I’m drinking Slice and staying in the shade. It’s so hot, anything you do you feel hot.”
Ronnea Schefstrom: “I’m going home and jumping in my pool, and I’m going to have a fruit cocktail.”
Gary Graham: “Staying in the house and turning on the air conditioning and taking a cold shower.”
Lisa Davidson: “I float down the river a lot and get sprayed by the boat excursions.”
AUG. 14, 1991: Summertime Park Concert Attracts More Than 300
The weather was right, and the crowd was responsive as the summer concert in the park last Thursday attracted well over 300 people to hear the musical group Foxfire.
The concert was put together by the Arts Council of Southern Oregon and financed by contributions from the City of Rogue River, Main Building Supply and Valley of the Rogue Bank.
It was the only concert offered that year because sponsorship was not available for a second concert that had been planned.
AUG. 14, 1996: Handguns Stolen in Robbery
The Ace Country Store in Rogue River was the target of a robbery Sunday night in which thieves took 17 handguns valued at approximately $4,000. Rogue River Police were investigating.
The parent company of Ray’s Food Place in Rogue River also extended its corporate reach to Gold Hill. C & K Market Inc. purchased Steve’s Gold Hill Market. The purchase was made public Monday afternoon by C & K.
AUG. 15, 2001: Parents’ Plea for Help Answered as EMTs Save Tot’s Life
The Rogue River Rural Fire District’s annual picnic had some extra excitement that year. On Saturday, Aug. 11, while enjoying the sun and food, firefighters and paramedics Brian Brink and Nicco Holt responded to a parent’s plea for help.
“We were jet skiing, fishing, and just forgetting about work when a guy yelled he needed an EMT,” Brink said.
Shad Ray Bolton had just pulled his 16-month-old son, Shad Jr., from the Rogue River. The Bolton family was visiting the area and attending a family reunion at the Have a Nice Day Campground on Rogue River Highway.
Apparently, the youngster, who was not wearing a life jacket at the time, had wandered near the river and fallen in. His eight-year-old cousin, Kayla, spotted him on his back in the water and yelled for help.
“He was not breathing, and he was blue,” said Brink, who was a father of three himself.
AUG. 16, 2006
An Oregon-based company was selected to remove Savage Rapids Dam. The Federal Bureau of Reclamation awarded the contract to Slayden Construction Group Inc. of Stayton, near Salem.
Phase one of the dam removal project involved construction of a pumping plant near the existing site, followed by construction of a pipe bridge to carry water across the river.
The actual removal of the dam was scheduled for the third phase, with all work expected to be completed in late 2009.
AUG. 17, 2011
A 20-year-old Pasadena, California, man was being held in the Jackson County Jail and facing numerous charges following a two-vehicle head-on crash on Interstate 5 near Gold Hill on Aug. 14.
Christopher Scott Teske II was being held in lieu of $227,000 bail. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (drugs), reckless driving, six counts of third-degree assault, six counts of recklessly endangering another person and second-degree criminal mischief.
Teske’s arrest came in the aftermath of a traffic collision that sent six people to the hospital.
AUG. 17, 2016
Grange Co-op announced its support of Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center.
In July 2016, Grange Co-op donated 425 bags of dog food, valued at more than $11,000, to the nonprofit organization. The donation was intended to help feed and care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife in the area.
“We’re thrilled to be able to donate to an organization with a great mission that supports our core values here at Grange Co-op,” CEO Barry Robino said. “Not only does this nonprofit do a lot for our wildlife environment, but it also provides great educational opportunities that are making a difference day to day. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this cause.”
AUG. 18, 2021
In a park honoring one of Rogue River’s fallen heroes, a living memorial and symbol of resilience through the horrors of war was dedicated in August 2021.
A Ginkgo biloba tree was planted at John Fleming Park before city leaders, members of the city’s Tree City USA committee and others interested in promoting a peaceful future while honoring the past.
The tree was planted in conjunction with the Green Legacy Hiroshima project, which distributes descendants of trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II.
AUG. 13, 2025
Aug. 9 marked the 81st birthday of Smokey Bear, the U.S. Forest Service’s renowned wildfire-prevention mascot. The living symbol of Smokey Bear emerged from a 1950 wildfire tragedy and became one of America’s most recognizable symbols of wildfire prevention. For generations, Smokey has emphasized personal responsibility and the importance of preventing human-caused wildfires.