SOU President Bailey's Pay Reduction Part of $6 Million Campus Budget Reduction
Starting today by his own request to the Southern Oregon University Board of Trustees, SOU President Rick Bailey will take a 20% reduction to his $290,000 salary over the remainder of the fiscal year, following a unanimous virtual vote. According to Ashland.News, the reduction in Bailey's salary will be $53,000 and his pay will return to his full salary with the start of the next fiscal year in July 2026. Trustees approved SOU's budget on June 20th that called for the university to make $5 million in cuts in order to "deal with a structural deficit. Declining enrollment as well as reduced state and federal support are contributors to needed reductions to the campus. The deficit has since increased to $6 million or nearly 10% of the $66 million budget. Details of the cuts will be announced today. Bailey made the request on Wednesday in order to include his reduction in pay in the current draft plan of action. It's not the first time an SOU president has asked for a cut in pay. Seated in a board room on Wednesday, Bailey told the board of trustees over Zoom that he made the request following in the footsteps of his predecessor and former SOU President Linda Schott, who also faced financial difficulties during her time at the college in Ashland. ...Read more

Day 3 of 2025 Josephine County Fair Features Annual "4TheKids" Livestock Auction
"Buckle Up" for Day 3 of the 2025 Josephine County Fair in Grants Pass. The Fairground gates will be open between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., with free admission plus free parking and a shuttle at Rogue Community College. The Caveman Kiwanis is offering parking at the Fairgrounds for $10. Featured at the Fair today is the 4TheKids Livestock Auction in the Covered Arena at 6 p.m.. This community event is normally held on Saturday mornings during the annual summer extravaganza. "Live" on the Pavilion Stage, it's K-N Line Dancers at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Charlie Brown Squares at 6:30 and Trevor Hanks & The Black Burn Rebels at 8. Daily entertainment includes Exhibit Halls, The Selfie Fair, Rockin' Rentals, Kidz Alley, Bingo and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show plus strolling entertainers on the Midway. The new Midway of Fun carnival opens at 2 p.m.. Of course, there are numerous vendors and all those great Fair food options. For more information about the Fair, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com." ...Read more

BLM Timber Sales in Western Oregon Bring in nearly $13.5 Million in Revenue in July

The Bureau of Land Management sold 47.7 million board feet of timber across more than 1,600 acres for nearly $13.5 million in western Oregon this month. BLM officials said these sales will feed local mills and support jobs in western Oregon communities, producing enough timber to build roughly 3,000 homes. These timber sales align with the Trump administration's emphasis on maximizing the use of domestic resources, supporting rural economies and promoting American energy and independence. By accelerating active forest management and increasing access to public lands for responsible resource development, the BLM is helping meet national goals for job creation, reduced regulatory burdens and stronger supply chains for critical industries like timber production and home building. Locally, the Medford BLM District sold the Big Dog timber sale comprising 5.3 million board feet on 396 public acres near Butte Falls to Murphy Company of Eugene for over $693,000. There were two large timber sales in Douglas County and one in Coos County plus several others in the Northwest Oregon District. ...Read more