Commentary by Christy Solo Putting together this week’s Collector’s Edition of the Upper Rogue Independent and reading Edition #2 had me looking back on the *check’s notes* 17 years I’ve been writing for the URI. Which is totally amazing, because I’m only 29 *cough*. I was originally hired by Nancy Leonard in April, 2009, just…

Commentary by Wayne Lee This is the final printed edition of this esteemed publication (for the foreseeable future) which is a bittersweet occasion for an old dinosaur like me. We will move forward in the digital world, but my life, up until this point, has been exclusively expressed in printed form.  It’s how I was…

By Christy Solo – Editor Apparently we at the Upper Rogue Independent have spring fever this week as our overall theme seems to be “wildflowers.” In that vein, let’s make some spring and summer plans as we explore local wildflower hiking and picnic spots. Our choices are practically limitless so we’ll just look at a…

Shady Cove, OR — The Upper Rogue Community Center (URCC) is pleased to announce it has received a $7,500 grant from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation to support funding for its Executive Director position. This investment will strengthen organizational leadership and help ensure the long-term sustainability of essential services serving the Upper Rogue region.…

By Dr. F. Alice LeDuc Flower Pollinators and Flower Pollination My niece and I were discussing pollination the other evening. She is an expert on insects, and I am a botanist so interesting topics happen. She was surprised that all flowers do not produce nectar. That is how this article began. So, flowers are pollinated…

Jackson County, OR — Jackson County Library Services (JCLS) acknowledges the announcement that the JCLS Board has requested the resignation of the Library Director. We wish to provide reassurance to our patrons as we navigate the future. JCLS remains fully committed to delivering a high standard of service. All library branches, programs, and services will…

Jan. 28, 1968 If I live to be as old as Methuselah I don’t suppose I’ll ever learn the lesson or remember for long that no matter how top hole we feel or in what excellent physical condition we may be (according to the assurance of our favorite pill-roller), we are not immune to the…

Editor’s Note: Factual information for citations/arrests are provided by official law enforcement agencies. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed Eagle Point Police Citations and Arrests – Jan. 28, 2026 Tuesday, Jan. 13 *Eagle Point female was cited for driving while suspended and…

In keeping with our flowery spring fever theme, here are a few recipes featuring edible flowers both wild and domestic. Common edible flowers include pansies, roses, carnation, jasmine, geranium, violet, nasturtiums, marigolds, primrose, elderflower, honeysuckle and lilac. Shortbread Cookies with Pretty Pansy Tops Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks) at room temperature 1/2 cup…

Editor’s Note: Factual information for citations/arrests are provided by official law enforcement agencies. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed Please click on a date below to see that week’s reports. Jan. 14, 2026 Jan. 21, 2026 Jan. 28, 2026

Editor’s Note: Factual information for citations/arrests are provided by official law enforcement agencies. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed Eagle Point Point Police Citations and Arrests – Jan. 21, 2026 Thursday, Jan. 8 *Eagle Point male was cited for control of dogs…

Click on a date to go to that week’s recipes Jan. 14, 2026 Jan. 21, 2026 Jan. 28, 2026

January 14 is National Hot Pastrami Day, January 15 is National Bagel Day and January 19 is National Popcorn Day! Enjoy this trio of recipes as you celebrate! Hot Pastrami Sandwich Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 2 slices caraway rye bread  1 slice provolone 1 slice Swiss cheese  4 ounces hot pastrami  2 to 3 ounces…

Jan. 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day! No, we are not giving “how to cook squirrel” recipes (though it is legal to hunt tree squirrels in Oregon – Western Gray only), we are celebrating the fave food of Oregon’s Douglas Squirrel – pine nuts! Pignoli Cookies Unfortunate name, but low fat, no cholesterol (woohoo), gluten…

Thursday, Jan. 23, 1964 The mournful, musical sound of the rising wind as it plays its melancholy tune on the edges of my aluminum roof, indicating the approach of a storm, instills in me an indescribable feeling of wonder and contentment as Isit at home in my old cabin in the late evening.  Witnessing any…

By Christy Solo – Editor While this winter has been relatively mild, we’ve definitely seen (or not seen due to fog) some slick road conditions of late. There is also a good chance we’ll see more snow over the next couple of months, especially in higher elevations. So this week’s All Things Oregon will be…

By Dr. F. Alice LeDuc Violet – Viola species with yellow flowers Violets bring many things to mind, in the language of flowers of Victorian times England, the violet meant shy and retiring demeanor, humble virtue.  Often associated with romance, presented in a cluster of flowers or nosegay. Usually, we think of violet flowers as…

By Christy Solo – ONPA 1st Place Award Winner for Best Local Column Bah, bah, big sheep, have you any wool? They don’t really. Meet this week’s crawly, the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Our first fun fact about bighorn sheep is that while it’s true they do have big horns, they really are big all…

Commentary by Wayne Lee It’s a new year and hope springs eternal. So far, no flat tires on Da Beast which just hit 2,900 miles on the odometer to celebrate our first anniversary together. It has not been without the occasional minor spill but unlike the Death Machine 2000, no broken bones thus far. The…

Commentary by Christy Solo While writing last week’s horse-themed All Things – especially the section on Appaloosas – I was reminded of my childhood horseback riding lessons – and one particular Appy who embodied all the best traits of the breed. Like, I don’t know, every girl ever, I pretty much came out of the…

By Christy Solo – Editor Several thousand containers of grated cheese which were recalled in Nov. 2025 due to listeria concerns have been bumped up to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s most high-risk recall category. The recall is now a Class I recall. What this means: there is a “reasonable probability” that the use…