Wind and dry weather raise fireworks concerns in Medford

Wind and dry weather raise fireworks concerns in Medford

Sign in Medford warns residents against using fireworks in prohibited regions. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/07e376c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/480x321+0+0/resize/480x321!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F7e%2Fbce7b80f4818990564221d66fbf4%2Fmedford-fireworks-sign.jpg]Sign in Medford warns residents against using fireworks in prohibited regions. (https://www.medfordoregon.gov/News-Articles/Celebrate-Safely-This-Fourth-of-July ) Dry, windy weather expected over the Fourth of July weekend has Medford fire and medical officials warning that fireworks could spark both wildfires and serious injuries. Medford Fire Marshal Tanner Farrington said recent rain has given way to dry conditions, and forecast wind gusts of up to 20 mph could make it easier for fireworks to ignite vegetation and spread fire quickly. "With some potential gusts up to 20 miles an hour, that increases the risk of ignition happening from fireworks and more rapid fire progression and greater risk of damage," Farrington said. Fireworks are legal within Medford city limits only from July 1-6, Farrington said. They are prohibited in wildland hazard areas and public greenways [https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Government/Departments/Fire/Fire-Life-Safety-Division/Fireworks], where violations can result in fines of up to $2,500. Fire danger isn't the only concern. Dr. Cameron Phillips of Southern Oregon Orthopedics said the Fourth of July is the busiest holiday for orthopedic hand injuries. His practice typically treats about 50 fireworks-related hand injuries during the holiday week. He said sparklers, which many people consider safe for children, account for the highest number of injuries to kids. "A sparkler gets up to about 2,000 degrees and has a metal component to it that can really burn people," Phillips said. Both men urged residents to be considerate of neighbors, including veterans and pet owners, who may be affected by fireworks noise. Farrington also recommends soaking used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight before throwing them away to prevent them from reigniting in trash cans. GUESTS * Tanner Farrington, Fire Marshal, Medford Fire Department [https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Government/Departments/Fire/Fire-Life-Safety-Division/Fireworks] * Dr. Cameron Phillips [https://www.oregonortho.com/provider/cameron-j-phillips-md], Southern Oregon Orthopedics

Montague mayor aims to preserve the city's small-town character

Montague is a small town of 1,200 residents in northern California near Yreka. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/66d51bf/2147483647/strip/false/crop/999x604+0+0/resize/792x479!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdc%2F8e%2F86c30e6a4531897b9730717e9e83%2Fmontague-ca-downtown.jpg]Montague is a small town of 1,200 residents in northern California near Yreka.(https://www.siskiyou-housing.com/montague-california/) The Northern California city of Montague [https://cityofmontagueca.gov/], east of Yreka, has about 1,200 residents. Mayor Takeshi Murakami said his goal is to make it a recreation destination while preserving its small-town character. One of those efforts is the Montague Freedom Festival, a three-day Independence Day celebration featuring a carnival, parade and fireworks display. Organizing the event can be a challenge, Murakami said, because vendors often overlook a city of Montague's size. "They don't necessarily think this is a place where they can make money," he said. Murakami is also focused on preserving community amenities, including the city's public pool, which operates at an annual deficit of about $20,000 and depends on regular fundraising. He said he hopes to make Montague a recreation destination while preserving the qualities residents value. Maintaining the city's public pool and expanding community events are part of that effort. Murakami, who moved to Montague in 2009 to raise his family, said his public service is rooted in a desire to give back to the community. "I just feel the need to give back to my community," he said. "I feel like I've been supported by the community so much over the years." In addition to serving as mayor, Murakami also serves in several other local leadership roles, including police commissioner and parks and recreation commissioner. Murakami said his leadership is about ensuring Montague remains a place where people can enjoy themselves.

Northwest news: A rebuilt hatchery, a river restoration and increasing access to the outdoors

Efemmera Gendera talks with Amanda Giel, left, of Vancouver, WA during a Drag Me Outside drag nature hike at Mt. Tabor Park in Portland, Ore., on May 10, 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e06b79/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1148x793+0+0/resize/764x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F97%2F98%2F4f2755854ff4943259a8e9e29f6e%2Fportland-drag-me-outside-nature-walk.png]Efemmera Gendera talks with Amanda Giel, left, of Vancouver, WA during a Drag Me Outside drag nature hike at Mt. Tabor Park in Portland, Ore., on May 10, 2026. (Amanda Loman for OPB) This week's stories explore how communities across the Pacific Northwest are rebuilding, restoring natural landscapes and expanding access to the outdoors. Klamath fish hatchery rises from the ashes [https://www.ijpr.org/outdoors-leisure-and-sports/2026-06-11/klamath-fish-hatchery-reopens-after-two-four-two-fire] The Klamath Fish Hatchery near Chiloquin has reopened after the 2020 Labor Day fires destroyed its century-old facility. The new concrete hatchery produces about 1 million fish each year for more than 50 Oregon lakes. The hatchery raises sterile fish to support recreational fishing while protecting wild fish populations. Healing the McKenzie River corridor [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/15/mckenzie-river-restoration-projects/] Along the McKenzie River, a coalition is converting hundreds of acres into "connected wetland complexes" to improve water quality and create fire breaks. At the 120-acre Quartz Creek site, a $10 million project is reshaping the landscape to mimic natural flooding and create habitat for fish and wildlife. Dragging the community outdoors [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/14/portland-oregon-outdoors-hiking-group-drag-performance/] A Portland program called "Drag Me Outside" combines nature walks with science education to create a more welcoming outdoor experience for LGBTQ+ participants. The twice-monthly walks blend ecology lessons with community building, encouraging more people to explore the region's parks and natural areas.

Jacksonville author waited a lifetime to publish his first novel

Jacksonville, Oregon resident Thomas Withenbury is a retired journalist and educator who recently released his debut novel, "The Color of Indigo." [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2509073/2147483647/strip/false/crop/712x495+0+0/resize/712x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2Fa1%2F6e7c93c445189a7cfe3cf197ec12%2Fcolor-of-indigo-by-thomas-withenbury.jpg]Jacksonville, Oregon resident Thomas Withenbury is a retired journalist and educator who recently released his debut novel, "The Color of Indigo." After a career in journalism and higher education, Jacksonville resident Thomas Withenbury has published the novel he says he wanted to write since childhood. "I have wanted to do that all my life, even back to the sixth grade," Withenbury said. "But I never had an opportunity to do it." "The Color of Indigo [https://jacksonvillereview.com/tag/the-color-of-indigo/]" is Withenbury's first novel. It follows multiple generations of one family, beginning on a fictional Mississippi plantation before shifting to 1972, when a Vietnam veteran and a young journalist uncover a long-buried mystery. The story explores ancestry, race, family and resilience across nearly 150 years of American history. The idea began with his own family history. Withenbury said he drew inspiration from the logbooks of an ancestor who worked as a Mississippi River pilot, as well as genealogy research compiled by his mother's family. "I was inspired mostly by my ancestors," he said. The novel's opening chapters center on Major, a skilled blacksmith, and Indigo, a laundress, who risk everything to prevent their child from being born into slavery. Withenbury said he intentionally gave his enslaved characters identities rooted in their work and relationships rather than reducing them to their legal status. "I thought it was important because he was a master of his craft," Withenbury said. "I just thought it was important to give him some identity other than just being Major the slave." Writing about slavery presented another challenge. After discussing the manuscript with an African American college administrator, Withenbury decided not to try to recreate the dialect of enslaved people. "I'm an old white man," he recalled thinking. "I can't do this." Instead, he chose dialogue that modern readers could understand while remaining respectful of the characters and the period. The novel's second half shifts to 1972, drawing on Withenbury's own experiences graduating from college and beginning a career in journalism during the Vietnam War era. Withenbury said he hopes readers come away with an appreciation for the resilience of families who preserve their history and identity through generations. "They've survived with dignity," he said. "They've hung on to their ancestry. They've hung on to their culture." "The Color of Indigo" is available at Rebel Heart Books and Art Presence in Jacksonville. GUEST * Thomas Withenbury, retired journalist, educator and author of The Color of Indigo [https://jacksonvillereview.com/tag/the-color-of-indigo/].

How one French winemaker is shaping Southern Oregon wine

Jean-Michel Jussiaume of Del Rio Vineyards handles a case of wine. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc9752b/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2524x1684+0+0/resize/791x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F1f%2Ffd3195c54c828afb731ed77682a1%2Fjean-michel-jussiaume-through-the-wine-glass-paula-bandy.JPG]Jean-Michel Jussiaume of Del Rio Vineyards handles a case of wine. (Courtesy of Jean-Michael Jussiaume ) As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary and France celebrates Bastille Day, Oregon winemaker Jean-Michel Jussiaume says the ties between the two countries continue to shape Southern Oregon's wine industry. A native of France's Loire Valley, Jussiaume now makes wine at Del Rio Vineyards and under his own label, Maison Jussiaume, in the Rogue Valley. He said his French upbringing gave him a deep appreciation for winemaking, but Oregon has given him the freedom to experiment. Jussiaume said his career reflects a blend of French tradition and Oregon innovation. A specialist in traditional-method sparkling wines, he uses centuries-old techniques while taking advantage of the Rogue Valley's growing reputation as a wine region. Growing up in a family of winemakers, Jussiaume said wine was simply part of everyday life. "That was my life, and the life of my neighbors, and the friends of my parents, and of my grandfather," he said. "It was all around me, and that's all I knew." Seeking a different path, Jussiaume moved to the United States, eventually settling in Southern Oregon after spending time in Virginia Jussiaume said his approach to winemaking combines traditional French techniques with the opportunities offered by Oregon's young wine industry. He said the Rogue Valley allows winemakers to experiment in ways that are more difficult in France's centuries-old wine regions. "You feel like a pioneer," he said. "Like someone who can create winemaking history." While his methods are rooted in French tradition, Jussiaume said Oregon's climate, soils and spirit of innovation continue to influence his work. GUEST * Jean-Michel Jussiaume, Del Rio Vineyards