AS OF MAY 20TH THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ASANTE AND THE CITY OF ASHLAND IS OVER. THE ASHLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WILL DOWNSCALE TO BEING AN EMERGENCY CENTER SATELLITE SERVICE OF ASANTE INSTEAD OF A FULL-SERVICE HOSPITAL. RV-TIMES REPORTING THAT ENDING THE AGREEMENT MEANS ASANTE WILL PAY THE CITY 4 MILLION DOLLARS.THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, LAB, IMAGING, AND OTHER OUTPATIENT SERVICES INCLUDING X-RAY, ULTRASOUND, MAMMOGRAMS, MRI AND CT SCANS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE. A NEW NAME FOR THE FACILITY WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
JOSEPHINE COUNTY COMMISSION IS ASKING A FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR, ARTHUR O’HARE, TO TAKE OVER FOR CURRENT FINANCE DIRECTOR RUTH NELSON, WHO IS LEAVING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. DAILY COURIER REPORTS THIS IS TOUGH TIMING FOR THE COUNTY AS THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS JUNE 30TH, AND THE TIME TO WORK ON THE BUDGET IS RIGHT NOW.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER THREAT CALLED INTO THE THREE RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT. AROUND TEN IN THE MORNING WEDNESDAY EVERGREEN ELEMENTARY RECEIVED A THREAT AND IT WAS LOCKED DOWN. SECURE STATUS WAS IMPOSED ON ILLINOIS VALLEY HIGH, LORNA BRYNE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SOSA WEST CAVE JUNCTION CAMPUS. SHERIFFS DEPUTIES INVESTIGATED NO THREATS FOUND AND THE ALL-CLEAR WAS GIVEN ABOUT AN HOUR LATER.
MEANWHILE THE MEDFORD 549C DISTRICT RAISING THE ALARM AT WHAT INCREASING GAS PRICES WILL DO TO THE DISTRICT. ACCORDING TO NBC5 THE DISTRICT SAYS IF FUEL PRICES REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE NOW, IT MEANS ANOTHER 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES. ABOUT 70% IS PAID BY A STATE GRANT, BUT STILL, THE EXTRA BILL IS $120,000 DOLLARS, NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.