The Yellow Basket in Central Point is being remodeled by restaurateurs from Ashland who own Skout Taphouse and Provisions.

A truck fire on Interstate 5 at the Oregon/California border Thursday injured a firefighter and spread to three acres before it was corralled.

A few hours earlier, a 2.5-acre wildfire was halted in the Ashland Watershed.

The Tree Top plant on Grape Street is being closed down, potentially putting 77 people out of work.

A man was arrested Thursday for allegedly starting fires near Ashland, then released. Just days earlier, he had been let go from jail on several previous convictions.

Outside Eagle Point, three ex-cons with extensive records were arrested thanks to eagle-eyed neighbors who noticed a burglary in progress.

On Wednesday evening, sheriff’s marine deputies met at TouVelle State Recreation Site with riverside property owners concerned about jet boats on the river.

All of these stories went up Thursday on our website, where more than 10,000 people racked up more than 38,000 page views.

These were breaking news stories, and breaking news gets readers.

But while all of those stories lit up the reader board, none of them garnered the interest generated by a story about the purchase and planned reopening of the old Yellow Basket Drive-in restaurant in Central Point, which has been around since the 1960s in various forms and under different owners.

More than 11,000 people have read that story so far, and as of Friday it had generated 152 comments and 259 shares on Facebook.

I think I know why. It hit people where they live.

Possibly the two most common questions couples ask each other are “What are we going to eat for dinner tonight?” and “What are we going to do this weekend?”

The Yellow Basket story tapped into those Maslow-esque themes. But there was something else. The story spurred memories and emotions, which got people reminiscing online.

Comment after comment described birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, first jobs and other special occasions at the Yellow Basket. Others went farther back in time, to when it was known as Jim’s Drive-up or Piper’s or Suds n Dogs.

“Glad to hear,” wrote Linda Reed. “When I was pregnant 45 years ago, we used to go there every other night because I was craving their hamburgers and milkshakes.”

“I worked there in 1974 as a car hop when it was Jim’s drive,” commented Vicky Rubarth.

“My first job here when it was Piper Drive In,” offered Lorina Faye Millard.

“I worked there in the late ’70s. Food was amazing, so many things on the menu, and we called the owners mom and dad. They had REAL ice cream shakes. … We also mixed our own root beer,” recalled Cindy Harbeson Dickinson.

“Grew up and went to school in CP. Plenty of memories made here. I will definitely make it a point to see what they do with it,” said Keith Darling.

“Remember when it was Suds and Dogs drive up when I was a kid,” recalled Kathy Offenbacher McKee.

“Can’t wait,” wrote Caroline Stanfield. “My husband John graduated in 1970 here and went there … he is happy to see it open again. Yepee…”

“Oh my gosh my life just became complete,” said Taylor Jane.

It looks like we better plan to send a reporter back to the restaurant when it reopens as Skout.

And thanks for reading.

If you’re not already a subscriber, please think about signing up for a subscription.

— David Smigelski, Rogue Valley Times editor