Wastewater annexation would benefit Gold Hill

On the Aug. 22 Oregon Special Election ballot, the residents of Gold Hill will have the opportunity to approve annexation of their wastewater treatment system into Rogue Valley Sewer Services (RVSS) sanitary district.

The city’s long history of noncompliance regarding the operations and maintenance of its wastewater treatment plant and collection system resulted in written enforcement action from Oregon DEQ in December 2012. The city is still under this enforcement order nearly 13 years later, a further indication of the city’s inability to manage its wastewater treatment system.

Voter approval of annexation will result in the permanent transfer of all of Gold Hill’s wastewater property assets to RVSS ownership. RVSS has the skilled staff, expertise and state-of-the-art equipment in order to professionally manage Gold Hill’s wastewater treatment system.

RVSS would then design and construct a pipeline to transmit Gold Hill’s wastewater to an existing RVSS line for eventual treatment at the City of Medford Regional Water Reclamation Facility. Gold Hill’s existing treatment plant would then be decommissioned.

Wastewater treatment costs for small municipalities in Oregon are an ever-increasing challenge. The risk of increasingly stringent environmental regulations places small municipalities at risk, with costs becoming prohibitive for small ratepayer bases.

The opportunity to connect to the regional treatment system makes sense from both a cost and environmental prospective and relieves the residents of Gold Hill the burden of continuing to operate a failing wastewater treatment system.

Mark Warwick / Gold Hill

Purple Heart recipients recognized in August

I wonder how many people know that Aug. 7 was National Purple Heart Day, and that August itself is Purple Heart Month.

What is now known as the Purple Heart was established as the Badge of Military Merit on Aug. 7, 1782, by then Gen. George Washington to honor members of the military wounded in combat.

During the Civil War, Union forces called it “The Red Badge of Courage,” and was officially recognized as the “Purple Heart” medal in 1932.

All members of the military know of the Purple Heart, but many in the public still have no idea of why they’re given out.

I was asked about it by a teenage a few months back, and I told him it’s for wounds received while being in combat. Myself, I have two, having served with the Marines back in 1966 and 1967.

There is a chapter of Combat Wounded Veterans here in the Rogue Valley, and we are always looking for new members. If you know of anyone who has received a Purple Heart, we would like to hear from you.

Our chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is a family oriented group that meets once a month.

You can reach us at jessieanalan@yahoo.com.

Al Punches (SGT., USMC) / Medford

Jet boat ride on the river was wonderful experience

My family and I took a jet boat ride out of TouVelle Park. It was a wonderful experience for all us.

I was really impressed with the courtesy that the boat operator provided for people fishing and swimming in the river. The boat operator powered the boat down to a slow pace steering the boat away from the people.

The boat was also slowed down when we approached river houses. The loading docks were small and didn’t standout in the river. It was a great adventure for all of us.

Thomas Smith / Medford