MEDFORD — With wildfire season and Fourth of July festivities quickly approaching, the Medford City Council is standing firm in its decision to have one of the more lenient personal fireworks use policies among larger cities in the Rogue Valley — despite fireworks-related fires quadrupling.

Liz Hayes, a retiree who lives in northeast Medford, said she’s asked the city to ban personal fireworks given the drought conditions in Southern Oregon this year.

In a huge Skyline Conference showdown between a pair of teams ranked in the top 5 of the Class 4A baseball rankings, Hidden Valley scored four times in the bottom of the first to trample top-ranked Henley 8-2 Tuesday in Murphy.

The win puts the fifth-ranked Mustangs in first place in the Skyline with a huge doubleheader still to be played Friday in Klamath Falls.

The Resort at Lake Selmac has been undergoing notable improvements and upgrades in the five years since Vince and Shannon Santangelo took over ownership in early 2021.

Most evident upon arrival are the three colorful, 21-foot diameter tipis in the front yard, each with a small fire pit and picnic table. The tipis rent for $45 per night and can sleep up to about six people comfortably.

Winners of the 2026 James M. Collier Young Artist Competition will be featured at Saturdauy’s Rogue Valley Symphonic Band concert.

First place winner, Zoe Guyll, a clarinetist from North Medford High School, will give a solo performamce of “Concertino” by Carl Maria Von Weber.