Author Archive

Sara Jane Wiltermood

Sara Jane Wiltermood

Sara has been involved with the Rogue Valley Messenger from its inception, innocently responding to a craigslist ad asking for writers back in 2012, because she figured, why not? She had received her B.A. in Journalism/Mass Communications from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, in 2007 and was itching to put it to good use back where she was born and raised, in Grants Pass. Little did she know that the then online paper would end up in print, or that she would find herself in the esteemed position of Associate Editor two short years later. She and her husband and daughter, Seth and Lavender, have a small farm outside Grants Pass, where they primarily raise goats and rabbits and sell their products at their farm stand, L-Mae Essentials. They aspire to add produce to their repertoire in coming years. In her spare time, she also works as a Surgery Assistant/Implant Coordinator at Associates for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Grants Pass and Medford.

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Local Artist Pays Homage to the Oldest Trees in the Northwest Just hearing him talk about trees, one can imagine Paul Brown wrapping his arms around an oak and breathing a contented sigh. The only problem is, the trees Brown likes the best are the oldest in the Northwest, which also means they are the biggest. So,

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Though I grew up in Grants Pass, my first Hellgate Jetboat Excursion wasn’t until I was eight years old. Family came from out Of town and we had to show them the sights, and the jetboats are arguably one of the best tourist activities in the area. Of course, whitewater

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The Small-But-Mighty Hidden Valley FFA Heads to the Revitalized Josephine County Fair Just a few short years ago, the Josephine County Fairgrounds was on the brink of extinction. Some would say Josephine County’s Future Farmers of America program is showing signs of dwindling as well, with only one group remaining in the

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The West Coast Country Music Festival Keeps it Real Promising “more pedal steel than you have ever seen in one place,” the third annual West Coast Country Music Festival will be held at the Greensprings Inn in Ashland on August 15. Festival organizer Dee Fretwell explains that classic country, in addition to heavy

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Nope, not the spinning like in Sleeping Beauty—this is the bike issue, for goodness sake. Spinning is riding a stationary bike. If you love riding bicycles for exercise, but just can’t tolerate a helmet, then spin classes are the workout for you. Of course, you also have to be willing

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  O.K., so it isn’t that simple, but pretty close. The name “moonshine” most likely comes from the late 1700s to early 1800s in the Appalachian area where the drink was made at night, in an attempt to keep the illegal activity a secret. The term is still used today

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A Local Farmer Shows What it Takes for Pot to be Truly Green A consistently cited value for marijuana is that it is clean and organic so that people aren’t just smoking chemicals. But recent revelations have shown that Oregon pot isn’t as green as it has been advertised. A

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Let’s face it. It is H-O-T here in the Rogue Valley right now. If that backyard slip n’ slide just isn’t cutting it, check out these nearby water options that are worth the trip. Bribe that friend with a car that has air conditioning with a little gas money, promise

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The play tells the story of Edmund Dantes, a trusting merchant sailor who is wrongfully thrown into prison through the scheming of those who coveted what he had. After 18 years in prison, he finally escapes, procures a fortune and sets about exacting his revenge on those who framed him.

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And They’re Off! For those of us in Southern Oregon who didn’t make it to the Kentucky Derby or the Triple Crown this year, our chance to enjoy this age-old sport has arrived in our neighborhood. Racing on the Rogue horse races at the Grants Pass Downs located within the