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.

You sure do get more for your money with the musical A Day in Hollywood, A Night in Ukraine, playing at Barnstormers Theatre in Grants Pass through June 28. The two acts are virtually unrelated, other than the genre of the 1930s. The first half reviews a whirlwind of Hollywood

The Other 1 Percent In September 2012, approximately 25.2 million veterans were living in the United States. Oregon.gov estimates that over 30,000 live in Jackson and Josephine Counties. Southern Oregon seems to be rich in veterans—and those who support them. Southern Oregon Public Television launched a show on June 8 dedicated

What is more American than constructing a zipline in your backyard? Hopefully making the smart decision of leaving the ziplining to the professionals. Sure, that zipline your Dad built in the backyard growing up was epic. And those who have taken a cruise to Mexico think that true ziplines only

It turns out that most of the shoes that Americans wear are not made by elves that sneak into cobblers’ shops in the middle of the night. Nor are they even made in America. Most are mass-produced in China (more on that later), yet there are still fine shoe-craftspeople here

The Rogue Valley Commuter Bus Line launched as a grand experiment in September of last year, linking our sister counties, Jackson and Josephine through public transit. The round trip is made from Grants Pass to Medford, with stops in Rogue River and Gold Hill along the way, five times every

THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED It appears as though long titles are coming back in style. Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson, this film tells the hilarious tale of a man who gives himself freedom from a nursing home on his

Time to shine up that belt buckle, and get your spurs on. The Wild Pro Rodeo is coming to the Jackson County Expo May 28—30. From the mutton bustin’ to barrel racing to bull riding, everyone has the chance to get bucked off of something at this event. The only