The half-brother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis apologized to family, friends and the community before being led off to begin serving a 30 day jail sentence.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement James Auchincloss pled guilty to two felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse.

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The Oak Flat fire continues to burn in steep rugged terrain, ten miles northwest of Selma.

At last report there were 27 twenty person hand crews and nine engines working in two shifts to build containment lines around the fire. The conflagration was considered to be ten percent contained.

Managers expect favorable conditions for conducting burnout operations the next few days. Depending on conditions, additional smoke will be visible.

Some fire lines from the 2002 Biscuit Fire are being improved in case they are required for this burn. All efforts are being made to reduce the size of the burned area, to minimize smoke generation, and to avoid impacts to private lands.

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A salmonella outbreak that has sickened 23 Oregonians, including 2 in Josephine County and 3 in Jackson County, has prompted the recall of certain milk and drink products from Umpqua Dairy.

Milk, half and half, cream and buttermilk as well as Umpqua Dairy brand orange juice and fruit drinks are part of the recall. Ice cream and other dairy products, including sour cream and cottage cheese are not part of the recall.

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Firefighters not taking on the Oak Flat Fire have been busy with two new fires on the High Cascades Ranger District in North Jackson County as a result of yesterday’s thunderstorms.

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While a member of the small audience walked out on him, and with another wearing a bright yellow chicken costume at the door, Congressman Peter DeFazio insisted he is not ducking Art Robinson in the latter’s attempts to engage him in debate during an appearance in Merlin today.

Instead, DeFazio, who seeks his 13th term representing Oregon’s Fourth District in Congress, said he has agreed to four dates next month that he said are mediated by third parties.

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The Oak Flat fire continues to burn in steep rugged terrain, ten miles northwest of Selma. The thunderstorm event yesterday did not hinder or benefit firefighting efforts.

There are 27 twenty person hand crews and nine engines working in two shifts to build containment lines around the fire. The conflagration was considered to be ten percent contained this morning.

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An impassioned crowd last night ignored the Medford School District’s 3 minute time limit for addressing the Board, while imploring district officials to abandon a plan to charge nonprofit youth organizations for using school property.

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Most of Josephine County was missed by a storm that dropped a record 78 hundredths of an inch of rain on the Medford airport yesterday.

The heavy rain flooded streets in Central Point and White City.

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The Josephine County Public Health department is warning citizens that current air pollution from the Oak Flat fire may cause adverse health conditions.

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Firefighters are back firing between fire lines and the main body of the Oak Flat fire which has consumed about 850 acres.

Because of the difficulty and danger of putting people near the main fire, firefighters are using fire lines built during the 2002 Biscuit Fire, and those lines are quite a distance from the fire.

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