Thinking of Moving from WI to Medford Oregon Area (Grants Pass: environment, lawyer)

[Be Right Back]

The librarian was making 100k/year?! Ooh, that is outrageous! I am not really up on all the details about the libraries, but I will say that when the Medford library was being built several positions were "contracted" out - meaning they were paying independant contractors to do the work, which I would have to assume was on the expensive and not the most economical side. It's like they spent all this money building the darn thing and then had no money to run it. I heard through the grapevine that the Medford one will be opening up again soon, under private funding...

I would like to note that directing people to check out Klamath Falls as an alternative to Medford might not be such a good idea. My brother in law runs a drywall business out there and constantly complains about the drug addicts. Says it is way worse than Medford. He went through 3 managers in 6 months - all of which turned out to be meth and heavy alcohol users. IMO that seems like a high percentage for one business to experience.

[vextc05]

Originally Posted by Escape Wisconsin

I am considering moving from Wisconsin to Southern Oregon, specifically Medford. I just spent the weekend in Medford, and I seriously got such a bad vibe from the place that I am reconsidering. I have been reading posts, and no one talks about the homeless people that come out at night with their lives in shopping carts, or all the meth addicts and the crime (home invasions, business burglaries, rapes) that occur in the Medford area. I did some research first and then saw it first hand.

Did anyone mention that most everything closes by 9pm (especially gas stations, which are all full-service by law)???

I liked the eclectic feel of Ashland much better. This would be a huge move for me. Nothing wrong with Wisconsin except the 40 below winters.

BTW, I am a transplanted Californian. Will I get grief from the natives? I noticed all the clerks and waitresses called me "hon". Kind of endearing at first...Any help is appreciated. Please be gentle.

hey, where in wisconsin u live?? I live in janesville!! I hate it here soo much!! were thinking about moving to BEND or redmond,oregon!! I NEED TO LEAVE HERE, i hate the state and i hate people here (soooo stuck up)

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by vextc05

hey, where in wisconsin u live?? I live in janesville!! I hate it here soo much!! were thinking about moving to BEND or redmond,oregon!! I NEED TO LEAVE HERE, i hate the state and i hate people here (soooo stuck up)

The wise old saying is the type of people you encounter in your old town, will be the type of people you encounter in your new town. You might like to blame the whole state,,but its about YOU

[Bend 4 fun]

escape wisconsin,
I agree with most of the reply's I myself was born in Mauston WI, yes just down from wisconsin dells.... I have visited medford and did not like it... Try Bend, Sisters, Redmond, or Sunriver. OR. I feel very comfortable in bend it's not too big and has the small town feel in the community.. warm and friendly let me know when you come visit.
Jim

[Escape Wisconsin]

Thanks for the tip on the other cities. The not too big but small town warm and friendly is just what I am searching for...

[GoBeavs]

Originally Posted by MajorHart

When we were living in Medford 1981-82 - Illegal aliens were already prowling around the town at night -all night and the police had their hands full. We had a scanner and listened at night. I imagine it's much worse now that there are many more in Oregon. The orchards use a lot of them and some hang out all night - causing trouble. I sure wouldn't let my wife go to any of those convenience stores at night and probably woudn't go myself either. When I was working at S. Oregon State College - an illegal alien went on the college jogging track and killed 3 people - just stabbed them to death.

Redding has them too but somewhat lesser numbers - I guess because there isn't as much agriculture in the Redding area. I do wonder though if California's massive debt from the Enron scandals and the ongoing welfare and prison costs - will eventually place a heavy burder on Redding Residents.

MajorHart

Ahaha, this is hilarious! I imagine you don't fly in planes too, ya know, due to the whole terrorist threat, right? My God, it's so hard to imagine that people actually live in these states of fear. Medford, while I hate the place, is not a place I would be afraid to walk in at night. I lived in downtown Portland forever, and never once was I afraid there either. The only place that put any bit of fear in me was South Fresno, California. I mean seriously, Medford is not some scary city. Hahaha, looking at the crime data here, most years have 0 murders, and one year had 4 murders (the most). You're living in a serious state of paranoia if you're afraid to go to a convenience store at night in Medford of all places. My god, I can't get over how ridiculous that is!

Anyway, to answer the OP's question: Medford is a total dump. I'm not kidding. It's a boring place to be. It has nothing going on, and the kids there have nothing better to do than stand around in a parking lot, or drive up/down the same street over and over again. There is a meth problem there too. However, don't think that same problem doesn't exist in places like Montana (2nd worst state for meth in nation). Honestly, drug/alcohol problems are going to exist basically in any place that is boring (such as Montana and Medford). I would recommend moving to Eugene, possibly Corvallis, Bend, or Portland. I would say Portland over all the others, but you may not be looking for a bigger town such as Portland.

[trailerguy]

I lived in Grants Pass for about a year in 1991 when the library closed. At that time the librarian's salary was $50K including her benefit package. The locals could not understand paying that much to a professional with a master's degree supervising three buildings and several employees. This is the first I have heard about the Jackson Co. library shutting down. That is a shame. It was a really nice library. It has nothing to do with environmentalism. Basically, most people in Josephine County don't read and have no respect for those who do.
The meth problem was endemic when I lived there and apparently has gotten no better.
Before you even think about moving there, be aware that the greater Medford area has the highest unemployment in the entire country. Be sure you have a source of income lined up. I was able to get a part time job at Harry & David which unfortunately did not last. There are no other large employers. Ashland is a lovely town; it has a large college (Southern Oregon U.) with a world-famous Shakespeare festival every year. It is much more sophisticated than the rest of state. It is also relatively expensive and has very little employment besides the University. Most of the people are self-employed. There is winter in Oregon with lots of snow and ice, and the roads can be very dangerous. If you go, whatever you do, DON'T tell anyone you come from California until you know them well. While Californians are disliked throughout the state, the feeling in the Rogue Valley borders on outright paranoia. Say you are from Wisconsin and let it go at that.
On the upside, the scenery is gorgeous, you can drive up to Crater Lake for the afternoon, or sit in a rushing river. There are good wineries and restaurants. There are more than a few nice people, but you do have to look for them.
I moved the other direction and live in northern Illinois now, and have no regrets.

[freedom]

Trailerguy,

That was the best fiction that i have read, regarding Grants Pass and the Rogue Valley.
I hereby crown you rediculousguy.
Medford has the highest unemployment in the nation???????
NO one reads in Grants Pass??????????

your a hoot,

freedom (to laugh at trailerguy)

[Waterlily]

Well I just finished a trip through southern Oregon and northern California. I did stop in at Grants Pass. I didn't noticed any of this odd stuff people keep talking about.
I drove through Medford. It has grown some since the last time I was there. There's lots of shoping centers that can be seen from the freeway. I'd imagine some of those stores hire people. I didn't see any Meth heads on my travels.

[trailerguy]

I was living in Grants Pass at the time and well remember the rhetoric over the librarian's salary. The antipathy towards the library was palpable, as evidenced by the fact that it was shut down with very little opposition. I didn't say no one there reads, but at the very least, the readers kept a low profile.
Unemployment figures change constantly. The last time I saw a list ranking metro areas in the US by unemployment, Medford was at the top. It may have changed, but I left primarily because the job situation was hopeless. Unless some new industries opened up, I would think it is still bad. Shutting down the county library is not a sign of prosperity.
Wisconsin has many small cities highly similar to Medford where unemployment ranges in the 2-4% range. I wouldn't want the original questioner to move the and be unpleasantly surprised.
BTW, a modern head librarian has to have at least a Master's degree and many sophisticated management and computer skills. $100,000/year is not at all unreasonable.