The Jackson County Board of Commissioners presented a Lifesaving Award to FedEx driver Chris Matthews yesterday, for saving a young girl during a dog attack on December 6, 2024. 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is proud to honor Chris for his extraordinary courage and life-saving actions on that day. Chris’ heroism and quick thinking saved the life of a three-year-old girl.

While delivering packages on Wagon Trail Road in Jacksonville around noon, Chris saw the girl being mauled by two Cane Corso dogs inside a pen. Without hesitation, he ran toward the danger, shouting to draw the dogs’ attention and calling for help. With the aid of nearby workers, he entered the enclosure, distracted the dogs, and pulled the critically injured child to safety so she could receive emergency medical care.

Without his intervention, the outcome could have been far more tragic. The girl has fully recovered and thanks to Chris, she is doing great. Chris’s heroism reflects the best values of courage, compassion, and responsibility. JCSO commends him for saving a life and setting an example for us all.

The Applegate Valley hosts one of its most ambitious cultural celebrations yet as Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair Week

Running from September 19 through September 28, 2025, the ten-day festival promises an eclectic mix of food, art, music, sports, and outdoor adventures that highlight both the creativity and resilience of this rural region.

Although the Applegate Valley spans two separate counties—Jackson and Josephine—the event embraces the shared identity of its people. The name “Jacksaphine,” coined by Grants Pass resident Ernest Adam, reflects the spirit of unity that binds the area despite administrative borders. For residents, the fair is less about county lines and more about celebrating the land and lifestyle they hold in common.

This year’s fair is being organized by A Greater Applegate, a nonprofit dedicated to community development and cultural engagement. The group has brought together local farmers, winemakers, artists, musicians, and volunteers to craft a schedule that blends entertainment with education, and fun with local heritage. The result is a sprawling program that touches nearly every facet of rural life in Southern Oregon.

The opening night, scheduled for September 19 at Longsword Vineyard, sets the tone with a vibrant mix of wine, live entertainment, and even paragliding pilots descending in costume. Performances from jugglers, musicians, and a burlesque act are all planned, alongside bocce ball in the vineyard. From there, the fair branches into a series of daily activities designed to appeal to a wide audience.

On September 20, the Applegate Paddling Club will host a morning of kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding on Applegate Lake, followed by coffee and pastries. Later that day, the Upper Applegate Grange will hold a harvest festival featuring food vendors, seasonal produce, and community activities in a hall that locals are working to restore after years of closure.

The following days continue in a similar fashion, offering a rotating selection of experiences. Residents can enjoy a vineyard bike ride paired with live music on September 21, a pepper roasting and farmers’ market dinner on September 22, and a dark-sky event on September 23 where astronomy and wildlife experts will lead discussions under the stars at the Provolt Recreation Site.

As the week progresses, the fair moves into expanded community markets, ranch-style barbecues, and even competitive sports. September 27 will feature the first-ever Applegate Open pickleball tournament at Wood Racquet Ranch, offering double-elimination play on custom courts along the river. That same day, visitors will have their choice of poetry readings at Red Lily Vineyard, a music festival at the Applegate Library, or a full harvest fair at Pacifica Gardens, once owned by musician Steve Miller.

The final day on September 28 will close out the week at Wooldridge Creek Winery, where local art, wine, and artisan cheeses will be showcased in a vineyard setting. It is designed to be a reflective, community-oriented finale, tying together the themes of food, agriculture, and creativity that run throughout the festival.

More than a series of events, the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair is also a demonstration of place-making and grassroots energy. The Applegate Valley is known for its vineyards, outdoor recreation, and artistic community, but it is also a region that has fought to maintain its identity in the face of economic and demographic changes. By blending paragliding with poetry, barbecue with astronomy, and pickleball with live music, the festival offers a portrait of a community determined to honor both tradition and innovation.

Support from local farms, businesses, and wineries ensures that the fair is as much about strengthening economic ties as it is about cultural celebration. Each ticket purchased and each meal shared contributes to the sustainability of the valley’s small producers and artisans.

For many residents, the festival has become a signature moment of the year, drawing visitors from surrounding towns and counties while reaffirming the connections that exist within the valley itself. Whether through the laughter of a community barbecue, the quiet of a dark-sky walk, or the competition of a pickleball match, the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when neighbors unite.

Information on tickets, registration, and the complete schedule of events is available through A Greater Applegate at www.agreaterapplegate.org.