Jacksonville Elementary School music teacher Wendi Stanek (center), who is the director for the school's production of "Finding Nemo Jr.," stands with cast members (from left) Emilie Blair, Lucy Cummings, Emaline Hannum, Avery Pierce, Caroline Williams and Emmy Mahar, after rehearsing for the May 23 show at the Britt Festival stage. Stanek's annual school productions in collaboration with the Britt Festival has been a longstanding tradition since 1989.
By Steve Boyarsky for the Daily Courier
Today's conversation is with Wendi Stanek, a Jacksonville Elementary School music teacher who has been producing an all-school musical on the Britt Festival stage for 36 years. Tickets for the May 23 performance of "Finding Nemo Jr." can be purchased at the Britt Festival grounds box office the evening of the show starting at 5:30 p.m. Showtime is 7 p.m. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. Read More »
With a mark of 36 feet, 4 inches, Hidden Valley's Aja LaPan won her second consecutive state championship in the Class 4A triple jump Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene.
By Travis Moore of the Daily Courier
EUGENE — Aja LaPan decided to focus on the triple jump this season.
That was bad news for her opponents.
The Hidden Valley senior won eight of the nine meets she competed in this season before the Class 4A state meet.
LaPan added one more win on Friday, earning the state championship with a mark of 36 feet, 4 inches on a sun-drenched day at Hayward Field. Read More »
We've chosen historic local headlines from the Courier to highlight for the coming week:
50 YEARS AGO
• May 20, 1974: "She's Miss Boatnik"
"The title Miss Boatnik 1974 went to statuesque Karen Louise Dean, 18, a lively green-eyed redhead and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Dean of 7901 Rogue River Highway. Read More »
"Jaguar" James Taylor is a veteran and musician who often plays classics from the 1960s and '70s at the Growers Market in downtown Grants Pass on Saturdays.
By Marcus Zottola for the Daily Courier
For musician Jaguar James Taylor — nicknamed after the 1989 Jaguar XJ6 car his buddy sold him — it's not about the tips or the attention. It's about the joy radiating off autistic boys who hear him play. It's about the kids who lock onto him for 10 minutes and start dancing. It's about doing what he loves most: playing music.
Known for his regular appearances at the Grants Pass Growers Market, Taylor had a long professional career. Read More »
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