The city of Cave Junction made the only bid at a foreclosure auction Thursday for the Junction Inn, a landmark in the community that has turned into an embarrassing eyesore.

The city entered a bid of $575,550 for the property, which was and remains the only motel in a town that bills itself as the gateway to the Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve.

Steelhead angling has been tough on the Rogue River, with almost zero rain in the past three weeks, and low, clear water conditions.

That won’t be changing any time soon, with only a chance of rain forecast for Sunday, then more dry weather.

The state’s snowpack levels are below 33% of average, the lowest since 1981 for late January, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. It’s only 28% in the Rogue and Umpqua basins.

Something there is about waking in the cold pre-dawn and entering the living room to be greeted by cheerfully glowing coals in the woodstove that gets my day started on the right foot.

Not only does it warm me physically but it also fires up my spirit before I trudge upstairs to my writing loft to work on my fourth book, an obstinate tome which refuses to end.

As the country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this summer, organizers of the Fourth of July BoomFest fireworks show in Central Point have their own milestone to recognize: The 2026 show will be the final fireworks celebration held on the Expo grounds.

The decision comes amid continued development around the Expo and rising wildfire risks in the region, organizers said.