At a training center tucked in the hills of the Applegate Valley, the dogs of Canine Angels spend their days playing with each other and learning all the skills needed to become service animals.

The nonprofit organization specializes in preparing dogs to help kids, teens and young adults from ages 5 to 26.

Whether it was in the batters’ box or on the mound, North Medford junior Cade Pettersen was a driving force for the Black Tornado this season.

Pettersen’s all-around efforts were recognized, as he was voted as the Southwest Conference’s Player of the Year in a recent vote by the league’s baseball coaches.

A delegation from a city in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, will make its first official visit to Grants Pass later this month as part of a sister city exchange program.

Grants Pass initially formed a sister city relationship with Rubtsovsk, a city in Russia, in 1990.

The Jackson County-based Southern Oregon Photographic Association named “Osteria Chef Florence Italy” by John Peterson the winning electronic image of the year and “Adobe” by Judy Lanier the print of the year.

The year-end awards were presented at a June 2 banquet in Medford.

Peterson took his image with an iPhone, at a restaurant in Florence, Italy where he had stopped for lunch.