Two more department heads forced out last year during a controversial restructuring effort led by then-Commissioner Andreas Blech are suing Josephine County, Blech and four other past and present county commissioners.

Michael Weber, who led the county’s Public Health department, and Mark Stevenson, who led the county’s Community Development department, filed suit Thursday in circuit court on the grounds of discrimination, retaliation and defamation.

South Medford head coach Tom Cole kept it succinct when describing his team’s opener at the Class 6A state tournament on Thursday.

“Sometimes it’s better to win ugly than to lose pretty — and that was the case today,” Cole said.

When Jack Duggan wakes at sunrise and beholds the beautiful landscape in the headwaters of Forest Creek overlooking the Applegate Valley, he can’t help but smile.

“As a Vietnam War veteran, I really needed the peace and quiet this place has to offer,” observed the former Army staff sergeant, who spent 1969 in the war and earned a Bronze Star after surviving several close calls.

“And there is also so much family history here,” he added.

The Southern Oregon Photographic Association has named the winning images from its March competition.

A total of 62 images were submitted by members, 39 in the electronic image division and 23 prints.

The electronic images were judged online by three members of the Siuslaw Viewfinders Camera Club of Florence.