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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Rice honored posthumously
Body located
in wilderness
possibly man
long missing
Unidentified human re-
mains found at the western
edge of the Kalmiopsis Wil-
derness could be those of a
hiker caught by the massive
Biscuit Fire, it is indicated by
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office.
The sheriff’s office was
notified on Saturday, Nov. 2
that hikers had found human
remains. It was revealed on
Monday, Nov. 4 that the re-
mains were taken to an au-
topsy facility after detectives
Jerry Rylander and Jim Mason
went to the site via helicopter.
The location of the re-
mains “is about two or three
air miles from where Michael
Woods was last seen on or
about July 8, when he left on
an extended hiking trip. The
location is generally consis-
tent with the intended hiking
route of Woods.”
It is not known, said the
sheriff’s office, if the person
perished in the Biscuit Fire or
by some other means. Some
animal depredation had oc-
curred.
Other information will be
released after an autopsy and
further checking, said the
sheriff’s office.
Assistance
with power
bills likely
The Josephine County
Community Action Agency
has started the 2002 Low In-
come Energy Assistance Pro-
gram (LIEAP) to help low-
income seniors and people
receiving disability income
with their heating bills.
LIEAP is a federally
funded program to assist Jose-
phine County residents to pay
for heating their homes during
winter months.
All other low-income Jo-
sephine County residents will
be able to phone as of Mon-
day, Nov. 4 to schedule an
appointment. There are in-
come guidelines: To be eligi-
ble, the income for a family of
four cannot exceed 60 percent
of the median (Oregon state-
wide average) of $2,915.75
per month.
This program is not meant
to be the sole source of pay-
ment for heating bills. People
who are anticipating receiving
LIEAP help should talk to
their fuel providers and make
payment arrangements while
waiting to receive LIEAP.
People may phone (541)
474-5445 for more informa-
tion, or to schedule an ap-
pointment.
FALL RECYCLE ROUND-UP - Illinois Valley Community Response Team and Southern Oregon
Sanitation, with many community volunteers, conducted a Fall Recycle Round-Up (Can Slam)
on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the I.V. Visitor Center. Some 8,820 pounds of recyclable items were
deposited; filling two 30-yard dumpsters and half filling a third.
(Photo by Sam Newton)
Jobless rate declines to 6.8%
The Beaver State’s sea-
sonally adjusted unemploy-
ment rate declined to 6.8 per-
cent in September from 7.0
percent in August, said Ore-
gon Employment Dept.
(OED).
September marked the
first time in a year that Ore-
gon’s rate has been below 7.0
percent. The last time the
state’s rate was below 7.0 per-
cent was in September 2001
when the rate was 6.9 percent,
said OED.
Oregon’s unemployment
rate has been on a downward
trend throughout the year after
peaking at 8.1 percent in Janu-
ary and February. The decline
in the September rate was
similar to the drop in the U.S.
rate, which ticked down from
5.7 percent in August to 5.6 in
September, reported OED.
In September 113,026
Oregonians were unemployed,
and 1.7 million were em-
ployed. This was the lowest
number of unemployed since
July 2001, when 112,289 were
unemployed.
Besides data covering
Oregon’s civilian labor force,
OED also released data from
the business survey. This sur-
vey indicates that seasonally
adjusted total non-farm pay-
roll employment was flat in
September.
Looking at the longer-
term view, this measure of
employment essentially has
been flat for the past five
months, with a gain of only
400 jobs during that time.
“Oregon has had essen-
tially the same employment
level for the past five months,
but at least the unemployment
rate has moved very slightly
downward,” said state em-
ployment economist Art Ayre.
“Still, I don’t see convincing
evidence that the recession has
ended and that we’re in a pe-
riod of recovery.”
In September, the start of
the school year meant in-
creases in employment fol-
lowing summer break. Private
education posted a gain of
5,200 jobs and is now close to
its year-ago level of 22,200
jobs. Similarly, local govern-
ment education added 12,500
jobs as employment rose to
near its peak autumn level.
Despite the job gains in local
government education, em-
ployment there is 1,300 jobs
below its September ‘01 level.
Lumber and wood prod-
ucts had been one of the few
manufacturing sectors posting
over-the-year job gains until
September. Now the industry
employs 46,800, which is
identical to its level in Sep-
tember ‘01. Electronic equip-
ment manufacturing has suf-
fered through a retrenchment
of employment.
Employment reached a
high of more than 42,000 jobs
in early ‘01. Starting in June
last year, employment started
to drop until reaching a level
close to 38,000, where it has
remained since February of
this year. In September,
37,400 were employed in the
industry.
On the non-durable goods
side of manufacturing, food
and kindred products posted a
gain of 200 jobs in September
to finish the summer process-
ing season. This industry em-
ployed 27,700 in September,
about the same level as in
September 2001 when em-
ployment was 27,400.
Love never fails.
The toys and blocks with which we play are houses, lands, and gold.
Their values quickly pass away, as does a tale that’s told.
But kindly, gracious deeds abide, their wealth will not depart,
their flowers of joy are multiplied in gardens of the heart.
- Charles Russell Wakeley -
Jared and I would like to thank everyone who donated their items, their time,
and/or their money to help us through our time of need.
All the love and generosity is deeply appreciated. A special thanks to:
Dr. Joe Hoelzle
Katie Asling
Terry & Glenn Baker
Thom & Charlotte Baker
Fred & Sara Ball
Roger & Pat Brandt
Chani & Chris Brewer
Genie Carwitz
Bob & Ila Clark
Lila Cochran
Marilyn Cochran
Bill & Catherine Dunham
Russ & Rita Dyer
Erica Eldred
Evelyn Evans
Merit Evans
Cathy Falletta
Kathy, Lori & Grandma
Terri & Victoria Granville
Tom & Bonnie (& Louise)
Greener
Tom & Peggy Housel
Liz Johnson
Fran Jolly
Sally Jones
David & Allison Keil
Angela Kehoe
Debbie Larson
Betty Longman
Blair & Lynn McIntire
Melissa Marsh
Lisa & Daniel Martinson
Michelle & Shane Navarro
Eileen Noggle
Larry & Pam Pera
Bernie Pinard
Nick & Liz Prendergast
Big Springs Ranch
Michelle & Jimi Richardson
Gerald Rosenblum &
Chen Li Lan
Jerry Rosenblum
Laura & Rod Sharp
Georgia Sheets
Elaine & Larry Stein
Dave Stricklan
Rosana Thornhill
And to all others that showed your support… Thanks so much.
Any future donations can be made to Jared’s Medical Fund Savings Account
at SOFCU
Employment in food proc-
essing can be volatile in the
summer months, depending on
weather patterns and conse-
quently the timing of harvest
for various agricultural prod-
ucts, said OED.
In September, many other
industries performed in line
with seasonal expectations for
the month. Construction
dropped by 300 jobs; whole-
sale dropped by 400 jobs;
transportation and public utili-
ties added 700 jobs; and ser-
vices grew by 4,600 jobs. All
these changes were close to
the typical trends for the time
of year, OED noted.
Within services, two in-
dustries stand out for persis-
tent growth. Health services,
at 118,200 jobs (+900 jobs),
posted a strong monthly gain.
This industry has averaged a
gain of nearly 400 jobs per
month more than the past
year, OED said.
Social services added
1,400 jobs in September and
has grown by an average of
150 jobs per month in the past
year, said OED.
Josephine County Marine
Patrol Deputy Tom Rice has
been honored posthumously
by the Oregon State Marine
Board for his efforts in train-
ing fellow marine officers and
for outstanding service as a
marine deputy.
Rice died in the line of
duty on May 23, when a heli-
copter in which he was a pas-
senger hit a wire and crashed
into the Rogue River near
Grants Pass. The pilot, a civil-
ian, also died during the mis-
sion to find a missing woman.
The "2002 Dave Hill In-
structors Award” was given
Rice posthumously for dem-
onstrating strong ability and
tireless dedication to training
fellow marine patrol officers
and new recruits. Rice also
was honored with the "Award
of Merit for Outstanding Ser-
vice." The awards were ac-
cepted by Rice's wife and
daughter, who attended the
awards ceremony in Hood
River last month.
"These awards are a fit-
ting tribute to this very capa-
ble and highly respected ma-
rine officer," said Pat Row-
land, law enforcement coordi-
nator for the marine board.
"His contribution to his fellow
officers, the marine board, his
community, and to boating
law enforcement and safety
will be sorely missed."
The Dave Hill award is
named in honor of a former
Yamhill County marine dep-
uty and longtime U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary volunteer.