Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Page 2
This is the week that the editor was going to tell you
about his jolly experiences on Thursday, Dec. 5 during a 12-
hour out-patient extravaganza at Rogue Valley Medical
Center in Medford for an angiogram. Sounds like something
a criminal would send to someone on a hit list: “Hey, Jack-
son -- send that creep on the East Side an angiogram.”
Something like that.
But because El Jefe was back at RVMC on Monday,
Dec. 9 for a return engagement, he has decided to talk about
something else. At least for now, until my chances for enter-
ing the Olympics look a bit better. Not to worry; I just have
a bit of a heart problem related to bypasses and stents clos-
ing, apparently because of bad reviews (?).
Anyway, Jan and I have faith that God is in charge,
along with various cardiologists and other medical folks, so
we’re leaving it their hands. Especially God’s.
What does all this mean? Unfortunately, or fortunately --
depending on how one wields a two-edged sword -- it likely
means that the editor will have to take a diminished role at
the “Noose.” One that doesn't take too much time, and espe-
cially one that avoids as much stress as possible. We’ll see
about that, but it seems a distinct possibility.
We have a terrific staff, and they will continue to pro-
duce the “Noosepaper.” El Jefe will have to take more of a
sideline approach. Kinda’ like in high school, when my
football position was Left Out.
As this is written on Sunday, Dec. 8, our kittens are go-
ing at it tooth-and-nail in a “playful way.” They also are
making noises like veloceraptors. They’re funny little crea-
tures (the kittens, not the veloceraptors). How did I get into
the topic of cats?
Don’t know. Going to stop this column for now. Get
back to you next week after I deal with another doc coming
at my femoral artery with a sharp knife. God bless all.
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Illinois Valley News
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by
Robert R. (Bob) and Jan Rodriguez
Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe
Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as
Official Newspaper for Josephine County and Josephine County
Three Rivers School District, published at
321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330
Volume 65, No. 38
STAFF: Virginia Gilliam, Cindy Newton,
Chris Robertson, Sharon Silva & Becky Loudon
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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(Editor’s Note: Views and
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* * *
Losing our outback
From Larry Warnicke
Cave Junction
Summer is gone, and the
fires are finally out. Cave
Junction is back to its lazy self
and digging in for another
winter.
I just took a ride over the
hills from O’Brien, up Lone
Mountain Road to the west
where the Biscuit Fire burned
hot. I went down into the val-
ley of Diamond Creek, one
mountain range over from
Sourdough where the fire first
broke out and was totally
heart broken.
What was a pristine place
to go camping -- with four
beautiful pools in the size of a
large Jacuzzi with crystal-
clear waterfalls splashing,
causing the water to bubble
with excitement -- are gone.
The waterfalls and ponds
are still there, but the scene
surrounding them is devastat-
ing. The trees and brush once
thick with paths to various
rural campsites, with beauty
only surpassed by clean air
and blue sky, are gone.
Now in its place are
blackened, burned-out tree
trunks standing like monu-
ments to remind us how
Mother Nature can be so cruel
if we don’t heed her warning.
How does something like
this happen? We had two
small fires that could have
been easily put under control.
However, the paid bureaucrats
decided to let it go until it be-
came the largest fire in the
United States in 2002, and the
largest in many decades on the
West Coast.
Environmental groups
fight hard to keep the timber
industry out of the areas, and
are doing so today in order to
“preserve our forest.”
Does this mean we should
clear-cut all the timber in or-
der to prevent fires in the fu-
ture? This is as devastating as
not select-cutting timber or
clearing out under the brush.
Now we have nothing but
burnt forest to remind us that
we need to regroup and start
managing our forest before it
becomes a waste land.
At what point should the
environmental groups be held
accountable for their actions?
Do they stop responsible for-
est management with protest
and high-paid lobbyists at the
governmental level?
Are they willing to pay for
this and other fires, or absorb
the cost of replanting the more
than 50 square miles of de-
stroyed forest?
How long are we going to
hold our forest captive in the
name of preservation? I won’t
be able to go into my forest
unless I hike, so how does my
dad get there. How does the
handicapped person get into
the backcountry? I bet they all
pay taxes to maintain trails,
and fight the fires.
It’s going to take millions
of dollars to rehab this forest,
and who is going to pay for it?
Does this mean toss out the
environmental groups or put
people who were in charge of
this fire in the unemployment
line? Should we allow the tim-
ber industry to go in and clear-
cut large areas or allow the
off-road groups to run through
our forest unchecked?
Not at all.
Is it time for our govern-
ment to hear from the people,
instead of special interest lob-
byists? We need to help the
economy not cost billions in
firefighting and rehabilitation
of our forest. It is time for the
people to reclaim lands lost in
the name of preservation.
Thousands of acres are
gone in this fire, and the tim-
ber will remain there until the
next lightning strike starts an-
other devastating fire. Less
than 20 percent of the burnt
timber will be logged, and if
not cut and processed soon it
will be of no use to the timber
industry.
With the cost of lumber
and lack of jobs in Oregon,
isn’t it ridiculous to waste
what we should have ad-
dressed before this fire? And
at least get something out of
the burnt timber?
The forest will be cleaned
up, trees replanted, roads re-
paired and reopened, along
with making money for the
state at little or no cost to the
people of Oregon.
R&R sadness
From Paul Dillon
Cave Junction
I was sad to hear of the
potential loss of jobs should
Rough & Ready Mill close.
It is my prayer that every-
one affected by this lay-off
will put their trust in the God
of the living, Jesus Christ, in
this time of change and al-
ways.
This is yet another exam-
ple of the chipping away of
the strength of our Nation by
those who suppress the truth
in unrighteousness, while fan-
tasizing that they are the sav-
iors of the Universe.
Romans 1:18 - 32 should
make it very clear even to
those of us perceived to be
less educated than the Clinton/
Gore liberal-left, what is
really going on here.
I believe that when these
people have finally obtained
what they want they will still
be dissatisfied.
They may see themselves
as some sort of savior, who
they really need is the Savior.
MUSIC MOOLAH -(Top photo) IVHS and Lorna Byrne Stu-
dents sing Christmas carols as Linda Oncay of Family Tree
Garden Center presents T. Lund with a $300 check to the Illi-
nois Valley Music Program at the 5th Annual I.V. Music Dept.
Benefit and Open House on Saturday, Dec. 7. The check con-
sisted of 10 percent of Family Tree Garden Centers Decem-
ber 2001 sales. The benefit continues Saturday, Dec. 14.
(See ad below)
5th Annual I.V. Music Department
Benefit and Open House
Saturday, Dec.14
at Noon
441 S. Junction Ave.
592-3799
Come listen to the
Lorna Byrne & IVHS choir,
enjoy refreshments &
share the joy of the holiday!
A portion of all sales will be donated
to the music department.
Winter Hours: 9;30 - 4:30 Monday through Saturday
Closed Sunday