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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 15, 2003 Now that my silk top hat is sagging, and my 2003 sash is worn and torn from New Year’s Eve, I’ve got time to do … something … not sure what. A lot of folks have gone out of their way to ask me, “How are you feeling?” And my answer at this point has been and is, “Fine. I feel fine.” The situation is that I look fairly decent on the outside, what with losing weight and exercising. But some of my innards aren’t doing so well. Because of heredity and a Type A+ personality, coupled with a really bad diet and lack of exercise from my late 20s until early 1999, I have a “heart condition.” It’s not an easy pill for someone like me, who has long been called a worka- holic, among other endearing terms, most of which we can’t repeat in this family newspaper. A few weeks ago, Jan and I made two separate and nerve-racking trips (for both of us, and not because of the traffic) to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. On the first jolly outing, my cardiologist dug into my right groin with a sharp stick, infiltrated my femoral artery, and inserted some kind of probe. Then he displayed my blood valve chamber on a TV monitor and discovered, to his dismay, that the bypass surgery in ‘99 and the installation of two stents last year were less than wholly successful. Actually he was more upset than I, but you know how physicians can be. Plus he’s a caring guy. A few days later we made the second trip to the House of Scary Medical Stuff, and another physician, a specialist in such matters, cut into my femoral artery on my left side. He also enjoyed the view of my heart and its fuel lines so much that again it was displayed on a screen. However, he determined that at this point I am not “critical” when it comes to artery blockage. At least, not yet. So there are problems. But I feel fine. Still, El Jefe is keenly aware of certain limitations im- posed by this “condition.” I am supposed to avoid stress (ha- ha), and “take it easy” as best I can. I am not supposed to lift items that weigh more than 25 pounds. And my energy level is considerably less than it’s been in the past. So I’m a Type A guy in a body that needs help. We’re waiting for some new coated stents, currently in the experi- mental stage and showing great success. All we need is FDA approval-thank you very much. So with great reluc- tance I am tapering off my participation at the “Noose” of- fice. It will still be the same “weekly blat” or whatever you might want to call it, yet my hand will not show quite as much. But I feel fine. (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary expressed in letters to the editor are strictly those of the letter- writers. * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are acceptable for consideration. Hand- written letters that are double-spaced and highly legible also can be con- sidered for publication. Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.) * * * ‘For 28’ From Fred Borngasser Grants Pass There are lots of good reasons we are where we are today, but now we have a tough and unhappy choice between an undesirable reduc- tion in services-in schools, public safety and human ser- vices-or a temporary increase in the income tax. These planned cuts affect not only our quality of life, but our very lives, as danger- ous felons cannot be prose- cuted without forensic evi- dence, defense attorneys and the courts. S t u d i e s (www.chbpp.org/10-30- 01sfp.htm and www.ocpp.org) show that the best choice of the two is a temporary income tax surcharge because it hurts the economy, jobs and the community the least. Certainly with the sad and projected loss of the jobs at Rough & Ready Lumber Co. (despite the efforts of many to provide a stable timber sup- ply), the economy is a major issue. Consumer spending is reduced the smallest amount by passage of Measure 28; and that is what is needed to help the economy and, of course, protect the services our community and businesses need. Finally, if we don’t edu- cate children to help them get good well paying jobs - who will pay our Social Security? Canine killer No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. (William Shakespeare, Richard III) 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. 42 STAFF: Virginia Gilliam, Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild Chris Robertson, Sharon Silva & Becky Loudon Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: News, Display Ads, Announcements & Letters 3 P.M. FRIDAY (Ads will be accepted until Noon, Monday with an additional charge.) POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters. One letter per person per month. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the editor's opinion. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $20.80 One year in Jackson and Douglas Counties - $24.40 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state -$28 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 From Bill Addis Cave Junction If you have read the Satur- day, Dec. 21 entry in issue 41 of the ‘Noose’, you would have read about a 911 call about a dog being shot in the 4000 block of Caves Hwy. That was me making the call. Two days before I was going to take “Chewie” (my dog) up to Corvallis, some- body decided to shoot him with a high-powered rifle. The sheriff’s dept. and I have nothing to go on except the bullet lodged in his body, which is now underground. I had just finished re- covering my well pump box and was calling and whistling for “Chewie” to come, when I heard the shots. The area sur- rounding us is so densely wooded that it was easy for the criminal(s) to hide. The best the sheriff’s dept. and I have been able to come up with is that Chewie sur- prised an illegal hunter/ poacher, who shot first, rather than discovering that Chewie would never have attacked him. Here’s a photo of him; just so you can see what an 80 pound purebred Samoyed, with an unmistakable blue harness, looks like. The photo was taken dur- ing the Biscuit Fire this sum- mer. He had a bit more fur on him when he was murdered. He was ten-years-old and still a happy puppy . I miss him a lot. Normally, I wouldn’t be asking for help -- I have al- ways been in the business of providing help, albeit on com- puters. This dog kept me alive during a lot of bad years, I owe it to him to find his killer and bring him to justice. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, I had just returned from Corvallis, and as soon as I got out of my truck I heard 20 to 30 high powered rifle shots from across the highway, on what must be BLM land, I immedi- ately phoned 911 and reported it. If you know anything or have heard anything that matches these events, please contact officer Julie Scruggs at the Josephine County Sher- iff’s Dept. at 474-5123. Voice message mailbox 5778. The case is inactive, but it will never be closed until his killer is found. My only consolation is that whether on not I actively participate, the murderer will be punished. In my 50 years on this earth, it has happened time and time again that retribution finds those who cause harm in any way. Whoever did this, think about that when you try to sleep at night... Elementary Schools Menu ‘Illinois Valley News’ 321 S. Redwood Hwy. 592-2541 Please don’t litter! Gammel - Hardy plan wedding Roger and Connie Gam- mel and Alice Hardy proudly announce the engagement of Amy Adelaide Gammel to Shawn Michael Hardy. Gammel is the daughter of Roger and Connie Gammel. She is a graduate of Illinois Valley High School of Cave Junction and is in her third year at Oregon State Univer- sity (OSU). Hardy is the son of Alice Hardy. He is a graduate of Crescent Valley High School of Corvallis, Oregon and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from OSU. The couple currently re- side in Bellingham, Wash. where Hardy works as a pre- school teacher. They are plan- ning a June 2003 wedding in Cave Junction. Tuesday - Saturday 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. 592-3228 355 Caves Hwy. Closed Sunday & Monday Open House Valley Evangelical Free Church would like to welcome you to an open house to view our new church building at 498 Laurel Road, Cave Junction Sunday, Jan. 19, from 2-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Sunday Morning Worship - 11 a. m. to noon Adult & Children Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship - 7 p.m. Teen Alive, Wednesday - 7 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Thursday - 7 p.m. Sponsored by THURSDAY, JAN. 16 Breakfast : Pancakes Lunch Munchable lunch, cheese- burger, pepperoni pizza or ham & cheese sandwich FRIDAY, JAN. 17 Breakfast : Ham & cheese muffin Lunch Cheesy pretzel, hamburger, Hawaiian pizza or turkey & cheese roll MONDAY, JAN. 20 Martin Luther King Day no classes TUESDAY, JAN. 21 Breakfast : Blueberry muffin Lunch Macaroni & cheese cheeseburger, chicken pizza or ham & cheese roll WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 Breakfast : Cinnamon roll Lunch Corn dog, hamburger, cheese pizza, chicken pita and chocolate pudding AMY GAMMEL AND SHAWN HARDY Lean and Meaty Pork Spareribs - St. Louis Cut - $2.29 lb. Deli Sliced - Premiere Brand Roast Beef & Pastrami - $4.99 lb. Plump & Juicy Garlic Franks - $2.29 lb. Friday Events (through January) *Jan. 17- 6 to 9 p.m. - “Lucky” Jean (acoustic rock) Dinner Special - Steak or Sushi *Jan. 24 - 6 to 9 p.m. - Brian Box *Jan. 31 - (from Crescent City Coffee House) 6 to 9 p.m. - Mike Selfridge (slide guitar) (singer/songwriter)