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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)