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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Regional Investment Board is
seeking new board member
CARLSBAD – After encountering humungo swarms of
traffic along the way, we arrived on our “vantastic” land voyage
on last Thursday evening around 9:20 in the coastal city of Carls-
bad in our native San Diego County. Not too bad, considering that
we didn’t leave the Laguna Seco Campground near Salinas, Calif.
until nearly 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Then we meandered toward Monterey to catch Hwy. 1
because of wanting to capture the scenic route southward. One of
us, whose initials are El Jefe, was driving the used camper van we
recently acquired, trying to overcome his acrophobia (fear of
heights), while the chief navigator (Jan) kept describing the awe-
some, sheer drops off the side of the roadway down to the Pacific
Ocean.
Our odyssey of oddities began on Tuesday morning last,
as we finally got out of Cave Junction at 11:30 a.m. It took us two
and a quarter hours via Hwy. 199 and Hwy. 101 to reach Eureka
on our way to visit our daughter, Vicki, and her husband, Matt,
and especially our 5-month-old granddaughter, Natalie. By the
way, 199 is called “Redwood Hwy.,” but it’s actually made of
asphalt. However, we did see some lovely redwood trees along
the way.
We spent the night in a so-so campground near Garber-
ville after rolling up only 216 miles. But we (especially the
driver) were tired, and decided to stop. Oh, and there is a restau-
rant directly in Garberville called Nacho Mama, but it was closed.
Rolling out of bed early the next day, we were able to get
on the road again at 10:35 a.m., only to be stopped 20 minutes
later for nearly a hour because of a massive landslide. We
watched a parade of dump trucks and then got rolling again, but
stopped for lunch in Laytonville.
This has been a laid-back trip, so to speak, as we nor-
mally take the Interstate 5 every-man-for-himself speedway. Plus
the scenery on I-5 is a boring as bat poop. We crossed the Golden
Gate Bridge at 3:20 p.m., paid our five bucks toll at the south end,
and then it took us 38 minutes to navigate through San Francisco,
enjoying the sights that included numerous sushi bars, interesting
buildings and equally as interesting people.
Driving 101 means that you’ll be streaking along at 80
mph (those 65 mph maximum speed signs mean nothing down
here), and suddenly you’re faced with a sea of red stop lights.
Then it’s stop-and-go for miles; suddenly opening up to 80 mph
again. And there seems to be no reason for why the traffic slowed
down. Go figure.
To make a long story shorter, we spent the night at that
Laguna Seco site mentioned earlier, and then enjoyed the drive
through Monterey, Carmel and other Big Sur locations. We
stopped for a late breakfast at a lovely restaurant alongside a
stream, where we ate outside, and where jays, crows and other
assorted fowl landed almost atop our meals, and demanded that
we share. It was fun.
At the same spot, Jan looked at a sweater. I looked at the
price tag. It read $650. She didn’t get the sweater. Onward we
drove through the postcard beauty of God’s land, stopping at
Point Piedras Blancas to watch two beachloads of elephant seals.
Quite a sight.
The road kept stretching out; we kept driving. Sooner
than you’d think we went through Santa Barbara, and reached Los
Angeles around 7 p.m. More intense traffic. But we were playing
music from the ‘60s and made it through.
By the time we reached San Clemente, it was shortly be-
fore 9 p.m., and after a bottle of juice we decided to press on for
San Diego County. We reached Matt and Vicki’s house just be-
fore 9:30, and have been having a good time. El Jefe is “working”
on relaxing. Natalie is beautiful, sweet and outstanding. The
weather is great.
And that’s it for now. I’ve got to deal with some more
relaxing.
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. 46
Staff: 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
(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.)
* * *
‘Losing Grayback’
From Larry Warnicke
Cave Junction
I just received a disturbing
letter from the U.S. Forest
Service. They’re planning to
remove 50 percent of the Lit-
tle Grayback Campground 12
miles east of Cave Junction
along Oregon State Highway
46 (Oregon Caves Highway).
The forest service re-
ceived funds to improve the
campground and instead
they’re planning to close half
of it because of low usage,
and to reduce the environ-
mental impact on Sucker
Creek due to the septic tanks
in the ground.
A few months use of the
campground would cause less
damage than having a single-
family dwelling along the
creek for one year, as it has no
showers. This type of septic is
good for the ecosystem and
does no damage to the fish
along Sucker Creek.
As many of you know, we
are losing our lands every day
in the name of environmental
quality. As the economy
grows along with the popula-
tion of the Illinois Valley this
campground will be very valu-
able to the public in the future.
Spending tax money to
take away our lands is ridicu-
lous and needs to stop now.
The funds should be spent to
improve the Little Grayback
Campground.
However, taking away 50
percent of the campsites is
unacceptable. This camp-
ground is one of the few on
the west coast where you can
go and experience the out-
doors without being stacked
on top of each other. To lose
any part of it would be sad,
and I for one am not going to
except our government clos-
ing any part of our dwindling
recreation areas.
You may think you are
only one person, however
your input will make a differ-
ence.
It only takes a few min-
utes of your time to phone or
write, and we can save this
campground for our use in
years to come. As you know,
there aren’t many camp-
grounds in our area, or any as
pristine as Little Grayback and
we need your help to save it.
Phone or write to the Dis-
trict Ranger at Two Rivers
Zone, 26568 Redwood High-
way, Cave Junction, OR.
97523 or phone 471-6522.
All public comments need to
be in by Wednesday, Feb. 5.
There’s only one week to save
Little Grayback.
We need to keep our pub-
lic lands to use not lose.
Evergreen appreciates
From Lisa Van Brunt
Assistant Principal
I appreciate the many
civic and religious groups,
clubs and individuals from
Illinois Valley who have do-
nated generously to the chil-
dren of Evergreen Elementary.
Donations of cash, books,
equipment and clothing go a
long way to ensure our stu-
dents have what they need to
be successful in school.
Many of our loving citi-
zens in the valley sought ways
to brighten the winter holidays
for some of our students and
their families who are feeling
the pinch of our current econ-
omy. Their concern for and
interest in our students does
not go unnoticed.
Our students are often
made aware that people in our
community care enough to
make sure the students have a
warm coat to wear or a book
to read at home. It is through
such concern and involvement
that we all provide the best
possible learning environment
for our students. We cannot do
this job alone and we truly
appreciate both the one time
gifts and the regular gifts that
come our way.
Continued support will
help maintain a quality learn-
ing experience for each child
we serve.
The Jackson-Josephine
Regional Investment Board is
seeking a new member.
The prospective candidate
may represent either Jackson
and Josephine County and
may represent either the pri-
vate or public sector. The
board is specifically seeking
candidates with a financial or
banking background, or other-
wise representing the financ-
ing industry.
This 17-member board,
appointed by the county com-
missioners, is responsible for
the Oregon Lottery Funds set
aside specifically for regions
within the state for Economic
and Community Develop-
ment.
The board meets monthly,
alternating between Jackson
and Josephine County.
During the past biennium
(2001-03), the board was re-
sponsible for allocating ap-
proximately $1 million dollars
to area communities and non-
profit organizations in the ar-
eas of community facilities
and infrastructure; feasibility
studies and technical assis-
tance; and industry and work-
force development.
Applications are available
at the Southern Oregon Re-
gional Economic Develop-
ment Inc. office or through
either county. For information
phone Colleen Padilla, project
manager or Gordon Safley,
executive director at (541)
773-8946 or (800) 805-8740.
Daughters love
From Shari Kaye
Talent, Ore.
I was first introduced into
T. Lund’s life when I was ap-
proximately 13-years-old. He
and my mother were married
and lived in Long Beach,
Calif. at that time.
From the time I met him, I
thought, “Wow,” he seems
like a great guy.
Well, let me tell you that
this man has always gone
above and beyond the call of
duty as a new parent to three
girls. He took on three daugh-
ters along with his new bride,
which in itself is quite a chal-
lenge. We ranged from 7-to
13-years-old.
We are now 37, 34, and
31, and have children of our
own. As the eldest, I can tell
your that my dad, T., has al-
ways been there for me
through all the trials and tribu-
lations of being a teen girl, to
now being an adult.
He seems to always have
an answer or advice to help to
me through any situation. T. is
not only the best at being a
music teacher, but has been a
major inspiration in my life,
and will always be the “best
dad” in the world to me.
I am very proud of you
dad with your accomplish-
ments in your life, and as your
daughter, will always support
and stand behind you in the
years to come.
The World could use a
few more “T. Lund’s,” don’t
you think?
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Proceeds to benefit the
Illinois Valley Rural Fire District
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cave Junction County Building
ONLY $6
One never realizes how much and little he knows
until he start talking. - Louis L’Amour-