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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, February 12, 2003
And so the weary travelers dragged themselves home
last Sunday, their credit card nearly melted to death; glad to
have reached their chosen abode without mishap. Or even
Mr. Hap.
A trip of some 2,000 miles completed, with 13 days and
fresh tuna sandwiches under our belts, with experiences in-
cluding numerous campgrounds of varying intensity, and
navigating the entire length of California via Hwy. 1. It’s a
route so circuitous in some locations that you encounter
yourself coming around some curves, as the van bends
nearly in half.
Our goal was Carlsbad in San Diego County for two Ju-
daic ceremonies involving our not-yet-6-month-old grand-
daughter, Natalie. Unfortunately, on our way to San Diego
the rabbi’s father died in Florida, and so the ceremonies
were postponed. But we still had a fine visit.
Natalie is the smartest and most beautiful little baby in
the known universe, as any grandparent will tell you about
their own grandkids. We think that her parents, Matt and
Vicki, probably had something to do with it. Although, we
want to take some of the credit.
Anyway, this little child is what’s known as a good
baby. She has a sweet disposition, and the most angelic and
sincere smile you can imagine. She is so good natured that
sometimes it’s tough to believe that any person of that size
and age could be so terrific. (More grandparent talk, in case
you couldn’t tell.)
A number of firsts occurred whilst we were down south,
all involving -- would you believe? -- Natalie. And for the
historical record, here they are, not necessarily in order of
importance.
1. We got to take her for her first train ride, a round-
trip from Carlsbad Village Station to Old Town San
Diego. She enjoyed the ride, and beat me out for
timing, as I was 9 months old when I took my first
train ride, from San Diego to El Paso, Texas. She
enjoyed the ride, bouncing up and down on her ever-
stronger legs while standing on her mother’s thighs.
2. She also seemed to enjoy her first trip to “Old
Town,” where San Diego began. She got a kick out
of all the sights and sounds, and being catered to by
my cousin, Micheline, and her husband, Ron. They
picked us up at the Old Town station and drove us
around Mission Hills.
3. Natalie ate her first baby food, other than cereal,
while we were present. Wish I’d had a camera ready
to record her totally amazing expression when she
got her first taste of strained peas. She nearly lost it,
actually, and looked at us as though we were trying
to poison her. It was not a lip-smacking delicacy.
All in all, it was a rippin’ good trip, with many weird
and wonderful happenings, especially on the road. We’ll
have to tell you about them (maybe next week with color
photos).
Meanwhile, I’ve got to wash some strained peas out of
one of my shirts.
(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.)
* * *
‘Save Grayback’
From Dorothy Wiltfong
Kerby
I am responding to the
letter to the editor in the Feb.
5 issue of the ‘Noose,’ from
Larry Warnicke regarding
Grayback Campground.
He wrote a very informa-
tive letter concerning the U.S.
Forest Service’s plan to re-
move 50 percent of the camp-
sites at the campground, 12
miles east of Cave Junction
along Oregon State Hwy. 46
(Caves Hwy.), which is the
way to the Oregon Caves Na-
tional Monument, one of our
most popular tourist attrac-
tions.
At a time when tourism is
one of the few viable sources
of revenue for our area, where
lack of suitable accommoda-
tion has detoured many
would-be visitors to the valley
to continue their journey north
to Grants Pass, or south to the
coast, the USFS is planning to
reduce the camping facilities
at one of our better camp-
grounds, even though they
received funds to improve the
facility.
USFS’s excuse is “low
usage.”
I would say it’s poor pub-
licity. Even many area people
cannot tell you where that
campground is located, so
how does the USFS think
tourists from out of the area
are likely to find and make use
of it unless they are on their
way to visit the Oregon Caves
National Monument.
Josephine County Quit
Line a help for smokers
At a meeting of the Illi-
nois Valley Community Re-
sponse Team (IVCRT), I fol-
lowed up on Warnicke’s let-
ter, bringing up the fact that
we need much more in the
way of accommodations if we
are to increase our tourist
trade, and the importance of
campgrounds in beautiful,
natural surroundings to entice
more family experiences and
interest in the environment.
Grayback has installed a
handicap-friendly trail which
is a big plus for families with
a physically challenged mem-
ber. This point should be
made in any publicity.
It would help if more of
our local groups made us of
the picnic area, which has a
large barbecue at table height,
tables and benches, a covered
area as well as an amphithea-
ter for services, weddings, or,
as IVGC did on one occasion,
installation of officers and its
annual picnic. Peaceful and
quiet except for the soft bab-
bling of Sucker Creek and the
song of the birds, some of
whom would like to share
your lunch.
IVCRT will be writing a
letter to USFS regarding the
importance of saving the
campsites. The deadline for
letters was to have been Feb.
5, but in a conversation with
Skye Siebert, she indicated
that we could still put in a re-
quest.
I urge all interested people
in our valley to write to the
District Ranger at Two Rivers
Zone, 26568 Redwood Hwy.,
Cave Junction, OR 97523, or
phone (541) 471-6522 with
comments on saving Gray-
back’s campsites.
IVCRT has plans to ex-
tensively promote Illinois Val-
ley as a tourist destination.
Not just a place to visit on the
way to someplace else. To
accomplish this we must have
accommodations. Motels, bed
& breakfasts and camp-
grounds are what is needed ...
along with tourists, that is.
As Oregon’s tobacco quit
line reports receiving almost
70,000 calls, with Josephine
County Quit Line receiving
253 calls, counselors who
staff the toll-free phone line
are gearing up for an on-
slaught of calls from Orego-
nians following through on
New Year’s resolutions.
“We talked to more than
100 people a day last Janu-
ary,” said Nancy Clarke, Quit
Line Manager at the Oregon
Dept. of Human Services
(DHS).
“With incentives such as
higher cigarette prices, we’re
expecting even more calls this
year.
“The start of a new year is
a natural time to look at ways
to improve your life,” said
Clarke, adding that, “Giving
up cigarettes or chewing to-
bacco is a great way to do just
that.”
Experienced cessation
specialists answer the quit
line. They work with the caller
to conduct a personalized
analysis of their tobacco use
habit and develop a custom-
ized quit plan to help succeed
in becoming smoke-free.
Clark said that individual
telephone counseling sessions
are scheduled at times conven-
ient for the caller.
“Planning your quit can
make a big difference,” said
Clarke. “Many of our callers
feel that giving up tobacco is
an impossible task because
they have already tried and
failed. It’s our job to give
them the tools and confidence
they need to reach their goal,”
said Clarke.
Oregon’s toll-free coun-
seling service was established
in 1998 and is funded by to-
bacco tax dollars.
“Tobacco use costs Ore-
gonians more than $1.8 billion
per year due to premature
death, illness and medical
costs,” said Clarke.
“This is one way we are
connecting to people and at-
tacking the problem.”
The Oregon Tobacco Quit
Line toll-free number is (877)
270-STOP (7867) or (877) 2
NO FUME (Spanish). The
services are free.
Chain Link Specialist
592-6192
$30 a couple with reservations
Friday, Feb. 14 - 6:30 p.m.
Phone 592-3911
Professional Cleaning & Window Washing
Over 20 Years Experience
Caretaking - Care Giving - Critters, too!
Southern Oregon
Blues Band
Free Estimates - Reasonable rates - References
I Work Alone! - Geri 592-6048
Dance at 8:30 p.m. - $8 & $15
9367 Takilma Road
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. 47
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
(an alcohol free event)
SURPLUS SALVAGE
Elementary Schools Menu
Sponsored by
‘Illinois
Valley News’
321 S. Redwood Hwy.
592-2541
THURSDAY, FEB. 13
Munchable lunch (yogurt,
string cheese, bagel),
cheeseburger, pepperoni
pizza, ham & cheese wrap,
garden salad
FRIDAY, FEB. 14
Cheesy pretzel,
hamburger, sausage
pizza, turkey/cheese roll,
American Caesar salad
MONDAY, FEB. 17
No classes
Washington’s Birthday
TUESDAY, FEB. 18
Chicken strips,
cheeseburger, pepperoni
pizza, ham & cheese roll,
garden salad
WEDNESDAY, FEB 19
Corn dog, hamburger,
cheese pizza, tuna pita,
Cobb salad, frozen
juice bar
$ CASH $ SALE $
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday - Feb. 13-16
(Former Selma School Gym)
MORE THAN 1,000 BOXES OF
GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
Store returns, damaged, broken cases,
tools, groceries, health & beauty
Cereal, canned goods, paper towels, toilet paper, spices,
juices, freezer and sandwich bags, tinfoil, nuts, crackers,
candy bars, health food, clothes and shoes.
(NOTE: Some food in-date, some out-of-date,
re-taped boxes, some dented cans.)
ALSO: YARD WISHING WELLS - Two sizes
Bring your nickels, dimes and quarters
There will be something for everyone.
Al says, ‘Come prepared to dig’
Every item sold ‘AS IS’
‘First come, first served’
Lots and Lots of Stuff!