Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, February 19, 2003 This was the week that I was going to tell you about the Mother of All Picnics involving my parents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins way back when in the Cuyamaca Mountains of eastern San Diego County. However, my resi- dent Column Keeper advises that the particular picnic, duly recorded in the history of California, already has been cov- ered by yours truly in this very column. So instead of the Great Picnic Fiasco, you will learn about the most difficult job the editor ever had. Not that it was particularly strenuous, although lifting 20- and 30- gallon coffee urns could fall into that category. Or not that it was too much of a strain on the brain, as the work was not especially difficult. And even having to arrive at work at 5 a.m. was not that big a chore back in those days. The job was as a cafeteria worker at a major shipbuild- ing company in San Diego. The most difficult part of the many tasks assigned to me in my restaurant whites, includ- ing a full-length and quite stylish apron, involved working up to speed. The boss’s speed; not mine. For example, making sandwiches my way means that you carefully spread the filling completely on each slice of bread, even reaching the corners. But no. The boss wanted the sandwiches made at top speed, and so I was forced to just dab and go, dab and go. It was depressing. And there was the matter of cutting pies. The boss wanted several dozen pies sliced, with each piece on a plate and covered with clear wrap, in about 90 minutes. I was tak- ing about five minutes per slice, what with trying to be care- ful, and not licking my fingers. Speed was the order of the day, and I am not a speedy food person server. Despite the “difficulty” of the job, I ate well. Until I saw the cook and his not-always careful techniques one day. But we will not go into that right now. Especially if you plan to eat soon. Anyway, after that incident I lived on coffee and pie, which did nothing for my complexion, stamina or waist- line. But it was good pie. Still and all, I learned a brand-vocabulary and some really interesting stories from the shipyard workers, most of whom apparently had their hard hats welded onto their heads. I’d tell you about the words and stories, but I just can’t. Especially if you plan to eat soon. Coming next week: More drivel and stuff about Bob and Jan’s Adventure in California. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll blow chunks. Many Pulitzer Prize-winning columns have been written. Next week’s will not be one of those. 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. 48 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.) * * * ‘Education first’ From Sonny Moore Cave Junction This is my first year in- volved as a staff member within our schools, and it is alarming as to how the news media has misinformed the parents of our community. I have several things that I would like to clear up. First: if you have seen a teacher looking down and not very happy, it is not because they have lost 10 days and will not get paid. Rather, they are very disturbed on how our state as a whole views our children’s education. This 10-day cut will only affect the students’ academics. Teachers of this valley are down because our children will suffer the lack of proper education time. Secondly, you may have read, or heard on the news, about our valley schools get- ting a “below average” or “satisfactory” report card from the state. This rating was de- termined by one factor and one factor alone -- student attendance. It is not based on anything else. We have a high academic level in our schools along with highly trained and qualified teachers in the valley, but this satisfactory report card is sim- ply because children are not going to school as they should. The next time you think it would be more convenient to let your child stay home or go with you, remember that every time they do not attend school it will affect the rating and consequently could affect the federal funding to our schools. Finally, children today have to deal with issues that most of us would not dream of. I commend those parents who strive to do all they can for their children by getting involved and allowing their children every opportunity to have fun and be involved in all the activities available to them. The children of this valley deserve all we can give them. They deserve 120 percent. Let’s give it to them. ‘Biscuit Fire Ode’ From Jim Nolan Cave Junction Well I’ve worked in the mill - Most of my natural days - Didn’t make much money then - But at least my bills got paid. Raised my kids and bought a home - And my fu- ture seemed OK - But now the Biscuit Fire came - And took it all away. The Northwest Forest Plan stopped the logging - And the brush it grew like corn - Add a little lightning - And the Biscuit Fire was born! Now there’s 3 billion board feet - A-layin’ in the woods - While the timber is rotting - Our mill shuts down for good. The Biscuit Fire is a burn- ing - It’s burning mighty hard - While the Fire is roasting - Spotted Owl’s in my back yard. The Biscuit Fire is a burn- ing - It’s burning mighty hard - The Hypocrites are getting fat off grants - While I am living in my car. The Biscuit Fire is a burn- ing - It’s burning mighty hard - And the politicians don’t give a damn - If you work or starve. ‘Ripe for catastrophe’ From Ore. Sen. Jason Atkinson, District 25 Salem This past summer, you were forced to watch help- lessly as Illinois Valley was ravaged by one of the nation’s largest wildfires and Oregon’s largest fire in more than a cen- tury. This destruction brought upon your homes and commu- nity was preventable. The management style of the fed- eral government left the forest in a condition ripe for catas- trophe. Further, the fire-fighting priorities of federal agencies tied the hands of area and state firefighters, even when they were poised to attack the fire while it was still a small blaze. After months of labor by thousands of firefighters and millions of dollars spent bat- tling the blaze, the economy of Illinois Valley has been turned upside-down, and the community and surrounding forestlands have been left as a blackened wasteland. This legislative session, I have drafted a memorial to be sent to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. In this me- morial, I urge the federal gov- ernment to: *Revise its fire-fighting priorities to match the fire- fighting priorities of the state of Oregon. *Cooperate with state and area agencies when fighting fires. *Quickly salvage the Bis- cuit Fire region in cooperation with the Oregon Dept. of For- estry. *Restore and replant the landscape in the Biscuit Fire region. *Provide funding for re- forestation and economic re- newal. *Permanently station a rappelling and/or smoke jumping team in the valley. Quickly salvaging the logs in the Biscuit burn area can bring some economic renewal to I.V. Further, the federal government must provide eco- nomic relief for those in I.V. affected by the Biscuit Fire. BYCYCLE VS. TRUCK - Bicyclist Lloyd Thomas Henry Jr. was injured Friday, Feb. 14 at approximately 4:24 p.m. when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by Kenneth Lerew Jr. on Redwood Hwy. in front of Select Market in Cave Junction. Henry was taken by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Com- munity Hospital in Grants Pass. (Photo by Sam Newton) disgust. My mom and dad started the Illinois Valley Open Door in Selma seven years ago. They help everyone with no questions asked. They fur- nish food, clothing, personal items, baby items, etc. to any- one who needs them. The I.V. Open Door is run on donations from the com- munity, businesses and per- sonal money. We recently made a trip to the Food Share Warehouse in Grants Pass to buy food for the food bank on Tuesday, Feb. 11. We purchased four large hams that would be split later and given to eight fami- lies. Sometime during the night someone made a stop at the I.V. Open Door and took the hams. Now eight families will be deprived of enjoying ham dinners. ‘Is our angel gone?’ From Joyce & Harry Abrams Cave Junction What kind of person steals an angel? What kind of person takes pride in destroying something (Continued on page 3) 592-4553 Restaurante Kids Menu Regularly $3.95 >> NOW! 99 ¢ << Sunday thru Wednesday Lunch or Dinner - 12 and Under - No Take-Outs Septic Tank Pumping & Cleaning Family Owned & Operated *Free Phone Estimates *Residential & Commercial *Licensed *Bonded *Insured Serving Josephine County 7 days a week 592-6307 Ham shame From Vicki Jones Selma I am writing this letter in I wonder if whoever took the hams will be able to look us in the face. I say the thieve(s) should enjoy the hams, and when they start eating, just know that they have taken the food out of the mouths of seven other families. I am so sorry that this has happened. All they had to do is ask and we would have given it to them or would have helped them find it. We appreciate all who have donated to the I.V. Open Door during the past seven years. Shawn Elmer - owner/operator P.O. Box 2122, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 is open Saturdays: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hours: Mondays - Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information phone (800) 922-1025