Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, April 2, 2003
ODA’s motor fuel quality
inspectors find job a gas
The Oregon Dept. of Ag-
riculture’s (ODA) inspection
of motor fuel quality and
quantity takes on new impor-
tance as motorists experience
some of the highest prices for
gasoline in state history.
Buying and receiving the
correct level of octane in mo-
tor fuel can either save or cost
significant dollars and cents
depending upon whether the
motorist gets what they are
supposed to.
“It seems our inspection is
more critical now as people
start seeing the price of gaso-
line pushing up towards two
dollars a gallon,” said George
Shefcheck, administrator of
ODA’s Measurement Stan-
dards Division.
“People become more
aware when they have to pull
out their wallet and pay
$17.50 for a fill up instead of
the $12 they are accustomed
to,” said Schefcheck.
ODA’s efforts are de-
signed to make sure motorists
get what they think they are
paying for - good gasoline.
Inspectors routinely conduct
field screenings from nearly
28,000 fuel dispensers
throughout Oregon, making
sure octane readings match the
levels posted at the pump.
They also measure the amount
of water in storage tanks to
make sure it does not exceed
state standards. Measurement
Standards Division inspectors
will also continue to ensure
motor fuel quantity by check-
ing the pumps themselves -
making sure the meters are
accurately dispensing the fuel.
With a lot more money at
stake for the consumer, offi-
cials are pleased that Oregon
even has motor fuel quality
inspection. That wasn’t the
case as recently as five years
ago. Shefcheck says part of
the value of the inspection
program has been deterrence.
The industry is being more
careful to be accurate in what
they offer.
“When the program first
began, we were looking at
about a 3 percent error rate in
octane rating,” said Shef-
check, referring to those cases
when the gasoline screenings
conducted by ODA inspectors
did not meet the octane rating
standard listed at the pump.
“This was more often in-
advertent rather than inten-
tional. Right now, the error
rate is far less than one half of
one percent. We think that’s
largely because of the aware-
ness we’ve created on the part
of the operators of fueling sta-
tions and service stations,” he
said.
ODA inspectors have also
taken a good hard look at wa-
ter in gasoline. A long stick is
used to probe the depths of the
underground storage tank. A
special paste is spread at the
end of the stick which is then
lowered into the tank. If the
paste turns from cream col-
ored to pink, water is present.
More than two inches of water
in the bottom of the tank is a
problem that needs to be fixed
by the station owner. Water
levels cannot exceed a quarter
inch for gasoline-alcohol
blends and aviation gasoline.
But again, the actual inspec-
tions this past year indicate no
widespread problems.
Of the 2,663 motor fuel
inspections performed last
year in Oregon, only seven
failed to meet the standards - a
statistic that is welcome news
to all Oregon motorists.
“People are generally get-
ting what they pay for whether
they buy 87,89, or 92 octane
gasoline,” said Shefcheck.
Some motorists, however,
may be making the wrong de-
cision about what level of oc-
tane should be purchased.
“Some people buy a
higher octane when they don’t
need to, which means they are
paying anywhere from 10 to
20 cents a gallon more for a
grade of gasoline they don’t
need,” said Shefcheck.
“Their automobile
owner’s manual will list what
octane level the vehicle will
run on. In most cases, it is 87.
However, in some cases, they
may be required to increase
the octane,” said Shefcheck.
Listening to the engine
will give you the easiest clue.
If it starts pinging or rattling,
it could be that the octane
level needs to be increased. If
that doesn’t help, it may be
time for an engine tune up.
It is tempting to purchase
the cheaper gasoline that has
the lowest octane rating, just
to save a few dollars. But that
can be risky. The pinging is a
symptom of an engine that
could be severely damaged if
given a steady diet of lower
octane when it actually re-
quires a higher rating.
Saving buck at the pump
is understandable. But there
are other steps motorists can
take that can lower the fuel
costs. Most include making
efficient use of every gallon in
the tank.
“Make sure you have a
clean air filter, watch how you
accelerate the engine, take a
look at all your driving hab-
its,” said Shefcheck.
“Many of these factors
can make a big difference in
how many miles per gallon
your car is going to deliver,”
said Shefcheck.
ODA’s Measurement
Standards Division has pro-
duced a brochure entitled
“Know the Facts About Gaso-
line Octane” that is available
to interested motorists. Con-
sumer complaint forms on
motor fuel in Oregon or addi-
tional information on the de-
partment’s inspection program
can be found online a
<oda.stste.oe.us.msd> or by
phoning 503-986-4670.
Page 7
Three dogs
‘poisoned’
by antifreeze
After her three dogs be-
came extremely ill early this
week, and may not survive, a
Selma resident is urging that
people watch out for potential
poisoners.
Sharon Blunt, of Reeves
Creek Road, said that bowls of
dog food mixed with anti-
freeze were found after the
dogs began convulsing and
vomiting.
The animals -- “Chloe,”
“Ruby,” and “Duchess,” may
not live, said Blunt. “It was
the most horrible thing I’ve
ever seen,” she said, in recall-
ing the situation.
The dogs are being treated
at Dr. Joe’s Pet Hospital in
Cave Junction. Antifreeze,
which dogs find attractive,
attacks their kidneys and crys-
tallizes, said Blunt.
“It’s lethal,” she said.
Neighbors were as upset
as her after the “poison” was
found. It seems that a strange
vehicle was seen in the area
Saturday night, and that those
in it might be responsible.
“There are some sick peo-
ple around here,” said Blunt.
The Josephine County
Sheriff’s Office is investigat-
ing the incident.
SUCKER CREEK WALK -
Ecologist Rich Nawa (on
crutches) led a group of a
dozen people on a Siskiyou
Project annual steelhead
spawning hike and nature
tour on Sunday, March 30.
They watched for fish on
portions of Sucker Creek
near
Grayback
Camp-
ground. Hikers also identi-
fied trees, mushrooms,
flowers and bushes. (Photo
left) One woman found an
animal skull, perhaps that of
a dog or a coyote, with a
bullet hole in it. Nawa will
lead another steelhead hike
on Saturday, April 12. Those
interested are to meet at the
Illinois Valley Visitor Center.
For information - 592-4459.
Oregon grass aims at China
Trade mission indicates potential for state as exporter
A quick, whirlwind trade
trip to China recently gave
Gov. Kulongoski his first op-
portunity to promote Oregon
and its products to a country
that holds tremendous poten-
tial as an export customer.
The governor and other
state officials hope to use the
trade mission as a springboard
for Oregon in its efforts to
help China deal with massive
urbanization issues. As a re-
sult, Oregon grass seed might
be putting a lot more green
into the Chinese urban land-
scape.
“It was an excellent trip,”
said Katy Coba, director of the
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture,
who accompanied the gover-
nor in China.
“We think there are some
great opportunities for Oregon
grass seed, but we also ex-
plored opportunities for Ore-
gon nursery products. Because
Taking joy in life is a
woman’s best cosmetic.
- Rosalind Russell -
Oregon grass seed already has
such a good reputation in
China, it has the potential to
open the door for other Ore-
gon agricultural products.”
During 2001, Oregon sold
about 12 million pounds of
grass seed to China. Industry
officials are hoping to increase
that to as much as 50 million
pounds by the time the 2008
Olympics are held in Beijing.
Crammed into two days of
meetings, part of the Oregon
trade delegation successfully
held a technical seminar tar-
geted at municipal officials in
China as well as Chinese uni-
versity officials who have
been working with Oregon’s
grass seed industry for several
years.
The seminar was designed
to teach the Chinese the basics
of grass - how to grow it, how
to maintain it, and how to use
it for beautification purposes
in an urban setting.
FORE!!
The Illinois Valley Golf Club
is preparing for its
2003 Men’s Twilite
League play beginning
Monday, April 21 &
Wednesday April 23.
Those interested
in participating need a
partner & sponsor and
can sign up at the course.
Phone 592-3151
for information
A wise man will make more
opportunities than he finds.
- Francis Bacon -
IVHS Activities Calendar
Brought to you by the folks at
592-3556
Cave Jct .
469-7545
Brookings/
Harbor
471-RIVR
Taylor’s Own Lean Pork Sausage
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
*Spring sports pictures
3 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 4
*No classes - Clerical day
*Boys golf at Glide
10 a.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
*Girls softball vs. Mazama
here - noon
double header
*Boys baseball at Mazama
3 p.m. - double header
*Track at Glide - 10 a.m.
*Drama production - 7 p.m.
MONDAY, APRIL 7
*No classes
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
*Girls softball at
North Valley - 4:30 p.m.
*Boys baseball vs. North
Valley - here - 4:30 p.m.
*Track - here - 3:30 p.m.
*Girls golf at St. Meadows
noon
*Fishwatch - lunch
*Key Club meeting - lunch
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
*Boys baseball vs. Brook-
ings - here - 4:30 p.m.
*OSSOM meeting
*ROTC - port - lunch
Frozen 1# packages - Bulk… $1.29 lb. reg. $1.69
*Original *Sage *Hot & Sage * Xtra Mild
**********April Events: 6-9 p.m.**********
*Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5
Dale & the Siskiyou Mountain ‘Cow’Boys
Dinner Special:
Marinated BBQ Albacore - $8.95
*For Art Walk - Friday, April 11 - Mike Selfridge
*Saturday, April 12 - Buck Harms
*Friday, April 18 - Christian Rock on Good Friday
with Common Ground
*Saturday, April 19 - Local Southern Gospel Trio
‘Generations’ (Hoskins’ Girls)
*Thursday UBA-Star open mic with Jake Thompson
*DINNERS SERVED*
Thursday, Friday & Saturday - 5 p.m.
Prepared by Chef Michael Smith