‘Tree-mendous’ project at LBMS
Members of the IVHS track team clearing brush at LBMS (Related photo on page 9)
By BRITT FAIRCHILD
Staff Writer
A unique, woodsy trans-
formation that could be a
statewide model is in process
at Cave Junction’s Lorna
B yr n e M i d d l e S c h o o l
(LBMS).
The project combines ef-
forts of several individuals
and groups, including volun-
teer project coordinator Alli-
son Cleveland, with Bob
Webb and Wayne Fitzpatrick,
Forestry Action Committee
(FAC), Oregon Dept. of For-
estry (ODF), LBMS students
and staff; Josephine County
Trail Blazers, plus volunteers
Health care, arts & crafts
at Dome School bazaar
Northwest ‘rock-and-beam’ style in keeping with area historical roots taking shape at CJ bank
priate theme. Another aim is
to boost tourism and job de-
velopment.
The bank landscaping is
scheduled to be completed
mid-May. The bronze bears
are to be added in June.
Former I.V. resident and
sculptor Peter Sedlow created
the bears to be installed at the
bank’s four locations. He has
collaborated with Evergreen
on two other projects includ-
ing one to benefit Wildlife
Images Rehabilitation Center
in Grants Pass.
Four of the bear sculp-
tures became permanent pub-
lic art at the Grants Pass
branch on Friday, April 25.
“Evergreen is trying to
make a statement,” Devine
said.
Evergreen President and
CEO Brady Adams said in a
news release regarding the
Grants Pass installation that
the sculptures will not only
“improve the bank’s property,
but also give the community a
major piece of art.”
“I think public art does a
lot of good,” Devine said. “it
starts to change things. People
start feeling better about their
community. Visitors start feel-
ing different as well.”
It’s also a way to show-
case area talent, Devine
added.
“It says something about
who we are,” he said.
While there is some con-
cern about vandalism once the
bronze bears are installed, De-
vine added, “You can’t not do
things out of fear.”
The Evergreen project, he
said is a step in the right direc-
tion toward helping make
Cave Junction a “destination
city” adding, “A theme is
really good if you can pull it
off,” noting that different
themes have been tried here
before that seemed to divide
residents.
After months of research-
ing and traveling to other cit-
ies with incorporated themes
for his work with IVCRT, De-
vine said that as a gateway
city to Oregon Caves National
Monument, a “classic gate-
way” or “Northwest park”
theme with a “Northwest
rock-post-and-beam” style
would remain true to the
area’s historic roots, which in
turn, would attract investment
and tourism dollars.
“This is a way to stop traf-
fic or at least slow it down,”
Devine said.
Not to mention an im-
proved feeling among those
who live here.
Devine added that since
area artist Sandy Kaminsky
began creating his rock sculp-
tures around downtown he’s
noticed a different attitude.
Development on a larger-scale
would only add to that, he
said.
Devine, who has given
presentations on the plan to
various area clubs and organi-
zations, noted he has received
a good deal of support already
for the project and hopes that
if businesses make changes or
renovations they are compati-
ble with the Northwest theme.
“There are a bunch of
people who’ve agreed to do
it,” he said.
And for the theme to be
successful, Devine noted that
there needs to be a collabora-
tion among the Downtown
businesses, the chamber of
commerce, IVCRT and the
city.
NEW AIRFIELD IN KERBY - Members of Rogue Valley Flyers were working on Sunday, April
27 at the former Kerby landfill at the end of Kerby Mainline Road, continuing their work on an
airfield for radio-controlled model aircraft. The club has been working since 1999 and the site
is now open for member pilots. Also the public can watch flyers. (Related photo on page 11)
“hang out.” Plus, the former
field at the school, used for
I.V. High School football
games, is eliminated.
So the forested area, with
trails and maybe a gazebo for
outdoor classes, will become a
new, useable area for students,
as well as the track.
Once the area has been
cleared, pathways will be
built; plants will be identified;
trees planted; and benches
added.
The goal is to make the
area safer for students, as well
as useable.
LBMS seventh-grade sci-
(Continued on page 8)
Evergreen Federal getting a face-lift
By BRITT FAIRCHILD
Staff Writer
Drive Redwood Hwy.
through Downtown Cave
Junction and it’s hard to miss.
Evergreen Federal Bank is
getting a face-lift.
Landscaping outside the
front the of the building began
several weeks ago, and when
completed, will complement
the rustic Northwest theme
created inside the bank last
summer.
“It’s going to look really
nice,” said Al Devine, Ever-
green Marketing vice presi-
dent and Illinois Valley resi-
dent for 30 years.
Along with new landscap-
ing, the renovation project
will feature a large rock wa-
terfall -- currently taking
shape in the hands of Ron
Padget of Harmony Gardens
in Grants Pass.
There also will be an up-
graded time and temperature
sign, made of natural wood
and cut out metal and de-
signed and built by Western
Signs, and two life-size
bronze bears sculptures.
Similar work is being
done at the Evergreen
branches in Grants Pass,
Brookings and Rogue River.
The CJ bank’s refurbished
look will blend well with what
Devine described as the “rock-
post-and-beam” theme gaining
support downtown.
Through his involvement
with Illinois Valley Commu-
nity Response Team (IVCRT)
Business Development Com-
mittee, Devine is also devel-
oping a Downtown facade
development and theme pro-
ject aimed at unifying the
Cave Junction community
through a natural and appro-
including Dominic Materazzi.
The approximately three
acres of wooded area that con-
nect the rear of the new school
to the track, between the
school and Old Stage Road,
has been off-limits to students.
Dense brush has made it a fire
hazard. Litter is also a com-
mon sight. And, Cleveland
said, homeless people have
been known to sleep there.
“The kids have never been
allowed to use it (the area),”
said Vice Principal Tom
Hewkin.
Part of the new middle
school is being built where
students used to play and
TYGRACHET LORENTZ
Roadside memorial
Family, I.V.
mourn loss
of girl, 13
Three classmates hurt
in pickup truck rollover
Many in Illinois Valley
are grieving with the family of
13-year-old Tygrachet Rose
Lorentz.
She died when the pickup
truck in which she was riding,
driven by a boy, 13, went out
of control and rolled several
times, ending upside-down,
causing injuries to her three
fellow eighth-graders from
Lorna Byrne Middle School
Tygrachet was ejected
from the vehicle. Reports
were that her three classmates
also were out of the pickup,
including one who was walk-
ing for help, when he was
picked up by a resident and
taken to his home, where 911
was called. In addition, it is
believed that a FedEx driver
also reported the crash via a
cell phone.
The family, including
“Tiger’s” parents, Bud and
Wendy Lorentz of Cave Junc-
tion, are devastated by the
death of Tygrachet (tie-grah-
shay). However, they said that
they have had great coopera-
tion and assistance from Jose-
phine County Sheriff’s Office
detectives, but that they have
had a different experience
(Continued on page 8)
Dome School’s Spring
Bazaar on Saturday, May 3
will offer a little something
extra this year.
Besides the Takilma
event’s arts-and-crafts staples,
there will be an opportunity
for people to learn about alter-
native health-care options in
Illinois Valley.
“(It’s) just to bring some
extra life to our Spring Ba-
zaar,” said Dome School
Board Secretary Cari Norton,
who organized the gathering
with Susan Gustafson.
With summer approach-
ing, people are beginning to
focus more on their health,
and what better way to tie that
in than with the spring cele-
bration, she said.
Individual sessions with
area herbalists, massage thera-
pists, acupuncturists and other
health-care practitioners will
be provided at no charge.
Free group workshops also are
scheduled throughout the day.
At 10 a.m. massage thera-
pist Rachel Goodman will
share methods for improving
eyesight. Thomas Garran will
give a native medicinal plants
talk and slide show presenta-
tion at 10:45 a.m.
A discussion of pediatrics
and traditional Chinese medi-
cine with Jo Anne Stone will
follow at noon. At 1:15 p.m.,
Goodman will discuss,
“Massage Therapy and You.”
An outside herb walk with
Deb Lukas is scheduled at
1:45 p.m., followed by a dis-
cussion of treating PMS with
herbs by Garran at 3 p.m.
“We’re hoping that people
will meet new health-care
practitioners and find ways to
help themselves become
healthier,” Norton said.
Also in store for those
who attend -- some whole-
some food from the school’s
kitchen, including Nori rolls.
Norton said she plans to
make organic chicken soup for
revelers.
The free Spring Health
Faire and Bazaar presented by
Dome School, 9367 Takilma
Road, will be held from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone 592-
3911 for more information.
--Britt Fairchild
City may take plunge into
swimming pool operation
Mayor Ed Faircloth is div-
ing into the possibility of the
city of Cave Junction taking
over Illinois Valley Swim-
ming Pool from Josephine
County.
He addressed the topic
during the 20-minute council
meeting in city hall on Mon-
day night, April 28. Immedi-
ately before the session, coun-
cilors had met with county
commissioners and broached
the matter.
Faircloth received council
consensus, with Councilman
Rita Dyer absent, to proceed
with his study of the possibil-
ity. Meanwhile, the county
board is being asked to again
allocate $20,000 to help oper-
ate the pool this season, said
Julia Kirchner, pool manager.
(Continued on page 3)
SPRING RECYCLE ROUND-UP - Numerous volunteers as-
sisted during the Saturday, April 26 recycle project at I.V.
Visitor Center. Newspapers, magazines, cardboard, plastic
bottles, tin cans and aluminum were among items brought.
Co-sponsors were Southern Oregon Sanitation, IVCRT, I.V.
Chamber of Commerce, and the I.V. Sierra Club.