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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, April 30, 2003 Having been asked to speak during Career Day at Lorna Byrne Middle School this week, I was looking forward to meeting with students, as I once was (for what seemed like three years) in the eighth-grade, where my teacher was a relative to the person Jake and Elwood Blues called “The Penguin.” And several years ago, for one semester, I attempted to teach a journalism class at Lorna Byrne to eighth-graders. That’s a topic that could fill a page here some day. Others on the “Noose” staff elected me to serve as the journalism representative at Career Day, apparently because they are allergic to eighth-grade students. Not really; they just know that I am essentially a big ham, who enjoys hear- ing himself discourse on varied subjects, many of which he knows little or nothing about. Had my chance at an hour of middle school fame come true this week, I would have been able to tell the students a thing or three; much of it true. With that in mind, let us de- part into an interview that could have been, had enough stu- dents signed up for the journalism presentation: Q. How did you get into journalism? A. As a college freshman I needed a class at 2:30 in the afternoon to complete my schedule, and journalism fit, so I took it. It was either that or private tuba lessons. Q. What do you like best about your job? A. It’s difficult to single out one aspect. But I think that being able to present stories about people and places; taking photos; meeting lots of different people; and striving to en- tertain and inform readers rank high. Besides that, reporters often are the first to know about what’s happening, and we’re often allowed in where others are kept out. Of course, sometimes we’re kept out of where others are allowed, but that’s sometimes part of the territory. Q. How’s the pay for reporters and others jobs in the newspaper business? A. Don’t ask. But really, we don’t work just for pay. We work in journalism because we enjoy the job. Naturally, it’s nice to get that weekly paycheck, unless you own a weekly newspaper and take no salary, but that’s another story. As far as how much you could be paid, it all depends on where you work. If you work for the “Stinkweed Weekly Stench,” you likely will not be paid as much as if you’re hired by say, “The New York Times” or the “Washington Post.” You won’t get rich, but you can do quite well. Q. How can you get hired by a larger newspaper instead of a smaller one? A. Work at it. Many of us started writing in the seventh- and eighth-grade, working on school newspapers, or writing youth or sports stories for daily or weekly newspapers. You get paid by the inch, and it’s not much, but it’s worth the experience. If you find that you have a talent for and enjoy writing compositions, that’s a clue that journalism might be the career for you. College is important too; get at least a two-year degree and work on the student newspaper. After college, lots of reporters begin their careers working for weekly or biweekly newspapers and then graduate to the big leagues of daily newspapers in medium- to large-size cities. Q. What don’t you like about journalism? A. The times when you are present at tragedies and have to write stories about them; or find out about some- thing tragic and have to track down sources for your story. It can be emotionally painful for everyone involved. Also, the times when you work for hours on a story, and it turns out that you really have no story. But you learn to live with that. Making errors is a bear, too; something we work extremely hard to avoid, but we’re only human. Then there are times when somehow we miss a story, and on a weekly newspa- per, that’s really tough. So we work at it. Q. If you could have done something else as a career, what would it be? A. Mowing lawns for a living sounds like a nice job. (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.) * * * ‘Need a pool’ From Kelpie Wilson Cave Junction Lynn Vanderlinden (April 16, “I.V. News”) is right. The people of Illinois Valley need and deserve a year-round pool. It would be a wonderful place for our aging population to get some healthful exercise. It would be great for kids and teens. Unfortunately, her idea of writing grants to fund the pool is not very realistic. The money is not there. Because of the poor econ- omy, most private foundations have far less money than they had just a few years ago. I am one of the grant writers for Siskiyou Project, and we are feeling the pinch. Every non- profit organization I know is cutting back programs and laying off staff. Grants come from two main sources: private founda- tions and government pro- grams. Private foundation money is mostly invested in the stock market, and founda- tions are required to pay out a minimum percentage of their income every year in grants in order to qualify for tax- exempt status. They are not earning much these days, so they’re not giving many grants. I’m not familiar with the world of 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 66, No. 6 Staff: Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild, Chris Robertson, Sharon Silva & Becky Loudon Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters 3 P.M. FRIDAY (Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can 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. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 Diabetes Association The Cave Junction branch of the Jerry Acklen Diabetes Health Association will meet Thursday, May 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Illinois Valley Senior Center, 520 E. River St., Cave Junction. Don’t drink and drive. The Home Loan Store phone Steve Elliott 659-2142 Credit Issues are OK *Purchases *100% Financing *Refinancing *First Time Buyers *Private Money Loans *Non-Conforming Loans Evening and Weekend Appointments “We make Loans Work” ‘Give a rock’ From Jack Heald Cave Junction Everyone by now is be- ginning to notice the “rock sculptures” around town; and soon there will be more. This project was initiated by members of the Illinois Valley Community Resource Team “Tourism Committee” billboard, and soon construc- tion will start on a centrally located rock sculpture. It is hoped that Illinois Valley residents might like to donate an unusual rock or two Invites you to the FREE 2003 Home Show * Builder Olympics & Spring Tour of Homes Friday through Sunday May 9, 10 and 11 Josephine County Fairgrounds *Home Building and Remodeling Products & Services *More than 100 Vendor Booths *Food & Entertainment *Children’s Activities *Educational Seminars & Demonstrations Why not support your area high school shop programs by bidding On an 8’x8’ storage shed at the Builders Olympics, Saturday, May 10? Maps will be available at the Home Builders Booth at the Home Show and by contacting the Home Builders office at (541) 479-1311 Senior Nutrition Menu Sponsored by 592-3562 (541) 592-2126, 474-5440 Meals are served in the CJ County Bldg. FRIDAY, MAY 2 *Rotisserie-style chicken, creamed potatoes, broccoli cuts, oatmeal bread, rhubarb cobbler MONDAY, MAY 5 *Roast pork with gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, green peas, rye bread, pea- nut butter bar WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 *Meatloaf with gravy, whipped potatoes with gravy, Italian blend vegetables, herb bread, butterscotch pudding 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 to be imbedded along with the rest of the rock masonry con- sisting of local rocks. Already donated and ready to be used is a red rock from Arizona, a petrified tree rock from California, a pink rock from the Brookings coastal shores and others. To donate a rock phone 592- 3203. Not enough room in your garage? Need more storage space? Illinois Valley News An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by Robert R. (Bob) and Jan Rodriguez Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe government grants, but clearly, with the current tax cutting fever, there’s far less money available. It makes me angry that we live in such a wealthy country, and yet we can’t meet basic needs like a community pool. There is something wrong with a government that spends all its resources on building an oil empire in the Middle East and invests almost nothing in developing renewable energy here at home. It is the height of insanity to give another huge tax cut to the rich right when the bill for the Iraq invasion is due. If you think tax cuts help the economy, think again. The last tax cut didn’t do the job. It just left poor communities like ours even worse off. Here’s one example: millions of dol- lars for fighting fire and pre- vention were just cut from the federal budget. What will we do if this summer’s fire season is as bad as last year’s? I’m afraid that if Illinois Valley wants a better pool, the only option is to hold a bake sale. And another bake sale, and another one. Either that or vote for a government that’s willing to invest in its people and work on improving the economy. Support the merchants who advertise in the ‘Illinois Valley News’
