IVFD eyes
two plots
for station
BIG TOP RAISING - Dozens of schoolchildren and adults watched Barbara, an African ele-
phant, help lift the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus tent on Thursday morning, May 15. The
circus was sponsored by the Illinois Valley Family Coalition. Related photos on page 8.
(Photo by Britt Fairchild)
Community center would tap area assets
Community Response Team presents I.V. Chamber with plans, requests federal cash
In the interests of bolster-
ing the sagging Illinois Valley
economy, a $350,000 grant is
sought for an Illinois Valley
Community Arts & Econom-
ics Centre that likely will cost
some $600,000.
The concept was pre-
sented to I.V. Chamber of
Commerce directors during
their noon meeting on Thurs-
day, May 15 in Wild River
Brewing & Pizza Co. in Cave
Junction. Ron Phillips, execu-
tive director of I.V. Commu-
nity Response Team (IVCRT),
made the presentation.
There is a definite need to
tap into two of the valley’s
biggest assets: Oregon Caves
National Monument, and the
steady flow of traffic through
the center of the valley on
Hwy. 199, known as Redwood
Hwy., he said.
A community center with
approximately 4,000 square
feet of space would not only
offer concentrated information
for visitors, but room for dis-
plays of art and other valley
products. In addition, there
could be space for offices. The
grant is sought from the U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture/Forest
Service Rural Investment
Fund.
Four locations, with assis-
tance from Bill Reid of Ore-
gon Mt. Real Estate, are being
examined. They are the site of
the former Cabax Mill across
from Kerbyville Museum;
alongside the existing I.V.
Visitor Center; on the vacant
lot owned by Junction Inn on
its north side; and the site of
the former Wish-U-Well Mo-
tel across from the visitor cen-
ter on Hwy. 46, known as
Caves Hwy.
“We need to take advan-
tage of our Enterprise Com-
munity designation,” said
Phillips, noting that less than
two years of its designation
remain. He added that during
the past 16 months, the valley
has lost 175 jobs with reloca-
tion of Fire Mountain Gems
and Krauss Craft to the Inter-
state 5 corridor in the Grants
Pass area. In addition, with
reorganization of Rough &
Ready Lumber Co., another
70 jobs are lost.
Plus, said Phillips, “The
current recession, exacerbated
by the poor tourism season in
the aftermath of last summer’s
Biscuit Fire, has struck at an-
other important sector -- tour-
ism -- leaving many visitor-
dependent businesses up for
sale or in desperate financial
straits.
“The loss of income from
these companies and of wages
for local recirculation will
have a negative ripple effect
on other service and retail
businesses. By building on
local assets, namely the excel-
lent arts community and Ore-
gon Caves National Monu-
ment, a significant improve-
ment in the tourism sector can
be achieved.”
And the way to approach
the situation, he said, is to
“construct the Illinois Valley
Community Arts & Econom-
ics Centre to serve as a hub of
entrepreneurial activity and
creativity.
“The proposed center will
serve as a catalyst for entre-
preneurial development by
providing a focal point where
business owners, crafters, art-
ists and service providers can
interact and collaborate. The
center,” said Phillips, “will
serve as the intersection of
Internet and on-site marketing
for local products.
“The goal,” he said, “is to
build a critical mass of com-
mercial activity based on ex-
isting export products includ-
ing furniture, arts and crafts,
and wine; and tourism ser-
vices including accommoda-
tions, dining and attractions.”
They would be placed “within
Two sites for a new Selma
Fire Station are being consid-
ered, acting Chief Jeff Gavlik
told Illinois Valley Board of
Directors during its meeting in
Cave Junction City Hall on
Thursday night, May 15.
One site of 2.5 acres,
owned by Rough & Ready
Lumber Co., has been a possi-
bility for perhaps three
months. However, the price
was considered too high.
Rough & Ready has dropped
the price to $80,000, the board
was told by Gavlik.
Another site, consisting of
3.44 acres, also is available
for $80,000, said the acting
chief. Volunteer Lt. Jim Gur-
ley, said Gavlik, “is research-
ing the specifics for me, but
his preliminary studies indi-
cate that this property would
work for our construction
plans.”
Both sites are on the west
side of Hwy. 199; the larger
one closer to the existing sta-
tion than the other property.
The 3.44 acres already has
septic and water on-site, said
Gavlik, and its location on a
straight section of the highway
is advantageous. “It’s looking
like the better prospect,” he
said.
Because Illinois Valley
Chief Kyle Kirchner’s paid
administrative leave during an
audit ordered by district direc-
tors has stretched from an esti-
mated two weeks to nearly
two months, concerns have
surfaced about unnecessary
expenses to taxpayers, plus
anxiety about Kirchner’s repu-
tation and the effect on volun-
teer firefighters.
In addition, board Vice
President Larrick Jones said
he believes that the situation
“could have been handled in
one evening” if the board had
met with the chief regarding
the allegations about misuse
of a credit card. “There are no
grounds for termination,” he
said during a telephone inter-
view on Sunday, May 18.
“The items we’re talking
about,” he said, “are no big
concern.”
He added that the process
used by the board regarding
the allegations, under the di-
rection of President Don
Haviland, “was not done the
right way. If there were con-
cerns with the budget or what-
ever,” said Jones, “the chief
should have been contacted
directly. Then if we weren’t
satisfied, our attorney could
have been contacted.
“This was not done,” said
Jones, a retired fire chief for
the city of Del Mar, Calif.
with 43 years in the fire ser-
vice. “As far as I’m con-
cerned, this whole process
(regarding Kirchner) is null
and void. You either do it the
right way or not at all,” he
said, referring to board policy.
Board President Don
Haviland, contacted at home
on May 18 about the board’s
regular meeting on Thursday
evening, May 15 in Cave
Junction City Hall, said he had
no further comment beyond
those from the first public an-
nouncement by the board
since March 28. It was during
a special meeting in city hall
on March 28 that the board
approved 5-0 Kirchner’s paid
administrative leave.
There is still some ques-
tion as to which of the direc-
tors brought up the matter of
possible credit card misuse,
seeking an inquiry. The matter
seemed to have been ad-
dressed during a regular meet-
ing in March, when Kirchner
indicated that it was done in
error and without thought of
fraud, and that he had reim-
bursed the district.
During the regular meet-
ing last week, the board was
(Continued on page 8)
JEFF AND MARY CHRISTENSEN
Valley couple gives the gift of juggling
New Cave Junction business offers free lessons, sells souvenirs and supplies
(Continued on page 8)
PRICELESS PRANCING PETS - Area animals made a big impression at this year’s Illinois Val-
ley Child’s Fair & Pet Parade held in Jubilee Park on Saturday, May 17. Activities included
fingerpainting, kite making, face painting, children’s guitar music, karaoke singing and a visit
by birds of prey from Wildlife Images. Free food and drinks were also provided. Related pho-
tos on page 8.
Fire chief’s paid leave
sparks cash concerns
By BRITT FAIRCHILD
Staff Writer
Jeff Christensen is partial
to bluegrass, but any music
will do.
As long as it has a good
beat, he’ll juggle to it.
Throw in some funky
stepping and the result is quite
impressive.
“I’m an avid juggler,” said
Jeff, who learned the art some
30 years ago. “It’s a fun thing
I’d like to share.”
Slowly but surely, he’s
getting the chance in Illinois
Valley.
A little more than one
week ago, Jeff and his wife,
Mary, opened Jemarc, a Cave
Junction gift and “learn to jug-
gle” shop where most of the
inventory, from juggling bags
to intarsia wood art, is hand-
made.
As word about the new
business spreads, more and
more are coming forth for the
free juggling lessons.
Jemarc -- “Je” for Jeff,
“mar” for Mary and the “c”
stands for their last name -- is
the first business the couple
has owned. They moved to the
valley in June from Thornton,
Colo. (a Denver suburb) after
their youngest daughter gradu-
ated from high school.
“We vacationed here for
years and loved the valley,”
Jeff said.
While the couple noted
that there are no economic
guarantees for their type of
business, they said they hope
to attract tourists.
“If I get people to juggle
I’m happy,” Jeff said.
Mary, who also teaches
lessons, added that she has fun
helping others learn.
Plus, she said, it’s one of
few activities in the area for
children.
“There’s not too much for
the kids (here) to do. It’s
something for them to enjoy,”
Mary said.
Jeff and Mary assured that
almost everyone can really
learn to juggle in 15 minutes
or less -- as long as they can
throw a ball with one hand
and catch it in the other.
“After that, it’s just practice,”
Jeff said.
While a bit embarrassing
at first to learn -- likely plan
on chasing after a lot of
missed bags; arms waving in
unsuccessful attempts to catch
bags thrown too high, too
hard, or in the wrong direc-
tion; and a few bags hitting
you, or Jeff and Mary, in the
face, or elsewhere.
But really, juggling isn’t
that difficult to learn.
That’s another reason the
Christensens opened Jemarc,
to help dispel the myth that
juggling is some mystical,
intimidating art, and therefore
no one really tries to learn,
Jeff said.
Not to mention that jug-
gling is good exercise, espe-
cially for beginners running
around picking up all the
missed juggling bags.
Jeff noted that research
(Continued on page 8)