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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Lovejoy Hospice puts Allister
in charge of outreach, funding
With arrival of granddaughter Natalie, two of our three cats
disappear during her waking hours into our cabinets and closets,
where they hide until their nocturnal instincts take over. Or until
they can tell, as cats can, that little “Nat” has begun her own over-
night hibernation.
The third cat either rushes outside as soon as possible, or
hangs around the house glaring and occasionally hissing. I think
she has a leak. Oh, and “Bubba” has taken to shredding toilet tis-
sue in great quantities, in protest to the “intruder” in his house, I
think.
Daughter Vicki and Natalie arrived at “Medford Interna-
tional” on Tuesday a week ago, and we’ve been in a bit of a tu-
mult since. Natalie, at nearly 10 months, is more than a handful.
She fits the descriptions (which I state lovingly): rug rat and cur-
tain climber. This girl, with curly brown hair and beautiful blue
eyes -- not to mention a world-class smile -- is a champion
crawler, and no doubt will be walking soon.
At the airport, the editor and proud grandfather was advised
by an enormous security guard that our van was not allowed to
even drive up to the building. The van has a propane stove, you
see, and I guess that with the New Security Syndrome, there is
fear that either I’d make a dangerous omelet or that the stove it-
self could be some sort of hazard. But those are only guesses.
Back to our visitors, who left early this week, headed back to
San Diego County and their home in Carlsbad. It was a wonderful
visit, filled with baby food, drinking water from straws, lovely
baby smiles, and the simple joys of watching a child discover.
Plus the inevitable diaper changes. But those are minor compared
to the happiness factor. And Vicki brought a number of toys. My
favorite is the one that plays music accompanied by flashing col-
ored lights. Natalie loves it best, too, and enjoys smacking the
keys with her hands.
We had to keep close watch on some of the other toys, such
as stuffed animals, as our dogs were sure that they were just right
for canine teeth chewing practice. Something like that.
Granddaughter Nat has learned to clap, wave and point, al-
though not simultaneously. She pulls herself into standing posi-
tions frequently. Our little visitor also makes a variety of noises
and word-like sounds. She and Vicki are a delightful pair, and Jan
and I are grateful for the visit. As well, we’re grateful to Matt the
Husband/Dad, who missed his loved ones greatly, but who didn’t
protest at Vicki’s plan to visit us, and friends and family in
Brookings.
Although Natalie doesn’t appear to listen too intently, Vicki
lovingly and patiently reads to her. My favorites of the children’s
books she brought are “If I Had a Little Car,” and “Sylvester and
the Magic Pebble.” In case you can’t tell, I also enjoy being read
to.
Natalie is mostly an early riser, making her first utterances in
the vicinity of 6 a.m. She takes a couple of naps during the day,
and usually is “ready” for the evening retreat around 9 p.m. Of
course, times are variable. Like most pre-toddlers, L’il Nat abhors
going to sleep. She fights sleep even when her eyelids droop, and
she’s clearly exhausted; but sleep? No way. She’s afraid of miss-
ing something. Eventually though she drops into the arms of Mor-
pheus, and all is quiet. For a while.
It’s said that all good things must end, and so the visit falls
into that category. But we look forward to many more visits, as
Natalie grows. Besides, I want to hear “Sylvester and the Magic
Pebble” again.
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 66, No. 12
Staff: Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild,
Chris Robertson, Steve Fairchild & Becky Loudon
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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(Editor’s Note: Views and com-
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‘Pending disaster’
From Bonney Carlson
Grants Pass
Public trust in our law-
makers takes a nosedive when
it appears that they rate tax-
payer needs of less importance
than public employee retire-
ment benefits. Why can’t they
legislate retroactively to pre-
vent this pending disaster?
The rush to retire while
retirement benefits of PERS
(Public Employee Retirement
System) still apply is clearly
not in the public’s interest.
Three Rivers School District
“has more than twice the num-
ber of people retiring this year
than in the last record year,”
reported the Grants Pass
“Daily Courier” on May 31.
According to Kent Granat,
Josephine County’s personnel
chief, “Josephine County is
seeing about a 50 percent in-
crease in the number of retir-
ees this year.”
Also, what a tragedy for
Rogue Community College
and our area that we should
lose two highly trained educa-
tors, unless our lawmakers can
cancel those outdated and un-
conscionable promises. RCC
President Rick Levine, at only
60 years of age, has chosen to
leave a lifelong successful
career. Dean of Student Ser-
vices Kathy Burkey, another
longtime educator at RCC,
will also abandon her impor-
tant position in favor of cur-
rent admittedly attractive re-
tirement pay.
What can be done to stop
these and future losses of
valuable public employees?
Surely our legislators, in rec-
ognition of the unexpected
national and state economic
downturn, can devise some
emergency, retroactive law
that will prevent unnecessary
resignations. Such a measure
would benefit both the public
and the anguished employees
faced with cutting short valu-
able careers.
Why would anyone want
to take for his or her personal
advantage the retirement bo-
nanza which will deprive our
state and county residents of
needed funds for schools, pub-
lic safety, the elderly and
poor?
‘No shows’
From Commander Dan
Warden, Post 70 American
Legion
Cave Junction
The people in Illinois Val-
ley do not show support for
their veterans, and I don’t un-
derstand it.
There are more than 1,000
veterans here in the valley.
While driving in Downtown
Cave Junction, I saw maybe
eight flags out on the city’s
main street by that many busi-
nesses. None were out by the
city other than at city hall.
And the only pictures in the
paper were pictures that Ellie
Buell of the American Legion
Post 70 Auxiliary submitted.
Memorial Day is the day
you thank the many that gave
their lives so that we could be
free. I might add we paid one
heck of a price with all the
wars, plus the one everyone
has forgotten about. That was
the one before Vietnam. It was
called the Korean conflict,
which took more than 55,000
lives. But it was not a war, so
they say, but dead is dead.
If the people here are up-
set with our government,
that’s one thing, but let us not
forget the men and women
that had to go or those that
volunteered to go.
I would also like to invite
any veterans out there to come
down and see what the Ameri-
can Legion is about. We need
more vets to help us carry on.
‘Airport support’
From William and
Debra Bowling
Cave Junction
This question has been
first and foremost on the
minds of the members of Illi-
nois Valley Airport Support
Group and the Airport Advi-
sory Board.
The support group is com-
prised of pilots, aviation en-
thusiasts, non-aviation busi-
nesses, neighbors of the air-
port and concerned citizens of
the Illinois Valley. The group
was formed to find ways to
breath new life into our air-
port. The advisory board has
its members appointed by the
Josephine County Board of
Commissioners. The board
advises the commissioners on
the long-term planning for the
airport.
At one of the recent advi-
sory board meetings a pro-
posal was put forth and sent to
the commissioners recom-
mending, among other things,
that all new development oc-
cur on the west side of the
runway adjacent to the new
industrial park.
Support of the industrial
park through infrastructure
usage fees, preserving the res-
taurant and the loft buildings
along with their camping and
park-like setting and maintain-
ing the condo-hanger “live
with your airplane” concept
were some of the reasons
given in support of the pro-
posal. It was supported by
both of the above organiza-
tions.
The county in its infinite
wisdom, has determined to
reject all the input from these
groups and is planning to lo-
cate two corporate hangers on
the east side of the runway
just south of the access road.
If they are successful, we be-
lieve we will have lost pre-
cious assets which can’t be
replaced. Once again, deci-
sions are being imposed on
the valley without concern for
the desires for its residents.
At a recent meeting with
Commissioner Jim Brock, the
advisory board addressed and
resolved all of the county’s
concerns with locating these
hangars adjacent to the indus-
trial park. I believe that the
county board is excited about
two new hangers, but ques-
tions the proposed location by
the county.
Write or e-mail the com-
missioners advising them of
your support for the advisory
board and the support group.
These individuals are your
neighbors, friends and valley
residents. Who understands
the needs of our airport better
than these people?
Pam Allister is the new
Lovejoy Hospice developmen-
tal coordinator. She will man-
age funding resources and
fund-raising for community
outreach educational programs
and bereavement counseling
services. She has worked for
nonprofit organizations in
New York, New Jersey and
Idaho including advocacy
groups for families.
“Pam Allister’s appoint-
ment gives Lovejoy Hospice
the opportunity to expand edu-
cational programs in addition
to Lovejoy’s hospice nursing,
social services, spiritual care,
and grief support counseling,”
said Christina Snell, executive
director.
“Community education
and training is an ever-
expanding role for our agency
and Pam’s focus will be on the
agency’s goal of increased
fiscal diversity and independ-
ence.”
To Old Stage Mini Storage
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of the board of directors of the
Illinois Valley Little League, we would like to
take this opportunity to express our deepest
regrets in not including Old Stage Mini Storage
in our list of sponsors for Little League. Old
Stage Mini Storage has been an avid sponsor of
Little League since 1993. We were very remiss
in not mentioning your name in our list of
sponsors. We are putting this letter in the ‘I.V.
News’ to make people aware of the things that
you have done for Little League. Once again,
please accept our deepest apologies for this
unfortunate incident. If there is anything we
can do to be of assistance to you please let us
know anytime.
Cordially,
Janet Ewing, Information Officer on behalf
of I.V. Little League Board of Directors