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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 9, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 9, 2003 For those unaware, I’m here to advise that besides lots of trees (45 percent of the Beaver State is classi- fied as forestland), Oregon also has plenty of flat land. Jan and I discovered this on a recent outing to Willamette Valley, during which we never really got lost, just temporarily disoriented. Our aim was to visit friends in Salem, then become tourists and visit outly- ing areas including Mt. Angel, Silverton, Scotts Mills, Turner and Independence. We also drove through some other communities, but other than signs listing the names and populations, there isn’t much to let you know there’s a town of sorts. Of all the towns visited, we liked Mt. Angel best. Not only because of the really cool railroad station and the Mt. Angel Brewing Co. (Angel Beer and Ale Mary are two beverage choices), but because it just appealed to us. Mt. Angel also is the home of a large Catholic enclave, including a monastery and a con- vent; and a public school with the name St. Mary’s. And the Sunday brunch at the brewery was quite good. I estimate that on white tablecloth-clad tables there was at least 90 feet of food, maybe more. I couldn’t eat a lot of it, so to speak, because of my low-fat diet, but there still were plenty of items to sat- isfy my Sunday appetite. And the root beer, served without ice for the purist in all of us, was excellent. Sunday also included a Quaker Meeting in Scotts Mills, home of Laura’s House of Peace. One of our friends, Peggy, was pastor there in September 1995 when a man used a shotgun to end the earthly lives of his wife and three daughters. It was our friend’s task to provide spiritual and temporal guidance for the townspeople after that major emotional upheaval. Es- tablishment of Laura’s House of Peace for the abused is one spin-off from that tragedy. Because of the “privileges” enjoyed by our tal- ented pastor friend, who now ministers statewide, she rang the church bell. It had quite an appeal. On Saturday we were at Peggy’s house with our other good friend, Alivia, who is her ministry partner. The occasion was to help finish a studio for Alivia, who is a composer, singer, guitarist and artist in other fields as well. Then we enjoyed a barbecued meal, and were blessed with a too-brief performance of praise songs by Alivia and her friend, Virgil, on cello. It was a terrific weekend. As well, we had a good time at an RV camp- ground behind what I think was a Home Despot near central Salem. Our camper van came in quite handy, and the cost for three nights was less than what we would have spent for one night in a motel or one of those suite places. It was pleasant to visit friends and enjoy being away from the valley we call home. But as always, it’s so good to return with fond memories of good times with our friends; not to mention Orville, Peggy’s dad; David, her husband; and Laura, her teen-age daughter. (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary ex- pressed 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 considered for publication. Cards of thanks are not ac- cepted as letters.) * * * ‘Heads up seniors’ From Lee Currier Cave Junction Please take warning. Don’t loan money to friends, because the bank- ruptcy officials seem to think it’s altogether fitting and proper for a 92-year- old man to lose thousands of dollars of hard-earned retirement money. In the old days, the court of justice would frown on that decision. I loaned this money to friends to save three home foreclosures. After the loan they assured me that all three places were paid up to date. Wow! Did I feel great. I saved three homes from being lost. Then, shortly thereafter I found out they declared bankruptcy and there was no equity in the homes. What happened to my money? I will be happy if this letter will save a few sen- ior citizens from making the big mistake that I made. ‘Library salaries’ From George Long Grants Pass (Editor’s Note: The following letter, from Long to Josephine County Commissioners Harold Haugen, Jim Rid- dle and Jim Brock, was submitted for this col- umn.) I live on Kokanee Lane, and have owned my own business for 20 years on Rogue River Hwy. I would like to address the fiscal 2003-04 budget. I am not upset about the amount of money budgeted for the library system. I have lived here long enough to see good and bad economic times. I have seen an owl im- poverish families in this county. The way the li- brary director proposes to spend her budget will im- poverish employees of this county, employees of the people. Sue Luce, the director of the county library sys- tem, stated during budget hearings and again at the June 18 board of county commissioners meeting that she thought her plan is the fairest way to balance her budget. Fair to whom? It’s not fair to the public, and it certainly is not fair to the library staff. During both the budget hearings and the commis- sion meeting, Luce was asked if she and her man- agers were having their budgets cut. In addition, she was asked what their current salaries are. She steadfastly refused to disclose the salaries. She did tell the budget commit- tee that her managers would take a 10 percent pay cut, but never said anything about herself. A cut of 10 percent in salary in Josephine County allows the employee to maintain all his or her benefits. Any cut greater than 10 percent causes a loss of all benefits to the employee. So what are the sala- ries of the managers? Luce is paid more than $75,000 per year. Dorothy Cook is paid more than $53,900 per year. Linda Garrick is paid more than $53,900 per year. Cessa Vichi is paid more than $53,900 per year. FESTIVAL FUND-RAISER - Geno Kompas (left) and John Bennett (right) lend a hand at a car wash held at CJ Video Mart & Radio Shack, at the corner of Red- wood Hwy. and River Street on Thursday, July 3 to raise money for the 2003 Wild Blackberry Festival which will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9 and 10 in Downtown Cave Junction. There will also be a bingo fund-raiser on Friday, July 11 at 6 p.m. held at the I.V. Grange, 3781 Holland Loop. (Photo by Steve Fairchild) Jubilee Park Thursday, July 10 6:30 to 8 p.m. Co-Sponsored by: First American Title, Evergreen Federal Bank, SOFCU, Lancaster Rolling Video, Century 21 Harris & Taylor (Jim Frick & Steve Lyons), ‘I.V. News’ *Next week: ‘Salsa Salseros’ Thursday, July 17 - 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jubilee Park (Continued on page 3) Deadline to register is Saturday, July 12 COACHES NEEDED!!! 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. 16 Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative. - Maurice Chevalier - Senior Nutrition Menu Sponsored by Staff: Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild, Chris Robertson, Steve Fairchild & 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. 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 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 592-3562 (541) 592-2126, 474-5440 Meals are served in the CJ County Bldg. FRIDAY, JULY 11 *Baked paprika chicken, whipped potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, cracked wheat bread, lemon square MONDAY, JULY 14 *Baked beef rigatoni, Italian vegetables, pickled beets, seven grain bread, cherry cobbler WEDNESDAY, JULY 16 *Rotisserie-style chicken, Au gratin potatoes, seasoned carrots, French bread, fresh cantaloupe On May 30, I wandered into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and got totally lost. I would like to sincerely thank: Josephine County Search And Rescue Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Curry County Search And Rescue Curry County Sheriff’s Department Oregon National Guard American Red Cross Jackson and Lane Counties Canine Corps American Medical Response Josephine County ARES Josephine County Dive Team I would also like to thank all the individuals who took their time and effort marching up and down those hills trying to find me. Sincerely, One grateful, lucky person Tim ‘Bob’ Yost
