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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