Page 9
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Comments on
strategic plan
now sought
IT’S PEACEFUL AND QUIET at the old Waldo Cemetery off Waldo Road between
O’Brien and Takilma. The cemetery was used from the mid-1800s until the early
1900s for those living in the community of Waldo, now long gone. The site appears
to be not well-cared for with some evidence of vandalism.
Restrictions, prohibitions in effect on land
protected by Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Hickerson moving
(Continued from page 1)
earlier to that final meet-
ing, was handled inappro-
priately, Hickerson said.
“I don’t agree with the
decision they made about
Kyle. I think they left the
community in a lurch,” he
said. “I don’t see things
getting better until we get
rid of that voting clique.”
During the July 17
IVRFPD board meeting,
Hickerson also publicly
noted his frustration about
a letter the board sent with-
out Hickerson’s knowl-
edge to Mayor Ed
Faircloth, Hickerson’s em-
ployer at the time, stating
that Hickerson had ver-
bally berated a IVRFPD
employee.
Hickerson said he
never even spoke to said
employee but addressed
his concerns about the em-
ployee to his supervisor,
Interim Chief Jeff Gavlik.
“That’s how I’m ap-
preciated,” he said.
Such “ulterior mo-
tives” not only reflect
poorly on the entire dis-
trict, including the volun-
teers, but could deter
needed new blood, he said.
“I don’t see what
would motivate someone
to join such a dysfunc-
tional organization,” he
said.
Honest and outspoken,
Hickerson also has a mod-
est side, particularly when
it comes to fighting fires.
During his time with
IVRFPD, Hickerson has
volunteered countless
hours helping with every-
thing from extinguishing
fires to breakfast fund-
raisers. He was also presi-
dent of the IVRFPD volun-
teer association at least
three times.
“I love this district,”
he said.
The best part though --
the anonymous nature of
the work.
Hickerson said he feels
great satisfaction when he
sees those he helped dur-
ing a fire the night before
and he isn’t recognizable
to them because it was
dark and his face was
partly covered.
“They have no idea it
was you. I really like that,”
he said.
The veteran firefighter
also has been honored as
the district Firefighter of
the Year, and as the Ore-
gon Volunteer Firefighter
of the Year.
Hickerson said he
plans to continue volun-
teering for IVRFPD until
he and his wife move to
Grants Pass.
He’s also considering
volunteering for the GP
Public Safety Dept. as a
firefighter and is part of
the Southern Oregon Swift
Water Rescue Team.
As for who would best
serve the valley as the new
fire chief, Hickerson said
the right candidate needs
to demonstrate “strong
character and a good work
ethic.”
Someone that could
“pick this district up by the
bootstraps and get going,”
he said.
A THRU Z
Land Improvements & More
Stump Grinding, Removals,
Thinnings, Brush,
Fencing, Decks,
Retaining Walls & More
Phone 659-8609
No job too small
License #CCB156237
The following public
restrictions are in effect on
all state, county, private,
and BLM lands protected
by the Oregon Dept. of
Forestry (ODF) in Jackson
and Josephine Counties:
public chainsaw use is pro-
hibited in areas of flamma-
ble vegetation; non-
agricultural mowing of dry
grass is prohibited; non-
agricultural,
non-
commercial use of internal
combustion powered ma-
chinery, such as gas-
powered string trimmers,
backhoes, trenchers and
chippers in areas of flam-
mable vegetation is prohib-
ited; use of motorized ve-
hicles including motorcy-
cles and all terrain vehicles
is prohibited except on
improved roads; improved
roads are those maintained
for passenger car use and
are clear of flammable de-
bris; campfires are prohib-
ited except in improved
designated campgrounds
such as state and county
parks; smoking is prohib-
ited in areas of flammable
vegetation, except in en-
closed vehicles while on
improved roads; fireworks
are prohibited in areas of
flammable vegetation; de-
bris burning is prohibited;
cutting, welding and grind-
ing of metal in areas of
flammable vegetation is
prohibited.
On the Rogue River
between Grave Creek and
Watson Creek on BLM
lands protected by ODF,
and Siskiyou National For-
est lands protected by the
USDA Forest Service, the
following restrictions are
in effect: campfires are
prohibited; portable cook-
ing stoves using liquefied
or bottled fuels are allowed
on sand and gravel bars,
which lay between the
river and the high water
mark in areas naturally
free of flammable vegeta-
tion; smoking is prohibited
except while aboard a wa-
tercraft while navigating,
or at rest on the river and
on sand and gravel bars
between the river and the
high water mark naturally
free of flammable vegeta-
tion; each party of boaters
must carry at least one
shovel and one bucket.
For commercial forest
operations, an Industrial
Fire Precaution Level 3 is
in effect on the Rogue
River and Siskiyou Na-
tional Forests, and all pri-
vate, state, county, and
BLM lands protected by
WORD OF THE WEEK
Out ‘N’ About Treesort
300 Page Creek Road
Cave Junction
$5-Adults
Kids 12 & under-FREE
Lallygag or lollygag:
To spend time
idly; loaf.
From Webster’s
College Dictionary
ODF.
The following are per-
mited to operate between
the hours of 8 p.m. and 1
p.m.: tractor, skidder,
feller-buncher, forwarder,
or shovel logging opera-
tions where tractors, skid-
ders, or other equipment
with a blade capable of
constructing fireline are
immediately available to
quickly reach and effec-
tively attack a fire start;
mechanized loading or
hauling of any product or
material; blasting; welding
or cutting of metal; any
other spark emitting opera-
tion not specifically men-
tioned.
For more information,
contact ODF in Grants
Pass at 474-3152.
Oregonians have an
opportunity to influence
the work of the Division of
State Lands for several
years by reviewing a draft
DSL Strategic Plan that
will guide many of the
agency’s major activities
for the next two to four
years.
DSL staff and manag-
ers have formulated a draft
plan that is now ready for
public comments.
To review the plan go
o n l i n e
t o
:
www.oregonstatelands.us.
The plan is listed on
the agency’s Home Page.
For a printed copy, phone
(503) 378-3805 ext. 223.
To comment, send a
response in writing follow-
ing instructions in the plan,
send them by e-mail to
plan@ds.state.or.us.
Those interested may
also attend a public meet-
ing on Wednesday, Aug.
20 at the Southern Oregon
Research/Jackson County
Extension Office near Cen-
tral Point.
Love is a fruit in season
at all times, and within
reach of every hand.
-Mother Teresa-
For the 22nd annual
Wild Blackberry Festival
Saturday & Sunday
Aug. 9 and 10
There will be a blackberry
scavenger hunt, blackberry
baking contest & blackberry hunt.
For more information phone
592-4920