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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, September 3, 2003
Where to start?
The past two weeks are slightly blurred, even more
than usual, and not because I forgot to clean my eyeglasses
again. My mother was in assisted-living quarters in Ocean-
side, Calif. during the past two years. She missed her hus-
band, my father, who died in February 2002.
Her health was failing, although she kept her sense of
humor. Plus her personality continued to enhance the love
of those around her, including El Jefe and Jan, some 900
miles north; as well as my brother, Steve, and his wife,
Lisa, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Early last month I was notified that at 92 years, mom’s
health was not improving. She had contracted a kidney
infection, necessitating a few days in a hospital. This was
followed by a major heart attack with significant damage
to the muscle.
Jan told me it was time to leave town and get to San
Diego County quickly. So it was that I flew (in an airplane)
from Medford on Tuesday, Aug. 12. As far as airport secu-
rity is concerned, I will not describe it as severe, but I will
say that the guy with the rubber glove was surprisingly
gentle.
I reached mom’s Pacific Place apartment around 7:30
p.m. the same day. Thanks to the medical supervisor there,
mom was able to be in her own room with hospice care,
rather than be placed in a nursing home. It was a wonderful
show of caring for mom; one that is greatly appreciated.
Steve and Lisa had arrived earlier the same day; driv-
ing from their vacation in New Mexico. I was able to visit
with mom for a couple of hours, holding her hands, remi-
niscing, joking and encouraging her to relax. She finally
fell asleep.
Next day I was back with her. (I was staying with son-
in-law Matt Kaplan and his wife, our daughter Vicki, plus
granddaughter, Natalie in adjacent Carlsbad). Mom and I
were again able to visit and recall lots of family happen-
ings through the years. She was in a good mood, and the
hospice folks were doing an outstanding job to keep her
comfortable.
At the end of that day’s visiting, I could see the light in
her eyes beginning to dim, and our conversations were
“labor intensive,” as she struggled with comprehension. I
always struggle with it, but that’s a different story. When I
left her that evening, giving her kisses and expressing my
love and appreciation for her as a Wonder Woman of a
mother, I wondered if I would see her alive the next day.
Thursday morning the 14th I was getting ready, when a
hospice worker phoned to advise that I should come as
soon as possible. Five minutes later he phoned again, and I
got out of the shower to answer. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but
your mother has gone.”
Back in her room, I spent some time alone with her.
She had spoken the day before of her love and her pride for
me as eldest son. It felt good.
She looked peaceful lying there in bed. She looked
calm and freed from Earthly concerns. I spoke to her again
of my tremendous affection; thanking her for providing her
sense of humor in my genes and “being there” through my
childhood and beyond.
Her favorite hymn was “Amazing Grace.” So as I sat
gazing at the shell that had held her spirit, now soaring in
heavenly realms, I hummed the “Amazing Grace” melody,
as I couldn’t recall all the words.
Then I flew from San Diego (again in an airplane), but
had a four-hour layover in Portland. Arrived home around
midnight. Jan and I then left by car for San Diego the next
afternoon, and attended the memorial service, Mass and
reception for mom on Wednesday the 20th. The events
were a tribute to her as a super mom, and Steve and I are
pleased that she is so well-remembered.
The light in her eyes is gone, but her spirit beams.
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. 24
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
(Editor’s
Note:
Views and commen-
tary expressed in let-
ters to the editor are
strictly those of the
letter-writers.
* * *
Typed,
double-
spaced letters are ac-
ceptable for consid-
eration. Hand-written
letters that are double-
spaced and highly
legible also can be
considered for publi-
cation.
Cards
of
thanks are not ac-
cepted as letters.)
* * *
‘Right to vote’
From Jean Patterson
Selma
On Monday, May 26
there was a headline in the
Grants Pass “Daily Cou-
rier,” “Two-thirds of Ore-
gon corporations pay no
income taxes.”
I wonder how many of
these corporations attended
President Bush’s fund-
raiser at $2,000 a plate.
How much good would
that do for the schools or
seniors or poor people?
Maybe the Legislature
should have the corpora-
tions match what their
companies paid politicians.
I see Intel has been
given a 15-year morato-
rium on income taxes just
to open a mothballed plant
to hire 500 people.
Did they agree to hire
the 500 people the full 15
years? Are the 500 people
going to get full benefits?
For how long? Does this
sound like blackmail? I
wonder if Intel was repre-
sented at the president's
fund-raiser.
We voted down new
taxes, but the Legislature
didn’t take that “No.” Now
we have the biggest in-
crease in taxes in the his-
tory of the state of Oregon.
How does this work fellas?
Doe we have a right to
vote or not?
‘In appreciation’
From Mike and
Donna Pernicka
Cave Junction
We would like to
thank Bob Rodriguez very
much for staying in town
Monday, Aug. 11 to speak
for all of us business own-
ers at the Cave Junction
City Council meeting.
We understand that his
mother was not doing very
well, and he had to fly to
San Diego not knowing if
he was going to see her in
time. We prayed for him
and his mother.
His support was at an
important meeting, and if
we would have known the
situation we would not
have expected to see him
at the meeting. God bless
him and his family.
City building
permits issued
for projects
Building permits is-
sued by the city of Cave
Junction for July:
*Repaired damaged
wall, Don Smith Construc-
tion (Dutson), 121 S. Red-
wood Hwy.
*New front entrance
signs, Treehouse Florist &
Gifts, 134 S. Redwood
Hwy.
Did you find it?
The first person to find the
‘hidden’ ice cream cone in
this issue and physically
bring it to the office will
receive one free single-
scoop cone from
Taylor’s Sausage
Country Store.
LABOR DAY CRASHES - Illinois Valley emergency personnel responded to two
separate double motorcycle accidents on Monday, Sept. 1. The first occurred
around 11 a.m. on Redwood Hwy. Motorcyclist John LaRue, who was transferred to
Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford for his injuries and was listed in fair condi-
tion Tuesday, according to a hospital spokeswoman, hit a second motorcyclist, Jo-
seph Reaves, who made a U-turn in front of him. At 12:48 p.m., on Waldo Road near
O’Brien Road, Randy Morrall Perry and Roy Alan Ewing were involved in another
motorcycle accident (photo above). One of the motorcyclists reportedly swerved to
avoid an animal and collided with the other rider.
(Photo by Steve Fairchild)
Chain Link Specialist
*Confidential business consultation-free of charge
*Now offering counseling in Illinois Valley
*Affordable business-related training
*Comprehensive business library
214 SW 4th Street, Grants Pass - 1-800-411-6508 Ext. 7494
Phone today - let us help you succeed
592-6192
http://www.roguecc.edu/sbdc
PUBLIC NOTICE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the Josephine
County Commissioners will
conduct informal meetings with
public officials, county depart-
ment heads and employees,
and other citizens, every legal
day, Monday through Friday,
with the exception of Wednes-
day, between the hours of 9:00
A.M. and 12:00 P.M. and 1:00
P.M. to 5:00 P.M., in Room 154
of the Josephine County Court-
house. On Wednesdays, the
office hours are from 8:00 A.M.
to 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. to
5:00 P.M. A daily schedule of
all prearranged meetings will
be posted each morning begin-
ning at 8:00 A.M. from the Ex-
ecutive Secretary of the Board
of Commissioners. The pur-
pose of these meetings will be
to gather information, discuss
issues, and deliberate toward
decisions concerning matters
of public policy and concern.
All interested persons may
attend said meetings except
those designated as “Executive
Sessions.” In addition, notice of
advisory board and commis-
sion meetings are also posted
in the Commissioners Office.
DONE and DATED
22nd day of Jan. 1997.
this
JOSEPHINE COUNTY
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS]
Harold Haugen, Chair
Jim Riddle, Vice Chair
Jim Brock, Commissioner
Approved:
Steven Rich
Josephine County
Legal Counsel
PUBLISH ONCE A MONTH
Emancipate yourselves
from mental slavery.
None but ourselves can
free our minds.
-Bob Marley-
MANSFIELD R. CLEARY
Attorney at Law
General Practice in
Illinois Valley
since 1980
Practice includes but not limited to:
Bankruptcy - Eliminate
financial problems
Living trusts - Avoid probate
Estate planning - Wills,
power of attorney
Domestic relations
Auto accident - Personal Injury
Criminal - DUII
Real Estate contracts - Foreclosure
592-2195
200 W. Lister