Page 2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, September 10, 2003
This was the week that the editor was going to
talk about the time he didn’t make a wrong turn in
Albuquerque, but discovered that the ‘66 van he was
driving at the time was falling apart.
We therefore spent some time and a considerable
amount of money having the beast fixed in Albuquer-
que, Santa Fe and Cross Roads, N.M., as one-by-one,
the poor thing lost all its lighting, exhaust system, and
generator. But that was a long time ago.
This also was going to be the week that we were
going to relate some of our adventures on the I-5
Raceway, as we have discovered some bad places and
some good places. Fortunately, the good spots prevail.
However, it turns out that we had to take two of
our three cats to our veterinarian on Monday, and that
represented an Adventure of the Third Kind. At about
the same time, a guy came to clean our carpets, and a
gardener showed up to attack our weed patch.
We had all three cats in one bathroom to keep
them away from the carpet cleaning. When I opened
the door with the carry cage in one hand, they all ran
out before I could yell, “Stop, dang it!” Or some other
words to that effect. Jan and I managed to catch them
all, put “Bubba” back in the bathroom; and dogs
“Bingo” and “Rocky” in another bathroom so they
also would be away from the carpet cleaning.
Meanwhile, you should know that “Grouchy Gra-
cie” and “Mama Mau-Mau” aka “Maui,” go together
like hydrochloric acid and water. We had to put them
in the same carry cage. It was pretty noisy for a while,
then quiet, and we were fearful that maybe they had
killed each other.
But no. They were OK. Once in the treatment
room I had to hold “Gracie” on my chest and left
shoulder, resulting in some interesting cat tracks in
my delicate skin. I also had to hold her mouth closed,
as she wanted to perhaps decapitate the vet or at least
scar him a bit. She also growled a lot during the exam,
inoculations and The Cutting of the Toenails Ordeal
(for all of us). I got her back in the cage, and was go-
ing to retrieve her for an ear exam, but after she
snagged my right hand, I wisely decided to leave her
alone. For now.
“Maui” did pretty well for the same attention
given “Gracie.” And they both shed a bunch of hair,
as cats do when they’re upset.
Finally got them home. The carpet was clean, and
weeds were flying left and right. Let the cats in the
house, and one of them (we don’t know which) went
into the guest room and barfed all over the just-
cleaned carpet. Gee, I love pets.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Queue: 1. A braid of hair worn hanging down behind.
2. A file or line, esp. of people waiting their turn. 3. A
sequence of items waiting in order for electronic action
in a computer system. 4. To form in a line while wait-
ing. 5. To arrange or organize into a queue.
-Webster’s Dictionary-
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. 25
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.)
* * *
‘Home saved’
From John Imerti
and family
Cave Junction
On Sept. 2, a brush fire
started on my property. As
I was leaving for work I
discovered the fire and
phoned 911.
A neighbor had al-
ready reported it, and by
the time I got outside, a
water tender and bulldozer
from Rough & Ready
Lumber Co. were arriving.
Ivan Cross and Bill
Schierer from Rough &
Ready had apparently seen
the fire and responded.
Illinois Valley Fire
District (IVFD) and Ore-
gon Dept. of Forestry
(ODF) fire crews arrived
shortly after them.
I ended up losing an
outbuilding, but truly be-
lieve that the fast response
and immediate work from
Cross and Schierer, and the
fast work by members of
IVFD and ODF, saved our
house.
We feel grateful to live
in a community with peo-
ple who are willing to help
each other. My family and
I give our heartfelt appre-
ciation to Rough & Ready,
IVFD, and ODF for their
work.
‘Sensory overload’
From B.C. Marston
Cave Junction
A little more than a
year ago I returned to Cave
Junction to retire.
I had owned a business
here, but had to leave due
to health problems. After
returning to CJ, I con-
vinced my sister to leave
Southern California and
move here.
We have been sharing
a place on the edge of the
city limits. Nice and quiet.
That all changed on a
recent morning when the
wooded area full of flora
and fauna that borders the
Medford hospital
receives grant to
improve facility
The Rogue Valley
Medical Center (RVMC)
Building On Our Promise
fund-raising campaign re-
ceived a large boost from
the Kresge Foundation
recently with a $900,000
challenge grant to the
RVMC Rebuild Project.
To meet this challenge,
the Building On Our
Promise campaign must
reach its $10 million fund-
raising goal.
The Kresge Founda-
tion is a private organiza-
tion that awards grants for
projects involving con-
struction or renovation of
facilities and major equip-
ment.
RVMC’s grant award
is the culmination of an
extensive application proc-
ess.
For more information
about the RVMC Rebuild,
phone (888) 364-RVMC.
property we are renting,
was assaulted by heavy
equipment clearing the
area for the new I.V. High
School Stadium and track.
There goes the quiet,
the serenity, and the pri-
vacy.
Oh, they say that they
will build a fence, but you
know how high school
kids are, that fence will be
torn down and cut through
to make a path.
The ones who skip
school will not be stopped
by fences or doors. There
will be an incident. Some-
one will get hurt.
The expansion was a
mistake, and the construc-
tion noise is an assault on
the senses.
‘Help for students’
From Les Lesiecki
Cave Junction
A new school year has
begun and some students
are looking forward to fur-
thering their education.
No doubt a handful of
parents are happy to pass
on some of their responsi-
bility to the schools.
The Junior Savings
Program is happy to share
and promote knowledge of
saving and managing
money with the younger
generation. We have been
doing this since 1991.
During school year
2002-03, children trans-
acted savings to $542. In
school year 2003-04 our
aims have expanded. We
are now officially recog-
nized by the IRS as a pub-
lic service able to seek
public support.
Our new name is Jun-
ior Savings Program and
Education Trust Inc. The
idea stemmed from the fact
that not everyone is born
with a natural gift of learn-
ing and some students
must work in order to
achieve a passing grade.
We believe it is neces-
sary to extend a helping
hand to this group as we
desperately need good
technicians and craftsmen.
Our appeal is to par-
ents. If in the future they
can’t afford further educa-
tion for their children we
hope to be able to help
with low-interest education
loans.
The stipulation is that
the loan applicant must
participate in program for
six or more years.
For more information,
phone Les or Pat Lesiecki
at 592-2999 or Ed or
Theresa Zick at 596-2028.
HARLEY WINNER - A ticket purchased by Central
Point resident Virginia Theis was the lucky one drawn
from the revolving basket at this year’s 31st annual
Labor Day Festival and Parade held by the Illinois Val-
ley Lions Club. Theis bought the winning ticket from
an I.V. Lions representative during a shopping trip to
Wal-Mart earlier this year. She was surprised to learn
that her ticket had been drawn and exclaimed that she
has never won anything before but always supports
the Lions. She is now the proud owner of the centen-
nial edition 2003 Harley Davidson FXDWG Dyna Wide
Glide motorcycle that was raffled by the I.V. Lions
Club .
(Photo courtesy of Blake Peterson)
Did you find it? The first person to find the ‘hidden’
palm tree in this issue and physically bring it to the
office will receive a free potted shrub (a $5 value) from
Dillon’s Nursery & Garden Center.
CONE TEN POTTERY
F ALL S ESSION C LASSES (S EPTEMBER 15-O CTOBER 20)
Beginning Adult
Kids Parent & Child
Continuing Adult
Teens
Firing Techniques: Raku, Pitfire & More
(kids & teens have new class times due to school hours)
360 Caves Highway
592-4646
316 S.
Redwood
Hwy.
592-6111