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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 2003)
I.V.’s Patrol forming as ‘eyes, ears’ NOTICE: A general meeting for those inter- ested in the newly form- ing Illinois Valley Citi- zens Patrol will be held on Monday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jose- phine County Bldg. in Downtown Cave Junc- tion. * * * High visibility vs. in- visibleness. And lots of light cou- pled with attentive eyes and ears during hours of darkness. Those were among tips, based on years of ex- perience, from two men involved in citizens patrol programs in Illinois Valley and Grants Pass. They spoke to approximately 20 valley citizens interested in possibilities of restarting I.V. Citizens Patrol (IVCP) during an evening meeting on Thursday, Sept. 11 in the Josephine County Bldg. in Downtown Cave Junction. In addition, county sheriff’s office Lt. Lee Harman spoke to the group about help that could be provided. Harman, officer- in-charge of the I.V. Sub- station, outlined past ef- forts and indicated that extra eyes and ears would be welcome, while noting that regular officers would want IVCP to avoid con- frontations or trying to in- volve itself in inappropri- ate areas. The meeting was called by two downtown merchants because of a recent spate of incidents including burglaries and vandalism. The gathering began with a minute of silence in memory of the terrorist attack on the United States two years ago on the same date. Following presenta- tions and questions-and- answers, the civilians pre- sent elected a five-member board. In the interest of anonymity to avoid possi- ble retaliation their names will not be provided. Offi- cers are chairman, vice c h ai r man , s ec r et ary- treasurer (two persons will share this position), and member-at-large. And Har- man will serve as adviser. Bill Davis, who was president of IVCP after its formation in 1996 due to concerns about downtown crime, said that, “We were eyes and ears. We made no arrests, but we gathered information about suspi- cious vehicles and persons, and had that information available for deputies.” He said that members of the group, which disbanded approximately seven years ago, coordinated their ef- forts with those of patrol deputies. Davis said that equip- ment carried by those on patrol included powerful flashlights or spotlights, (Continued on page 5) Fireworks may be off limits in I.V. Fire district will vote on ruling in October ART AROUND TOWN -- David T. Nwell with his wife, Sandy Nwell, shows off his handmade beggar’s lute at Blue Moon Books (top photo). Deborah Dawson offers art classes at her new studio in the former Illinois Valley High School Alternative Center (photo left). And patrons grab some food catered by Kate Dwyer at the grand open- ing of Rising Suns. (Photos by Steve and Britt Fairchild) Fuel additive may be provide the smog solution By STEVE FAIRCHILD Staff Writer Dr. Bob Kurko, presi- dent of the Fuel Science Institute of Cave Junction, may hold in his hands the able, renewable and sus- tainable fuel catalyst that he said makes fossil fuels burn ultra clean and in- creases fuel economy 20 percent. Dr. Bob Kurko key to solving our depend- ence on foreign oil -- or at least he’ll make sure our cars run better. That is if he can over- come the preconception that some leaders in the petroleum industry think his product is too good to be true. Kurko, 59, is the mar- keting muscle behind “MachTane” a biodegrad- Kurko, a pastor at First Love Church and president of the Great Commission Institute and Bible College in Cave Junction, is confi- dent that the fuel catalyst is the answer to eliminating smog and acid rain, and producing cleaner air. Several trials have been conducted around the country on vehicles to test the product for smog re- duction, an increase in mileage, and lowered emissions. This included tests by the U.S. Army, Monmouth County for public buses, Dallas Fort Worth’s airport buses, and the Illinois Valley Rural Fire Protection District. Results of the tests have been universally posi- tive, he said. They include findings that gas mileage increased in some city buses using the product from 4.6 mpg to 12.1 mpg; and there were reductions of 66 percent of carbon monoxide emissions at high rpm and 33 percent at lower rpm in cars using the additive. Although dozens of products on the market claim similar reductions in smog and increased fuel efficiency, Kruko said they lack the proper ingredients to work. “All their products use petroleum distillates,” Kurko said. “They’re not doing anything different that is not part of the regu- lar fuel. Our product is made from biomass like beets and wood; it has nothing to do with petro- leum.” The main ingredients in the product is ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, but it’s the way the fuel cata- lyst’s creator Stan Shaw, a part-time resident of Cave Junction, has refined the product that makes it burn fuel so well, Kurko said. Joe Malcolm, the owner of Kar Kare, an automotive repair shop in Cave Junction, said he is a believer in the fuel cata- lyst. Malcolm said he has several repeat customers buying the product at $20 per quart. He said that a mo- torhome he tried the prod- uct on showed an increase of mileage from 42 to 58 mpg. An old truck he used it on improved from nine to 14 mpg. His crew also ran the MachTane through an old lawn mower. Afterward they took it apart and con- cluded that the additive made the lawn mower “like new” by removing much of the carbon buildup in the engine. More recently Mal- colm has been adding it to the engine of his motorcy- cle, but he hasn’t found the best mix of fuel and addi- (Continued on page 7) By BRITT FAIRCHILD Staff Writer Action on an ordi- nance that would ban the sale or use of fireworks in the valley was not taken by the Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) directors during their regular meet- ing on Thursday night, Sept. 11 in Cave Junction City Hall. Instead, d irectors heard a final reading of the proposed regulation, and President Joel Downing noted that the board would vote on it during the Oct. 16 meeting, after it appears as a legal notice in the newspaper. If adopted, the ordi- nance would prohibit all fireworks in the district, which, according to Fire Marshal Jerry Schaeffer, extends from Hay’s Hill to the California border. That means that the fireworks stands used by area groups for fund- raising purposes would also not be allowed. Clubs, organizations or individuals certified as pyrotechnic specialists, could, however, be permit- ted to present a public fire- works show as long as they have proof of financial responsibility in case of damages or injuries. “What I’m hoping is we get cooperation from the general public,” Schaeffer said Tuesday, adding that some re- education of the dangers of fireworks will be needed. “It just doesn’t make sense to put our commu- nity at risk” by having $30,000-$40,000 worth of fireworks exploding during fire season. So far, Schaeffer, who attended the IVFD meet- ing, said he has received a lot of support and encour- agement from those in the valley for the ordinance. Even a couple of fireworks stand vendors have ex- pressed that they under- stand the reason for the ban, he added. Those caught selling or using fireworks once the ban is enacted will have their materials confiscated and destroyed and be charged with a misde- meanor crime, according to Schaeffer. Schaeffer also noted that Ashland and the city of Grants Pass already have similar laws, he said. Acting Fire Chief Jeff Gavlik told the board that one aspect to consider is the possibility of additional cost to the district if extra runs are made to stop the use or sale of fireworks. Schaeffer said Tuesday he didn’t think there would be a significant number of additional illegal fireworks calls, “unless there’s some- one who wants to make an issue of it.”