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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 2003)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, September 24, 2003 Page 9 Budget crunch slows drug seizures Their ranks thinned by budget cuts, retirement and new obligations for Home- land Security, state police have fewer than one third as many troopers searching for methamphetamine labs today as two years ago, officials said. In the first such gather- ing in Oregon, police and social workers met to hash out solutions to the grow- ing meth epidemic in the state, where an estimated 116,000 people out of a total population of 4.1 mil- lion use methampheta- mines. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Crime Prevention Council sponsored the two-day summit in Clacka- mas. The summit marked the 10th such event held in states around the West. Springing first from rural labs in Southern Cali- fornia, methamphetamines have spread north and east during the past two dec- ades, while production has dispersed to thousands of tiny, low-tech labs, partici- pants said. That trend is reflected in lab seizures in Oregon. Police seized fewer than 20 in 1990; by 2001, they seized 591, according to Chuck Karl, director of the state’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The seizures dipped slightly to 529 last year. The more dramatic drop came this year. According to statistics compiled this week, police have seized 285 labs and expect to end the year with at least 100 fewer than in 2002, Karl said. The Oregon State Po- lice had assigned 40 troop- ers to drug task forces in 2001-2002; now only 12 work exclusively on such task forces, said Detective Ed Mouery, another par- ticipant at the summit. Some were transferred to homicide and sex abuse teams. Others retired early because of changes in Pub- lic Employee Retirement System rules. (Editor’s Note: The preceding appeared in “Medford Mail Trib- une”) New doctor brings expertise to CJ Dr. Andrea Gault, who holds a doctor of osteopa- thy degree and who is a board-certified Family Practice physician, will begin work at Siskiyou Community Medical Cen- ter in Cave Junction on Monday, Sept. 29. She graduated from University of Hartford at Connecticut with a bache- lor of science degree in biology, and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She completed her mas- ter’s degree at University of Connecticut, majoring in developmental neurobi- ology. Before obtaining her medical degree, Gault worked as a medical and pharmaceutical research scientist. With this exten- sive medical background, she completed medical school at Nova Southeast- ern University, and a Fam- ily Practice residency at Montgomery Family Prac- tice in Pennsylvania. She chose her osteo- pathic and family practice specialties because “she enjoys caring for all the medical needs of her pa- tients.” Gault, a National Health Services Corp. scholar, said that she has a strong commitment to ru- ral, underserved communi- ties and that she will pro- vide full primary-care ser- vices to Illinois Valley residents. She has a special interest in traditional medi- cine and working with en- tire families. She and her husband were drawn to Josephine County, she said, for its abundance of outdoor ac- tivities, wilderness areas and rivers. An enthusiastic hiker, Gault is “eager to explore the many scenic areas in Southwestern Ore- gon.” She and her husband also enjoy ballroom danc- ing and yoga. She begins seeing patients at Siskiyou CHC on Sept. 29. For more information, phone 592-4111. Kemper leaves post on CJ chamber Longtime Illinois Val- ley Chamber of Commerce officer and community supporter Kim Kemper has resigned from the board. Kemper made his an- nouncement, effective at the end of the meeting, during the chamber board meeting on Thursday after- noon, Sept. 18 in Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. in Cave Junction. Kemper said he is forced to resign due to his health. “I want to devote myself to other parts of life while I still can,” he said. Kemper has served as a director, vice president and president, working for two terms in the latter job. He and his wife, Vir- ginia, have been major supporters of chamber events including the annual auction, the Concert in the Parks Series, the annual Christmas Parade, and other chamber programs. In addition, he also is a major supporter of the tele- c o mmu n i c ati on s /vide o class at Lorna Byrne Mid- dle School and the in- house TV station, KVIK. He assists teacher Sam Steverson. Kemper, who owns Lancaster Rolling Video, donated a substantial amount of money a few years ago to fund new equipment. He continues to work with the program. And at the start of this year’s football season he donated $500 to the Cou- gar Boosters to sponsor the entire first game. All proceeds benefit TIME FOR TEE -- Sam Gill, son of Vicki Gill, looks on as golfers participate in the inaugural Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce tournament at I.V. Golf Course on Sept. 20. There were 11 two-person teams competing in the event. Results were not available at press time. Chamber to mix up meetings A major community event with beer-and-wine tasting, plus an auction with chances to mingle with one another is in the works by Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce. Chamber directors agreed on the general meeting idea during their meeting on Thursday after- noon, Sept. 18 in Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. Co-owners Jerry and Bertha Miller, who at- tended the meeting, said they would work with the valley’s wineries. They operate a microbrewery. In addition, because of low attendance, the monthly mixers have been discontinued. Instead, the board agreed it could be better to have one major event combining the an- nual auction, general meet- ing and mixers. It would be held in Wild River. Directors Vicki Gill and Bob Rodriguez, with his wife, Jan, along with former Director Jana Fincher will work on plans for the function. In another matter the board heard from Bob Li- tak, chairman of the Re- volving Loan Committee of I.V. Community Re- sponse Team. Litak said that Wednesday, Oct. 8 is the deadline to apply for some $95,000 available for loans to small businesses. Infor- mation is available by phoning IVCRT. The board also learned from chamber officer man- ager Dulcie Moore that some 4,978 persons went to the I.V. Visitor Center during August. “It was quite busy,” she said, not- ing that the figure during August 2002 was 3,939. ILLINOIS VALLEY SAFE HOUSE ALLIANCE 7 chances to WIN Prize packages valued at $100 - $500 each Tickets at these locations: *The Book Exchange *Cabin Chemistry *Junction Inn *Rising Suns Gift Store *Tender Treasures *Holland Store *Boarding House Reach *O’Brien County Store Tickets are $5 each and 5 for $20. Dr. Gault joins us from Baltimore, Maryland. She is board certified in family practice medicine and is available to provide primary care services for the entire family. Siskiyou Community Health Center, Cave Junction is accepting new patients.