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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2003)
I.V. Patrol eyes more members As part of its efforts to “light the darkness” and make I.V. Citizens Patrol (IVCP) even more visible and effective, the group is undertaking a recruiting drive. Anyone interested in joining the observational grass-roots organization, to help with occasional three- or four-hour patrols, can phone 592-9296. Informa- tion also is available through the “Illinois Val- ley News” office at 592- 2541. In addition, to help spread the word and per- haps gain support in areas other than patrolling, IVCP members tentatively plan to contact I.V. High School and I.V. Senior Center. “Students could help with information about problem areas and distrib- uting information, and there are many senior citi- zens with backgrounds in law enforcement,” one IVCP member said during a meeting in the Josephine County Bldg. in Cave Junction on Monday night, Sept. 29. Another IVCP public meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Junction Inn. During the meeting this week, patrollers re- counted some of their ex- periences, noting that they often see teen-agers, espe- cially girls, roaming the streets at 3 and 4 a.m. “Where are their parents?” asked one patroller. Those on patrol are keeping logs of possible suspicious ve- hicles, persons and circum- stances in case crimes later are discovered. Also, patrollers use spotlights or flashlights to “light up” dark areas. One patrol team reported that at Jubilee Park, when they used lights, at least one person, possibly wanted, fled the area. IVCP mem- bers used cell phones to communicate with the 911 Dispatch Agency in case of emergency or crimes in process. They also main- tain communication with others on patrol. In another matter, the group plans to check with other cities to see how they handle dealing with intoxi- cated persons or vagrants in public. The city of Cave Junction, saying that its ordinances against such rules are in opposition to Oregon Revised Statutes, plans to rescind its ordi- nances addressing those issues. An account for IVCP has been established at Home Valley Bank. Dona- tions to assist with ex- penses will be welcome, member said. Join the I.V. Citizens Patrol and help spotlight evil-doers. Phone 592-9296 Takilma pirate FM station keelhauled Tanya Nevarez (bottom left) led the ceremony. (Photos courtesy of IVSHA) Murder victims highlighted in vigil Tanya Nevarez, an advocate for Illinois Val- ley Safe House Alliance (IVSHA) led a candlelight vigil on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Lorna Byrne Middle School. Fifteen men, women and children attended a video showing and vigil on the 25th, the “National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.” The event was co- sponsored by IVHSA and LBMS. It was a collabora- tive effort to bring together survivors and the commu- nity in the remembrance of loved ones. During the candlelight vigil people spoke against the violence in their com- munity. Nevarez performed a Native American mourn- ing song as a tribute to those who have died by the hands of violence. It moved some to tears. By STEVE FAIRCHILD Staff Writer If you can’t find your favorite unauthorized Takilma radio station on the FM dial it’s probably because the Federal Com- munication Commission (FCC) has shut down the station -- again. According to a disc jockey at the station, who preferred not to disclose his name, the Takilma pi- rate radio station received a “cease-and-desist” order from an FCC representa- tive at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 for transmitting without a license. The FCC representa- tive told the DJ that it had received a complaint from a member of the commu- nity and “had to respond to the complaint.” The complaint was not due to any illicit content, but was due simply to the fact that the station didn’t have a license to legally be on the air, the DJ said. This is the second time a pirate station in Takilma has been shut down by the FCC. In its previous incar- nation the Takilma station was on the air for five years at 88.9 FM before the FCC killed it. The new station trans- mitted its seven-watt low power station on 87.9 FM and was reportedly ex- tremely careful to not in- terfere with any other sta- tions, even going as far as providing a phone number for people to call if they had any problems with the station being on the air. It provided Takilma and the surrounding area with lo- cally generated news, mu- sic and talk shows. “It started to become beneficial,” the DJ said. “The DJs were passionate about getting the news out. We just want radio, man.” Gary Potter, owner of G-Dub’s Fix It Shop in Cave Junction, was a lis- tener and said local radio is something the community needs. “We really need the community to have a fast and local source of infor- mation,” Potter said. “We need a community-based radio station controlled by the community that is an open forum.” Potter cited the 2002 Biscuit Fire, a rash of mailbox burglaries and even this weekend’s smoke-filled skies caused by a Northern California fire as examples of the type of events about which the community needs in- stant data. Those are areas that large stations in Medford and Grants Pass don’t pro- vide information about, he said. “We’re so far from any other commercial station. It was nice we had the sta- tion whether it was legal or illegal,” he added. Jonathan Klein of the Takilma Community Asso- ciation (TCA) said that is has a legal station waiting to go on the air, but the FCC has yet to approve its application. Klein emphasized that TCA and the pirate station are not related. In its application for the radio station TCA said it wants a local station be- cause: (Continued on page 5) Hearing about ’Dom’ fate slated Friday in Medford Carol Crawford and ‘Energizer’ Crawford recalls Pony Express ride By BRITT FAIRCHILD Staff Writer It was a moment Carol Crawford will never for- get: Riding her trusty Spanish mustang, “Energizer,” along the Pony Express Trail, gazing at the Nebraska cornfields stretched before her, and eating an ice cream sandwich. The frozen treat had come as a welcome sur- prise, courtesy of the driver whose ice cream truck had broken down near the trail. It’s been more than two years since the Cave Junction resident partici- pated in the XP 2001 En- durance Ride, but anec- dotes like these are fresh in her memory. “It was amazing,” Crawford said of the trek. “I’d love to do it again.” More than 100 people from around the nation and other countries rode in the XP Ride, which followed the original Pony Express Trail as closely and con- tinuously as possible. Sanctioned by the American Endurance Rid- ing Conference (AERC), the 2,000-mile journey began in St. Joseph, Mo. on June 5, 2001 and ended in Virginia City, Nev. al- most two months later. To share her experi- ence with others, Crawford is assembling a display for Kerbyville Museum. She’s also tossing around the idea of writing a book. Once Crawford knew for sure she was going to take part in the XP, she set a couple of goals for her- self: finishing the ride and finishing the ride on 16- year-old “Energizer.” Most riders used two or three horses during the event. “(I thought) wouldn’t it be nice to do it on one horse,” she said. “I thought this horse could do it. I always feel when I’m rid- ing him like I’m 20 min- utes late.” Together, the two trav- eled 1,650 miles -- more than any other single horse and rider team -- averaging about 10 hours of riding each day for 33 days. When she thought “Energizer” was tired, Crawford said they took (Continued on page 5) By MEDFORD ‘MAIL TRIBUNE’ A local public hearing regarding the future of the domiciliary in White City has been approved by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. The gathering will be held on Friday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in the National Guard Armory in Medford. The VA is considering terminating in-patient care at the White City facility, now known as the South- ern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) requested that a hearing be held in White City to allow VA officials to get a first-hand look at the local facility. Moving a hearing to the Rogue Val- ley would also allow local residents and veterans -- many of whom are elderly and disabled -- a chance to attend without making a long drive, the Hood River Republican said. Walden has expressed opposition to closing the domiciliary, and has been joined by Oregon’s two U.S. senators, Ron Wyden, a Democrat, and Republi- can Gordon Smith. The VA announced in July that the facility is one of 30 nationwide under consideration for closure or significant change in services. The move is part of an effort to improve efficiency and service, of- ficials said. The VA also has a much smaller domi- ciliary in Portland. The White City facility was added to the list in part because a study two years ago concluded that the brick buildings would- n't hold up well in an earthquake, according to VA officials. There are slightly more than 500 inpatients at the domiciliary and more than 8,000 outpatients. VA officials say outpatient care would not be reduced but could be increased as a result of the study.
