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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 1, 2003 Time again for the editor to ramble about the car trip he and Jan took more than a month ago to San Diego for my mother’s memorial service. Time was when the editor could drive 900 miles in 18 hours non-stop except for a few breaks to inhale cheeseburgers and freedom fries with vanilla milk- shakes. And to use restrooms. That time is past. On the land voyage Jan and I took, we averaged 350 miles per day, literally taking it easy and stopping about every place we thought looked interesting. This is apparently a reaction to the fact that both our fa- thers would not stop to look at anything even if a T. Rex popped up or if they saw a battleship cruising down the highway. I mean, they were dedicated to making time come lava flows or 40-foot-tall waves. Something like that. Anyway, we (El Jefe) drove like a man possessed, averaging 80 to 90 mph. I can say this now that the trip is concluded, and none of those highway patrol cars have caught up with us yet. Actually, we were just going with the flow. It’s amazing out there on In- terstate 5 in the center of the Golden State, where the Indy 500 might take second place. We had mostly good luck with motels and restau- rants. Although there was one eatery where we or- dered our food, waited 40 minutes, and finally walked out in disgust (that might be the name of the town). As we were heading out, the waitress called, “Are you guys leaving?” I didn’t even bother to look at her. I mean, 40 minutes for plain food? Give me a break. Then there was the Motel From Hell on the way back. It was designed by a man who formerly built the pyramids, complete with secret passages, long corri- dors, and odd stairways. Plus no elevator to the base- ment, which is where our room was. We also enjoyed finding a black, curly hair in the bed; and noted that one pillow wasn't even wearing a pillowcase. When we phoned the front desk to complain, the girl didn’t know what to do. We suggested another room, and fortunately there was a vacant one across the hall, so we didn’t have to haul our junk too far. To quote Rodney Dangerfield, “I don’t want to say the room was small, but the mice were hunchbacked.” The only saving grace was that the clerk earlier recommended a nearby restaurant, Los Pinios, and the food and service were excellent. So we rolled up and down I-5 (in our van) and had a right good time for the most part. Although the fuel we bought then was going for like almost $2.50 a gal- lon. Good grief. Quite fuelish prices. Unfortunately, driving the I-5 corridor and around San Diego County spoiled me. Or at least my right foot. I want to go California Fast all the time now. Support the merchants who advertise in the ‘Illinois Valley News’ 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 (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.) ** * ‘ Bananas ’ From William Schneider Cave Junction The powerful presence of the Women in Black causes me to focus in on the many issues involved with the reasons that these women and friends are inspired to stand silent and strong for what they be- lieve. They cause me to look deep into the sad melan- choly of the present state of human affairs and I find myself coming away feel- ing, in all honesty and somewhat helplessly, like a hypocrite. I was born in Ger- many, a place where some of the most evil entities known to human kind had their way with the wives, sons, daughters and hus- bands, grandfathers and grandmothers of millions of people until the heavy hand of violent war put a stop to it. I spent fourth and fifth grade in Korea where I witnessed for the first time the utter poverty of people trying to scrape a meal out of the bomb cratered land- scape after the Korean War. Now I hear and read about some spoiled brat of a man holding hostage of 23 million wretchedly poor and starving people, and threatening horrendous violence on the world if he doesn’t get his way. All my life I have been hearing about the millions of Africans dying over the years from war, starvation, diseases and broken hearts, while the world looks on. I see in the world to- day a great and heavy evil force that appears to be getting strong by the day. A force that needs to be confronted and held in check by whatever means necessary, short of becom- ing the monster we are trying to subdue. I have a hard time smiling and saying, “Peace b r o t h e r , l o v e yo u r neighbor, forgive your en- emy,” while our global neighbors are causing mayhem and death all around the world. Volume 66, No. 28 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 All proceeds benefit 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. I have a hard time minding my own business when the body parts of our global neighbors’ children are flying through the air from exploding busses caused by handsomely paid suicide bombers. Bought and paid for by the leaders of some of our global neighbors. How can I turn away and pretend or vainly hope these events don’t affect me. I have to ask myself how much peace and love would I have in my heart if the atrocities of the world were happening across the street or in my home. I have the greatest re- spect for those who give of themselves in the name of peace. Women in Black included. I also have the greatest respect for the men and women who have laid down their lives and who put their lives in harms way to insure that the Women in Black have a place to stand without the fear of imprisonment, tor- ture, and or death, and who protect my right to express my extreme disappoint- ment, but no surprise, in a president who, it appears, blatantly lied about the supposed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In my heart of hearts I know there is peace in the great force that is God. I also know that war does not bring peace, as I have said before, it only buys time. Love brings the peace. I have to ask myself how much love can a peo- ple generate when they are being robbed, raped and murdered on a daily basis in very embarrassingly large numbers all over the world while we observe and in some cases piously turn our other unslapped cheeks. Where is it written that the Hitlers Husseins, Arafats and the son of a Kim II Sungas have the right to impose their will on the masses of humanity. To what great lengths and to what degree do we al- low these evil entities to show us what we should already know. That evil is real and the suffering and death of countless millions caused by a handful, are the responsibility of the whole family of human kind. Our global house is filthy with the scum and BUYING BOOKS - The Friends of the Illinois Valley Library held its annual book and bake sale at the Jo- sephine County Bldg. in Downtown Cave Junction on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27. The sale attracted crowds on both days. Some even waited in line Satur- day morning for the doors to open. Those assisting at the sale noted it was a success. Watch the ‘Noose’ for details on how much the sale raised for the library. Word of the Week Trompe l’oeil: 1. A style of painting in which objects are de- picted with photographically realistic detail; also: the use of similar technique in interior decorat- ing. 2. A trompe l’oeil painting or effect. - Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary - My thanks to all the firefighters who worked so hard and long to save my home. Sterling Goode Thursdays Oct. 23 thru Dec. 11 - 7 p.m. Deer Creek Grange 3700 Lakeshore Drive, Selma (preregister by Thursday, Oct. 9) For more information phone Linda at (541) 597-4608 or Delaine at (541) 597-4223 (Continued on page 3) The Josephine County Shrine Club is looking for children who need free orthopedic healthcare. Children from newborn to age 18 are encouraged to attend a screening clinic Saturday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Siskiyou Community Health Center 319 Caves Hwy., Cave Junction, Oregon. Children with treatable conditions will be referred to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland. All medical care at the Shriners Hospitals for Children is provided free of charge. The hospital is able to treat orthopedic conditions such as: scoliosis, neuromuscular disorders, hand and back problems, leg length discrepancy, congenital hip problems, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and more. For a complete list of treatable conditions at the Shriners Hospitals for Children please go to www.shrinershq.org. The Shriners Hospitals for Children is the nations largest non-profit hospital system. Since 1922 more than 700,000 children from North America have benefited form free medical care at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Funding for the Shriners Hospitals comes from donations, gifts, will, bequests and the fund-raising efforts of the members of the Shriners of North America. For questions or more information on the Saturday, Oct. 4 screening clinic contact Wally Koski at (541) 576-7140 or Siskiyou Community Health Center at (541) 592-4111. Transportation: If you need a ride to the clinic phone the numbers listed above.