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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Life with a bunch of two cats has its ups and downs, its
trials, tears and plain ol’ comments from one of us
(probably me), who says things like, “Gee, that was cute.
Now I’ll phone for federal assistance to clean up the
mess.”
Such was the case recently when I heard such a clatter
that I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
The noises I heard resembled a minor riot involving an
irate woman, a crazed cat, and two highly agitated dogs.
After picking up the pieces, and cleaning up the mess, I
discovered what had happened:
Jan was sitting on a futon and, after only one sip, had
placed a full cup of coffee with soy milk and brown sugar
on the window ledge. Meanwhile, “Bubba the Stupid,” our
16-pound Siamese gato, had gotten himself entangled in
one of those bags with sturdy twine handles. In attempting
to relocate himself, he discovered that the evil bag was
pursuing him, as one of the handles was around his neck.
This made him crazier than usual. So he managed to
leap from the floor, scamper across the back of the futon,
smack into the back of Jan’s head, and then fling himself
onto the window ledge, all the time frantically trying to rid
himself of the devilishly pursuing and maniacal bag.
When he hit the window ledge, the cup and its contents
went flying, literally. He then tore out of the room and into
our bedroom, where he ran into a small space at the bottom
of the head of our bed. In so doing, he managed to rip off
that terrible pursuing bag, except for the handle and a tiny
piece of the bag. He looked like he was wearing a bib or
maybe an odd price tag.
So I had heard the commotion of the cat in the bag, Jan
exclaiming in surprise, the cup hitting the wall and floor
(carpeted of course), and our two dogs barking like dorks
at the whole situation. I thought maybe war had been de-
clared in that room. But no, it was only a cat. Whew. Glad
that’s over.
Moving along to the Tibetan monk we adopted, I have
lost his photo and personal information for about the 12th
time. I keep misplacing it. Must be old age.
Anyway, Jan and I attended a performance in Ashland
a couple of weeks back, featuring the famed multiphonic
singers of Drepung Loseling Monastery in Karnataka
State, India. Although I don’t have name memorized yet, I
recall that he is from India; he is 19 and has been at the
monastery since he was 12.
The performance we attended was part of the “Sacred
Music/Sacred Dance for World Healing.” The handful of
monks we saw were on a 14-month world tour, and we
were impressed with their dress, instruments and voices.
The narrator advised us in hushed tones, that kept all
of us in a state of awe and anger, to be truthful, about the
human rights violations inflicted on Tibet, including its
monks, by Chinese Communists. It was a bit odd, as we
strive to be peaceful, to find ourselves getting ready to
strike back at those who have destroyed 99 percent of Ti-
betan monasteries, libraries, schools and the like. Also, we
were told that Tibetans are not allowed by the Chinese to
speak their own language; nor practice their religion.
I know that peace is the answer, but why do my hands
keep turning into fists? It’s just the realization that the Chi-
nese Communists wiped out some 10,000 Tibetan monks
as part of their invasion. We decided, besides prayer, that
we can help by making a monthly donation to support “our
monk’s” education and training. It’s a start.
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. 32
Staff: Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild,
Chris Robertson, Steve Fairchild & Becky Loudon
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
News, Classified & Display Ads,
Announcements & Letters
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(Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be
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POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes
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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
WHALE OF A TALE - Blue Marlin Inn at the south edge of Cave Junction recently received a 95+ clean bill of
health, including the most major areas, from Josephine County Health Dept. Posing with the certificate are (from
left) Eugenio San Juan Cortes, Laron Estes, Barbara Hicks, Wendi Davis, Chris Woutila and Ashley Durham . Blue
Marlin also announced new winter hours. The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to
5 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 to 8; and Sundays from 11:30 to 7. In addition, reservations will be ac-
cepted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 15 or more persons wanting to dine between 5 and 8 p.m.
(Paid advertisement)
Combined effort results C O N E T E N P O T T E R Y
in drop in CJ crime rate Halloween Art and Fun Day for Kids!
Increased night work
by the city of Cave Junc-
tion deputy, coupled with
that of I.V. Citizens Patrol
is helping curtail crime.
So noted city contract
Deputy John Auborn of
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office in his report to the
city council, which it re-
viewed during its meeting
in city hall on Monday
night, Oct. 27.
“The number of bur-
glaries (one) and stolen
vehicles (zero) continues
to decline when comparing
September to October,”
wrote Auborn. “I feel this
is due to increased night
patrols and that a large
portion of the burglary
problem is still incarcer-
ated in the Juvenile Justice
Center” in Grants Pass.
The citizens patrol, he
noted, “seems to be work-
ing out well. I think the
word is spreading that the
citizens of this city are not
going to tolerate people
breaking into their busi-
nesses.”
He listed 291 calls or
incidents that occurred
during September.
Auborn said that “a
large number of stolen
checks” are being passed
at some businesses. “I en-
courage all business own-
ers to verify funds and de-
mand identification on all
checks when they do not
recognize the person writ-
ing them,” he noted.
City council ...
(Continued from page 1)
the matter come to the
council again, but in work-
shop sessions.
In another matter, the
council heard a presenta-
tion from Illinois Valley
Youth Soccer Club asking
that soccer fields be in-
cluded in the Jubilee Park
Master Plan. After discus-
sion, the mayor instructed
Gary Biggs of the public
works department to check
the park on the possibility.
A club representative
told the council that more
than 100 youth participate
each year and that there
aren’t enough playing
fields. In an aside, Dyer
commented that the city
needs more park space.
In other items, the
council:
*Again tabled a pro-
posed ordinance dealing
with public drinking, va-
grancy, and drunk and dis-
orderly conduct until more
input is received from vari-
ous agencies and other mu-
nicipalities. The city has
been told that under state
law its ordinance dealing
with the matter cannot be
enforced because the mat-
ter is “a social problem.”
*Conditionally ap-
proved annexation of 5.02
acres at 415 Schumacher
St., noting that applicant
William R. Clinton, of So-
noma, Calif., will have to
deal with sewer and water
connections, plus bringing
the street up to city stan-
dards when he applies for a
partition.
*Heard a presentation
by Southern Oregon
Women’s Access to Credit
for a pilot project involv-
ing the city at no cost, but
Friends don’t let
friends drive drunk.
took no action until the
city of Grants Pass decides
whether it will participate.
*Approved 5-0 a plan to
improve the softball field
at Jubilee Park. Dave Toler
made the presentation as
project coordinator, noting
that $1,500 have been do-
nated; that Grants Pass
Active Club donated
$1,000; and that in-kind
equipment work totals
some $4,750. The surface
material of the infield will
be changed from decom-
posed granite to a dirt/
Turface surface as used on
many professional infields.
Friday, October 31
12:30-3:30 p.m.
Clay & Art Projects, Cider Pressing
Sliding scale $5-10/child (Snack Included)
360 Caves Highway
592-4646
Taylor’s Specials
Snack Stix - $3.99 per lb.
* Jalapeno Pepperoni & Cheese
* Pepper Stix * Honey Ham/Cheese
Lost Coast 8-ball Stout
$5.99 six pack + deposit
October events
*Friday, Oct. 31- Halloween Party
Common Ground - Rock
Dinner Special - $6.95
Roast Pork Shoulder
Mondays thru Football Season
1/2 lb. barbecue burger
with fries and salad - $4.95
Draught pitchers - $6
THURSDAYS - 6:30 p.m.
Open ‘Mic’ Night with Jake Thompson
(R)