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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 2003)
Housing to sprout in city with two projects BIKES ‘N’ TRIKES - A good group of motorcy- clists turned out for the 21st annual Illinois Val- ley Bikers Toy Run based at the Junction Inn in Cave Junction on Sat- urday, Dec. 6. Partici- pants helped gather more toys to add to the stash of gifts already col- lected by I.V. Bikers. Cy- clists also participated in a poker run and gathered in the JI for fun and friendship. Watch the ‘Noose’ for when the toys will be distributed. CJ event will honor lost loved ones JoCo lacks By BRITT FAIRCHILD Staff Writer For many Illinois Val- ley residents the holidays will be a time to not only rejoice with friends and family but also remember those who have died. What better way to acknowledge such loved ones than with a special ceremony. For a number of years Lovejoy Hospice has held its annual Light Up a Life Celebration in Cave Junc- tion as a way to honor the people who meant so much to valley citizens. “This is ours for our community,” said Bill Shiery, coordinator of this year’s event, “to remember those people who’ve died before us and share in the healing process of those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.” The 2003 Light Up a Life will be held at Im- manuel United Methodist Church, 200 W. Watkins St., on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Anyone can attend. Attendees don’t have to be hospice patients, re- lated to hospice patients, or have lost someone re- cently. “It’s for anybody in the community,” Shiery said. He stressed that al- though the memorial is held in a church and is quite a spiritual occasion, the event is n on- denominational. “It’s a really nice cere- mony,” he said. The ceremony will include a reading of loved ones’ names, a commemo- rative tree lighting and mu- sical performances by Joy and Anita Hoskins, pianist Dorothea Hover-Kramer, and possibly choirs from Lorna Byrne Middle School and Illinois Valley High School. “We’re going to have a lot of music this year,” Shiery said. Dr. Jim Nordal, Lyn Stanger, Joan Spohn, Rainey Farm and Bill Reithoffer will help read the names. A reception with re- freshments will follow. There is no charge to attend, although donations fewer donors available during the holidays. “We lose so many do- nors in December (to win- ter illness, the stress of the holidays and vacations) but the need increases,” Nicholls said. She noted that some senior citizens mistakenly think they are too old to donate. “If you are in good health you can donate,” Nicholls said. Donors do however, have to be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and have iden- tification. Those who meet the above requirements are By STEVE FAIRCHILD Staff Writer Members of the Jose- phine County Public Works Dept. stressed the importance of preventative maintenance when it comes to the county’s half- billion-dollar road system during an open house at Illinois Valley High School Thursday, Dec. 4. The words “Planned Deterioration” stood out like a neon sign on a de- serted highway on several of the department’s dia- grams explaining the county’s transportation system plan. According to Rolf W. Pitts, public works service officer, funding is sorely lacking for repairing guard rails, chip sealing roads, upgrading bridges, and for general upgrade of roads. “I don’t know how to sell preventative mainte- nance,” Pitts said. “It takes time for things (disrepair) to become obvious. Do we want to spend $1 now (to keep up with repairs and make improvements) or $4 to $5 by waiting.” With the disappear- ance of important funding from timber dollars, public works has been operating under the mantra of “get more for less,” something the department has been able to do by making 10- percent reductions in staff the past two years. (Continued on page 5) (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 5) More blood needed during holidays By BRITT FAIRCHILD Staff Writer The greatest gift some will give this holiday sea- son doesn’t cost money, need batteries, or take hours to find. It saves lives. There is a critical need right now for all types of blood -- O negative in par- ticular -- throughout Southern Oregon, accord- ing to Dianne Nicholls, donor resources consultant for American Red Cross. The organization has scheduled several blood drives in Josephine and Jackson counties during December to help alleviate the situation. The Illinois Valley drive will be held in Cave Junction on Thurs- day, Dec. 18 in the I.V. Senior Center from noon to 5 p.m. “We need a regular, continuous supply of blood,” said Nicholls, not- ing that the Southern Ore- gon Region (Josephine, Jackson, Curry, Coos and Douglas counties) is not meeting the necessary 90- units-a-day mark. She stressed the need for blood is especially great this time of year. “When there are more people traveling (on the road) during the holidays there are more accidents,” she said. “Accidents don’t go on vacation.” Yet, there are typically funding for needed work on roadways Two major housing developments in the city of Cave Junction, with ap- proximately 172 homes planned, are in the works. During its meeting in city hall, the Cave Junction City Council reviewed data on the Planned Unit Devel- opment (PUD) projects. Sunny Brook Manor Estates on Laurel Road, and Illinois River Estates at the end of Schumacher Street, abutting Illinois River “The Forks” State Park on the city side, are in various planning and re- view stages. During its Nov. 24 session, the council condi- tionally approved Sunny Brook Manor Estates for Larry Osborn, of Stockton, Calif. The site was to be an upscale mobilehome park, but developer John Co- stanza, of Aptos, Calif., has died. Osborn plans approxi- mately 132 to 134 manu- factured homes on the Laurel Road property, be- tween Hwy. 199 and N. Old Stage Road. The homes will all be Cape Cod style with pitched roofs and no taller than two stories. The overall develop- ment plan for a gated com- munity for senior citizens calls for completion in five years. Lots were proposed by Osborn as 3,000 to 4,000 square feet each, but one condition from the council is that they be no less than 5,000 square feet. Osborn plans at least one tennis court, an exer- cise swimming pool, and a spa. “Buster” Short, presi- dent of the I.V. Golf Asso- ciation, testified before the council last month in sup- port of the development, stating that it would be a benefit to the area. Among conditions set by the council: concerns of Josephine County Public Works must be addressed; a second access to Laurel Road must be installed prior to development or sale of lots in Phase III, and that storm drainage issues be addressed. The other PUD, Illi- nois River Estates, is sought by James Arm- strong as The Forks LLC. City Recorder Jim Polk said after the meeting that Armstrong has been in- volved in projects includ- ing the new Three Rivers Community Hospital, the new Albertson’s Shopping Center, and the Grants Pass Clinic project. Armstrong’s applica- tion, involving 40 dwell- ings, will be the subject of a public hearing during the next council meeting, set for Jan. 12. The smallest size lot, said Polk, will be three- quarters of an acre. It was noted that the developer will have to improve and pave Schumacher to proper specifications. “We’re not going to have another Daisy Hill Road,” said Mayor Ed Faircloth, referring to an improved road at the end of W. River Street. PEARL HAR- BOR DAY - Glenn Morrison American Le- gion Post and Auxiliary held a Pearl Harbor Day observance on Sunday, Dec. 7 at CJ City Hall. Re- becca Colbert, 3, placed a me- morial wreath.