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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 2003)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 10, 2003 Have what seems like lots of areas to mention this week, not the least of which is that it’s time for some change. Approximately $12 billion worth of change, to be guessingly exact, according to a report as to the total of coins we in the United States have stashed in cigar boxes, piggy banks, cardboard con- tainers, plastic and glass jars, old socks, dresser draw- ers, knickknacks, metal cans, whatnots, gimcracks and who knows what all. That’s correct: some $12 billion in pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and maybe a few half-dollars or “silver dollars” thrown in, so to speak. That’s a bunch of cash that could cause a few pockets to bust open, not mention some purses. Although it seems to me that most women’s purses are big enough for a compact car, washer-dryer, lipstick, dipstick, ironing board and 20 yards of dress material. Plus several skeins of yarn. And that’s just in the center compart- ment. The side pockets could hold 34 pounds of makeup, a bobsled, and 19 credit cards, plus a par- tridge in a pear tree. But seriously, since reading about the nearly $12 billion in loose change, I’ve been trying to spend the stuff instead of putting it into a ceramic container I have with a rendition of a wild pig on top. I don’t want to be a hog. Moving along, or perhaps behind, to Thanksgiv- ing just passed, I learned from another source that we in this country stuffed ourselves on turkey day with some 1.3 trillion calories. It’s estimated that if the combined calories were converted to energy, other than that from Uncle Frankfurter relieving himself of pressure at the dinner table, that it would provide 30 seconds of sunlight to our solar system. That’s a lot, for those wondering how much. Yet another source claims that we could burn off our Thanksgiving forkings by going for a run after dessert. And guess what? We’d only have to run 20 miles to use the accumulated calories. Neat deal, eh? (I didn’t do it). Jan and I went to Bandon for Thanksgiving to celebrate our 39 th wedding anniversary. Had a good time, and observed Nov. 27 by eating something other than turkey, as we had eaten the traditional bird in the days prior to leaving for the coast. Yes, we ate some- thing really different from turkey: chicken. Oh, plus dumplings. We know how to party. One more item. I discovered last weekend that if you don’t replace the pot under the coffee bean bas- ket while the coffee is brewing, it makes a wonderful and unique mess on the counter. Sort of like modern art. Or grounds for divorce. 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 considera- tion. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and highly legible also can be considered for publication. Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.) *** ‘County budget’ From George F. Long Grants Pass On June 25 I went be- fore the county commis- sioners to voice my con- cern with the proposed budget for the Josephine County Library. At that time I told the commissioners that I was not upset about the amount of money budgeted for the library, but upset about the way it was being spent. Since that time, I have spoken to Commissioner Jim Riddle in private and spoken at a number of commissioner meetings about the library budget, the number of managers the county has and the pay STUDENTS OF THE MONTH - Lorna Byrne Middle School Students of the Month for November were presented certificates for outstanding academic achievement by LBMS Principal Peter Maluk (right). Recipients from left are: Kayla Smith and Ke- lynne Carlton, sixth-grade; Brittani Loucks, seventh-grade; Chea Pappas, eighth- grade. Not pictured: Christopher Nolan, seventh-grade and William Crowl, eighth- grade. (Photo by Steve Fairchild) received by the managers. I have either been ignored or dismissed out of hand at every turn. When I have supplied exact figures and asked the commissioners to release them to the press and put them on the county Web site I get no response. Eventually it became obvious that the number of county managers, about 140, was excessive and their compensation is out of line with the economic reality of Josephine (Continued on page 3) By BOB RODRIGUEZ Editor and Publisher In a recent letter submitted for publication, a number of accusations and highly critical opinions were stated by the letter writer in connection with a private individual who works for a tax-supported entity. We chose to not print the letter because of the extreme potential, in our estimation, for a libel suit. And in cases of libel, it’s the newspaper that is sued, not the letter writer. No criminal or civil charges have been filed against the private individual, either with law enforcement or the or- ganization for which the person works. The comments di- rected against the person are based on the letter writer’s perceptions of what is proper and right. And, he claims, many others in his community share his views. However, he’s the only person we’ve heard from about the matter. Simply put, libel is injury to reputation. We will not be a party to such commentary. The letter writer asked if we could revise the submis- sion to make it printable or if he could change it to make it acceptable to us. I reviewed it and can see no way to make the letter palatable because of its injurious potential. The writer is unhappy with our decision. He attempted to make the sense of the matter that he thought we “would want to help the community” by essentially exposing the private individual. Exposure in the press of a person’s pri- vate matters that are neither criminal nor apparently action- able by the person’s employer is an area we avoid. Cer- tainly the letter writer has an absolute right to his opinions. The writer claims that another publication will use his letter, and that a note will be appended stating that “Illinois Valley News” refused to run it. That’s fine with us. Defaming people is not what we’re about. Volume 66, No. 38 Staff: Cindy Newton, Britt Fairchild, Chris Robertson, Steve Fairchild, Becky Loudon & Kacy Clemon 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. POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE”, DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be resubmitted each week if the item is to run for more than one week. 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 Elementary Schools Menu Sponsored by ‘Illinois Valley News’ 321 S. Redwood Hwy. 592-2541 THURSDAY, DEC. 11 *Steak sandwich, cheeseburger, pepperoni pizza, super sub sandwich, garden salad FRIDAY, DEC. 12 *Nachos, hamburger, personal pizza, turkey & cheese sandwich, chicken Caesar salad MONDAY, DEC. 15 *Rib-B-Q sandwich, hamburger, cheese pizza, peanut butter & jelly sandwich, chef salad TUESDAY, DEC. 16 *Chicken burger, cheeseburger, pepperoni pizza, ham & cheese sandwich, garden salad WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 *Hot diggity dog, hamburger, cheese pizza, poor boy sandwich, Cobb salad We are your Hometown Station Cave Junction Cares is in need of volunteers and donations for this year’s Christmas Breakfast. Phone Lynn at 592-6855
