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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