Page 8
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Cottage work aid to economy ...
(Continued from page 1)
25-plus years experience
working in I.V. and know-
ing the multitude of inter-
est groups that exist. Per-
sons interviewed represent
youth, senior citizens,
businesses, government
agencies, IVCRT past and
present
members,
churches, the medical
community, tourism, art-
ists, conservatives, envi-
ronmentalists, education,
agriculture, airport, social
service providers, and
other community leaders.
Many respondents also
represent more than one
interest group, said Koski.
For the current SWOT
analysis, Koski inter-
viewed 89 persons, 79 of
whom live and work in
Illinois Valley. The excep-
tions, though not living in
the valley, either work here
or have strong connections
to it through their employ-
ment or membership in
various civic, social or
governmental organiza-
tions.
The last SWOT analy-
sis, conducted in 1989,
was the first conducted in
Oregon and led to a strate-
gic plan and formation of a
“2010 Committee,” a fore-
runner to the current
IVCRT.
The report notes that
because of efforts of “a
strengthened IVCRT, sig-
nificant progress has been
made on all recommenda-
tions from the pioneer
study except ‘big project
priorities,’ and the congre-
gate care center, where
nothing has been done.”
The big project priori-
ties were a Sucker Creek
Reservoir, a destination
resort, expansion of I.V.
Golf Course to 18 holes,
and expansion of Kerby-
ville Museum. The final
recommendation was to
improve medical and re-
tirement services, which
included a physician-
incentive package, staffing
an emergency clinic, and
development of a retire-
ment/congregate care cen-
ter. Regarding the latter,
I.V. Medical Center is
working on such a project
and, in cooperation with
Illinois Valley Grange, has
questionnaires in various
locations in the commu-
nity.
“When it comes to
making recommendations
arising from this study,”
said Koski, “it must be
remembered that 46.3 per-
cent of those interviewed
said the community didn’t
want change and growth;
another 23.6 percent felt
that the community is
evenly split on the issue;
and 4.7 percent said that
only incremental changes
were OK.
“With this in mind,
any implementation of pro-
jects or recommendations
needs to be successfully
marketed to the commu-
nity,” said Koski. “Open
and positive communica-
tion must be clearly pre-
sented to achieve the great-
est community ‘buy-in.’ A
theme recurring through
the responses to many
questions is that there is
contentiousness between
people and organizations
in the valley. That a sig-
nificant majority can be
gathered was proven when
the city and IVCRT pro-
vided excellent informa-
tional forums prior to the
citywide vote on the sewer
system” several years ago.
Koski said that despite
limitations of tourism for
the valley, “It will continue
to be an economic driver
for the valley. Pacific
Power has completed a
number of studies and
tourism plans since May
1984.
“Significant improve-
ments have been accom-
plished: namely construc-
tion of the I.V. Visitor
Center; the beautification
of the city, including the
addition of rock structures;
development of at least
two visitor brochures,
building of information
kiosks, improvements at
Kerbyville Museum, and
addition of private busi-
nesses attractive to visitors
on ‘Main Street’.”
Koski added that visi-
tor accommodations, based
on interviews he con-
ducted, indicate a need for
improved motels, perhaps
with unique accommoda-
tions.
Making the valley,
especially the city of Cave
Junction, more “user
friendly” with large park-
ing lots for recreational
vehicles also is noted.
Overnight facilities at Illi-
nois River “Forks” State
Park also would be useful.
Overall, cooperation
among various agencies
and organizations, along
with businesses and entre-
preneurs, is deemed essen-
tial for successful eco-
nomic development for
Illinois Valley.
Volunteer psychologist ...
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who can afford to pay for
her services do so on a
sliding scale.
According to Doyle,
Hover-Kramer is the first
volunteer psychologist to
work out of the coalition
offices. And Doyle said
she would love for the of-
fice space Hover-Kramer
is currently using to be-
come a rotating office for
more mental health care
volunteers.
Paid drug counselors
from CHOICES are ex-
pected to return to the val-
ley as soon as funding is
available, which could be
in the next few months,
Doyle added.
Hover-Kramer says
it’s important for people
without money or loved
ones to receive an hour of
her undivided attention.
“People are interested
and need help here and I’m
willing to give it,” she
said. “I like to teach people
to organize their lives and
be connected to their inner
wisdom; not to be pulled
by outside forces.”
Despite her initial sur-
prise of the level of valley
residents
without jobs,
Hover-Kramer noted that
employment problems
aren’t unique to this area.
“Problems are prob-
lems,” she said. “But the
background of unemploy-
ment here is prevalent.”
After a few sessions
with patients Hover-
Kramer said she can usu-
ally see a shift in their out-
looks. She compared it to
opening a door in a dark
room. Once light enters the
room, even if it is a small
amount, the room is no
longer pitch black.
“A good counselor is
one who can give people
tools they can use in their
own way,” she said. “I en-
courage people to look for
answers within.”
Hover-Kramer has
discovered over the years
that helping people helps
her.
“Once you get into
counseling you don’t stop
learning,” she said. “I do it
so I can stimulate myself
and also be of help to oth-
ers.”
Hover-Kramer re-
ceived her doctorate in
education in educational
psychology from Nova
University in Fort Lauder-
dale, Fla. She is currently a
licensed clinical nurse spe-
cialist in Oregon in addi-
tion to her California li-
censes. She is also a regis-
tered nurse in both states.
As if she wasn’t busy
enough, Hover-Kramer is
also offering two classes to
help area residents cope
with mental health issues.
One class, “Relief
from Trauma,” will begin
on Jan. 7 at the Rogue
Community College Belt
Bldg. in Kerby.
She will teach students
methods to cope with their
trauma. She plans to let
students keep their trau-
matic experiences private
while giving them the
skills to deal with them
through new meridian
therapies.
Meridian therapy in-
volves using finger pres-
sure on specific acupres-
sure points in the body to
relieve pain and emotional
distress. Once learned, it
may be used by anyone
with predictable results.
“Some people are still
affected here by stress
from the Biscuit Fire,” she
explained. “Each person is
affected by stress differ-
ently. We will address how
stress has affected each
individual rather than just
relieving their trauma.”
She will also teach a
class called “Healing Ap-
proaches for Self-Care and
Pain Management” at the
RCC Redwood Campus in
Grants Pass. That class
will show students how to
deal with pain through
therapeutic touch, healing
touch and meridian thera-
pies.
She also recently
taught a “Good Grief”
class for children in Grants
Pass, and she is currently
working on a grant with
Doyle to start offering self
esteem classes for women
on welfare in the valley.
To measure the effec-
tiveness of the class, they
will test how well the
women can perform a job
interview after completing
the class.
In addition to her work
in the health care field,
Hover-Kramer plays the
piano — specializing in
chamber music — and is a
member of an area arts
council. She enjoys work-
ing in water color and
acrylic paints.
In addition, she is the
author of four books:
“Creative Energies,” pub-
lished in 2002, “Energetic
Approach to Emotional
Healing,” published in
1997-98, and “Healing
Touch,” the first edition
was published in 1996 and
a second edition was pub-
lished in 2002.
She is currently writ-
ing a book about how peo-
ple can overcome bad pro-
gramming to advance
through creativity blocks
to become more creative
and whole individuals.
Hover-Kramer moved
to the valley about six
months ago with her hus-
band Chuck Kramer, a re-
tired bio-medical engineer
and has been working at
IVFC for two months.
They lived in Poway,
Calif. outside of San Diego
for 13 years before finding
land for sale in the valley
on the Internet.
S E AS O N ’ S
GREET-
INGS—Dozens of valley
residents attended a
holiday open house at
the Kerbyville Museum
on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Kristina
Warner
and
Pearl Waddell (photo
top) decorate a tree in
the Stith-Naucke House.
Dale Hopper (left with
wife Sharon) sang and
had copies of his new
CD, “Inspirational Mo-
ments, Just Me and My
Guitar” for sale. Copies
are available for sale at
O’Brien Store and Tree-
house Florist & Gifts.
OTC favors
new scenic
Ore. byways
The Oregon Transpor-
tation Commission (OTC)
unanimously approved
designating two new sce-
nic byways in the state.
The two highways are
“Over the Rivers -Through
the Woods Scenic Byway”
and “High Desert Discov-
ery Scenic Byway.” Des-
ignation as a scenic byway
qualifies the routes to re-
ceive federal scenic byway
discretionary funds.
Over the Rivers-
Through the Woods Scenic
Byway is a 66-mile route
from Interstate 5 to Oregon
228 east through South
Santiam River Canyon to
the junction with Oregon
126. The byway connects
I-5 to West Cascade and
McKenzie/Santiam Pass
scenic byways.
The 127-mile long
High Desert Discovery
Scenic Byway travels from
Burns to the town of Fields
on Oregon 205 in Harney
County.
In addition to approv-
ing the new scenic byways,
OTC approved three tour
routes: Diamond Loop,
Steens Loop, and East
Steens.
The scenic byways and
routes received prior ap-
proval from the Oregon
Tourism Commission.
Closed
Tuesday & Wednesday