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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Now that I’ve passed the 60-year mark, being six
decades and 1 week old, I am behooved (to mangle the
language) to pass along valuable information and philoso-
phical wandering. Such as the fact that there is no account-
ing as to why one week after purchasing a big-ticket item
that devastates your checkbook and nearly kills your wal-
let, it will go on sale for at least 40 percent less than you
paid.
Or the fact that when a husband nearly tears apart
the house -- looking in, through or under every drawer,
cabinet, closet and loose floorboard -- he will be unable to
find whatever it is he’s seeking. But his wife can open one
drawer, or walk into a room, and find the missing item in
plain sight.
Although this has never happened to me, I will
swear on (or at) whatever book you desire that said item
was not available 30 seconds earlier. This is apparently
attributable to Pack Rat Trading Monsters who live in our
walls and in the dark places behind our drawers. They take
stuff away when I’m … I mean when a hypothetical man
… looks for it; then replaces it when he storms away
stomping his feet, making guttural noises coupled with
harsh words, and generally acting like a spoiled 4-year-old.
I think that 60 nearly is a perfect time to be mid-
dle-aged. And it makes me feel good that the age of 60
goes hand-in-glove, or foot-in-mouth perhaps, with driving
60 mph. That’s a perfect speed: 60 mph = 1 mile per min-
ute. Way cool. A perfect age, and a perfect speed. Sixty is
nifty.
Here are some other tidbits of incredible knowl-
edge that have come my way during the past 21,900-plus
days, or more or less 525,600 hours that have comprised
my life so far:
*Upon discovering while shaving that your razor
isn’t cutting it, or any beard even, check to be sure that the
blade protector has been removed.
*If electrical power to some part of your house
abruptly stops; you’ve checked the circuit breakers, and
there’s still no juice; push the reset button on the appropri-
ate outlet or appliance, if the latter is an offender. Could
save you lots of time. This has never happened to me; I
heard about it from some other guy.
*When working on a carpentry or similar project
around the house, and your drill is not making the holes
you need, check to be sure there’s a bit in the chuck. This
also has never happened to me.
Now that I’m 60, it seems that more brevity is in
order, and so I’m going to end this particular column.
But just a few more thoughts: To all who attended
my birthday party on Jan. 20, or who telephoned or sent
gifts or birthday cards -- thank you greatly. Your presence
and your presents are much appreciated. You have im-
proved my presence of mind. Muchas gracias!
And my grateful appreciation to my loving wife,
Jan, who arranged for the tablesful of terrific food from the
valley’s own Kate Dwyer Catering at my party. It was a
delicious time.
Set up as an ideal the facing of reality as honestly
and as cheerfully as possible. - Dr. Karl Menninger -
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. 45
Staff: Cindy Newton, Chris Robertson,
Michelle Binker, Shane Welsh, Becky Loudon
& Kacy Clement
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
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good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be
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publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged
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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
(Editor’s Note: Views
and commentary expressed
in letters to the editor are
strictly those of the letter-
writers.
***
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***
‘Yes on 30’
From Laurie Prouty
Cave Junction
People should vote
“yes” on Measure 30. The
cost per individual is mini-
mal - the gain for our
schools, low-income sen-
iors and mental health ser-
vice is potentially of great
magnitude.
Endless cuts to needed
services not only hurt our
valuable citizens; they also
hurt our local economies
due to loss of family wage
jobs. The tax increase pro-
posed does not hurt the
low-income wage earner;
if you earn $20,000-
$30,000, your annual tax
increase is just $19 -- less
than $1.60 per month.
Here in Cave Junction
there are already few or-
ganized events for our
youth. If the measure does
not pass and we cut school
electives, sports, and the
classrooms get so large
any hope of individual at-
tention is lost, many stu-
dents will lose their incen-
tive to attend school.
Something is dread-
fully wrong with our soci-
ety that we don’t value our
children’s education more.
If we are such a
“progressive” nation,
shouldn’t we ensure our
schools have adequate fi-
nancial support to provide
our future with well edu-
cated and skilled people?
When I went to high
school 35 years ago, three
foreign languages were
taught through all four
years. At Illinois Valley
High, only Spanish I and II
are offered. How does this
help our global communi-
cation? We are going
backwards in educating
and providing for our
youth.
IVCRT Funds
From Patricia Downing
O’Brien
The Illinois Valley
Community Response
Team (CRT) has served
Illinois Valley for 10 years
by implementing many
needed services, creating
jobs and helping the com-
munity develop.
Now the CRT has en-
tered the last year as a fed-
erally funded community
organization. In spring
2002, the board committed
to sustaining the organiza-
tion past the end of the
federal grant funding. The
board concluded that the
CRT’s mission of enhanc-
ing “long-term, self-
directed community well-
being” is too important to
expire when the federal
grant runs out.
To continue to be of
service to the community,
the CRT must now gener-
ate its own revenues for
community projects and
grants as well as its own
operating costs. Winning
the Oregon Caves conces-
sion contract was a huge
step toward sustaining the
mission and being able to
continue helping the com-
(Continued on page 3)
CELEBRATING SUPER SIXTY - Old and new friends, including (from left) former
longtime ‘Noose’ employee Virginia Gilliam, Jerry Lamb and Bob Gilliam, attended
an open house at the ‘Illinois Valley News’ office on Tuesday, Jan. 20 to wish Bob
Rodriguez (‘El Jefe’) a happy 60th birthday. The well-wishers enjoyed small talk and
big stories as well as a multitude of delicious finger foods and a huge carrot birth-
day cake, all provided by Kate Dwyer Catering.
(Photo by Sam Newton)
Knife and Fork Club
The Knife and Fork
Club is hosting a meeting
on Monday, Feb. 2 at 6
p.m. in the Riverside Con-
vention Center.
The program will be,
“An evening with Dave
Frohnmayer.” He is presi-
dent of the University of
Oregon at Eugene.
F r o h n m a ye r a l s o
served 11 years as Ore-
gon’s attorney general.
The doors will open at
6 p.m., followed by dinner
at 6:45 p.m.
For reservations or
information, phone Norma
Lane at (541) 470-6124.
Forestry Action
Committee
There will be a meet-
ing at 1 p.m., on Thursday,
Feb. 5, in the lower com-
pound of the USFS Illinois
Plan Ahead for...
*
*
*
*
*
Felt Hat-making Workshop
— Saturday, March 20, 2004
Call for more information & sign up
Make a date to come by for a Ranch Tour
Call for free mulch or pillow stuffing fiber
Call & sign up for a Llama Packing Clinic
April 17th, 2004 — learn how llamas
lighten your load on the trail.
Day Hike, Sunday, April 18
Contact Joyce or Harry Abrams
llamuz@forestedgefarm.com
541-592-6078
Valley Ranger District,
26568 Redwood Hwy.
There will be updates.
This is the annual meeting,
so new officers will be
decided upon.
“FAC strives to bring
community members to-
gether in a positive way.
Together we can do a lot.”
Anyone can attend.
For more information,
contact 592-4098.