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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2004)
Possibility of terrorist chemical attack concerns fire chief By SHANE WELSH Staff Writer Should terrorists de- cide to attack Illinois Val- ley with chemical weap- ons, new Fire Chief Harry Rich wants emergency crews prepared. Acquisition of anti- terrorism equipment was posed by Rich to the Illi- nois Fire District Board of Directors during a regular meeting Thursday night, Feb. 19 at Station 1 in Cave Junction. Mark 1 injectors, which deliver a dose of atropine, were recom- mended to inoculate volun- teers in the event they are accosted by chemical nerve agents. Rich said, “Our first responders such as para- medics can give these to each other as needed. “If we had enough of these and [for instance] a police officer or sheriff’s deputy were down, we could use these to help them. I just feel this is sur- vival equipment that is absolutely needed,” he said. The chief also intro- duced Personal Emergency Packs (PEKs) also known as “survival in a can.” PEKs include a Mark I injector and a mask with filter that could provide clean air in the event vol- unteers are introduced to an environment that has been attacked using chemi- cal agents. “If we are notified by Homeland Security that we are at Orange Alert status, these items should be on personnel anytime they leave their apparatus, car, or even their home,” sug- gested Rich. He will meet with the Hillsboro fire chief in April to discuss obtaining Mark 1s and PEKs from the federal Dept. of Home- land Security at no cost to the district. Rich also expressed the need for fire-retardant jumpsuits to protect off- duty volunteers who re- spond to emergencies in civilian attire. Ot h e r e m e r ge n c y equipment the district would have to purchase include additional saws for use in extrication from large vehicles such as a bus or semitruck. Rich will explore the option of purchasing used equipment from companies throughout the United States to save the district money. The board will meet again on Thursday, March 11 to further discuss sta- tion rebuild plans, employ- ment of an in-house me- chanic, and repairs on the departments’ heavy equip- ment. Bush spending record criticized by DeFazio By SHANE WELSH “We are beginning a major fight in Washing- ton,” said Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), and, “There were a lot of questionable expenditures in the president’s spending bill.” DeFazio spoke during a Town Hall meeting in Grants Pass City Council Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 17. DeFazio held the meeting to outline what is happening in Washington, D.C. and answer questions from citizens. Th e c o n gr e ss ma n talked at length about the recently approved House appropriations bill and how it relates to the U.S. federal deficit; detailing government spending he feels is unnecessary. “In my opinion,” said DeFazio, “this process would be better served if we moved to a two-year budget process, so we could spend one year fight- ing over appropriations and budget, and then Con- gress can spend the next year actually going back and...reviewing the pro- grams we’ve created to see if they are working or not, and whether they are still necessary.” He claimed, for in- stance, “Social Security will collect $180 billion more than it needs this year to pay current benefits under payroll tax...under the theory that the money will go into a trust fund New I.V. Fire Chief Harry Rich (from left), Firefighter Carrie Sherman and Lt. Wayland Sherman (Continued on page 6) CJ council pooh-poohs public dog droppings By MICHELLE BINKER Curb that dog. And carry some baggies. In a 5-0 vote, the Cave Junction City Council ap- proved an ordinance stipu- lating that the owner or person responsible for any animal is also responsible for removal of that ani- mal’s droppings from pub- lic property or property not belonging to that person. The council met Mon- day night, Feb. 23 in Cave Junction City Hall. In other business, the council unanimously ap- proved two park-use re- quests from Illinois Valley Lions Club. The Lions asked to use Jubilee Park for their an- nual Easter Egg Hunt, Sun- day, April 11, and their 32nd annual Labor Day Festival, to be held this year on Sept. 4, 5, and 6. Also, the council heard an update on the Down- town Revitalization Side- walk Improvement Project. City Public Works Manager Gary Biggs has conducted a final “walk- through” with Reed Con- struction, surveying the completed sidewalk work, according to City Recorder Jim Polk, The council voted 5-0 to approve a final payment of $9,675.60 to Reed Con- struction. Just prior to adjourn- ment, Councilman Rita Dyer commented on the number of complaints she has received concerning the traffic signal at the in- tersection of Redwood Hwy. 199 and Hwy. 46. Recent adjustments to the timing of the left-turn signal has provoked the ire of many drivers, some of whom have “blown through” after a seemingly interminable wait. Polk said an ODOT technician would be ad- vised of the situation. Interim Chief Jeff Gavlik (from left) and Firefighters Chris and Delane Sherman Shermans top Illinois Valley fire service awards Marking 50 years ser- vice, Illinois Valley Fire District’s overall fire- fighting family was exem- plified by the Sherman clan during the annual awards program on Satur- day night, Feb. 21 at I.V. High School. All awards are based on 2003 activities. Th e S e l m a - b a s e d Sherman family -- Chris and Delane, parents of Wayland Sherman, who’s married to Carrie Sherman -- received nine awards, including the Station of the Year citation for their revi- talization of Station 5/ Dryden. Wayland and Car- rie are graduates of I.V. High. The Shermans share the station award with Firefighters Ralph Howell, Daniel Green, Chris Paul and John Dukie. Carrie, a volunteer for 4 ½ years, was honored as Firefighter of the Year. She also received the dis- trict’s Training and Train- ing Attendance awards. Wayland, an acting lieutenant, was honored as Volunteer Officer of the Year. Delane received the Support Member of the Year Award for her work in doing everything from filling air bottles to photo- graphing incidents to pro- viding coffee and snacks at incidents. Chris was the recipient of the Maintenance Award for his help with equip- ment, and was honored with the Rookie of the Year plaque. The elder Shermans have been vol- unteers for approximately a year. Interim Chief Jeff Gavlik received the Paid Staff Member of the Year Award. He also received a Special Recognition Award and was given a standing ovation for serv- ing as temporary chief while maintaining his job as training officer, prepar- ing the district budget, and handling many other du- ties. Beth Beards, district administrative assistant, also was singled out for a Special Recognition Award, for assisting Gav- lik. The two citations were given by incoming Chief Harry Rich. Other awards: Administration Award: Firefighters Lynn Kauf- man and Daniel Green. (Continued on page 5) FedEx driver cited for lifesaving efforts; firefighter medical training listed A Federal Express driver was singled out by Kathy Mechling, a physi- cian and Illinois Valley volunteer firefighter, for his efforts to revive an in- jured teen-age girl after a traffic crash last year on Dick George Road. Mechling announced the award during the I.V. Fire District’s 50 th anniver- sary awards program on Saturday night, Feb. 21 at I.V. High School, with catering by Phil Aria. FedEx driver William Dias, although unable to attend the event, was hon- ored for his efforts, which proved unsuccessful be- cause of the extent of in- jury. Others had driven past the incident without stop- ping, said Mechling, “but something about the scene (which apparently looked as though it had happened some time earlier) both- ered this man. The scene was still and strewn with trash, and Dias stopped to take a look. Then he saw the too-still body of a young girl, and he was driven to not let her die. “Working alone ini- tially, he positioned her, gave rescue breaths and started CPR. He continued one-person CPR desper- ately until help arrived,” she said. “He tried to breathe life into her, but the girl probably died on impact at the accident. “Apparently this is the second time he has given CPR prior to the arrival of an ambulance. Next time you see Illinois Valley’s FedEx truck,” Mechling told the audience, “give him a warm thanks for be- ing there for our commu- nity.” Mechling also cited several volunteer firefight- ers who have completed First Responder training: Will Sowell, Chris Paul, Chris Sherman, Delane Sherman and Joe Brown. She also noted that James O’Grady, Tom Zulliger and Camron Ismalli have advanced to the Basic Level of advanced medical training. And she listed Jeff Gavlik, Carrie Sherman and Wayland Sherman for going on to the Intermedi- ate Level, which allows them to start intravenous lines, and give fluids and medications.