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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2004)
Page 7 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 31, 2004 Assisted suicide number rises to 42 in state in 2003 Forty-two patients used legal physician- assisted suicide in 2003 compared with 38 in 2002, according to a sixth annual report from the Oregon Dept. of Human Services (DHS). “This is an increase, but the number remains small in comparison to the average 31,000 Oregon deaths every year,” said Mel Kohn, DHS epidemi- ologist. “Overall, about one-seventh of one percent of Oregonians die from taking legally prescribed medication.” In a report released by DHS, demographics and characteristics of those who took lethal medica- tions last year include: *The number of pre- scriptions written for lethal medication increased from 58 in 2002 to 67 in 2003. *The main reason pa- tients chose physician- assisted suicide were con- cerns about losing auton- omy; a decreasing ability to participate in activities that make life enjoyable; and loss of dignity. *Patients who partici- pated during 2003 were more likely to be younger and highly educated, and lived west of the Cascades in comparison to other Oregonians dying of the same underlying illnesses. *Rates of death by lethal medication were highest among patients suffering from Lou Ge- hrig’s disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer. *During 2003, pre- scribing physicians were 29 percent less likely to be present at the time patients took lethal medication vs. an average of 47 percent during 1998 to 2002. *Complications were reported in three instances; all involved vomiting and none involved seizures. *Half of patients were unconscious within four minutes of ingestion and died within 20 minutes. Time from ingestion to death ranged from five minutes to 48 hours. *The proportion of patients with a psychologi- cal evaluation went from 31 percent in ‘98 to 5 per- cent in ‘03. Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act went into ef- fect in November 1997. Retirement Open House for Myrna Hooey Sunday, April 4 2 to 4 p.m. Illinois Valley Senior Center 520 E. River Street PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY FROM WILDFIRES! Phone ‘Patriot Enterprises’ for a FREE RISK ASSESSMENT and PREVENTION PROFILE We can help you qualify for government funds to reduce your liabilities Licensed Contractor - CCB#158849 Office: 592-2876 - Mobile: (541) 659-5494 Customer Satisfaction is Job #1 BLM, USFS plan GP site Melissa Wanke Wanke recognized as B&G Youth of the Year Illinois Valley High School student Mellissa Wanke, 17, daughter of Patti McKay and Lester Wanke of Cave Junction, has been selected as the 2004 Youth of the Year for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley. Wanke, a six-year member of the I.V. Boys and Girls Club, is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship from the National Presi- dential Service Award. It can be applied to the col- lege of her choice. She plans to attend High Tech. Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. and learn to become a Pharmacy Tech- nician. Wanke competed against Katie Sokol from Grants Pass, and Diana Blunkall from White City. Competitors had to com- plete eight essays about home and family, plans after high school, life ob- stacles, and their involve- ment with the community. Judges then interviewed competitors by asking questions about their essay responses. They also had to give a three minute oral speech. All three competitors received gift certificates to Southgate Cinema and Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. for their efforts. The secret of getting ahead is getting started. - Sally Berger - Happiness is good health and a bad memory. - Ingrid Bergman - The national program, sponsored by Reader’s Digest Foundation and administered by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Amer- ica recognizes superior leadership skills, academic achievement and out- standing service to Boys and Girls Clubs and the community. On Friday, April 2, Wanke will compete against other Boys and Girls Club members for the title of Oregon Youth of the Year in Salem. Five regional winners selected from among the state win- ners will compete for the national honor in Washing- ton, D.C. The president will offi- cially recognize the Na- tional Youth of the Year during a White House ceremony in September. The winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship from Reader’s Digest Founda- tion. A contract was re- cently awarded to SDA Inc. of Greenwood Village, Colo. to build a new facil- ity in Grants Pass for ap- proximately 185 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service employees. The facility’s new lo- cation at N.E. Spaulding Ave. is near the south Grants Pass exit off I-5. Approximately 150 BLM employees of Grants Pass and Glendale resource areas and 35 forest service employees of the Galice and Illinois Valley ranger districts and the supervi- sor’s office will be located in the new building. Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy said that BLM and forest service have been jointly located at N.E. Greenfield Road for the past several years, and that they will continue to improve operations and increase collaboration at their new site. He added that the two agencies will maintain co- ordinated visitor and pub- lic information services at the new facility. Services include special forest prod- ucts permits, wood per- mits, recreation passes, map sales, and outdoor recreation information. “One-stop shopping, better use of human and financial resources, re- duced duplication, and in- creased information shar- ing are some of the many advantages of working closely together under one roof,” said Tim Reuwsaat, BLM Medford District manager. BLM has been moving employees from two of its four resource areas from Medford to Grants Pass during the last two years. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest had con- solidated its headquarters in Medford as part of im- proving business opera- tions, but will continue to have ranger district pres- ence in Josephine County. LOW CARB DIETERS! ‘Steak & Fish are 0 carbs!’ Open 5 to 9 p.m. - Restaurant parking in rear 126 S. Redwood Hwy., CJ 592-4222 or 592-2892