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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2004)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, April 7, 2004 Some of us enjoy clutter and the joy of having stacks of stuff on our desk and atop every piece of furniture in the room, not to mention piles of impor- tant documents and valuable garbage covering most of the floor. It makes us look important, we think. But there comes a time, especially when navigat- ing into or out of the room becomes hazardous, that one must take action. Action known as cleaning up your room before your spouse does it for you and then you can’t find anything any more. Such was the case last week. Actually it turned out fairly well, although I choked several times due to an accumulation of dust on all my vital stuff. You know, stuff that you just might need to review some day, perhaps during the next century. And what do we sentimental types do with all our items of memorabilia? Old photos, old newspapers, old clutter that maybe we could sell at a yard sale. Yeah, right. Out comes the trash can. In go some items. Out come some items. Hey, it’s difficult to toss expired coupons, worn-out rubber bands, pens that nearly work, and paperwork from 1999. I have to admit that it’s much easier to work in my home office now. I still have stacks of vital docu- ments, but they’re not nearly as tall as before. And I found some “things” I thought were lost: the driver’s manual to our van, my father’s U.S. citizen border crossing pass when he was 18 (he died at 88 a couple years back), a map of Downtown Salem showing where the merry-go-round is located; and a pin-on button with the words, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Also unearthed were the instructions to a for- mer computer that I killed with my .45, a partly eaten turkey sandwich, seven empty 7-Up cans, and some “Star Trek” stickers. OK, so I tossed the sandwich. The massive room cleanup resulted in our kids’ photos being placed on a wall, instead of face down on the carpet. Besides, I now have a calendar up (I think it’s the one for this year). Plus, I found a couple of railroad postcards that I really like. Anybody want to buy some “Star Trek” stickers? You improvise. You adapt. You overcome. - Clint Eastwood/’Heartbreak Ridge’ - (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary expressed in letters to the editor are strictly those of the letter-writers. * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are acceptable for consideration. Hand-written letters that are dou- ble-spaced and highly legible also can be considered for publication.’ Cards of thanks are not ac- cepted as letters.) * * * ‘Yes’ for library From Louis Levison Cave Junction Many past generations took pride in their contri- bution to the building of their nation and commu- nity. A bridge, a library, a fire engine, a park, or a school: these were among the collective achieve- ments of the communities that made the backbone of the greatest nation in the world. But now we have among us a ghost town voice, a self-centered voice of armchair experts, who don’t mind enjoying the investments other genera- tions made for them, and yet a voice that denounces the collective investment that built this mighty na- tion as too burdensome or too inconvenient for itself. There will always be some waste in any budget. There will always be a continuing need for over- sight and efficiency. But that doesn’t mean we shut things down or have a sec- ond-rate community. Let us take back the pride we once had in build- ing a vital community. Let the anti-tax, anti- government, anti-society zealots whine their dooms- day chant of, “No, No, No,” and let the rest of us shout, “Yes, Yes, Yes!” “Yes” to the best commu- nity we can make. “Yes” to the kind of community that makes Janet say, “Bob, we must move the company here. This place is so nice!” And “yes” to the li- brary in the coming elec- tion. With resources and efficiency beyond the wildest dreams of the past, the public library as an institution has remained as American as apple pie. Let’s keep it that way. Vote “yes” for the library and feel good. Feel pride. Where’s the truth? 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. 3 Staff: Cindy Newton, Chris Robertson, Michelle Binker, Shane Welsh, Becky Loudon & Kacy Clement 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 & CLAS- SIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be re- submitted 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 From Laurraine Rakes O’Brien In response to Jim Gandee’s letter on holy matrimony (“Illinois Val- ley News,” March 24); perhaps he is right. Mar- riage should stay a tradi- tion between men and women and kept in the church where it was cre- ated. I don’t dispute that so much as I do all of the ha- tred and negative feedback from people that these is- sues create. I attended man y churches growing up. My siblings and I were always encouraged to go to church. I think it’s good for kids to go to church, but why just take them to one church? Why not let them go to 10 different ones and pick the one they like the best? If there is only one word, then why are there so many different religions and beliefs? Why so many different versions of the Bible? Which one are we to believe to be the truth? Why do some churches accept some people and not others? This leads me to be- lieve that they can’t all be right, so who’s telling the real truth besides what God puts in each of our hearts? Rafferburg backer From Elizabeth Metcalf Selma I believe that Jim Raf- fenburg will bring integ- rity, openness and energy to the job of county com- missioner, Position 2, if we elect him in May. I worked with Jim as a fellow planning commis- sioner for four years. I ap- preciated his skill as chair- man; his willingness to listen to the concerns of Josephine County resi- dents, and his thoughtful decisions. He believes in finan- cial responsibility and planning for the future. As a retired certified public accountant, I feel that these are critical in county gov- ernment. He is also a trained mediator, which will help avoid the constant fighting that the citizens have seen on the county board for many years. Because I believe that Jim has the ability to make change happen, I am work- ing on his election cam- paign. Park use fees From Daniel O. Fiske Cave Junction I am writing in re- sponse to Steve Lyons’ letter about not under- standing the “animosity of the Cave Junction City Council toward the I.V. Lions Club,” as well as the previous letter from the CJ Lions Club stating that it is withdrawing from a ser- vice project to the city due (Continued on page 3) Myrna Hooey retires from post office More than 50 well-wishers gathered on Sunday, April 4 in Illinois Valley Senior Center for a party to mark the March 31 retirement of Myrna Hooey, 62, who had the same Cave Junction Post Office rural route for 20 years, 17 of them full time. She is a 1960 graduate of I.V. High School, and is married to Steve Hooey, a ‘59 IVHS graduate. The couple plan to travel in their RV and visit Ireland following his retirement in June. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my job, especially meeting people on the route and becoming friends,’ she said. CONE TEN POTTERY We will be at our NEW DIGS 25895 Redwood Hwy (199) (Just north of Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co.) Thursday, April 15 592-4646