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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
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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