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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Should I recall my first admitted heart attack five years
ago and how I thought I could just leave the hospital after
my super-quick trip via ambulance, and return to work the
next morning? Or should I speak to another subject that’s
on my heart, so to speak?
Here’s the deal: Jan and I have lived in Illinois Valley
for 18 years, during which time I’ve covered a lot of law
enforcement stories. But in the nearly two decades I’ve
been kicking around here, which sometimes caused stuff to
stick to my shoes, there has not been (thank God) a situa-
tion involving a “cop” being shot in the valley. Or any-
where else on his body.
Not to joke insensitively about such matters, but it’s
my way of staying sane. What prompted this column is my
attending the Police Memorial Day ceremony at the Jose-
phine County Courthouse last Friday. As the names of six
officers were read, recalling the circumstances of their
deaths in the line of duty in the county, my mind recalled
situations in Curry County.
We lived in Brookings for eight years. And during that
time, a state trooper was severely wounded by gunfire; a
deputy died in a motor vehicle accident; and another dep-
uty, who was a friend of mine, was shot to death in am-
bush. Not funny situations. But at this point, I can use a
humorous spin, despite the somber facts. As I said, it’s a
way of coping with sad and bad memories.
About the trooper: Word came that a trooper was shot
and requesting assistance near Rainbow Rock at Hwy. 101,
not too far north of the city of Brookings. Brookings Po-
lice, Curry County deputies and a variety of troopers began
responding Code 3. That sort of radio call puts the adrena-
line factor way up there. Another photographer and I hur-
ried to the site also.
Officers were swarming the area, while ambulance
medics tended to the wounded trooper. We photographers
were ready to snap our shutters. But after about 90 seconds
of being on-scene, an officer warned us (in very clear and
loud terms) to vacate the area. “The suspect is armed and
still at-large,” he advised.
Being afraid of live bullets, we vacated (the immediate
area). But we were able to obtain good shots (photos) by
using telephoto lenses.
Fortunately, the trooper survived his .44 magnum
wound. The suspect, who fired the shot after the trooper
stopped him for a traffic infraction, was dead at the scene,
as the trooper had been able to return fire.
As for my deputy friend, he was dispatched to a resi-
dence in the community of Harbor, as a man had asked to
speak with him. The man apparently was unhappy with
what he considered harassment. When the deputy exited
his patrol car and approached the house, he was hit in the
heart by a .30-.30 rifle round, fired from inside the dwell-
ing by a man waiting in the dark with a sliding glass door
open.
My friend left behind a wife and four children. Not
funny stuff. The amusing part – now- is “racing” to the
scene with the guy who was my news editor in Brookings.
He was a laid-back person; never could get him goosed to
hurry to fires or accidents. He even walked slowly.
Same situation getting to the shooting. I elected to let
him drive. Big mistake. He wouldn’t hurry; wouldn’t ex-
ceed the speed limit even a bit. I was literally shouting at
him to speed up, and unconsciously stamping my right foot
on the floor of the car to make it go faster. It didn’t help.
We were going so slow that kids on bicycles were passing
us. Shoot, a little old lady in a walker could have gotten
there before us.
So that’s that. Funny recollections after gloomy stuff.
Oh, and here’s the bittersweet ending. The man con-
victed of killing my friend died in prison a while back. His
obituary extolled his virtues and what a great guy he was.
No mention of my friend, the dead deputy.
And that’s funny. Funny/peculiar; not funny/ha-ha.
Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.
- J.K. Rowling -
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. 9
Staff: Cindy Newton, Chris Robertson,
Michelle Binker, Shane Welsh,
Becky Loudon & Kacy Clement
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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‘Forks’ helper
From Geraldine Davidson
Cave Junction
I would like to express
my appreciation to Rick
Newlls for his recent help
at Illinois River “Forks”
State Park.
A new sink water line
that had been vandalized
was installed at his own
time and expense. This
may seem like a small ef-
fort, but Rick is a busy
man and his generosity
should be noted.
Prisoner abuse
From William Schneider
Cave Junction
The fact that the world
is now aware of the pris-
oner abuse in Iraq speaks
volumes for the concepts
of free speech, free press
and, as we are witnessing,
the power of the media.
I’m sure that most de-
cent human beings are ap-
palled at the pictures of
abused prisoners we have
been seeing over and over,
pounding into our hearts
and minds the despicable
acts of some of those in
charge of the prisoners.
I am also quite certain
that most decent human
beings would be at least
equally as appalled at the
abuse -- meaning rape,
murder, beatings and men-
tal abuse -- that take place
within the United States of
America prison system.
Equally as appalling,
but probably much more
so, is the fact that if there
were pictures you would
not have to show the same
photo twice, in a year of
every-day showing 10 pho-
tos of prisoner abuse
within our penal system;
acts committed directly by
guards or by guards allow-
ing acts to happen.
The overall condition
of the U.S. prison system
is inconceivably and inex-
cusably in violation of nu-
merous human rights to the
extent of being almost un-
believable that this condi-
tion could exist in this
country. Every single soul
in a position to remedy this
and does nothing is ac-
countable and should be
removed from any position
they may be holding in an
office that represents the
people of this country, in
the same manner as should
be done with regard to the
Iraq prisoner abuse.
For the sake of space
allowed, I will not list sta-
tistics at this time. But in a
real need to educate the
public about this very seri-
ous reality, I will direct
anyone who is concerned
to: Families Against Man-
datory
Minimums,
www.famm.org; Western
Prison
Project,
www.westernprisonproject
.org; and for information
on the cruel and inhumane
conditions under which
women in prisons live, see
California Coalition for
Women
Prisoners,
www.womenprisoners.org.
Let’s clean up our own
act. It might do wonders
for our credibility abroad.
Every prisoner is
someone’s mother, father
or child, not a number.
Wake up America: This
nightmare is here at home.
A family in need
From Debbie Jo Bell
Cave Junction
I am a friend of Kelly
Blair. She lost all her be-
longings and home in a
recent fire in O’Brien.
This family was not at
home and had no chance to
save anything. I saw Kelly
two days after the fire and
she was totally distraught.
I feel I have to reach
out to our unique and won-
derful community for help.
I would like to express
my appreciation to those
who helped put Kelly and
her family up for a week at
the Madrone Motel, do-
nated clothing and money;
and the Junction Inn for
accommodating them for
two days.
I am asking for a
trailer for this family, as
soon as possible. We are
praying for a trailer or
something the family can
use. Their two girls are
staying with friends since
the fire.
If anyone can help,
contact Bob or Debbie Bell
at 592-5206.
I know we can put this
family back together if we
all pull together.
I would like to thank the
I.V. Lions Club for the scooter,
especially Sam Michel.
Thank you,
Rick Mingo
Sale of current Station 2
pending new Selma site
By SHANE WELSH
Staff Writer
The fate of the current
Selma Fire Station will be
determined by closed pub-
lic bids to purchase the
property and building after
Illinois Valley Fire District
(IVFD) completes work on
the new Station 2/Selma
location.
During a meeting of
the IVFD Board of Direc-
tors last month, members
voted to approve the sale
of the station to a volunteer
fi re fi gh t e r . He b i d
$45,000, with the stipula-
tion that the decision meet
legal approval.
Since the last meeting,
IVFD legal counsel ad-
vised the district that it
would have to advertise
the property for public bid,
said Chief Harry Rich, dur-
ing an IVFD Board of Di-
rectors meeting Thursday
night, May 13 in Cave
Junction City Hall.
To ensure the district
obtain the best value for
the property, after bids
have been reviewed, the
board will be made aware
of the highest bid so it can
make a decision on sale of
the property.
Rich also updated the
Swiffers buzz
said incorrect
An Internet rumor that
Swiffers can harm or kill
pets is refuted by the
manufacturer and the
American Society for Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Ani-
mals (ASPCA).
ASPCA’s Animal Poi-
son Control Center said
that the “ingredients are
safe to use around pets
when used according to
label directions and would
not cause liver damage at
product concentrations.”
The manufacturer,
Proctor & Gamble, said it
is unfortunate that some-
one is spreading an errone-
ous rumor. It works closely
with veterinarians.
board on the Cave Junction
Station and the new site for
Station 2.
Plans for Station 1/
Cave Junction have been
reviewed by volunteer Lt.
Jim Gurley of Selma Sta-
tion 2, who will ensure that
the planned new building
will fit on the current Sta-
tion 1 property.
Rich also noted that
the survey of Station 2
property was completed.
The estimated cost to con-
struct a building to house
the fire equipment and vol-
unteers is $77,000.
Uncle Lou’s Pork Spare Ribs
(small and lean)
$2.50 lb.
TAYLOR’S PICNIC KIT
*Taylor’s wieners - $3.59 lb.
*Oroweat picnic hot dog buns - $1.39 lb.
*Our own potato salad - $1.69 lb.
*PLUS - A good selection of
chips, soda, beer & ice
EVENTS:
*Thursday, May 20:
Open Mic with host Fred Epping
UBA
Dinner Special:
Taylor’s Cajun Pork Chops - $7.95
*Friday, May 21: Tim Wallace with Michelle & Jake
Dinner Special:
Grilled Ahi Tuna with Stir Fry
$10.95
*Saturday, May 22: Michael Cruz - Classic Rock
Dinner Special:
Grilled Sirloin and Pasta w/Marinara - $8.95
*Sunday, May 23: Dinner Special:
Fried Chicken w/Mashed Potatoes & Gravy - $7.95