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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2004)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 23, 2004 “Mother of ‘Bubba’ Returns.” Sound like the title to a “B” movie? Actually it’s a description of a happening around our little rancho. Yes, “Maui” the mostly Siamese cat has returned. I can tell just from looking at some of our furniture. If wooden table and chair legs aren’t shredded by her dainty claws, then she’s shed enough hair on a chair or couch cushion to make another cat. Dainty claws, by the by, is my way of describing re- tractable razor-sharp curved bayonets with fur. As for “Bubba,” the nearly 16-pound, impossibly beautiful feline and son of “Maui,” he’s still trying to figure out how to deal with his mom. They both want to be in charge. But it’s beginning to look as though they’re willing to negotiate. At least, “Maui” has quit growling like a saber-tooth tiger every time her son gets within 3 feet. The little mother (“Maui”) came home because the family we gave her to really needs a kitten they can bond with. See, “Maui” was rescued by Jan a cou- ple years back. She was extremely pregnant (the cat, not my wife), and living by her wits outside without a home (the cat, not my wife). Jan was able to convince her, by grabbing one leg and refusing to let go, that she would be better off coming home with us. Our dogs, “Rocky” the tiny, clipped-close Pom- eranian, and “Bingo,” the medium-sized terrier- shepherd mix, are pretty much OK with the new- comer. Although “Rocky” gets beat up gently occa- sionally when “Bubba” gets frustrated at not being able to be playful with his grumpy mother. The Pom is smaller than the cat, but he will growl menacingly. Eventually. “Bingo” avoids cats, and they do the same. Except when he wags his tail. Then “Bubba” thinks it’s a great toy and keeps batting it until “Bingo” gets dis- gusted and moves away. “Maui” spends a lot of time hiding in our pots-and-pans cupboard. So we always wash stuff before cooking because who wants cat prints in their food? Our outside cats, “Gracie” and “One-Eye,” have a staring-and-glaring contest going with “Maui” and “Bubba.” They seem to spend a lot of time eyeball-to- eyeball on either side of our dining room doors, which are mostly glass. So we’re one big, sappy … I mean, happy family. Pass the dog chow and the kitty food, please. Dinner for six is served. In the Wednesday, June 16 issue of “Illinois Valley News:” *In the 2004-2005 “Valley Visitor” inserted in the issue, the dates for the annual Blackberry Fes- tival in Cave Junction were listed as tentative, but ac- cording to a festival spokesperson the Aug. 14- 15 dates are correct. *A page 7 article in- correctly said a trophy sad- dle won by Carol Craw- ford was donated to Ker- byville Museum. The sad- dle actually was loaned to the museum by her par- ents. 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. 14 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 (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary expressed in let- ters to the editor are strictly those of the letter-writers. * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are acceptable for con- sideration. Handwritten letters that are double-spaced and highly legible also can be con- sidered for publication. Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.) * * * On Social Security From Libby Goines Cave Junction Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our senators and con- gressmen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it. You see, Social Secu- rity benefits were not suit- able for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for them- selves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no one in Congress has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical pur- poses, their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost-of-living adjustments. For example, former Sen. Byrd and Con- gressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000 with their wives drawing $275,000 during the last years of their lives. This is calcu- lated on an average life span for each of those two dignitaries. Younger dignitaries, who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives. Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00; nada, zilch. This “little” perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab. The funds for this fine retirement plan came directly from the general fund. From our own Social Security plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, - every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) - we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one month to equal Sen. Bill Bradley’s benefits. Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from un- der the senators and con- gressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us, then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it. If enough people re- ceive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. ourselves against fire. I recently learned that the Bush Administration is planning to spend millions of dollars to log the forests around Illinois Valley; but is unwilling to fund the protection of our homes and communities. The proposed logging in the Biscuit Fire area is going to lose the govern- ment (aka us taxpayers) a million plus dollars. And for what? So the CEOs of Roseburg Lumber can fill their pockets. Meanwhile, the areas around our communities remain a fuel-loaded fire hazard. I am disgusted that the priorities of our gov- ernment rest in subsidizing the corporations and not in protecting our communi- ties from a threat far greater than any terrorist group: wildfire. I say hire a crew of woods workers to thin the forest between our towns and forests with that money. Let’s provide local people with jobs and pro- tect our homes. Let’s leave the areas in the backcoun- try alone. We should all let our representatives hear loud and clear that we expect them to make community protection their first prior- ity, and not making the CEOs richer, if they expect to return to Washington next year. Biscuit view From Carol Reed Selma The forest service’s plan to salvage the Biscuit Fire area will cause irre- versible harm to sensitive soils, water, fish and wild- life. Any jobs created would be short-term and 199/LAKESHORE CRASH - One motorcyclist suffered a broken leg in a 4:20 p.m. collision with another cycle, as they maneuvered to avoid a swerving pickup truck with a blown tire on Saturday, June 19 on Redwood Hwy. near Lakeshore Drive. Illinois Valley firefighters, American Medical Response medics, and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded. Registration at gate …………..8 to 11 a.m. CJ Lions Club Breakfast …….8 to 11 a.m. Show & Shine …………………Noon to 4 p.m. CJ Lions Club Lunch ………..11:30 - until Raffle Drawings ………………Throughout the day Trophies & Awards …………..3 p.m. (Continued on page 3) Sun. Surf. Save. Frontier DSL Maximum Speed Internet FREE For the summer SURF’S UP. Surf the Web faster with Frontier DSL — our fastest Internet connection. 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