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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Approved CJ budget near $2.3 mil
This is the week I was going to try to describe a
World War II British-made war movie we watched
recently, and the problems with understanding dia-
logue in British English. But speaking of problems,
did anyone else have the same difficulties I suffered
in school with the third of the 3 R’s: ‘rithmetic?
It’s still a wonder that I got passing grades in that
gruesome subject. Although I have to admit that some
of the teachers kicked me on to the next grade with
“D’s.” After I made up certain assignments. I always
told my parents that D stood for Dandy, but I don’t
think they believed me.
The subject in the beginning wasn’t too tough, as I
recall. But after bouncing between public and paro-
chial schools since kindergarten, I began a seven-year
career under the tutelage of Catholic nuns and priests
in seventh-grade (I wasn’t in seventh-grade for seven
years, by the way). But suddenly the subject seemed
out of reach of my brain. Whether this was due to my
illogical nature or my lack of attention is still a matter
of contention.
It began with fractions and decimals, Roman nu-
merals, and “elementary” algebra. And it steadily
worsened. Somehow I made it out of eighth-grade,
entered classes at an all-boys high school, and sank
slowly into the sunset under the weight of too many
numerical problems.
Not only was I faced with two more years of alge-
bra (where I began to really dislike x and y), but the
curriculum included geometry, trigonometry, physics,
and chemistry. I can’t recall how math figured into
chemistry, but I remember carrying around a slide
rule that I never did learn how to use. However, I
looked cool carrying it.
Those classes were all Greek to me. Still, I liked
the illustration of Pythagoras, who was Greek, in my
geometry book. And I never learned to properly use a
protractor and compass either. It was all a massive
math mystery.
It was bad enough trying to understand theorems
and postulates, progressions, angles, forms and all the
rest of that stuff, but then they threw in objective
problems. For example: If Mr. Smith leaves St. Louis
at 5 a.m. and drives to Denver at 55 mph; and Mr.
Jones leaves San Francisco at 6 a.m. and drives to
Santa Fe at 62 mph, who will stop for breakfast first?
Something like that. Or: If Farmer Green has a reser-
voir holding 50,000 gallons, and there’s a 2-inch pipe
draining it at the rate of 60 gallons per minute; and
there’s a 3-inch pipe filling it at 70 gpm, how soon
before Farmer Green receives a government grant?
Anyway, it’s all an enigma to me. Still, I looked in
a dictionary for help, and here’s what I found:
Arithmetic – “the method or process of computa-
tion with figures.” Mathematics – “the systematic
treatment of magnitude, relationships between figures
and forms, and relations between quantities expressed
symbolically.” Wow, isn’t that clear?
It figures.
(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.)
* * *
CJ City Hall
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
From Gary W. Potter,
aka ‘G-Dub’
Cave Junction
What is the function of
city hall? What is the “city
of Cave Junction?”
I see it on the bill they
send me for water. I see it
on the bill I get for a busi-
ness license. I see it on a
letter from the mayor tell-
ing me that I am blocking
the vision of vehicles en-
tering the roadway. In his
letter to my business he
cites no laws that I have
broken. A mistake?
I might add that “City
Hall” itself must be break-
ing the same law by issu-
ing permits for patios, res-
taurants, and even the new
stone work on the Select
Market sign.
Now either the mayor
thinks that he can dictate
the law to whomever he
pleases, or he has made a
mistake. He is human.
But all of that is beside
the point. My letter is to
address the information
that the “city of Cave Junc-
tion” feels isn’t important.
I am talking about a
letter from the “city” to the
businesses of Cave Junc-
tion along Redwood Hwy.
I am talking about a
simple letter telling us
their plans to cut down
trees, tear up sidewalks,
leave uncovered holes
overnight, pour concrete,
dig up more pavement,
leave more open holes, and
hopefully come back and
fill them.
I am talking about a
letter they never sent. I just
wonder how much trouble
it would have been to draft
a letter, look up our ad-
dresses and mail said letter
to us?
When the trees were
cut, no one swept up after.
When the sidewalks were
torn up, there were no bar-
ricades or warning signs of
construction. The holes
were left open (under
fresh, falling snow) with
no warning to pedestrians.
I was injured stepping into
one.
When the crew came
to pour the concrete, the
same concern for safety
was followed (none).
“Spike” got his electric
wheelchair stuck in the
freshly poured concrete.
When the sidewalks
were done, there was a 6-
inch difference between
the sidewalk and the rest of
the property in front of my
store. This alone is a safety
issue, not to mention hun-
dreds of smaller pavement
pieces left behind.
The yellow curbside
before deconstruction was
left unpainted, allowing
cars to park on the
northbound traffic lane of
Hwy. 199.
I also was shocked to
see the work crews in the
right-hand lane of traffic
with dump trucks and men
with no signs or flagman to
warn approaching traffic.
Those of you who
know me are probably
wondering where I got the
time to write this letter.
Well, there was a backhoe
in front of my door, and I
couldn’t conduct business.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523
Don’t drink and drive!
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. 15
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.
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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
By MICHELLE BINKER
Staff Writer
In a 4-0 decision, the
Cave Junction City Coun-
cil approved a nearly $2.3
million budget for fiscal
year 2004-05.
Councilman Ton y
Paulsen was absent for the
budget and appropriations
votes, which occurred dur-
ing the council’s regular
meeting Monday night,
June 28 in CJ City Hall.
The $2,299,143 appro-
priation will pay for 10
city employees at a total
cost to the city of
$504,785, and includes a
$12,142 pool fund, new for
the ‘04-’05 year.
It’s anticipated that a
number of community ser-
vice items which the city
supports financially, such
as the Senior Meals pro-
gram, CJ Cares, and the
Illinois Valley High
School Grad Night “safe
party,” will be covered by
an Oregon State Sharing
Funds request.
Money from this fund
also has been allocated to
help pay for certain special
events at Jubilee Park, pro-
vided the funds are re-
quested from the city. Any
funds so allocated and not
requested will be split be-
tween the park and the
swimming pool, explained
City Recorder Jim Polk.
The city has received
such requests from I.V.
Little League and I.V.
Chamber of Commerce.
The council also con-
ditionally approved a sub-
division application sub-
mitted by Larry Osborn for
Manor Community Devel-
opments. The 50-lot
Hanby Vistas neighbor-
hood will be in north CJ
west of N. Old Stage Road
on Hanby Lane.
Boatman gets
scholarship
from CJ city
Illinois Valley High
School graduate Christo-
pher Boatman has been
awarded a $250 scholar-
ship by the city of Cave
Junction.
One of six applicants
for the scholarship avail-
able to city residents, Boat-
man stood out for his in-
volvement in student gov-
ernment and his commit-
ment to saving money for
his education. He was also
awarded scholarships from
I.V. Senior Services, the
Four Way Community
Foundation, and the Gil-
more Scholarship fund.
Boatman, son of Verl
and Gail Boatman of CJ,
plans to study physics en-
gineering at Oregon State
University at Corvallis in
the fall.
There’s something in a simple hug that
always warms the heart; it welcomes us
back home and makes it easier to part.
- Jill Wolf -
Be fire safe!
IVCRT Meeting Schedule - July, 2004
Making Things Happen!
Day
Date
Meeting
Time
Location
Thurs
7/1
Workshop
7:00-9:00PM
County Bldg.
Tues
7/6
Executive Comm.
5:30-6:30PM
IVCRT
Wed
7/14
Social Ventures
6:30-7:30PM
IVCRT
Thurs
7/15
Board Meeting
7:00-9:00PM
County Bldg.
Mon
7/19
Community Relations
5:30-6:30PM
IVCRT
Tue
7/27
Projects & Programs
5:30-7:00PM
IVCRT
Taylor’s Country Fair Italian Links
Just like at the fair
$2.50 lb.
Taylor’s Wieners - $3.59 lb.
Hoagie Rolls - $1.39 for six
St. Pauli Girl - $5.99 six pack
EVENTS:
*Thursday, July 1:
UBA Open mic with host Fred Epping
Dinner Special:
Tortellini & shrimp salad with artichoke hearts - $8.95
*Friday, July 2: Wally Aiken - ‘One Man Band’
Dinner Special:
Chicken with creamy mustard sauce over pasta - $9.95
*Saturday, July 3: DINING ROOM CLOSED
For reunion parties - DELI OPEN UNTIL 8 p.m.
*Sunday, July 4: CLOSED to go to the horse races!