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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2004)
Page 9 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Students utilizing Bible Release Time MOVEMENT FOR PEACE - Women in Black & Friends gather Mondays from noon to 12:30 p.m. in front of the county building in Cave Junction, and stand silently for peace. Anyone wearing black clothing can participate. Women in Black is an interna- tional movement ‘of women of conscience,’ who ‘stand for justice, civil society, and peaceful co-existence.’ For more information phone 592-6563, 597-2340 or 592-2266. ‘Chief’/Mayor Faircloth steps out By CHRISTINA HILL Correspondent After devoting seven years to city services and Cave Junction residents, Mayor Ed Faircloth won’t be returning next term. “I decided not to run this time,” he said. “I’ve served five years as mayor, one year on the city coun- cil (as a councilman) and one year on the planning commission. “I thought it was time to move on. I didn’t want to monopolize it, either,” Faircloth said. He added that he thinks it’s a good idea to rotate jobs and not stay in the same place too long. “Plus,” he said, “It gets some fresh blood in there, and new ideas start circu- lating, so I think it’s a good thing.” As mayor, Faircloth said that he’s seen a num- ber of issues pass through his office. “I basically oversee the operations,” he said. “I talk to supervisors to see if there are any problems; and if there are, we’ll talk and resolve them. “The biggest thing is when you’re able to take care of the problem, reach compromises and make sure things are the most equitable between both parties involved. That’s the most enjoyable part of the job. And, it’s also the part you never hear about.” He also conducts the twice-monthly city council meetings, among other duties. And he’s responsible for obtaining the banners, highlighting different sea- sons and special events, that are placed on light poles downtown. City Hall is not the only place Faircloth can be found. Since 1994, he has been much in evidence at Illinois Valley High School. ED FAIRCLOTH “I work full-time as an ERC assistant for special education,” Faircloth said. In addition, Faircloth belongs to the classified (non-teaching) employees union for Three Rivers School District, and is the school’s Oregon State Education Association vice president. He also played a major role in the USAF Jr. Air Force ROTC program that existed at the high school for several years and which had many students in it. He worked with Lt. Col. Alan Crews (USAF ret.), who now heads the ASPIRE program at IVHS. As for the ROTC pro- gram, a couple of years ago budget cuts stripped funding for the program, and it was terminated. Faircloth, who said he misses the program, is all too familiar with the U.S. Air Force, as he left the service as a chief master sergeant. He’s still called “Chief” around the school. “I retired from the Air Force after 30 years,” Faircloth said. “I was in aircraft maintenance, and during my last three years of service I was the wing senior enlisted adviser, which means I worked for the wing commander and was his eyes and ears.” During his three dec- ades of military service, Faircloth said he per- formed a number of duties, including serving in Viet- nam for one year. “During my last three years, I made sure enlisted people were taken care of,” he said. “Whether they had housing or medical prob- lems, I made sure every- thing was resolved. “But, throughout my career in service, I was somewhere supporting the aircraft that took troops and materiel to Desert Storm, the Gulf War or wherever,” Faircloth said. After retiring, Faircloth and Barbara, his wife of 37 years, moved to the valley in 1994. “The growth of Grants Pass has moved a lot of people out here,” said the outgoing mayor, “including many retirees, because it’s a little cheaper, but I don’t think Cave Junction will ever get really huge. “It’s too far off I-5 for big businesses, but busi- nesses will grow with the growth of people moving in,” Faircloth speculated. Within the next few years, Faircloth said he thinks he will retire for good and do what he en- joys most -- reading. By CHRISTINA HILL Correspondent In 1963, the U.S. Su- preme Court voted 8-1 rul- ing it unconstitutional for public schools to require students to pray or read the Bible. This historic decision sparked a controversy that still burns strongly after more than four decades. However, the First Amendment guarantees students the right to per- sonal religious expression Council OKs upgrade of computers Purchase of two Dell computers and upgraded software at a cost of $9,189 has been approved for the water treatment plant by Cave Junction city councilmen. The computers will be obtained from Dell Com- puter Co. The software upgrade -- including a Wonderware run-time li- cense upgrade, a control microsystem, and an alarm upgrade -- will be pur- chased from Portland En- gineering Inc. That firm currently handles the city’s water treatment plant computer repair and system work. The council considered a $2,175 bid from TC Computers of Cave Junc- tion for the two computers. The Dell price is $2,715. Mayor Ed Faircloth noted that the Dell units come with a three-year warranty, while the TC computers have a one-year warranty. The total project will “help eliminate a lot of the system failures and prob- lems with the existing sys- tem, which we are running on our backup because the main system is already down for repairs,” Paul Anderson, lead water treat- ment operator, wrote to the council. “If we do not replace this system soon, we can expect continual problems and even potential shut- downs of main operating systems,” Anderson wrote. even remembers “going to Bible release as a kid.” Students at IVHS don’t have to leave cam- pus. Every Thursday, “around 20” Bible Club attendees meet during their lunch hour. Students Alyssa Richards and Joy Messerli are co-leaders; Sage Davis is worship leader. Students are able to wear religious clothing and jewelry, pray individually or in student-led groups on school buses, in corridors, at the flagpole, before lunch, at sporting events and before or after lessons in a classroom -- as long as it’s non-disruptive. Students are also able to distribute religious lit- erature, talk freely about religion outside of class and organize student-led Bible prayer clubs. Students at LBMS must have their parents sign and return a permis- sion slip before being re- leased. Students are re- leased Tuesday afternoons during the last school hour. There is no cost to at- tend. At IVHS, students need not do anything but show up Thursdays at lunch hour. Catholic students meet during evening hours after classes are dismissed. 30 years experience in water, sewer & pipeline construction, brush clearing, septic installation & utility line trenching READY TO DIG & AIMING TO PLEASE 24 HOURS A DAY CCB#159580 1-(541) 597-4486 1-(800) 297-0335 Get that unbeatable combination now with Auto, Fire, Life or Commercial insurance from Farmers Fast, Fair, Friendly Service NOW WITH TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! 128 S. Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction, OR (541) 592-4541 Cougar girls volleyball earn right to lead off competition at district Illinois Valley girls’ volleyball team was to open Sky- line League playoff games Tuesday, Nov. 2 in Klamath Falls. The Cougars finished the regular season 3-9, earning fifth position and a playoff berth against fourth-place Ma- zama. I.V. was defeated by the Pirates on Thursday, Oct. 28 in Phoenix. as long as it is non- disruptive. And while schools don’t promote religious activities, they allow stu- dents, who wish to pursue their religious beliefs, to do so during school hours. Some students at Ever- green Elementary School and Lorna Byrne Middle School (LBMS) “Bible Release Time.” And at Illinois Valley High School there’s a Bible Club, which is led totally by students. LBMS students are released to the neighboring Community Christian Academy, where volunteer pastors teach lessons di- rectly from the Bible. The classes are en- dorsed by Illinois Valley Ministerial Association. Care is taken, accord- ing to a statement, to avoid any controversial or divi- sive doctrine. “We simply teach what the Bible says,” noted Jeremy Nehf, pastor of Caves Christian Fellow- ship. “We believe,” he said, “that this is a very important part of a well- rounded education.” One school employee estimated that “there are about 17 students” who go to the academy during Bi- ble Release Time; and he 134 N.W. ‘E’ St. Grants Pass, OR (800) 888-6704 (next to Treehouse Florist & Gifts) LORNA BYRNE MIDDLE SCHOOL’S PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES WILL BE HELD THURSDAY & FRIDAY NOV. 18th & 19th THURSDAY 8 a.m. - Noon, 1 - 5 p.m., 6 - 8 p.m. FRIDAY 8 a.m. - Noon 2-bedroom, 2-bath home on fenced .8-acre with 2 wells and a large covered deck. Asking $129,000 Phone 592-3354 or 592-3976 Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with you student’s teachers. Report cards will be available at that time. 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