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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2005)
Former CJ meth labs declared ‘nuisances’ A BURN TO LEARN exer- cise was conducted Sun- day, April 24 by Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD). The drill included search-and-rescue prac- tice; how to approach and deal with structure fires; and other vital fire- fighting techniques. A donated vacant house on Raymond Street was used. The structure, built in 1946, contained 1,080 square feet of space, which allowed firefight- ers to practice entering a burning building and its various rooms and corri- dors. Chief Harry Rich (right) used a backhoe near the end of the drill to remove some portions of the house. Unlike other situations, the structure was allowed to burn to the ground. City council allows denial of utility service; some hazardous sites being used as homes CHELSEA HOCKER, of Illinois Valley High School, has been se- lected to serve on a Youth Advisory team de- veloped by state schools Superintendent Susan Castillo. Story on page 4. Military vet aid set by Legion To help anyone wanting information on military vet- erans rights or any help that Glenn Morrison American Legion Post 5995 might be able to offer, the post hall is staffed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays “This is a free service for those who might need it,” said Post Cmdr. Dan Warden. “If we don’t have the information you want, we will work with you to get it. We are here to help in any way we can.” Those unable to reach the hall can phone 592-8500 during the listed hours, or phone Warden at 597-2979. “Let us do what we are here for: To help one an- other,” said Warden. “If people just want to visit, they can come and have a free cup of coffee.” (Photos by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD) People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy. - Bob Hope - High and low tempera- tures, plus rainfall, as recorded by O’Brien residents Cheryl & Harry Johnson, follow: *Mon., April 18 56-30 *Tues., April 19: 64-32 *Wed., April 20: 70-33 *Thurs., April 21: 74-36 *Fri., April 22: 77-39 *Sat., April 23: 61-47, .16 *Sun., April 24: 61-46, .04 A SPECIAL WATER FORUM, developed by Gary Enoch and students in his Advanced Place- ment Composition Class at Illinois Valley High School was held Thurs- day, April 21 at the school. Kamela Culver and Rose Ballard (top from left) and (left from left) Kayla Arnett and Tabi Jackson were among those with dis- plays. The presentation capped weeks of work on numerous projects, all dealing with aspects of water. Story on page 7. Cave Junction Wednesday, April 27 Mostly cloudy, Evening showers High--64, Low--43. Thursday, April 28 Scattered showers, Some evening clearing High--58, Low--41. Friday, April 29 Sun in spots, Mostly cloudy evening High--62, Low--40. Saturday, April 30 Moderate cloud cover, Cloudy evening High--62, Low--38. Sunday, May 1 Continuing rain, Showers increasing High--62, Low--42. Monday, May 2 Showers all day, And all through night High--64, Low--44. Tuesday, May 3 Heavy rainfall, Continuing late High--63, Low--43. By MICHELLE BINKER Staff Writer Properties which have hosted methamphetamine labs often are contaminated beyond habitability, and as such are considered to be “unfit for use.” According to the Ore- gon Dept. of Human Ser- vices, the chemical residue from meth manufacture can remain on surfaces for years if not properly decontami- nated. Very often these chemi- cal by-products are flushed down a drain or dumped nearby, exacerbating their toxic impact. However, that hasn’t stopped people from living in, renting, or even selling drug properties. In an effort to make “unfit-for-use” properties within Cave Junction city limits less likely to be ille- gally inhabited, the city council undertook during its meeting Monday night, April 25 in Cave Junction City Hall, to declare such houses “nuisances.” As such, the city can deny water and sewer ser- vice to the property. City Recorder Jim Polk requested the council’s ac- tion, citing the presence of five former drug-lab proper- ties in or abutting the city condemned as unfit for use. Polk told the council that municipal code, as well as Oregon law, gives the city the right to cease ser- vice to nuisance properties. The council voted 4-0 to approve the action. Council- man Rita Dyer was absent. Some of the houses ap- pear on an unfit-for-use list published by the Dept. of Consumer & Business Ser- vices, Buildings Codes Di- vision. Two others had been “busted” recently enough to have not yet made the list. The list, which de- scribes 47 such sites in Jose- phine County -- 23 of which are in Illinois Valley -- can be accessed by clicking on the “Public Notices” link on the Website oregonbcd.gov. Single air board disliked Indications are that the Illinois Valley Airport Advi- sory Board does not like the idea of a single board com- bining the I.V. and Grants Pass advisory groups. Instead, the six members attending their monthly meet- ing Thursday evening, April 21 at the airport, voted in favor of maintaining the cur- rent two boards, but having a combined quarterly meeting. The motion was by Director Lou Levison. The proposal for combin- ing boards was brought to the I.V. group last month by county Commissioner Jim Raffenburg, who did not at- tend last week’s meeting. I.V. advisory members, led by Chairman Don McLennan, reiterated their strong and considered beliefs that the airport in Merlin has considerably different con- cerns than the I.V. facility. “This board has years of experience about this airport,” said Director Ed Russell. “No one who hasn’t been involved during the past five years would take a long time to get up to speed.” Under the plan brought by Raffenburg the current advisory boards would be disbanded, and there would be a nine-member combined airports board. Three members would represent I.V. Airport; three would represent the Grants Pass facility; and three would represent nonaviation inter- ests. One each would repre- sent I.V., GP and citizens-at- large. Based on his experiences with a previous combined board, I.V. Director Wes Brown said he doesn’t be- lieve the current proposal would work well. “There were good peo- ple,” he said, “but the meet- ings were usually not produc- tive because of our quite dif- ferent issues.” ILLINOIS VALLEY Com- munity Development Or- ganization (IVCDO) re- cently held its annual general membership meeting. Bob Litak (right), chairman of the IVCDO loan board, re- ceived a ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award for ser- vices to IVCDO and the community. Jeff Stiles (center in bottom photo) received the award for ‘Excellence in Customer Ser- vice.’ Stiles and his wife, Karen, own Oregon Caves Chevron. With Stiles are Director Kenny Houck and board Chairman Jack Dwyer. IVCDO welcomed new board member Kay Taylor, and congratulated re- elected directors Dwyer, Al Devine and Tom Dunn. (Photos provided)