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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, May 25, 2005
County continues job
growth in many areas
Nearly 600 payroll jobs
have been added in Jose-
phine County since April
2004, and the April 2005
unemployment rate dropped
to 7.3 percent, said Oregon
Employment Dept. (OED).
The March rate was 7.7
percent; the April ‘04 rate
was 8.0 percent, said OED.
A total of 32,238 persons
had payroll jobs last month,
up from 31,745 during
March.
The largest gain last
month was 120 jobs in the
leisure-and-hospitality cate-
gory. The construction sec-
tor added 50 jobs, despite
periods of rain, and has
added 80 jobs during the
past 12 months.
OED said that “building
permit data indicates contin-
ued building activity, which
should maintain the upward
trend in construction em-
ployment.” Building permits
were issued for 185 residen-
tial housing units during
March, many of them in
Cave Junction, up from 169
overall in March ‘04.
Josephine County in-
dustries posting the greatest
job gains since April ‘04
were professional and busi-
ness services (+150), manu-
facturing (+120), construc-
tion (+80), leisure and hos-
pitality (+70), and wholesale
trade (+60).
Although manufactur-
ing employment declined by
20 jobs last month, the sec-
tor is 120 jobs ahead of the
total in April ‘04, said OED.
Wood products manu-
facturing accounted for 80
of the new manufacturing
jobs added during the year.
Professional and busi-
ness services employment
rose by 70 during April, and
added 150 jobs during the
past 12 months, OED said.
The sector is comprised of
temporary help agencies, tax
preparation services, and
landscaping services, which
typically increase hiring at
this time of year.
Health care and social
assistance employment rose
by 40 jobs last month, and
added the same number dur-
ing the past year.
“With the start of the
tourist season upon us,” said
OED, “employment in lei-
sure and hospitality -- com-
prised mostly of hotels and
other lodging places, plus
eating-and-drinking places
-- added 120 jobs during
April. This seasonal industry
sector gained 70 jobs during
the past year.”
Government employ-
ment in the county fell by 30
jobs last month, with a loss
of 20 in local education the
largest contributor to the
increase.
During the past 12
months, government em-
ployment has declined by
70, with all published gov-
ernment sectors showing
lower employment counts,
OED reported.
The Jackson County
jobless rate last month was
6.4 percent, down from 6.8
during March. Oregon’s
seasonally adjusted rate is
6.5 percent; the U.S. season-
ally adjusted rate is 5.2.
JoCo Fire Plan honored
for cooperative success
Josephine County’s
Integrated Fire Plan (JCIFP)
has received an award for
“Excellence in Collabora-
tion.”
The honor was be-
stowed by the Bureau of
Land Management State
Office, and the Northwest
Regional Office of the U.S.
Forest Service. A ceremony
was held in Grants Pass
Monday, May 16.
The award was pre-
sented to the JACIP leader-
ship including Bruce Bar-
tow, retired county Commu-
nity Development Director
who was responsible for the
development of the plan.
Also honored were
Kathy Lynn, of Resource
Innovations, at the Univer-
sity of Oregon, who au-
thored the plan; Sara
Nicholson, Josephine
County Sheriff’s Office
Emergency manager; and
Chief Phil Turnbull, of Ru-
ral/Metro Fire Dept., who
co-chaired the County
Emergency Management
Board; and Neil Benson,
consultant to the county on
this project.
The award presentation
noted the following:
*The Josephine County
Integrated Fire Plan was
accomplished through a
partnership established in
2003 to develop a county-
wide Community Wildfire
Protection Plan.
The partnership is being
recognized for its success in
collaboration.
*As a result of the plan,
several grant applications
have been submitted, and
other communities such as
Illinois Valley are develop-
ing Community Wildfire
Protection Plans (now com-
pleted).
*The partnership has
brought citizens, fire dis-
tricts, county staff, and state
and federal agency represen-
tatives to the planning table.
Sheriff Dave Daniel
said that the winners ex-
pressed gratitude to the peo-
ple and agencies that have
contributed to this award.
They also cited the
many residents of the
county who have increased
their awareness about wild-
fire risk and implemented
fuels reduction projects to
make Josephine County
better prepared for the com-
ing fire season, Daniel said.
Hazards, safety measures
cited regarding dirt bikes
Off-road motorbikes and dirt bikes are popular summer
toys for children and teen-agers.
But many parents may not realize how dangerous they
can be. Because they’re ridden off-road, children don’t need a
license, safety training or helmets to ride these unregulated
vehicles.
This has led to an increase in the number of motorbike
injuries, according to a recent study published in the journal,
“Pediatrics.” An editorial in the same issue, by Brahm Gold-
stein and James Lace, Oregon Health & Sciences University
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital physicians, called for legis-
lation requiring motorcycle helmets and safety education for
children and their families before allowing them to ride mo-
torbikes.
“These motorbikes are more dangerous than bicycles be-
cause a child as young as 3 can ride a miniversion at high
speeds without a helmet,” Goldstein said.
Questions and
Answers
by Christina Snell
Executive Director at
Lovejoy Hospice
In an effort to help you to be better
informed about hospice care in our
community, Lovejoy Hospice
produces an informative question
and answer column each month.
Look for our column printed on
the fourth Wednesday edition of
the ‘Illinois Valley News.’
Question:
POLICE MEMORIAL PRESENTATION - A special ceremony honoring law enforce-
ment officers who have died in the line of duty in Josephine County was held in
front of the county courthouse in Grants Pass Friday, May 20. The ceremony in-
cluded lowering the U.S. flag, the playing of ‘Taps,’ and a 21-gun salute. Those hon-
ored were Oregon State Police Trooper Burrell Baucom, Josephine County Search
and Rescue Capt. Emmett J. Blackmun, Corrections Deputy Alice Moran, Correc-
tions Deputy Glenn Allen, sheriff’s Sgt. Marvin R. Brewster, and Marine Patrol Dep-
uty Tom Rice. Sheriff David H. Daniel said that nationwide approximately 55 officers
are killed or otherwise die annually in the performance of their duties.
(Photos by Dale Sandberg.)
Subscribe to the
‘I.V. News.’
Justin Pope Graduates
From OSU
Justin Pope, of Cave
Junction, graduated in
March 2005 from Oregon
State University at Corvallis
with a bachelor’s degree in
natural resources.
Pope is a graduate of
Illinois Valley High School.
He is the son of Gary and
Janie Pope, of Cave Junc-
tion.
Travis Engle Gets Degree
From Boise State U
Travis C. Engle, of
Cave Junction, received his
associate of science degree
in health information tech-
nology May 14, 2005 from
Boise State University.
The ceremony was con-
ducted in Taco Bell Arena
in Boise, Idaho.
U of O Cites Seidler
Andrew John Seidler, of
Cave Junction, attained the
winter term dean’s list at
University of Oregon at
Eugene.
He is carrying at least
15 graded units, earning a
minimum 3.75 grade-point
average.
“Who pays
hospice care?”
Answer:
Hospice care is
paid for by Medicare,
Oregon Medical As-
sistance
Program
(Oregon Health Plan,
Medicaid),
private
insurance
(Blue
Cross/Blue
Shield,
Pacific Source, etc.),
or privately based on
a
sliding-fee
schedule.
Lovejoy
Hospice receives do-
nations
from
our
community to help
pay for the hospice
care of people who
do not have insur-
ance or income.
If you have a question about
hospice care for the column,
please phone (541) 474-1193 or
1(888) 758-8569 or Email me at:
christina@lovejoyhospice.org
MANSFIELD R. CLEARY
Attorney at Law
General Practice in
Illinois Valley
since 1980
Practice includes but not limited to:
Bankruptcy - Eliminate
financial problems
Living trusts - Avoid probate
Estate planning - Wills,
power of attorney
Domestic relations
Auto accident - Personal Injury
Criminal - DUII
Real Estate contracts - Foreclosure
592-2195
for
200 W. Lister