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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 15, 2005
… Dr. Joe Hoelzle, of Dr. Joe’s Pet Hospital
‘CAN DO’ WORLD - Lorna Byrne Middle School has honored Illinois Valley Commu-
nity Development Organization (‘I.V. Can Do’) with an award for the group’s
‘commitment, support, and service’ to the school. The presentation was made dur-
ing the school’s recent ‘Friends of the Vikings’ ceremony. (From left) Principal Peter
Maluk presents the award to Jack Dwyer, IVCDO board chairman, and a retired
Lorna Byrne teacher; and Bob Schumacher, IVCDO executive director. The raised
thumbs are symbolic of the ‘can do’ attitude being fostered by IVCDO
Honoring Armed Forces, veterans tied
to keeping promises by U.S. Congress
By U.S. REP.
PETER DeFAZIO,
(D-Oregon Dist. 4)
It’s fitting that we set
aside a special day each
year, Memorial Day, to
honor fallen soldiers and
others who have sacrificed
in defense of our nation.
But our celebration and
remembrance should not be
restricted to Memorial Day
and Veterans Day. We
should take time every day
to thank and pay tribute to
those who sacrificed to pre-
serve our freedom.
We owe an immeasur-
able debt to those heroes
and their families for their
sacrifice and dedication to
this country.
It is also important for
Congress to take the oppor-
tunity to renew our promises
to the 25 million veterans
living in America today, and
the men and women in uni-
form currently serving in
Iraq, Afghanistan, and
around the globe. These
troops have served our na-
tion to better honor that ser-
vice.
The House of Represen-
tatives recently approved the
Dept. of Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for fiscal year 2006
with many crucial provi-
sions to better provide pay,
benefits and critical equip-
ment for our troops. It in-
cluded a 3.1 percent in-
crease in basic pay; increase
in maximum bonuses for
active duty, and reserve
enlistment and active duty
re-enlistments.
Also, improved cover-
age for mental health care;
funding for improved explo-
sive device (IED) jammers;
and more armored Hum-
vees; and an increase in the
numbers of active duty
Army and Marine Corps
personnel, hopefully taking
some pressure off Guard
and Reserve forces.
But the bill fell short in
several areas: more than $14
billion is designated for the
purchase or development of
weapons systems that have
either failed to produce a
working prototype or do not
address current threats fac-
ing this country, including
three nearly identical fighter
aircraft programs, Star Wars
missile defense, and a new
generation of attack subma-
rines.
Yet under the same leg-
islation, the House Republi-
can leadership blocked a
measure to provide perma-
nent health-care coverage to
National Guard and Reserve
members for the duration of
their service. They claimed
that there wasn’t enough
money. Aircraft and weap-
ons are just a pile of metal
without the troops who op-
erate them, and its disgrace-
ful that we could not find
one quarter of 1 percent in
the defense budget to care
for the National Guard and
Reserve soldiers who fight
in our name.
With each major mili-
tary conflict since World
War II, we have honored the
service of our soldiers
through a new GI bill. Con-
gress must do better by ap-
proving a comprehensive GI
Bill of Rights for the 21st
century including improved
educational benefits and
medical and home loan as-
sistance to provide support
for our returning troops.
While Congress has
Great Cats World Park
On the Redwood Hwy. by Cave Junction
Fathers get 50% off June 19
Bring your “King of the Castle”
To see our “King of the Jungle
Open Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Enjoy many cat demonstration
Behind the scenes tours & more
Over a dozen species including…
Lions
Tigers
Leopards
Cougars
and now...
Jaguars!
www.greatcatsworldpark.com
taken some steps to address
the challenges facing our
active duty soldiers, regret-
tably, the same cannot be
said for keeping the prom-
ises made to the veterans
when they return home.
Currently, more than
50,000 veterans have waited
at least six months for basic
health care. The problem
will only worsen with the
growing numbers of return-
ing soldiers.
The president proposed
a budget $2.6 billion below
the level veterans organiza-
tions argue is necessary to
care for existing veterans
and those returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan. The
president also proposed
more than doubling the pre-
scription drug co-payment
from $7 to $15 and requir-
ing a $250 annual enroll-
ment fee for certain vets.
It is offensive to ask
those who selflessly served
our country in the military to
pay even more out of their
pockets for health care.
The commander-in-
chief of the Veterans of For-
eign Wars said, “The mes-
sage that this budget com-
municates is that part of the
federal government’s deficit
will be balanced on the back
of military veterans, because
it’s clear that the proper
funding of veterans health
care and other programs is
not an administration prior-
ity.”
Miriah Killam
Graduates From HSU
Miriah Killam, of
O’Brien, graduated May 14,
2005 from Humboldt State
University in Arcata, Calif.,
after completing her classes
last winter.
She graduated with hon-
ors, receiving a bachelor of
science degree in environ-
mental science, with an em-
phasis on water resource
management.
Killam will convert
from a seasonal to a full-
time position with the U.S.
Dept. of the Interior this
summer.
She is a graduate of
Illinois Valley High School.
She is the daughter of
Hormoz Killam, of O’Brien;
and Peggy Kane, of Troy,
Mont.
Five From Valley
Earn OSU Degrees
Five persons from Illi-
nois Valley, four of them
graduates of I.V. High
School, received their de-
grees from Oregon State
University at Corvallis June
12, 2005.
The five, all from Cave
Junction:
*Ryan C. Emery,
bachelor of science degree
in environmental econom-
ics, policy and management.
*Chad C. Meengs, mas-
ter of science degree in envi-
ronmental science.
*Jededia C. Pennell,
master of science degree in
exercise and sport science.
*Cliff E. Phillips,
bachelor of science degree
in economics.
*Maria K. Rose, bache-
lor of fine arts degree in ap-
plied visual arts (not an
IVHS graduate).
National Honor Roll
Cites Pupils From I.V.
The National Honor
Roll, of Lynbrook, N.Y.,
which recognizes high-
achieving high school and
middle school students, has
included five from Illinois
Valley in its 2004/2005 list-
ings:
Joy Messerli, of Cave
Junction, I.V. High School
(IVHS); Jessica McIntosh,
of Selma, Grants Pass High
School; Alicia L.K.
O’Grady, of Selma, New
Hope Christian School; Jes-
sica Pittman, of Cave Junc-
tion, IVHS; and Echo J.
Reagan, of Cave Junction,
IVHS.
What is your occupation? I am a veterinarian for dogs and cats.
How long have you
lived here? Twenty-
six years. I was born
and raised in Delta,
Utah. I did one year
of practice near San
Francisco before I
moved here. It was
scary moving here,
because I had no busi-
ness experience. I was
starting a business
from scratch and had
no idea what I was
doing, but it’s worked
out well. I've been in
business as long as
I’ve lived here.
‘DR. JOE’ and ‘LEXUS’
What is your educational background? I did my under-
graduate work at Utah State; and my graduate work at Davis,
Calif., where I received a professional degree, a Doctorate of
Veterinary Medicine.
Do you have any family? I have three children. My parents and
brother still live in Utah.
Do you have any hobbies? Yeah, wood-working and golf. I
build furniture, mostly cabinets for myself.
What do you like about living here? I love the climate here. I
like the small-town atmosphere. That's why I left San Francisco.
I'm not a city person, and I definitely couldn't go back now.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? That's got to be Tin
Roof Sundae.
~Interview and Photo by Christina Hill
RCC honors graduates
in June 11 ceremonies
A total of 403 students
received degrees and certifi-
cates Saturday, June 11,
when Rogue Community
College celebrated its annual
commencement ceremony in
the Marjorie Holzgang Con-
cert Bowl on the Grants Pass
Redwood Campus.
This year’s graduates
earned 335 degrees and 91
certificates, with 21 receiv-
ing two honors, and one
earning three.
Compared to last year,
when 375 students walked,
graduation numbers are up.
During 2004 a total of 316
students received two-year
degrees, and another 80
earned certificates.
Among this year’s
graduates, 256 are women,
and 147 are men. The two
“most senior” are 60; the
youngest is 16-year-old
Adam Angstadt, son of
RCC President Peter Ang-
stadt. The average age of
graduates earning a degree
is 31.6; certificate earner’s
average age is 34.
Thirteen graduates
earned a 4.0 grade-point av-
erage (gpa), with 316 achiev-
ing honors of 3.5 or higher.
Average gpa among all grads
is 3.3. Thirty-one graduates
are members of Phi Theta
Kappa honor society.
Among graduates, 206
are Jackson County resi-
dents, 187 are from Jose-
phine County, and the re-
mainder reside in other
counties, including three
from Douglas County.
Delivering the student
commencement address
were Dawn Neal and Rosa-
lina Peterson. Neal attended
classes on the Redwood
Campus in Grants Pass, and
Peterson attended on the
Riverside Campus, Medford.
Nancy Maxwell, execu-
tive dean of Redwood, was
master of ceremonies. Fol-
lowing tradition, retiring in-
structors Marty Gruher, Patti
Kramer, and Dorette Long
led the faculty procession.
It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.
- Alec Bourne -
* * *
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain
a thought without accepting it.
- Aristotle -
(Continued on page 10)
Create a Defensible Fire Zone
Flowers on the Flat
The new greenhouse
on Sauer’s Flat
NOW OPEN
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
10 to 5
Perennials & Annuals
Do-it-yourself Hanging
Basket Kits
We have lots of
new plants just in!
Come check us out.
Before
• Landscape Fuel Reductions
• Reducing Insect Infestations
• No Heavy Equipment
After
It’s time to create a safe, defensible fire zone around
your home and outbuildings. We specialize in the
removal of unwanted fire hazard vegetation and limbs
through noninvasive methods. By select cutting we
create a healthy environment leaving the natural beauty.
Contact your local ODF office
about possible Fuel Reduction Grants.
Dennis Page Forestry
541-659-3471
Insured • Bonded
State Certified - Forest Lic. #9660 • CCB #156955
Senior Discount