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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2005)
50¢ City OKs project for seniors 43 duplexes planned; protest could be filed Victoria Brown -- before and after (Photos provided) ‘Sleeping Beauty’-- She’s wide awake! By CHRIS HILL Correspondent Illinois Valley resident Victoria Brown was a “Sleeping Beauty,” but she’s been awakened. And it occurred before thousands of viewers be- cause during July, Medford- based Television Station KOBI aired a week-long series, “Trading Faces.” It followed Brown’s step-by-step transformation. Brown, who received extensive dental work, cos- metic surgery, lasic eye sur- gery by Dr. Paul Imperia of Imperia Laser Eye Centers, a new wardrobe and a new take on herself -- and on life -- couldn’t have been more deserving of all the treat- ment she received com- pletely free of charge. “I entered the contest (for a make-over) initially because my teeth had been really damaged from Krohn's Disease and it was spreading,” she explained. “I had applied for help from the state to fix my teeth, and even with doctors sending letters, they wouldn’t help. “I was really stuck be- cause I needed extensive work, and I was going to have to sell my house to get it done,” Brown added. Brown, selected from more than 200 other contest- ants, began the extreme den- tal work April 15. “I have porcelain ve- neers on top, and implants on the bottom,” she said. “Dr. Horner and all the other doctors at Mountainside Dental who worked on me did it voluntarily. They were really kind, wonderful, pro- fessional people,” Brown said gratefully. Brown also received a “very conservative, really minor” face-lift from Dr. Robert Jensen, of the Center for Cosmetic & Plastic Sur- gery. He is famous for doing natural-looking work, Brown said. “He gave me a brow lift, and I had melanoma cancer on my left cheek, which left a huge scar, and he made that a lot less no- ticeable,” said the Cave Junction mother of five. For Brown, the situation has “been an answer to (Continued on page 8) County employment showing decent rate Despite a drop in pay- roll jobs during July, the Josephine County unem- ployment rate remained at 7.2 percent, and the county’s job growth rate so far this year is 3.2 percent, higher than the statewide average of 3 percent. That news was an- nounced by the Oregon Em- ployment Dept. (OED), which also noted that the July 2004 jobless rate was 8.0 percent. The July rate this year declined by 440 jobs “mostly as a result of nor- mal summer declines in lo- cal education employment.” OED said that leisure- and-hospitality employment rose by 80 jobs during July, and is up by 120 during the past year. The construction sector gained 60 jobs, bring- ing the increase since July 2004 to 230. From January to June this year, permits for 410 residential units were issued in the county, up from 392 during the same period the year before, said OED. Wholesale and retail trade employment gained 50 and 80 jobs respectively during July this year. During the past 12 months, trade employment rose by nearly 200 jobs in the county. Gains were noted in furni- ture and home furnishing stores, as well as building material and garden supply stores. The financial activities and professional/business services categories each (Continued on page 3) A multimillion dollar senior citizen assisted-care development with 43 du- plexes conditionally was OK’d 4-0 by the Cave Junc- tion City Council Monday night, Aug. 22 in city hall. But not without some trepidation and a citizen protest regarding the zoning for the 10.2 acres -- plus the possibility that the council’s code interpretation and revi- sion, as well as approval of the project -- could be re- manded by the Oregon Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) if a formal appeal is filed. But noted developer Larry Osborn to the council: “Let it all hang out. I fully expect your decision to be appealed. There are people here who love to do that, but this is a conforming use; it fits the criteria. “I think,” he said, in response to several concerns about possible liability or repercussions voiced by Councilman Russell Ehr- man, “that it is appropriate for the city council to take control of the city. “Staff and Dick Con- verse (city adviser from Rogue Valley Council of Governments) have re- searched this and could find no definition” regarding “medical facility” except for one adopted by Portland. “You guys are on the cutting edge,” Osborn said. The nearly two hours devoted to aspects of the master planned development also included semantic and philosophical comments and discussion. A principal point in- volves, as Ehrman said, “the highest and best use of the property” for the long-range benefit to the city and sur- rounding community. At the heart of the matter (Continued on page 8) Following is the weather report from O’Brien residents Cheryl & Harry Johnson. *Fri., Aug. 12: 93-58 *Sat., Aug. 13: 97-60 *Sun., Aug. 14: 100-58 *Mon., Aug. 15: 99-59 *Tues., Aug. 16: 97-56 *Wed., Aug. 17: 91-56 *Thurs., Aug. 18: 93-55 Illinois Valley Wednesday, August 24 Mostly Sunny High--89 Low--50 Thursday, August 25 Sunny High--91 Low--49 Friday, August 26 Plenty of Sunshine High--89 Low--44 Saturday, August 27 Sunny Day, Cool Night High--86 Low--40 Sunday, August 28 Partly Cloudy High--84 Low--36 HIGHWAY BRIDGEWORK continues on the three bridges over Illinois River in Cave Junction. The work above is at ‘second bridge’ near the south end of Westside Road. The $15 million project under Oregon Dept. of Transportation is funded under the Oregon Transportation Investment Act. (Photo by ’I.V. News’) AT LEAST 400 NEW HOMES are under construction or planned in the city of Cave Junction. The unprecedented residential boom is raising property prices. (From top to bottom) Construction on Tennessee View, which is off Mountain View Drive be- tween Shadowbrook Drive and Hanby Lane; a view of the 41-lot Illinois River Estates off Schumacher Street; and work at Cedarbrook Estates, a gated community off Lau- rel Road. Additional photos on page 7. (Photos by ’Illinois Valley News’) Monday, August 29 Cooler & Cloudy High--83 Low--39 Tuesday, August 30 Mostly Sunny High--83 Low--39 A NEW O’BRIEN FIRESTATION was dedicated Saturday, Aug. 20 by Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD). Deputy Chief Jeff Gavlik (center, at top) delivered the invocation while attendees including Larry Jones (left), IVFD Board chairman, and Chief Harry Rich bowed their heads. The ceremony included an open house (below). The new station replaces a former school that was outdated and outmoded. New Selma and Cave Junction stations have already been dedicated, replacing dilapidated quarters. Funding is through a bond issue. (Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD)
