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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2005)
Page 7 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, September 21, 2005 New Orleans evacuee finds shelter in Takilma ‘Rogue Spirit’ show coming (Continued from page 1) “Spirit of the Rogue,” a juried exhibit celebrating the Rogue River, will be shown Oct. 5-29 at the Rogue Community College Fire- house Gallery. The display is held in conjunction with the third annual Art Along the Rogue Art and Music Festival. Exhibiting artists are Jack Bingham, Sherrill Brumbach, Rose Casano, Marilyn Clouse, Vince Carl, Morgan Johnson, Tom Kirchen, Linda Killion Smith, and Joann Louder- milk. A first Friday Art Night cerned about material losses, feeling happy that she was able to escape the fate that some evacuees underwent. “I’m here for four weeks,” she said, having arrived Sept. 8. “I can’t get into my apartment until [early October], and I’m wondering what I’ll find.” The software company for which she is office man- ager is on the second floor of a building that flooded and was damaged fairly ex- tensively. The firm, which has clients nationwide, with approximately a third in New Orleans, utilizes “lots of IBM-type computers.” She continues to stay in touch with her boss, and her son, who also lives in New Orleans, to stay abreast of the situation. Plus, she’s a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism, and in contact with its members in and around the area. She left the city Mon- day, Aug. 29, when the hur- ricane arrived, and was able to get 50 miles west to her son, “a five-hour trip that took eight hours. “There have been many close calls,” related to weather, she noted, “but this was different, as there are no big cities near. Many were leaving the city, and it (evacuation) was better or- ganized this time” so there were many vehicles out. “The governor decided that Interstate 10 lanes would be used only for exit- ing east and west; not for coming in,” said Pacheco. Residents also could use Hwy. 59 to reach Hatties- burg or Hwy. 55 to reach Jackson. Eventually the I-10 bridge was destroyed, blocking traffic from Mis- sissippi. The canal caved in on the New Orleans side, said Pacheco. “It got full and then collapsed,” she said, noting that four levies were breached. Sunday before the hurri- cane, a mandatory evacua- tion order was issued, but she was “among the die- hards, wanting to ride it out. That lasted until Sunday morning when the hurricane turned up from Florida. I changed my mind then.” Tuesday after the hurri- cane, she tried to return to New Orleans, and got within 50 miles. Her son’s boss took in her and 10 fam- ily members. Gasoline was not available after Tuesday; there were no deliveries to Wal*Mart so food was scarce, but they were able to get items including air mat- tresses. There was no loot- ing like downtown, she said. An overnight stay be- came three days. She had to get an emergency shipment of medicine as she ran out and couldn’t get to her place. As a part-time tour guide on weekends, either walking or on buses to city and swamp sites, she has a good general knowledge of the city and its operations. Lake Pontchatrain above the city is big, she said, with a 24-mile-long causeway, but only 10-11 feet deep on average. She said that the force 5 hurri- cane became force 4 over the lake, picked up water and dumped it. “The Mississippi River had no part in the flood; it was a breach of the levy system,” she said, “as the city is below sea level. The pump system failed because it was under water, and the levy system construction failed.” The levies, she said, were built after the 1965 Hurricane “Betsy” a force 3. “We all thought the big one would never come, and no money ever materialized to build a stronger system,” said Pacheco. On her first trip to Ore- gon because of the lockout, she arrived with two duffle bags. She was able to depart from Baton Rouge airport to Houston, to Portland to Eugene, where Jim and Teri picked her up. She plans to fly from Medford Oct. 6. Pacheco said that there were many complaints be- cause National Guardsmen didn’t arrive to the stricken city until four days after the hurricane. Additionally, she said, there appeared to be a mas- sive lack of communication between responding agen- cies so that none knew what the other was doing. And in one case, she noted, a group from California arrived right after the hurricane ready to re-establish communica- tions, but was turned away by FEMA. Pacheco said that the biggest trauma is for those who had to stay in the city, some of whom were lost when a barge crashed through a levy. The resul- tant, rapid deluge made es- cape impossible, she said. But “The city will be rebuilt,” she said, “regardless of doom-sayers. It will be different and bet- ter, likely a smaller city at first, but will grow rapidly with new infrastructure. “The city is approxi- mately 10-by-12 blocks originally built in 1718, and lost to fire in the 1790s, so some of the city is more than 200 years old, and a main tourist attraction. “The French Quarter is OK,” she noted, “because it’s 26 feet above sea level. It was the driest place in the city, although there was some water in the streets. “We’ll probably have Mardi Gras because it is a symbol of our city.” The escapee said that prayers should be said for people who went to Texas. “They are the ones who have only the shirt on their backs, plus many were sepa- rated from their families,” she said. Pacheco said that poor Black people comprise nearly 70 percent of the New Orleans population. This means, she said, that claims of discrimination are untrue. “It’s a problem of poverty, not discrimination,” she said. Pacheco is the only girl among six children, and has siblings, including another brother, Tim, in Brookings, so she’s not concerned about finding more places to reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. A street-painting semi- nar is scheduled at 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Firehouse Gal- lery. The seminar is part of the Art Along the Rogue street painting even that will take place Oct. 8-9 in Downtown Grants Pass on H Street between Fifth and Sixth streets. The Firehouse Gallery is in Historic City Hall, Fourth and H streets, Grants Pass. The gallery is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 139 S. Caves Ave. Suite F (Inside Caves Mall) 592-4117 Mention this ad and pay just $10 for your first month of Internet Access! No Sign-Up Fees No Contracts No Credit Card Required Locally Owned and Operated Free Computer Repair Estimates www.ValleySurf.net Low-Cost Parts and Accessories www.ValleySurf.net I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. - Christopher Reeve - Tuesday, Sept. 6 *1:08 p.m., medical assist (M.A.), all with American Medical Response (AMR), 26000 block Redwood Hwy. *1:13 p.m., districtwide medical standby (DiMS), all for AMR. Wednesday, Sept. 7 *`12:20 p.m., M.A., 100 block W. Palmer Street. *12:23 p.m., DiMS. *9:02 p.m., M.A., 600 block Waldo Road. *9:35 p.m., DiMS. Thursday, Sept. 8 *4:17 p.m., M.A., 28000 block Redwood Hwy. *9:23 p.m., M.A., 600 block Waldo Road. Friday, Sept. 9 *1:20 p.m., small vehicle fire, Cascade Drive. *2:30 p.m., outdoor smoke investigation (small brush fire located), rear of Jubilee Park off Old Stage Road. Saturday, Sept. 10 *4:15 p.m., M.A., 7000 block Holland Loop. *4:18 p.m., DiMS. *5:06 p.m., outdoor smoke investigation, 1000 block Lake- shore Drive. *10:08 p.m., MVA, Red- wood Hwy. milepost 18. Sunday, Sept. 11 *7:42 p.m., outdoor smoke investigation, 100 block Illinois River Road. Monday, Sept. 12 *10:23 a.m., DiMS. *12:18 p.m., M.A., Wood Duck Lane. *12:24 p.m., DiMS. Tuesday, Sept. 13 *6:57 p.m., M.A., 100 block N. Redwood Hwy. *7 p.m., DiMS. Wednesday, Sept. 14 *2:29 a.m., M.A., 1000 block Rockydale Road. *9:29 a.m., powerline problem, Hogue Drive/Warren Road. *11:34 a.m., M.A., 5000 block Westside Road. *6:30 p.m., M.A., 200 block Junction Avenue. Thursday, Sept. 15 *11:09 a.m., M.A., 100 block Old Stage Road. *11:09 a.m., DiMS. *3:52 p.m., M.A., 500 block Arrowhead Drive. Friday, Sept. 16 *3:52 p.m., M.A., 28000 block Redwood Hwy. *7:37 p.m., M.A., 10000 block Takilma Road. Saturday, Sept. 17 *2:43 p.m., M.A. 400 block McMullen Creek Road. *3:17 p.m., DiMS. *7:57 p.m., M.A., 700 block Logan Cut Road. *8:37 p.m., DiMS. Sunday, Sept. 18 *1:24 a.m., M.A., 800 block Caves Hwy. Monday, Sept. 19 *9 a.m., MVA, 13000 block Redwood Hwy. Are You Prepared? Deer Creek Fire Community Wildfire Meeting Wednesday, September 28, 2005 5:30 pm Open House/6:30 pm Presentation Illinois Valley Fire Station #2, 18455 Redwood Hwy., Selma *coffee, hot dogs, and snacks provided!* ♦Hear fire agencies share information about the Deer Creek Fire and answer questions from community members Awesome Father Class The most important role of your life! Meet with other fathers to discuss: Parenting Challenges Decision Making Handling Stress Child Behavior Discipline 10 weekly classes begin Tues., September 27, 7 to 8 p.m. 216 Caves Avenue, Cave Junction Sponsored by Siskiyou Community Health Center and Commission for Children and Families Phone Scott at 592-6444 ♦Learn about opportunities for fuels reduction and ongoing projects ♦Share your ideas and concerns about wildfire in your community ♦Meet and talk with members of the Illinois Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Oregon Department of Forestry, Josephine County and the Bureau of Land Management about fire plans and fuels reduction in the Illinois Valley and Josephine County What: A community meeting to reflect on lessons learned from the Deer Creek Fire and identify opportunities to reduce future wildfire risk When: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 Where: Illinois Valley Fire Station #2, 18455 Redwood Hwy. Selma, OR Contact: Jerry Schaeffer, Illinois Valley Fire Department (541-592-2225) or Brian Ballou, Oregon Department of Forestry (541-664-3328) For more information on local fire plans, visit http://www.co.josephine.or.us or http://www.ivfire.com/fireplan.htm
