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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 30, 2005
As the song goes, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like
Christmas,” despite help from our four cats. Right, we
now have four cats thank-you-very-much. Their task is
to ensure that the ornaments on our tree are firmly at-
tached. This is accomplished in two ways: Either by
climbing the tree, or batting at the ornaments when no
humans are watching.
They also have to supervise everything we do in the
kitchen, and they enjoy snagging hunks of food, whether
they’re in our hands (the food) or on a plate. I have to
admit that they’re excellent snaggers.
As well, they seem to enjoy stalking and attacking
the Christmas train that circles our Yule tree. Whether
the train is moving or not. Apparently it looks dangerous.
So I’ve righted the caboose about 98 times, as it keeps
getting knocked off the track. In fact, in one assault, one
or more of the cats, probably “The Two Blacks,” man-
aged to knock the roof right off the car. This is no way to
run a railroad.
Our feline fiends … er, friends also take pleasure in
hassling ferny, tall stuff in vases. And one of their feet
feats is to leap from the kitchen counter onto the dining
room table. Quite interesting, especially when there are
breakable items on the table. And when they hit the ta-
ble cloth, which slides in really intriguing ways.
Actually, they get into just about everything, includ-
ing boxes and bags, and our bed. Ever slept with four
competing cats? Not to mention “Rocky” the Pomera-
nian and his world-class snoring from the floor at the
foot of the bed. “Bingo” the Wonder Dog just goes into
another room to sleep. He especially is fond of the living
room couch, which I finally got paid off.
That reminds me. On the day after Thanksgiving we
had to rearrange the couch sections to accommodate
the train track. Under portions of the couch we found the
usual assortment of dropped food, and some cat toys.
These furry meowers are really good at losing such
items. I tired to get them to play with the toys, but they
prefer ornaments.
Dragging out the boxes and bags of holiday decor
was a thrill, what with the kitties wanting to examine eve-
rything.
Actually, it was more thrilling while the Thanksgiving
meal was being prepared. We finally had to corral them
in a room away from the kitchen. It was either that or
have a meal with cat bite marks on the food.
Now we have the holiday decorations up, but I can’t
say how long they’ll stay put. Maybe the cats are await-
ing Santa Claws?
Grants Pass
Hearing Aid Center
NOW HAS AN OFFICE IN
CAVE JUNCTION
Located at:
315 A. Caves Hwy.
Illinois Valley Medical Center
FREE hearing tests
FREE hearing Aid
cleaning
FREE consultation
Thursday, December 1
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Call for an appointment
226-7307
Visit us online:
illinois-valley-news.com
Illinois Valley News
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by Robert R. (Bob) and
Jan Rodriguez - Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe
Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as Official Newspaper for
Josephine County and Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published at
321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330
Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or
newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com
Volume 68, No. 37
Staff: Michelle Binker,
Becky Loudon, Bryan Harley, Tabitha Jackson, Zina Booth.
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters
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(Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be
accepted until Noon, Friday with an additional charge.)
POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are
of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using
complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not
be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters.
Generally, one letter per person per month at publishers’ discretion. Letters are used at the
discretion of the publishers. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A
prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publishers’ opinion.
POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS &
NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publica-
tion. Submissions must be resubmitted weekly if the item is to run more than one week.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR 97523
(Editor’s Note: Views and
commentary, including state-
ments made as fact, are strictly
those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced let-
ters written solely to this news-
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Cards of thanks are not
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Family Coalition grateful
to IVHS for food aid
From Carol Ronan,
executive director,
I.V. Family Coalition
On the afternoon of
Wednesday, Nov. 23, stu-
dents of Illinois Valley High
School delivered several
boxes and bags of much-
needed food to the Illinois
Valley Family Coalition.
The coalition wants to
express deep gratitude for
being the beneficiary of this
food drive.
Our pantry has been
empty for more than two
months. When hungry fami-
lies come to us for help, it
has been heart-breaking to
send them away without
food. While there are meal
sites in Cave Junction, and a
food pantry in Selma, being
able to provide food locally
for those unable to prepare
meals is an invaluable re-
source to hungry individuals
and families in our commu-
nity.
I hope that the food
drive was a fun competition
for the students. Even more,
I hope that the students un-
derstand how much this
food is appreciated by those
in need.
The students deserve
appreciation for what they
have accomplished on be-
half of the needy in Illinois
Valley.
Ruling pleases radical
preservationists
From District 3 Rep.
Gordon Anderson
(R-Grants Pass)
As you've heard in the
news, Oregon's landmark
property right’s law, Meas-
ure 37, was tossed out by a
Marion County judge.
As vice chairman of the
House Land Use Committee
this year, I helped craft leg-
islation that would clear up
issues some felt were
vague, but the Senate re-
fused to compromise.
This new court ruling
only clouds the issue to
please the radical environ-
mental cause.
The people of Oregon
spoke very clearly when
they passed Measure 37 by
a 60 percent to 40 percent
vote. The margin in Jose-
phine County was more than
70 percent in favor. Voters
have every reason to be out-
raged about this latest
development.
The Oregon Supreme
Court is speeding up the
appeals process to hear the
case in January, but it could
be another year before this is
resolved.
Meanwhile, local gov-
ernments are trying to sort
out the claims process.
This is the second time
in the past few years the
courts have tossed out a
voter mandate on private
property rights based on a
technicality or some other
warped logic. I’m not ready
to give up the fight, and I
hope that voters aren’t
losing all faith in our initia-
tive system.
Thornhill, staff led
IVHS football team to
Sportsmanship Award
From Dave Toler
Cave Junction
In a culture that so often
awards victory above all
else, it’s not easy to remem-
ber that life is really not all
about whether you win or
lose, but how you play the
game.
And so it was with tre-
mendous pride that I heard
that the Illinois Valley High
School football team has
earned this season’s Jack
Clark Sportsmanship Award
-- an award that covers
every high school football
team in the entire Rogue
Valley and Klamath Falls
area
Much credit goes to
Bobby Thornhill and his
coaching staff for being
positive role models on the
field -- even when they
know the officials have
made a bad call. Credit must
also go to the parents of
each I.V. Cougar player
who exhibit the kind of val-
ues that are truly important.
But, of course, the most
credit goes to each Cougar
football player who always
exhibited a positive attitude,
regardless of what the score
was or how players on the
opposing teams were behav-
ing. These are the kind of
great values that will prove
to be an incredible asset
throughout their lives.
As the representative
for Illinois Valley on the
Three Rivers School District
Board, I am extremely
proud of these students. It
just goes to show that
whether our students are in
class or on the football field,
the opportunity to practice
positive values is all-
present.
The Cougars deserve
recognition: I’m extremely
proud of each of them.
Former commissioner
blasts current board
From Tony Corriea
Grants Pass
In my opinion the
county commissioners are
glorifying the elected offi-
cials while discriminating
against the employees who
serve the citizens (voters)
of Josephine County.
I believe our present
commissioners are the worst
we’ve had in years. The
board continues to violate
our Constitution that was
supposedly designed to
“make life better” for the
people.
It has been a year since
the new commissioners took
office, and there has been no
net positive effect; only de-
lusions about efficient,
open-door policy, county
being safe against crime, 24-
hour patrol and fully opera-
tional jail.
The other delusion is
that the commissioners
will treat everyone with
respect and dignity. Exam-
ple: The elderly. The board
wants to kick them out of
the senior center and is
going to shut down the
Meals on Wheels and has
told the Food Bank to go
somewhere else for sup-
port. We have an uncon-
trolled board of county
commissioners who are
supposed to be the peo-
ple’s elected representative
but aren’t.
We as voters can bring
about the needed change,
as 2006 is election year
and it’s up to us as voters
to choose how we want to
live in Josephine County.
(Continued on page 3)
Linda Sallman
128 S. Redwood Hwy.
Cave Junction OR 97523
541-592-4541
Across from Select Market on Redwood Hwy.
Open Mondays - Fridays, 9 to 5
Auto - Home - Life - Commercial
Illinois Valley
Bikers
23rd Annual
Toy Run
Saturday, December 3rd, Noon to Midnight
at the Junction Inn, Cave Junction
entertainment at the JI - 'Valley All-Star Band'
Poker Run
starts at
Noon
Games
Raffle
Prizes
Live local
band
Siskiyou Project
On Sunday, Dec. 4
Takilma resident Kerry
Whitehead will lead hikers
up Hope Mountain Road to
the Queen of Hills Mine
area, then follow the BLM
trail system through the
forest on the return leg.
This area is included in
the East Fork Illinois BLM
timber sale. Hikers should
meet at 10 a.m. at the
Siskiyou Project lower
parking lot, 9335 Takilma
Road.
The hike will end
around 2 p.m. Participants
should pack a lunch.
All toys collected will be distributed on
Christmas Eve at the I.V. Senior Center.
Hosted by ’Sons of God M/C’
For info phone Jeff at 479-9147
or Bob at 592-5208