50¢
IVCDO recognized
for its Great Strides
Illinois Valley community to benefit
from $100,000 award from NW group
A $100,000 Great
Strides Award will be re-
ceived by Illinois Valley
Community Response Or-
ganization (IVCDO) for the
steps it has taken to reduce
poverty on a long-term basis.
IVCDO, headed by Ex-
ecutive Director Robert
Schumacher, is being recog-
nized for its “grit, determina-
tion and successes” by the
Northwest Area Founda-
tion’s (NAF) second-annual
initiative awards.
Besides its $100,000
award, IVCDO has been
offered a $40,000 grant to
“facilitate its efforts to share
lessons learned with other
communities throughout the
region.
“The $100,000 -- a re-
ward for work already done --
will go to community organi-
zations to be used for com-
munity benefit,” said NAF.
Said Jack Dwyer, chair-
man of IVCDO’s board:
“We are pleased to be se-
lected for the Great Strides
County bucks urged
U.S. Rep. Peter De-
Fazio (D-Springfield) called
on President Bush to include
in his annual federal budget
reauthorization of the
“county payments” program
for another seven years.
The funding would sup-
port the Secure Rural
Schools and Community
Self-Determination Reau-
thorization Act of 2005
“This program is the
lifeblood of rural counties
across America who serve
everyday as stewards of our
federal lands,” said Defazio.
“County Payments re-
authorization has the sup-
port of members across the
aisle in Congress and across
the country, he said. “The
next important step for
maintaining the program
that is critical to be the exis-
tence of many Oregon coun-
ties is funding in the presi-
dent’s budget. We must
keep our promises to rural
America and maintain a
century-long commitment to
counties and child educa-
tion.”
DeFazio’s request came
on the same day the Dept. of
Agriculture issued $147
million for fiscal year 2005,
through the Secure Rural
Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act, to
counties in Oregon to main-
tain schools, roads and other
public services.
Of Oregon’s 36 coun-
ties, 32 received payments
through the program totaling
more than $273 million last
year.
gate Trail following the ap-
proximate route of Hwy. 199
to Illinois Valley. There, they
turned and followed Illinois
River down into what is now
the Eight Dollar Mountain
botanical area.
The stream where the
gold was found was named
in honor of a girl in the
group and is still known
today as Josephine Creek.
Most people agree that Jose-
phine County was named
after the same girl, Jose-
phine Rollins.
The discovery of gold
Photo of Josephine
Rollins courtesy of
Josephine County
Historical Society.
(Continued on page 3)
County’s job situation
shows upward swings
EMBANKMENT INTRUDER - Illinois Valley emergency
personnel responded at 1:33 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23 to a
report of a motor vehicle crash at the end of E. River
Street at Laurel Road. It initially was reported that a
man, who might have been injured, walked away from
the scene. He was not located. The registered owner is
an O’Brien resident, who has a roommate, and it was
not immediately determined if either of them was in-
volved. A crash report by Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office was pending. (Photo by Dale Sandberg/I.V. Fire)
Happy 150th, Josephine County
By ROGER BRANDT
Special to IVN
Sesquicentennial is a
word we don't get to use
often because it only comes
around when something
turns 150 years old.
The word is pronounced
“sez-key-centennial,” and
now is the perfect opportu-
nity for people to use it be-
cause on Sunday, Jan. 22,
Josephine County became
150 years old.
Illinois Valley has more
reason to celebrate Jose-
phine County’s sesquicen-
tennial than any other place
in the region because this is
where the early history of
this county was shaped.
For the first 25 years of
the county’s history, the
county seat and government
offices were located in Illi-
nois Valley thriving com-
munities that sprang up
around mining operations or
along supply routes from
Crescent City, Calif. -- the
supply hub for most of
Southwestern Oregon.
The story of how this
area became the center of
activity began in 1851. A
group of settlers traveling on
a pioneer trail near Grants
Pass met some Native
Americans who showed
them gold nuggets and said
they would lead them to the
place where the yellow
rocks had been found.
This side trip took these
settlers south from the Apple-
Award.”
Added Schumacher,
“It’s good to see national
recognition for the efforts
that so many people have
made over the years to sup-
port and improve our rural
community.
“This award will be a
great help in continuing the
implementation of our stra-
tegic plan,” he concluded.
In choosing the valley
organization, one of only
four selected, NAF noted
that it “has used funding
opportunities from its Enter-
prise Community designa-
tion to help create a highly
successful microenterprise
fund to assist low-income
business owners; and a busi-
ness incubator facility for
emerging businesses.
“Also, a wildfire fuels
reduction program, a new
community center, a new
women’s shelter, support for
a growing arts community;
in Oregon launched a rush
into Illinois Valley. Al-
though the mining was more
active here than other places
around the region, Illinois
Valley was incorporated
into Jackson County when it
was established in 1852.
Jacksonville was designated
as the county seat.
The distance between
Illinois Valley and Jackson-
ville became an almost im-
mediate issue because of the
time it took to travel to the
county seat over rough
trails.
Citizens began to press
for establishing a separate
county where a more local
county seat could be estab-
lished.
On Jan. 22, 1856, the
Oregon Legislature sepa-
rated the western half of
Jackson County to create
Josephine County.
From 1856 to 1883,
most of the significant
events in Josephine
County’s history took place
in Illinois Valley. There are
many events and people
who helped shape the land-
scape and places we see
around the valley today.
Perhaps this year will be
a good opportunity for us to
look back and appreciate the
role that Illinois Valley
played in Oregon history.
But for now, from the
place where it all began,
“Happy sesquicentennial,
Josephine County.”
Following are the high-
and-low temperatures, and
rainfall, recorded in O’Brien
by Cheryl & Harry Johnson.
*Fri., Jan.13: 49-43, 1.14
*Sat., Jan.14: 46-34, .43
*Sun., Jan.15: 44-33, .08
*Mon., Jan. 16: 52-36, .39
*Tu., Jan. 17: 50-43, 2.95
*Wed., Jan. 18: 44-34, 1.18
*Thurs., Jan. 19: 47-31
Following are the high-
and-low temperatures, and rain-
fall, recorded in Cave Junction
at Mountain Wind Farm.
*Fri., Jan.13: 47-43, 1.15
*Sat., Jan.14: 43-32, .41
*Sun., Jan.15: 47-31, .04
*Mon., Jan. 16: 53-36, .37
*Tu., Jan. 17: 50-43, 3.47
*Wed., Jan. 18: 43-33, 1.18
*Thurs., Jan. 19: 47-32, .01
Illinois Valley
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Cloudy & Foggy
High--48 Low--33
Thursday, Jan. 26
Mostly Cloudy
High--41 Low--32
Friday, Jan. 27
Cloudy & Rainy
High--43 Low--36
Saturday, Jan. 28
Cloudy & Rainy
High--44 Low--36
Sunday, Jan. 29
Scattered Showers
High--43 Low--38
Monday, Jan. 30
Rain & Sleet Possible
High--44 Low--34
Tuesday, Jan. 31
Mostly Cloudy
High--45 Low--31
Josephine County’s job
situation continues to look
good, based on December
figures, said Oregon Em-
ployment Dept. (OED).
In fact, said OED, the
county’s job growth of 3.7
percent during 2005 out-
paced the statewide average
of 3.5 percent.
The jobless rate during
December rose slightly to
6.3 percent from the 6.2
percent recorded during No-
vember. It was better than
the 7.6 percent during De-
cember 2004.
During December ‘05,
said OED, there were 32,578
persons employed in Jose-
phine County out of a civil-
ian labor force of 34,765.
The slight drop was due
to seasonal reductions in
areas including natural re-
sources and mining, con-
struction (-70), and leisure
and hospitality (-30).
The county’s payroll
employment fell by 100
during December, but was
up by 910 jobs from the
same month a year ago.
Year-to-date residential
building permit data from
the U.S. Census Bureau
show ‘05 on track to exceed
“the robust numbers” from
‘04. A total 799 residential
unit permits, many of them
in the city of Cave Junction,
were issued through No-
vember ‘05, up from 708
during the same ‘04 period.
During the past 12
months, said OED, manu-
facturing was up by 220
jobs, and the wood products
industry added 70. Retail
trade lost 20 jobs last month,
but is up 200 since Decem-
ber ‘04.
Leisure and hospitality
dipped by 30 during Decem-
ber, but stands at 70 jobs
higher than December ‘04.
Other industries contrib-
uting to the county’s job
gains during the past year
include wholesale trade
(+110), professional and
business services (+60), and
health care and social assis-
tance (+70).
Government employ-
ment payrolls rose by 70
jobs last year, with local
education adding the most.
Jackson County had a
jobless rate of 5.1 percent
during December. The Ore-
gon seasonally adjusted rate
was 5.7 percent; the U.S.
rate 4.9 percent, OED said.
I.V. matmen win handily
Illinois Valley’s matmen
continued with high scores
during their two most current
events, but lament the loss of
Jacob Miller for the season.
The I.V. High School
varsity wrestling team won a
three-team dual wrestling
match in Rogue River Thurs-
day, Jan. 19.
In the first match, the
Cougars swept the Henley
boys 62-0.
The Cougar dominance
continued in the second
match as well with the boys
registering a convincing 72-6
decision vs. Rogue River.
As a team, the IVHS
grapplers continue to be
ranked third in the state.
Despite the loss of Jacob
Miller for the season due to
an elbow injury, the team is
gaining momentum as the
state tournament draws
nearer.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, the
IVHS boys competed in the
Eagle Point Invitational with
12 other teams.
The 3-A Cougars took
second place to Eagle Point, a
4-A school with a much lar-
ger team. I.V.’s showing was
weaker than expected, as
some key wrestlers, including
Jacob Miller, were out be-
cause of illness.
Eagle Point results: Larry
Ragsdale, 2nd (112); Sam
Winter, 2nd (125); Jesse Swift,
2nd (140); Adam Miller, 2nd
(145); Paulo Rocha, 3rd (145);
Jacob Ellis, 3rd (152); Aaron
Adams, 6th (152); Zach Pag-
notta, 1st (160); Anthony
Miller, 2nd (171); Lex John-
son, 3rd (171); Lefi Tausaga,
3rd (189).
(Information for the pre-
ceding story was provided by
Ward Winter)