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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Has the editor been contemplating: his navel, the
price of rutabagas, or riding Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner
from Los Angeles to Oceanside, Calif.; and wondering
whether to title the article, “On a train without a strain,”
“Rail never stale,” or “Track attack & clickety-clack.”
My recent trip to Carlsbad in San Diego County to
be with family began with an early flight from Medford to
LAX. The father behind me didn’t notice that his young
daughter kept kicking the rear of my seat. He told the
flight attendants though, that she was well-traveled and
used to flying. I was tempted to quietly tell him later that
seat-kicking is frowned on and uncomfortable (for the
kickee), but decided to let it go. By the way, some air-
lines still announce “preboarding.” How is it possible to
get aboard before you get aboard? I think they mean
“early or special boarding.” Let that one go too.
One of the neat aspects of train travel is looking in
everyone’s backyard, whether residence or business.
This means that you get to see lots of clutter, and plenty
of graffiti on fences, walls and buildings. At one large
building painted a creamy color, extensive graffiti had
been painted over with gray. But atop one of the gray
splotches, some fool had painted, in black letters, “Ha-
Ha.” Most amusing.
In Fullerton, I spotted a sign a block off the tracks
proclaiming, “Chinese/Islamic Restaurant.” Wondered
about the menu. Entering Santa Ana, I glanced at the
nearest street signs and was surprised to find that we
were at Washington and Lincoln streets. As it was Presi-
dents Day, I thought it an interesting coincidence.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that I tried the waterslide at
the Medford motel the night before my a.m. flight. Too
dumb to pinch my nostrils or blow out when I hit the wa-
ter, I suffered for about 15 minutes because of the chlo-
rine up my nose. Ouch. Also, I didn’t enjoy the slide, as I
got a feeling of vertigo. However, the 35+ little kids in the
pool with their mommies and daddies weren’t bothered.
OK, back to jumping around from observation to ob-
servation. When I first boarded the train at Union Station
in Los Angeles, I automatically looked for a safety belt.
Had to laugh at myself. And watching a Korean Air flight
land at LAX I did a double-take, because its emblem
looks almost identical to that of the Pepsi-Cola Co. Must
be a fizzy business.
From the air, you can see that Greater L.A. is
densely packed. Scary to see that much humanity so
jammed. San Diego County is well on its way to that
same scenario. In fact, there are predictions that the
population there could double in 10 to 15 years, which is
something to contemplate because it’s already almost
gridlocked.
Once again I’m running out of room this week, so
will skip to a great visit to the San Diego Zoo. Jan and I
went with our daugh-
ter, Vicki, and our
granddaughters,
Natalie and Ella. For-
tunately, Vicki be-
longs to the zoologi-
cal society and had
passes. Otherwise it
would have cost us
like $21 each per
adult. Hey, I know the
animals have to eat,
and the employees
have to be paid. But
when I was a kid
down there, the ad-
mission was a buck.
Kind of reminds
me of the guy at a
service station com-
plaining about having to pay for air. “Sorry,” said the at-
tendant, “it’s inflation.
Anyway, we were at the zoo for several hours; took
it easy and didn’t try to see the whole place. It’s one of
my favorite spots to visit. We had a good lunch at Al-
bert’s Restaurant in the zoo, named for a famous, late
resident, who was a gorilla.
There are lots of eateries in San Diego County, and
we went to a few. Jan and I flew back home. If we had
enough time we would have taken Amtrak, but you
know how it is having your own business. Guess I’m just
not well-trained.
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. 51
Staff: The Irrepressible Michelle, Becky Loudon,
Bryan Harley, Tabitha Jackson, Zina Booth.
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
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Typed, double-spaced let-
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Oh handy, dandy person,
wherefore art thou?
From Katy Morrison
Kerby
What I wouldn’t give for
someone to work for me. To
bring their own tools, and do A
and B and C.
This person would show
up on time, and not a minute
late. They know that I am busy
too, and really hate to wait.
This person would have
some knowledge of the tasks I
have in mind. This wonderful
person would finish them all,
and not leave me in a bind.
If I ever were to find this
person, I would treat them just
like gold. I would shower them
with money, and bring cocoa
when they’re cold.
But, alas it goes that there
are a few, but they are very
dear. The rest I fear will just do
enough to pay for daily beer.
And so it goes because I’ve
tried a few who said that they
would work. It always ends
with unfinished jobs -- and my
money to a jerk.
About that banner
the mayor pulled
From Mark Berry
Cave Junction
(Editor’s Note: The fol-
lowing letter to Cave Junc-
tion Mayor Tony Paulson
was submitted for this col-
umn.)
I have just received your
letter dated Feb. 28. I have
never met you personally, but
have heard good things about
you, and I am happy that we
share a common faith.
My hope is to meet you in
April at the prayer breakfast
being organized for you by
Pastor Les Knapp, of Valley
Evangelical Free Church, and
other leaders in the community.
May we all be edified, and may
God be glorified.
I am grieved at the situa-
tion that some misunderstood
my intention. I assure you that
I am in no way trying to cause
division in this community.
Quite the contrary, as the text
of the banner concerns display-
ing “all-church congregational
gathering.”
I have complied with all
the requirements on the banner
instruction, and if I had been
made aware of any infractions,
I would have altered the text.
I pray that we continue to
all be blessed with insight as to
how to handle future banners.
Who are these people,
and why are they here?
From William Schneider
Cave Junction
There can be no clearer
evidence of the mentality that
the world is dealing with in
what has become the hijacked
religion of Islam and its abso-
lutely intolerable acts of self-
righteousness as to include
murder en mass.
Speaking only for myself,
it is difficult to find sympathy
for any hurt feelings of any
Muslim who has not stood up
and spoken out against the
indiscriminate slaughter of
their brothers and sisters
throughout the world by sui-
cide bombers.
Or who through silence
condone the murder of their
women by stoning; or who
condone gang rape as punish-
ment for adultery, a punish-
ment handed down by some
oh-so-wise tribal elder.
No, instead, it appears that
many have, in their self-
absorbed ignorance, directed
their rage toward cartoons,
finding them far more offen-
sive than the scattered body
parts of women and children
splattered on walls and in the
streets. To all who would con-
done murder in the name of
Islam, I say shame on them
times 10.
I am tired of soft peddling
for murderers. I am sick and
tired of stupid, demented men
threatening the world with
violence, like the president of
Iran, ayatollahs who preach
and teach a death cult; Saddam
Husseins; and half the sheiks of
Araby. Who in the name of
sanity are these people and
why are they still here?
It tries the soul to truly feel
peace in one’s heart these days,
but I have always thought hon-
esty was far more in that direc-
tion than pious postulations.
The lack of peace in my heart
for any oppressive religion and
or government speaks for itself.
And, be as it may, the
Mideast will be dragged out of
the Dark Ages, kicking and
screaming or otherwise.
Two commissioners
tax-bound, he feels
From Tony Corriea
Grants Pass
The citizens of Josephine
County are beginning to see
what Commissioners Riddle
and Ellis, along with their sup-
porters, are focused on with
their misguided efforts to bring
the property owners to their
knees, with taxes.
These two commissioners
will polarize the county. Voters
have lost all faith in them and
in their ability to lead this
county, to protect us and our
homes and land.
The two commissioners,
with their illegal actions, are
examples of what great harm
can be caused to property own-
ers. It is a betrayal and an out-
rage against the voters for them
to continue in the direction
they are going.
The facts are painfully
clear. If Riddle and Ellis get
their way with more taxes the
property owners will be
drained dry, virtually wiped
out; leaving the county at risk
of financial disaster.
This is real and it is hap-
pening right now. And unless
the voters, all of us, do some-
thing about it, our land and
homes will be going down the
drain. These are our homes and
land we have worked and paid
for during all our working
years.
Clearly two of the com-
missioners now in office, are
not working in the best inter-
ests of the people, voters and
citizens of Josephine County.
They are playing fast and loose
with our funds, and they are
hoping that no one is paying
attention to what is going on.
Good example, some of us
uncovered many back-room
maneuvers, and then exposed
their activities. Citizens are
urged to learn the facts and be
ready to vote come election
time.
said it was helping are dead
now, and fire risk has greatly
increased.
Cooperative community
alternatives have been ignored.
Hundreds of community mem-
bers have written letters and
testified during recent public
meetings in opposition to these
massive old-growth logging
sales that ignore recreation
dollars flowing through our
community and waste taxpayer
money.
More than $40 million
goes through our valley every
year because of Redwood
Hwy., and the people visiting
the area who come to see the
spectacular natural values of
the area threatened by bad
BLM and U.S. Forest Service
management. The economies
of Illinois Valley are now more
dependent on tourism than ever
before, which begs the ques-
tion: Why sacrifice our future
for a quick couple of bucks?
The forest service is mov-
ing to clear-cut hundreds of
acres of old-growth reserves
from Oregon’s largest and
third-largest roadless area.
Wait until the forest service
and BLM hears from the public
this summer, as more protests
are being planned.
Pregnancy Center
getting out word
From Mary Lefner,
executive director
Cave Junction
One of the outstanding
characteristics of the Preg-
nancy Center of Illinois Valley
is that we fit hand-in-glove
with the mission of the Illinois
Valley churches.
Our mission is to reach
women and families facing
crisis pregnancies while shar-
ing the love of Jesus Christ.
For those who are open, our
desire is that they become ac-
tive in a church.
And others can play an
important role as a liaison be-
tween the Pregnancy Center
and their church. We need
members of valley churches to
be active in this ministry in all
types of ways.
For starters, we need liai-
sons in each church -- people
who keep their own congrega-
tions up to speed on what is
happening here at the center.
When we put out a call for
volunteers, it helps to have
someone share the necessary
information.
And when special events
come up, we work with our
church liaisons to get the word
out.
You may be wondering
how much time this will in-
volve; you’re pressed for time,
and we understand that.
Our church liaisons, like
our other volunteers, are not
going to be overburdened.
We will stay in touch,
make sure they have all the
tools they need to make things
go smoothly, and keep their
time commitment to a mini-
mum.
Those interested in being
our contact in their fellowship
can phone the Pregnancy Cen-
ter at 592-6058, or send an e-
mail to PregnancyCen-
ter@cavenet.com and we will
set up a time to share more
information.
Now is the time to phone:
Our church liaison network is
growing, and added participa-
tion will make us even
stronger.
Logging Takilma’s
‘backyard’ decried
From Vicki Woods
Cave Junction
BLM’s plan to log in the
Takilma area would be like the
Takilma residents going to
town and cutting down all the
trees in everybody’s backyards
for firewood and building ma-
terial.
Well, let’s not stop at the
trees. Toss all those fire-hazard
shrubs into slash piles as well.
Don’t worry if there are no
back alleys at your place either,
as we’d be glad to put in some
roads, at your expense, to make
our job easier.
And the noise and dust
will end when we’re done.
Don’t worry about the yards
being destroyed in the process.
Mud dries and grass grows
back. Just plant some more
grass.
While you’re at it, plant
some more trees so we can
came again in a few years and
log it again. We like that about
renewable resources, don’t
you?
Craziness, wouldn’t you
agree?
That is what it is too, when
BLM wants to come, literally, to
our backyards and log our well-
kept trails and our beloved forest
homes.
According to Siskiyou
Project, BLM plans to put five
major timber sales in Illinois
Valley up for auction, includ-
ing the East Illinois, which
encompasses the last remaining
old-growth in the Takilma area.
BLM already is marking
trees and laying out logging
areas, before even accepting
public comment or finishing its
environmental assessment,
which is a watered-down ver-
sion of an environmental im-
pact statement.
In this area, many resi-
dents hike, hunt, mountain-bike
and bird-watch, and the area is
home to bear, cougar and much
other wildlife. More than 90
percent of residents are not
(Continued on page 3)
BLM, USFS anti-logging
summer protests noted
From Justin Rohde
Selma
I recently have visited all
five Illinois logging sales cov-
ering 28,000 acres combined,
called the Althouse-Sucker,
East Illinois, West Fork, South
Deer, and Tennessee Lime
logging sale.
I am saddened that the
Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) would turn a recrea-
tional and ecological paradise
into a wasteland by commer-
cially logging too much in old-
growth and riparian habitats.
BLM has ignored the
community in its fast track to
log so much of the stunningly
beautiful Illinois Valley. In past
treatments such as Deer Mom,
many of the pine trees BLM
Women’s Café
A Fine & Performing Arts Show
Saturday, March 11
5 to 7 p.m. - Art Show
7 to 10 p.m. - Performances
Admission is on a sliding scale: $8 - $15
Dinner & desserts are sold separately from 5-7 p.m.
All are welcome but young children are discouraged.
Info: Dome School - 592-3911
9367 Takilma Rd., Cave Junction
Normadee says, “Hmm. Smells good
but it doesn’t LOOK like a llama.”
Hat workshop dates to be set soon.
Call to be placed on the list.
Joyce & Harry Abrams
592-6078
llamuz@forestedgefarm.com