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Protests sour liquor ap
for planned topless bar
OPEN DOOR POLICY EXPANDED - A 1998 full-size
pickup truck crashed through a wall and into the confer-
ence room at Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) headquar-
ters in the 600 block of Caves Hwy. Friday, May 26, at ap-
proximately 11:30 a.m. The driver was identified as Sta-
cey R. Ashinhurst, of Sparks, Nev. He apparently suffered
a seizure of some sort, went off the road, through a
neighboring property, and then on the HQ pavement and
into the building. Those inside said it sounded like an
explosion. Besides the hole in the wall, other structural
damage was observed in the new building. Emergency
repairs were made. Other than Ashinhurst’s situation, no
other injuries were reported. ‘It was a miracle that no one
was in the room,’ said IVFD Chief Harry Rich. (Photos by
Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD, and ‘Illinois Valley News’)
‘Picnic in the Park’ June 3 offers many attractions
With a fresh format and
new location, The Shining
Stars will present its fifth an-
nual festival Saturday, June 3
from 10 a.m. to dusk in Cave
Junction’s Jubilee Park.
Dubbed “A Picnic in the
Park,” the admission-free event
will feature live music, Kids
IVHS ‘06 class
graduation 7th
Illinois Valley High
School’s Class of 2006 will
march through rose-covered
arches for commencement
on Wednesday, June 7.
The graduation cere-
mony will begin at 7:30
p.m. at the new football
field. The program will be
held in the gym in case of
nasty weather.
Valedictorians are
Jessea Mucha and Garrett
Crowl. Salutatorians are Joy
Messerli, Maxim Hoffman,
and Nikko Fujita.
A graduation page with
photos of the class will be in
the June 7 issue.
Universe with lively work-
shops, food and art vendors, a
beer garden, and raffle. A
skateboarding demonstration,
featuring dreams and aspira-
tions for the future of the skate
park, will be presented.
Serving The Shining
Stars for the fifth consecu-
tive year is Doug Green,
who as emcee will humor-
ously and skillfully orches-
trate a day of varied local
and regional acts, some of
them returning favorites.
Attendees are advised to
bring picnic gear, especially
blankets and weather-
appropriate clothing. Food
vendors, Da Kine Grinds
and The Shining Stars, will
have an array of freshly pre-
pared items available, in-
cluding turnovers, hamburg-
ers, hot dogs, salads and
corn on the cob.
Artist Miguelo Kime
will bring a tile quilt project
to the kids’ area from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m., and Illinois
River Valley Arts Council
will have a hand in Kids
Universe from 1 to 3 p.m.
coordinating craft creations.
There also will be a juggling
workshop, face painting and
all ages can attend the free
nose-flute demonstration.
Also returning are the
Coyote Rising Giant Pup-
pets, whose enormous gyra-
tions are always captivating.
Children 12 and older may
participate in a workshop
with the puppets and per-
formers from 2 to 4 p.m..
New Tribe, the tree-
climbing experts, will construct
a Treeboat Village display. A
treeboat valued at $225 is
among raffle items, as is a pair
of tickets to the “Blues Trav-
eler” show at the Britt July 15,
and a hand-carved maple table
(valued at $700).
Kicking off live music
at 10:15 a.m. will be Afri-
can-style drummers
“Ashanti Jiggens,” followed
at 10:45 a.m. by “Wally
Aiken on Sax.” Later, “B-
Wishes” will pull a double
with young talent, and then
as a duo with Sarah Austin,
set to begin at 12:45 p.m.
Rounding out the after-
noon lineup:
*“Sweet Island Thyme.”
*“Sparrow” on accordion.
*“Rowdy James and
The Handlers.”
*“Bye Bye Chinook,”
and “The Tasty Trio.”
Those 21 and older can visit
the beer garden and ought to
come prepared to show ID. Pro-
ceeds from sales of food and beer
will help The Shining Stars non-
profit organization continue to
bring art, music and recreational
activities and events to youth in
Illinois Valley.
All are welcome to join
the fun, though for every-
one’s comfort dogs are
strongly discouraged.
- Michelle Binker
Youth wounded
An incident in rural
Grants Pass, in which a boy
11, was shot in his left
shoulder, will be referred to
the Josephine County Dis-
trict Attorney’s Office for
further review.
The county sheriff’s
office added that it received
a call on Friday, May 26 at
approximately 7:25 p.m.
from David Thomas on W.
Jones Creek Road.
His son, he said, was
wounded accidentally with
a .22 caliber rifle by a
neighbor, 12. The wounded
boy was treated and released
at Three Rivers Community
Hospital in Grants Pass.
THREE PERSONS WERE TRANSPORTED by American Medical Response following a
three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 199 at Squaw Mtn. Road Saturday afternoon, May 27. The
accident occurred across the street from the home of Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD)
Deputy Chief Jeff Gavlik and his wife JoAnne. Two of their relatives apparently were in-
volved. Oregon State Police responded to the crash, but details were unavailable in time
for this issue. (Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD Media Dept.)
There will be a delay of
at least two months before a
decision on a liquor license
for a planned bar with top-
less dancers based on its
contentious nature and pub-
lic protests.
Rural Cave Junction
resident Larry Goynes,
owner of the planned Sugars,
said that he received notifica-
tion of the delay from the
Oregon Liquor Control
Commission (OLCC).
“Because of all the con-
troversy, all the protests, the
application is being kicked
up to the Salem office from
Medford for review,” said
Goynes.
More than 100 valley
residents attended the May
22 Cave Junction City
Council meeting, mainly to
protest what some call “the
strip bar.” Additionally, a
number of residents con-
tacted OLCC via e-mail,
telephone and letters to pro-
test the bar and its liquor
license application.
The city council sent a
“no recommendation” deci-
sion to OLCC.
Goynes has a city busi-
ness license for Sugars in
Downtown Cave Junction.
It’s in the rear of the former
Ivy Theater, immediately
adjacent to Stevereno’s
Family Restaurant and be-
hind Bi-Rite Auto Parts.
His plan, he said, is to
have women dance topless
on-stage, then probably
serve drinks and visit with
customers. A mezzanine
could be used for those just
wanting beverages, although
he could add a small stage.
Besides the OLCC de-
lay, Goynes said that he
nearly is ready for a sign-off
on fire code requirements.
The inspection will be con-
ducted by Josephine County
Building & Safety Dept.,
which handles such matters
for the city.
Once that is accom-
plished, Goynes said that he
is uncertain as to his next
move, until and if he re-
ceives his liquor license.
He is considering open-
ing Sugars as a juice bar;
renting the facility for special
events; having live music;
and possibly private gather-
ings such as bachelor parties
or wedding receptions.
“We’ll just have to wait
and see what happens,”
Goynes said.
If the business opens as
a topless bar and does not
serve alcoholic beverages,
persons at least 18 could be
admitted, although Goynes
was not asked about that.
Barlow to answer concern
in June 1 public gathering
As part of its good
neighbor policy, Barlow
Sand & Gravel will hold a
public meeting Thursday,
June 1 at 6 p.m. at Illinois
Valley Grange Hall on Hol-
land Loop to address con-
cerns from some residents
about a planned operation.
“We would like to bring
the plans for the Illinois Val-
ley Ranch Bar to the meet-
ing and talk with area resi-
dents about what we are
planning and discuss the
complaints we have re-
ceived,” said Bryan Ross,
Barlow’s director of opera-
tions.
He admitted that the
company “made several
mistakes,” but that it is
working to remedy those
errors and be a positive part
of the community.
“Barlow Sand and
Gravel is an Illinois Valley-
based company that em-
ploys people from Illinois
Valley for meeting the ag-
gregate and concrete mate-
rial needs in Illinois Valley,”
he said.
“While principals from
the Copeland company have
a financial interest in Bar-
low,” he added, “Barlow is a
fully independent entity
with a unique ownership
(Continued on page 8)
Work set on forest roads
Rogue River-Siskiyou
National Forest began con-
struction of recreation
improvement projects along
Illinois River Road (Forest
Road # 4103).
“These recreation site
upgrades include a wide
range of projects from
installing picnic shelters and
toilet facilities to creating
designated paved parking
areas and sites accessible to
persons with disabilities.
‘Work also includes
improving trails and making
drainage improvements
along the Illinois River
Road,” said Pam Bode,
Galice and Illinois Valley
District ranger.
“Our goals,” she said,
“are to protect the Wild and
Scenic Illinois River while
providing support for the
recreational experiences.
This project will improve
public safety and sanitary
conditions as well as
reduce resource damage,”
she said.
The Forest Service has
awarded a contract to Hayes
and Sons, of Happy Camp,
Calif. for the improvements,
which are scheduled to be
completed by Nov.
15. During June, the con-
struction work will start at
the Six Mile Creek site and
proceed to Miami Bar Boat
Ramp project.
At Six Mile Creek, con-
struction work includes in-
stalling two picnic shelters
and a trail bridge over Six
Mile Creek, and construct-
ing a parking area. When
completed, Miami Bar Boat
Ramp, a popular boat
launch on the Illinois
River, will feature an up-
graded concrete pad and an
asphalt turn around.
The Illinois River Road
will be open to public use
during this construction pe-
riod. While there will not be
a road closure, motorists
may encounter travel delays.
Delays from 30 minutes
to four hours could occur for
limited periods of times in
the unpaved section beyond
McCaleb Ranch. Signs are
installed to inform forest
visitors of possible delays.
Major road construction
projects include making
maintenance free, drainage
improvements to include
water bars, drain dips, up-
grading culverts and install-
ing gabion retaining walls
along the route.
After the Illinois River
Road portion is completed,
the project area will
move to Eight Dollar Road
(Forest Road # 4201).