Page 2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Bob’s Corner
Upon receiving last week an invitation to a reunion
of my high school graduating class to mark (celebrate?)
45 years since we escaped … er … left the campus, a
number of memories, as usual, bubbled to the top of my
consciousness like dropping Mentos into a two-liter con-
tainer of diet cola.
So with all that geyser-like fizzing, the first recollec-
tion naturally gravitated to my life in the snack bar at
dear ol’ St. Augustine High School in San Diego. It was
my good fortune to work in the snack bar during my jun-
ior and senior years. And that’s how I became employed
by Canteen Service of San Diego, and later had a flock
of terrifically weird experiences in such diverse locations
including, but definitely not limited to: Camp Pendleton,
the San Diego Zoo, and North Island Naval Air Station,
not to mention any number of bowling alleys, bars,
schools and other sites with vending machines.
But back to the snack bar -- one had to be at least a
junior to work there, and it seemed as though only three
students applied. Me and two giants with unusual
senses of humor, who both played varsity tackle posi-
tions on our Saints team. We ate like kings (snack bar
kings) for one semester. We were initially allowed to eat
and drink as much of anything we wanted as our pay.
Unfortunately, we consumed to excess, and so the pay
was changed to a dollar a day.
But we were allowed to leave the classes before re-
cess and lunch five minutes before the bell, and return
five minutes later than anyone else. So that was a plus.
To tell the truth, I was known for being able to smuggle
food into class in the pockets of my car coat, which were
popular at the time. So my senior annual notes that I was
the “Snack Bar King.” It could have been worse.
I am looking forward to seeing what my former class-
mates look like. It will be interesting to see how two score
and five have affected those guys. My class has had two
other reunions, gatherings to note 20 years and 40 years,
neither of which I was able to attend. Being the sentimen-
tal guy (pack rat) that I am, I still have my 1961 annual. I
know what my long-ago buds are doing for work because
of an overpriced fund-raiser publication I purchased. Most
of them are retired. Me, I’m just tired.
But with memories of being the Snack Bar King
dancing in my head, I’ll be heading to my native San
Diego later this year. Maybe I’ll take some Mentos to
hand out.
Library whacked ...
(Continued from page 1)
happen, according to the
Real Library Committee.
It was formed to preserve
the library system in Jose-
phine County and save it
from extinction.
Believing libraries to be
the bedrock of education
and a civilized culture, the
committee collected more
than 9,500 signatures in a
petition drive to put this pro-
posed library district on the
November ballot. This li-
brary district will be led by
its own independent board
of directors, serve all of Jo-
sephine County, and be
funded by a permanent tax
rate solely dedicated to li-
brary use.
While many fear any
idea of new taxes, the actual
amount per household will
be minimal. In fact, noted
Momyer, for less than the
cost of one latte per week or
half of one pizza per month,
the revenue will provide:
*Six days -- totaling 60
hours -- per week of library
service.
*Satisfactory levels of
qualified staff.
*Strengthened library
services in the county.
*An increased number
of books and materials.
*All funds needed to
staff current locations as
well as any future library
buildings.
Regarding new taxes,
through a Meyer Memorial
Foundation Grant, a library
consultant prepared a feasi-
bility study. It concluded
that all the necessary library
services can be funded for
55-cents per $1,000 of as-
sessed valuation.
Tax Example Given
The Real Library Com-
mittee said that any home’s
assessed value is far below
current market value. In any
event, on a home assessed at
$180,000, the library tax
share would be $99 per year
or $8.25 a month. ”For a
family of four that’s a real
bargain!” he said.
One person attending the
meeting asked, “What does it
say about a community that
will close its libraries while
opening up strip clubs?”
Perhaps the best answer
to that rhetorical question
came from some of the
quotes included in the pres-
entation. Asimov once
wrote, “… when I read con-
stantly about the way in
which library funds are be-
ing cut and cut, I can only
think that … American soci-
ety has found one more way
to destroy itself.”
And “Cosmos” author
Sagan observed, “I think the
health of our civilization, the
depth of our awareness
about … our culture and our
concern for the future can all
be tested by how well we
support our libraries.”
The committee agrees,
and is seeking helpers for its
campaign team.
For further information
and to help, contact Carolyn
and Bill Kohn at 476-9280;
Susan Cohen, 479-4757; Joe
Momyer 659-9696; Cessa
Vichi, 592-3291; or Whitney
Lard, 218-5656 .
Vehicle vs. tree crash takes
life of Wilderville woman
Wilderville resident
Rhonda L. Omdahl, 50,
died of injuries in a motor
vehicle crash Friday, June
30 on Hwy. 199 near Won-
der at approximately 2:50
p.m., said Oregon State
Police (OSP).
Omdahl
was
northbound near milepost
11. She was on a slight
curve to the left when her
vehicle went off the road,
traveled approximately 12
feet and struck a tree, ac-
cording to OSP.
It appeared that the
vehicle had become air-
borne. She was pro-
nounced dead at the scene.
Traffic was hampered
for approximately two
FOR EMERGENCY CALL 911
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I’m 60 years of age. That’s 16 Celsius.
- George Carlin -
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 69, No. 16
Staff: Michelle Binker, Bryan Harley,
Tabitha Jackson, Zina Booth.
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
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Bridge work
alert issued
to river rats
Because of construc-
tion-related hazards, swim-
mers are urged to stay out of
the work zones of four Illi-
nois River bridge projects
along Oregon Hwy. 199.
“Construction workers
take a lunch break, only to
come back and find kids
jumping into the river right
in the work zone,” said Joe
Thomas, Oregon Dept. of
Transportation (ODOT)
project manager.
“The work zone is a
very hazardous area and not
a place for swimmers,” Tho-
mas said.
According to Thomas,
hazards in the water and on
the structures include
pilings and rebar.
“We’re asking people to
stay off the bridges and
avoid swimming under
them as well,” Thomas said.
Four replacemen t
bridges are under construc-
tion along Hwy. 199 be-
tween Cave Junction and the
California border. The $16
million project, using Ore-
gon Highway Improvement
Act funds, began in 2005
and is scheduled for com-
pletion in 2007.
hours. Southbound traffic
was especially affected,
with several miles of vehi-
cles backed up toward
Grants Pass.
The victim was the
wife of Randy Omdahl,
production manager at the
Grants Pass “Daily Cou-
rier.”
Besides OSP, emer-
gency responders were
American Medical Re-
sponse, Rural/Metro Fire
Dept., and Illinois Valley
Fire District.
The crash scene was
approximately a quarter-
mile north of the Wonder
Store.
Letter to the Editor
(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-
paper are considered for publi-
cation. Hand-written letters that
are double-spaced and legible
also can be considered.
‘Thank you’ submissions
are not accepted as letters.
* * *
‘Wages of sin’ outlined
because of hedonism
From John Bazen
Cave Junction
God wants to remove
from us any killing sins. Sa-
tan, wants to kill us, with sin.
Romans 6:23: “For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
How does this apply to
humanity today? We need
only look to the two
“Pestilences” man deals with
today, HPV (Human Papi-
loma Virus), and HIV/AIDS,
virus. The first virus, the
CDC states, kills 30,000
women annually, and esti-
mates that 30 percent of sexu-
ally active people carry it.
With AIDS killing mil-
lions around the world, it has
expanded out of the “gay”
community to all segments of
society, to now being an
“Equal Opportunity Killer,”
that all see, but for those who
espouse the “gay” lifestyle as
normal.
Many perhaps ask,
“Why?: Job 4:8: “Those who
plow iniquity and sow trou-
ble, reap the same.” Is this
where man got this saying?
“What we sow, we also
reap?”
It seems that most of us
are not the least afraid of
reaping what we have sowed
because we “Just wanna have
fun,” and many are “dying”
to do just that. Therefore,
unless they change, they lose,
and Satan wins.
If any doubt that this is
written of, read Matthew 24,
Mark 13 and Luke 21, and
see how this compares with
our daily news.
$300 REWARD
For information leading to the arrest and conviction of the
person who shot and killed our mostly white calico cat,
Abby.
Abby was found dead on Monday, June 26 approximately
midway from front to back and near the property line be-
tween our lot, 397 Kirkham Road (The Schwindt residence)
and 475 Kirkham Road (The Gates residence).
This has been a devastating experience for us to lose such a
sweet and loving family member, and we are seeking your
help to bring to justice the person responsible. You may
remain anonymous if you wish.
Phone Randy or Kathy at 592-3468
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The secret of staying young is to live honestly,
eat slowly, and lie about your age.
- Lucille Ball -