Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Page 5
Laurel Road partition request passed
conditionally by 3-0 city council vote
MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS DECLINED, said Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD), by
the lone occupant of a car that rolled on Laurel Road near Rail Lane at approxi-
mately 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. The female driver suffered a laceration by climb-
ing from the wreckage, said IVFD, but refused treatment from American Medical Re-
sponse. Other accident data were unavailable from Josephine County Sheriff’s Of-
fice. (Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD Media Dept.)
Considerable discussion
of “moot points” ensued
prior to Cave Junction City
Council conditionally ap-
proving a request for a land
partition Monday night, July
10 in city hall.
Eventually, the council
voted 3-0 to OK the request
from John Crook, and Larry
& Donna Stocking, of
Grants Pass. They sought to
partition a 4.85-acre parcel
at 1744 Laurel Road into a
1-acre parcel and a 3.85-
acre parcel.
Mayor Tony Paulson
and Councilors Margaret
Miller and Russell Ehrman
voted 3-0 approval, as long
Parking rule
approved by
CJ Council
The Grants Pass-Crescent City stage at a rest stop. Note the passengers’ belong-
ings piled on the back, and the curtain rolled up above the windows. There is no
step to get into the stage; passengers probably had to use the thorough brace, seen
between the wheels, to step up into the coach. (Photo courtesy of Josephine County
Historical Society)
Coaches set transportation stage
By ROGER BRANDT
For IVN
Clouds of dust, cramped
conditions, and enough
rocking motion to make a
sailor sea sick were the
things that passengers
probably remembered the
most about a stagecoach
ride from Illinois Valley to
Crescent City, Calif.
Regardless of their
reputation for uncomfort-
able rides, stagecoaches
played an important role in
the transportation history of
Illinois Valley for more than
50 years.
Stage lines throughout
the nation were usually set
up to have a station with
stables located approxi-
mately 10 to 15 miles along
the travel route. In Illinois
Valley, the stations most
often mentioned in history
books were located at Fort
Hay, Kerbyville, and Waldo,
all of which offered lodging
and food for passengers.
Besides these facilities,
the stage companies also had
stations where additional
horses could be added for
pulling each wagon up a long
grade. One such stop was
located near O’Brien, where
the trail climbed out of the
valley and followed ridge
tops toward Crescent City.
Once on the ridge tops,
accommodations for travel-
ers were scarce until the
stage arrived in Crescent
City. It was a long, dusty
ride. The most pleasant
memory in this section of
road may have been the
trout dinners provided by an
old man who had dug a little
pond near the road which he
kept stocked with fish
caught from nearby streams.
The bone-jarring ride
over rough roads was
smoothed out by a type of
shock system called a
thoroughbrace. These were
Cave Junction’s comprehensive
plan review needs volunteer unit
City of Cave Junction residents and others can apply to
voluntarily serve on a special body to update the CJ compre-
hensive plan.
A minimum of 10 are needed as members of the Commit-
tee For Citizen Involvement. Details will be announced, or
phone city hall at 592-2156.
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in O’Brien by Cheryl
& Harry Johnson.
*Fri., June 30: 97-63
*Sat., July 1: 97-59
*Sun., July 2: 93-61
*Mon., July 3: 95-56
*Tue., July 4: 87-55
*Wed., July 5: 73-54
*Thurs., July 6: 83-57
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in Cave Junction at
Mountain Wind Farm.
*Fri., June 30: 95-55
*Sat., July 1: 92-53
*Sun., July 2: 91-53
*Mon., July 3: 92-50
*Tue., July 4: 86-52
*Wed., July 5: 72-49
*Thurs., July 6: 78-57
To reach the valley,
advertise in the ‘Noose.’
4-inch-wide leather straps
piled one upon another to a
thickness of 6 inches and
suspended between the axles
in a way that formed a cra-
dle-like sling for the coach.
The rocking motion was
better than having no shocks
at all, but we can only imag-
ine how challenging it must
have been for riders who
were prone to seasickness.
The stagecoaches that
made the trip from Illinois
Valley to Crescent City
were capable of carrying
six to eight passengers. Bag-
gage was tied atop the coach
or piled on a shelf-like rack
at the back of the coach.
Curtains were available to
roll down during a storm
and to help keep out the dust
although it was probably not
effective at either.
Stagecoach companies
made a fair income from
passengers, but much of the
profit for the lines came
from transporting mail and
freight.
This might include pay-
rolls or gold shipments that
had to be carried over routes
in remote areas where rob-
beries could have occurred
at any time.
Around the turn of the
century, automobiles began
to appear on local roads, and
by 1915 the motorized auto-
stage pushed the era of
horse-drawn stagecoach
transportation into history.
Despite a Kerby resi-
dent claiming that a city of
Cave Junction parking ordi-
nance is “unenforceable,”
the city council voted 3-0 to
approve the ruling.
The council -- with one
seat vacant and Councilman
Dan Fiske absent -- met in
city hall Monday night, July
10. Kerby resident John
Bowler protested Ordinance
491, modifying an existing
ordinance.
Mayor Tony Paulson,
and Cpl. Sean Rarey of the
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office, were among those in
favor of the new rule. “I
think it will be a useful
tool,” said Rarey.
Paulson stated that the
revision “is to address vehi-
cles parked indefinitely on
city streets. If they are, they
can be cited” with a fine not
to exceed $100.
The ordinance refers to
“any vehicle parked on a
city street or in a city right-
of-way longer than 72
hours.” It also lists motor
homes and campers and
travel trailers, prohibiting
“use of such as a residence.”
Bowler attempted to
make the case that the ordi-
nance would adversely af-
fect residents with several
vehicles, particularly those
who park, drive to work,
and return to park again. But
the mayor and Rarey said
the intent is not to cause
problems for residents, but
for persons with vehicles
that are never moved or who
are living in their vehicles.
Should a citation be
issued, they said, and the
owner feels that it was in
error, the circumstances can
be explained to the city Mu-
nicipal Court judge.
“We’re just trying to be
reasonable,” said the mayor.
Outside of the killings,
Washington has one of
the lowest crime rates
in the country.
- Marion Barry -
Meidinger Concrete Construction
Serving the Valley since 1974
Specializing in all types of Concrete
and Masonry
New - Foundations - Walks - Drives - Patios
Mobile Home Runners and Foundations
Bridges and Abutments - Slabs - Large or Small
Exposed Aggregate - Retaining Walls and Basements
Stamped & Colored Concrete
Phone 592-4485
Mike Meidinger
License #93173
as staff recommendations
are met. One council seat is
vacant, and Councilman
Dan Fiske is on vacation.
Protesting the request
were Kerby resident John
Bowler, and Sally Palmer,
who lives in the 4000 block
of Caves Hwy. They ques-
tioned possible future devel-
opment. They were sup-
ported by Ehrman with re-
gard to addressing potential
problems should such devel-
opment, perhaps a subdivi-
sion, occur.
However, such ques-
tions at this time “are moot”
indicated the mayor, Plan-
ning Clerk Helen Early, City
Recorder Jim Polk and
Miller. Should any develop-
ment be pursued subsequent
to the approved partition, the
applicants will have to meet
all necessary criteria.
“I think we’re jumping
the gun here,” said Miller.
“We’re only looking at the
partition at this time.”
Numerous criteria
would have to be met, in-
cluding installation of a
bona fide road running from
Laurel Road to Fir Drive.
For example, it was pointed
out, if perhaps a 19-lot sub-
division plan were submit-
ted, each lot would need to
have 25-foot frontage on a
public street.
There also was concern
by protestors about a cul de
sac, but that issue also
would have to be addressed,
and Josephine County Pub-
lic Works must approve
driveway access for such
lots.
Applicants were repre-
sented by Alex Palm, of i.e.
Engineering in Roseburg.
Mark’s Pest Prevention Tip:
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Thank you!
The LBMS students and staff who recently
went to Washington, D.C. to participate in
the National History Day 2006 competition
would like to sincerely thank these commu-
nity members, businesses and groups whose
financial contributions made this exciting
trip possible:
Three Rivers School District
IVCDO
Child Safety Fund (GP Firefighter Union)
Grants Pass Active Club
Marvin and Elizabeth Fox
Randy and Sennie Delonge
Cave Junction Family Medicine
Crocker Financial Services
Rachel Goodman
Lou Levison
Mary and Robert Tommisser
Thomas Housel DDS
Tony and Michele Strickland
Anna Marie and C. D. Moore
Meidinger Concrete
Construction
Sally Clements
Irene Guerrero-Acevedo
Oregon Mountain Real Estate
Students & staff of Evergreen,
LBMS, and IVHS
M. Walther
Siskiyou Regional Education
Project
Tony and Robin Paulson
Mountain Man RV Park
Foris Vineyards
Illinois Valley Building
Supply
Lou Gold
Junction Realty
Sandy Glamack
Perfect Pizza Plus
Donna Melton
Rick’s Copy Express
Emily Noble
Jeannette Bosch
Bi-Rite Auto
Pizza Pit
Cut Time
Galice Resort
Dutch Brothers Coffee
Issac’s
River’s Edge Restaurant
Wal-Mart
Taylor’s Sausage
True Value
Bounty Hunter Trading Post
Bear Images
Nacho Mamas
Muncheez
Wild River Brewing & Pizza
Co.
McGrew’s Restaurant
Chuck Robertson
All those who bought raffle
tickets
All who donated or bought
items at the yard sale
** Extra special thanks to Kathy Mechling,
for her unparalleled generosity!!