Page 16
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Former Principal Brown gets SMART
with Evergreen Elementary students
PICKET FENCE WELCOMED - Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce Greeters Com-
mittee visited Picket Fence Fabrics in Cave Junction on Thursday, March 15. (From
left) Bob Schumacher, Barbara Klingel (store owner), Dulcie Moore, Vicki Gill and
Alice Schaffer. Picket Fence Fabrics can be reached at 592-5003. (Photo by ‘IVN’)
Cole, Pittman, Holmes, Dominguez
among Illinois Valley HS achievers
By SCOTT JORGENSEN
IVN Staff Writer
So far, 2007 has proven
to be a banner year for a
number of Illinois Valley
High School (IVHS) stu-
dents, who have a long list
of accomplishments to show
for their efforts.
These students have
demonstrated excellence in
a variety of fields, including
athletics, community in-
volvement and art. They
also have high hopes for the
future, and the skills and
ambition to help make their
dreams a reality.
Alex Dominguez
Freshman
Alex
Dominguez remembers tak-
ing Nature walks with his
mother while growing up
locally. Now, he’s found a
way to blend those land-
scapes with his lifelong love
of art.
Dominguez recently
received third place in the
freshman division of a re-
gional competition for his
scratchboard piece, titled “In
the Branches.” His other
preferred media include
painting, charcoal and clay.
Dominguez plans to
attend college for art, and
would someday like to own
a farm and use it as inspira-
tion for future artistic en-
deavors.
Sheena Cole
IVHS girls basketball
star Sheena Cole has gotten
much credit for her team’s
efforts last season. But she
is quick to attribute that suc-
cess to the hard work of oth-
ers.
“We had a lot of girls
that had a lot of heart,” Cole
said. “We worked together
as a team, and didn’t want to
stop playing.”
Cole has been playing
basketball since the tender
age of 6, and was aided by
her mother’s constant sup-
port and encouragement.
As a young girl, Cole
would watch her older
brother’s basketball games
at North Medford High
School. That experience
inspired her to join as many
teams as she could during
the years, including an all-
star team that travels to tour-
naments during the summer.
“It’s definitely some-
thing I work on in the off-
season,” Cole said.
This season, Cole
played as a point guard,
which required some adjust-
ment on her part. But she
did well enough to be
named the Skyline Confer-
ence 2006 Player of the
Year, much to her delight.
“That was one of my
goals, and I’m glad I
achieved it,” Cole said. “It
meant a lot to me.”
Cole, a senior, is now in
the process of picking a col-
lege. She plans to tour Occi-
dental College in Los Ange-
les during spring break, and
is looking forward to con-
tinuing her basketball career
at the next level.
“I can’t wait,” she said.
Jessica Pittman
Senior Jessica Pittman
certainly knows what it’s
like to be busy.
Aside from her school
studies, Pittman is active in
the IVHS softball program;
works at Taylor’s Country
Sausage; and participates in
many community activities.
“I understand having a
full day,” Pittman said. “I’m
always busy doing some-
thing.”
Aside from the eight
years she’s spent with the
valley 4-H program, Pittman
has participated in the Job
Council. She was a junior
staff member and leader in
the Torch Club, and has
belonged to the Boys &
Girls Club of the Rogue
Valley/Illinois Valley Sec-
tion for almost a decade.
Pittman’s work with the
Boys & Girls Club
prompted that organization
to name her as its 2006
Youth of the Year. She had
been nominated for the ac-
colade since 2004, but was
pleased to receive that rec-
ognition.
“I was excited to find
out I got it,” Pittman said.
Pittman is in her third
her of playing softball for
the IVHS team, where she
holds the centerfield posi-
tion. The team’s regular
season will kick off April 3,
which will keep Pittman
sufficiently occupied for the
remainder of the school
year.
After graduation,
Pittman plans to attend
Rogue Community College
for two years, then transfer
to Portland State University.
She wants to focus her stud-
ies on business administra-
tion and education, with the
hopes of owning a business
or becoming a teacher.
But no matter which
path she chooses, Pittman is
determined to give it her all.
“If it’s possible, I’ll try
my best and I’ll do it,”
Pittman said. “I just do the
best I can.”
Roxi Holmes
Roxi Holmes has spent
the last two years perfecting
her photography skills. That
dedication paid off last
month, when one of her
works received second place
at a regional competition.
Holmes, a senior, works
as a home-care provider and
enjoys her ceramics and
economics classes at IVHS.
She plans to attend Southern
Oregon University at Ash-
labd in the fall, and will pur-
sue either a criminal justice
or business degree.
Long-term, Holmes said
she that would like to be-
come a probation officer.
now, and I know we can get
Evergreen’s SMART
By SCOTT JORGENSEN
40 more,” Brick said. “The
program has expanded from
IVN Staff Writer
only way we’re going to do
Nancy Brown may have
13 volunteers and 20 stu-
that is with Nancy’s help.”
retired as principal of Ever-
dents served last year to 34
Brick said that she is
green Elementary School,
volunteers serving a total of
pleased that Brown has de-
but her dedication to its stu-
55 students. But as impres-
cided to devote her new-
dents has brought her back
sive as that is, Brown hopes
to double the program for
found spare time to the
again to Cave Junction.
These days,
Brown is volun-
teering with the
school’s
Start
Making A Reader
Today (SMART)
program. She will
be coordinating
fund-raisers for the
program in the fall,
and is happy to be
doing so.
Earlier in her
career,
Brown
taught fifth-grade
at Evergreen. She
then worked at the
Three
Rivers
School District
office, where she
coordinated the
Talented
and
Gifted (TAG) pro-
gram, then re-
turned to Ever-
Nancy Brown with third-grader Mary Anderson.
green to work on
(Photo
by Scott Jorgensen/‘Illinois Valley News’
its Title I program.
Brown spent
the last two years as princi-
school and its students.
next year.
pal before her retirement.
“I’m absolutely thrilled.
Tina Brick, who coordi-
But she missed the students,
This is the best thing that
nates Evergreen’s SMART
parents and staff enough to
could have happened,”
program, said that Brown’s
take on her new role.
involvement will be instru-
Brick said. “She’s such a
“It’s a lot different than
mental toward achieving
sweet person, plus, the kids
love her.”
being principal,” related
that goal.
Brown.
“We have 40 volunteers
B&G Club offers spring break activity
By SCOTT THORNHILL
Every day after school,
kids from across our com-
munity have a safe place to
go and grow – the Boys &
Girls Club of Illinois Valley.
Known as “The Positive
Place For Kids,” the Club
provides guidance-oriented
character development pro-
grams daily for children 6-
to 18-years-old, conducted
by professional staff.
Key Boys & Girls Club
programs emphasize leader-
ship development, education
and career exploration, fi-
nancial literacy, health and
life skills, the arts, sports,
fitness and recreation, and
family outreach.
Monday, March 26
through Friday, March 30
has been designated as Na-
tional Boys & Girls Club
Week. Every year at this
time, the nation celebrates
our organization, which has
steadily and methodically
saved lives and changed
futures of young people for
more than 100 years.
Using a tried-and-true
method of attracting kids
with fun, wholesome activi-
ties, then involving them in
a wide array of education,
cultural and character-
building programs, clubs
have helped millions of kids
overcome barriers, dream of
a brighter future and grow
into responsible, productive
citizens.
These kids include Illi-
nois Valley’s Jessica
Pittman, Boys & Girls
Clubs of the Rogue Valley’s
Youth of the Year. Jessica
has said, “The best part of
being involved with the club
is getting the chance to
make a difference in the life
of another kid.”
Studies show that the
most dangerous time of the
day for kids are the hours
immediately after school,
from 3 to 8 p.m. As a com-
munity, we’re lucky to have
the structured environment
of our Boys & Girls Club to
keep our children safe.
We’re lucky to have
caring adults to lead the club
and its members. Boys &
Girls Club of the Illinois
Valley is grateful for the
support which makes it pos-
sible to fulfill our mission.
As part of the special
week, the I.V. Club is offer-
ing a week of free member-
ship to all valley youth. The
week-long celebration coin-
cides with the Three Rivers
School District spring break,
and the club will be open
from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. (See “Here,
There & Everywhere on
page 3).
For more information
regarding the observance,
spring flag football, spring
volleyball or our after-
school program contact 592-
4771 for the office or 592-
6151 for the club house.
434 Caves Hwy., Cave Junction
Phone: (541)592-3540
Fax: (541)592-6841
Hours: Mondays - Fridays 7-5:30
Saturdays 8-5, closed Sundays
DeFazio backs security oversight
Congressman Peter De-
Fazio (D-Ore.) has voted to
strengthen measures to pre-
vent approval of foreign
investments that would en-
danger national security.
The bill would put into
place a thorough national
security review process for
foreign investments.
It would prevent deals
like last year’s “minimally
reviewed and secretively
approved Dubai Ports
World deal.”
H.R. 556, the National
Security FIRST Act, passed
423-0.
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- Ralph Waldo Emerson -
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