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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It was time, and I really didn’t feel ready. But the food
bill had dragged on too long. My boss was insistent. “Go
collect the cash from those sailors,” he said.
So I tucked my white short-sleeved shirt into my
white trousers. And then, because I had food stains on
the lower portion of the shirt and the top of my trousers, I
tied a freshly cleaned and starched apron around my
waist. I looked ready. But I still didn’t feel like it.
And off I strode, looking for a certain U.S. Navy ves-
sel undergoing refitting at a San Diego shipyard. It was
quite a walk from the cafeteria to the ship, but I didn’t
mind because it gave me time to prepare myself men-
tally. A handful of sailors had run up a tab of nearly $200
during the previous three weeks because I allowed them
to charge their food at the remote lunch stand I operated
for the cafeteria.
And now it was time to pay the piper because my
boss was slightly furious that the chit had been allowed
to reach the total. I mean, it was 1963 and that was a lot
of chow considering the prevailing prices. I had granted
credit because -- well, because I couldn’t see a reason
not to. After all, the sailors promised they’d pay me. Be-
sides, I was a somewhat gullible 19-year-old.
Finally reached the vessel after making my way
through the hazards of a major shipyard. Found my way
to the mess hall aboard ship, and contacted the com-
manding officer, with whom I had spoken via telephone a
few days earlier. He and his fellow officers were at their
own table in the main dining area because the officers
mess was torn up during refitting.
Their table had a tablecloth and a steward. I took a
deep breath and addressed the C.O. He gave me a gim-
let glance, and then berated me for allowing sailors to
charge. “They’re sailors for Pete’s sake,” he intoned. “Did
you expect them to pay?”
I answered, “Yes.”
He continued to grumble, finally advising me that
there was no way they could collect the total debt. But
the crew had agreed, he said, to fork over $95 from their
recreation fund. I took the cash and left.
Upon my return, the boss was not happy, and told
me so in no uncertain terms. And I never let sailors
charge their food again. Even when they promised
they’d pay.
Not long after, I left that job. After all, I didn’t look that
good in white clothing, even with a fresh apron.
MANSFIELD R. CLEARY
Attorney at Law
General Practice in
Illinois Valley
since 1980
Practice includes but not limited to:
Bankruptcy - Eliminate
financial problems
Living trusts - Avoid probate
Estate planning - Wills,
power of attorney
Domestic relations
Auto accident - Personal Injury
Criminal - DUII
Real Estate contracts - Foreclosure
592-2195
200 W. Lister
(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.
* * *
CJ Citizens Patrol
seeking assistance
From Mark Rodgers,
coordinator
Neighborhood Watch In
Motion/Cave Junction
Citizens Patrol
As we all know, a
budget for law enforcement
is nearly nonexistent.
Therefore, we need to
take it upon ourselves to
protect, patrol, watch and
deter crime. The Citizens
Patrol needs volunteers tto
patrol in vehicles and on
foot.
The patrol also needs
monetary sponsors for some
equipment needed to aid our
efforts to document, record
and communicate.
Patrol meetings are held
on third Wednesdays from 7
to 8 p.m. at the Josephine
County Bldg. in Downtown
Cave Junction. I can be con-
tacted at River Valley Res-
taurant, 592-4128; or at
home, 592-3754.
CJ Skate Park
still rolling along
From Sandy Lilly, presi-
dent, The Shining Stars;
and board of directors
On behalf of our organi-
zation, I and directors
Nicole Duran, Roy Ewing,
Gabriella Salas and Crystal
Schroeter want to address
the removal of damaged
skate park ramps in Jubilee
Park by the city of Cave
Junction. We realize how
upset the youth are to lose
these ramps, but there needs
Cave Junction
Wednesday, April 18
Chilly with clouds
proliferating
High--54, Low--32.
Thursday, April 19
Clouds leading to
cold and rain
High--58, Low--35.
Friday, April 20
More spring: clouds,
thunder, rain, snow
High--60, Low--35.
Saturday, April 21
Patchy sunshine
shifting to rain
High--64, Low--39.
illinois-valley-news.com
Illinois Valley News
www.illinois-valley-news.com
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by
Robert R. (AKA Bob or El Jefe), Editor and Jan Rodriguez
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 70, No. 5
Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Scott Jorgensen
Millie Watkins, and Tina Grow
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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accepted until Noon, Fridays with an additional charge.)
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
Sunday, April 22
Rain showers mixing
with snow
High--58, Low--35.
Monday, April 23
More spring: snow,
rain; rain and snow
High--54, Low--34.
Tuesday, April 24
Just clouds with
a tad bit of sun
High--60, Low--35.
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in O’Brien
by Cheryl & Harry Johnson.
*Fri.,
April 6: 73-43
*Sat., April 7: 65-47 0.31
*Sun., April 8: 65-42 0.35
*Mon., April 9: 59-40 0.43
*Tue., April 10: 67-37
*Wed., April 11: 51-39 0.94
*Thurs., April 12: 62-34
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in Cave Junction at
Mountain Wind Farm.
*Fri.,
April 6: 81-39
*Sat., April 7: 68-45 0.19
*Sun., April 8: 70-41 0.26
*Mon., April 9: 61-40 0.32
*Tue., April 10: 66-36
*Wed., April 11: 53-38 0.89
*Thurs., April 12: 57-33 0.01
to be an understanding that
it was done for the safety of
the skaters.
The entire skate park
was due to be removed, as
the city had received more
than one complaint from
concerned parents and other
citizens. The large ramps
were far too rotted to be
repaired. We are happy to
see that the smaller pieces
were left for skaters to en-
joy, and appreciate the city
for this compromise, as well
as for its labor and time.
The remaining pieces
still need maintenance and
TLC. The Shining Stars will
hold a Skate Park Spring
Cleanup sometime during
the next few weeks. Paint-
ing, repairing, and general
cleaning of the area need to
be tackled.
We also hope to hang
skate park signs again. The
youth made a CJ Skate Park
sign. The Shining Stars has
a sign about responsibility
and rules, and the city re-
quires that it be posted if we
wish to have the skate park.
We are awaiting another
meeting with Mayor Paul-
son to discuss future devel-
opment and rebuilding. We
have a vision for our youth
of a concrete skate park.
Community involvement
from the entire valley will
be instrumental to make it
happen.
All skaters, families,
friends and community are
encouraged to come share
ideas and learn more about
our dream for the skate park
in Illinois Valley.
We want to mention
Cross Quest for its help in
keeping up the facility, as
well as those youth who
have pitched in during the
past few years.
Additionally, The Shin-
ing Stars will not host its
annual event in June. We
value all our volunteers and
supporters from the previous
five events. We want to look
forward together toward the
future skate park.
For more information
phone 592-2236.
Sheriff’s office delays;
message to delinquents
From Angela Davel Herde
Cave Junction
I am writing in response
to the lack of effort by the
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office, as I was a victim of
juvenile vandalism to my
vehicle while working at a
Downtown Cave Junction
restaurant on Dec. 29.
After witnessing a
group of teen-agers getting
ready to break windows out
of Issac’s discount store I
and another person chased
them to another restaurant
where they were identi-
fied. The next afternoon I
spoke with the mother of
one of the kids, and she got
her son to admit who had
actually smashed my wind-
shield and told me she
would help me get my
windshield replaced.
I called the sheriff’s
office to inform them of the
recent update and was told
no previous report had been
made. I argued this fact and
told them I wanted to pursue
this. A week later I was con-
tacted at the restaurant by
another deputy, who made it
clear that he was there only
to investigate the “non-
investigation.”
I contacted the sheriff’s
office again and inquired
about my case, but did not
get to talk to a deputy. I was
later contacted by Deputy
Hubbard, who asked why I
had not made a report ear-
lier, and that angered me. I
told him there had been, but
that for some reason no one
was officially documenting
my multiple calls.
I was assured by the
deputy that my case would
be handled by him and not
to worry about previous
contacts, as he would “take
care of this.” That is the last
time I was contacted by a
(Continued on page 7)
S ELMA
F ARMERS ’
M ARKET
S EASON
OPENING
&
FREE
V ENDORS
D AY
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J UNE 3 RD
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18255 R EDWOOD
H WY .
FOR VENDOR INFOR-
MATION PHONE :
L INDA M EIER AT
597-2522