Page 2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 27, 2007
“Eat Gas & Pop” is one of my favorite service station/cafe
roadside signs. It was posted in Windblown, Ariz. Or maybe it
was TooHot, N.M. Can’t really recall the exact location except
that I spotted it during a road trip with my family
back when I was but a tad of a lad and really
bad with my ducktail hair style, cuffed Levi’s
and Sir Guy shirt. Yes, a potential J.D.
Another memory is of a movie theater
marquee somewhere in the Great South-
west. A current movie was The Tattered
Dress. Someone with a sense of humor, I
hope, placed the film title above the nota-
tion With Selected Shorts. And who among us, who traveled
those long-ago two-lane highways, including the famous
Route 66 Mother Road, will ever forget the famous Burma
Shave signs.
Three of my favorites: His cheek/Was rough/His chick
vamoosed/And now she won’t/Come home to roost/Burma
Shave ... The place to pass/On curves/You know/Is only at/A
beauty show/Burma Shave ... On curves ahead/Remember,
sonny/That rabbit’s foot/Didn’t save/The bunny/Burma Shave.
Yeah, those red signs with white lettering helped ease the
boredom of those long drives.
Once on our getting-lost expeditions (see below) we
stopped for gasoline at a shabby station. There was a
wooden box with chicken wire on top, and a sign that read,
“Danger. Baby Rattlers.” So I approached cautiously and
peeked inside. There were two infant rattle toys inside. Ha-ha.
With Fathers Day recently passed, that’s why some recol-
lections of my late Dad and those summer trips to his home-
town of El Paso, Texas came to mind. Most times, we drove
straight through -- an 18-hour odyssey from San Diego -- ex-
cept for breakfast, lunch and restroom breaks. Otherwise, he
was loathe to use the brakes for breaks.
Many times we got lost, except that Dad would say, akin
to Pee Wee Herman, “I meant to go this way.” Of course,
that’s why we went via Flagstaff in northern Arizona to reach
El Paso. Of course. At least on those outings, we spent the
night in Flagstaff before arising at dawn to hit the road. Why
we were always in such a hurry is still a mystery.
Other than getting lost, one of my favorite rollin’ along
pastimes was to count the refrigerated cars being hauled
through the desert. One time, my Mom and I counted 203
cars in one train. It had four diesel engines at the head, two “in
the middle” and two pushing. I’ve always had a passion for
trains, as I recall riding them when they were pulled by those
wonderful iron horse steam engines.
Don’t get me started; that’s a whole other train of thought.
Support the I.V. Lions -- Buy a Harley raffle ticket!
Available at Taylor’s Sausage and Century 21.
Phone 592-2252 or 287-0290
Cave Junction
Wednesday, June 27
Beautifully sunny with
evening breezes
High--85 Low--51.
Thursday, June 28
Interim day of clouds
High--80, Low--50.
Friday, June 29
Clearing with
occasional sun
High--81, Low--42.
Saturday, June 30
Intermittent sunshine
High--81, Low--43.
Sunday, July 1
Sunny with instances
of clouds
High--87, Low--44.
Monday, July 2
Sunny with clouds
blowing in
High--88, Low--44.
Tuesday, July 3
More sun and warm
clearing at night
High--92, Low--48.
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in O’Brien
by Cheryl & Harry Johnson.
*Fri.,
June 15: 91 - 53
*Sat., June 16: 84 - 55
*Sun., June 17: 80 - 48
*Mon., June 18: 88 - 53
*Tue., June 19: 94 - 53
*Wed., June 20: 82 - 55
*Thurs., June 21: 79 - 46
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in Cave Junction at
Mountain Wind Farm.
*Fri.,
June 15: 91 - 48
*Sat., June 16: 81 - 53
*Sun., June 17: 79 - 46
*Mon., June 18: 84 - 52
*Tue., June 19: 94 - 48
*Wed., June 20: 88 - 51
*Thurs., June 21: 83 - 43
Life becomes harder
for us when we live
for others, but it also
becomes richer
and happier.
- Albert Schweitzer -
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. 15
Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Scott Jorgensen
Millie Watkins, and Tina Grow
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters
5 P.M. THURSDAYS
(Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be
accepted until Noon, Fridays with an additional charge.)
POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are
of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using
complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not
be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters.
Generally, one letter per person per month at publishers’ discretion. Letters are used at the
discretion of the publishers. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A
prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publishers’ opinion.
POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS
& NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for
publication. Submissions must be resubmitted weekly if the item is to run more than
one week.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year in Josephine County - $22.80
One year in Jackson and Douglas counties - $26.40
One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $36
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
(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.
* * *
What’s the answer to
county’s money ills?
From Sue Norman-Jones
Cave Junction
I recently read a photo
caption in a newspaper sug-
gesting to me that chainsaws
are the answer to Josephine
County’s financial woes. I am
still in disbelief.
At this time, global warm-
ing is heating up the planet.
Trees protect the planet
through shade and oxygen pro-
duction. Trees need the under-
brush for their own root protec-
tion, and nourishment from the
decomposition of organic ma-
terial.
Forests thrive when left
alone. Fuels reduction treat-
ments are detrimental to the
forest’s health, and conse-
quently ours.
Josephine County is suf-
fering financially, as well as all
of its residents. Warprofiteer-
ing is one of the reasons the
federal government doesn’t
have any money to contribute
to universal health coverage,
and other services provided by
state governments.
The idea of a “sales tax”
has always captured my atten-
tion. In this way, all people are
taxed equally, including people
who make money “under the
table” through what we buy,
with pennies, nickels and
dimes. Where tourists even
help out sometimes. Sales tax
could replace property taxes,
whereby less foreclosures. This
could be an answer to the
county’s money woes.
Maybe we could do better.
Illinois Valley community
newspaper appreciated
From Sara Ball
Cave Junction
The Illinois Valley High
School Class of 2007 and the
Grad Night Party Committee
wish to express their apprecia-
tion to Illinois Valley News and
Bob Rodriguez for the public-
ity and coverage of events and
fund-raising activities.
This community service
has been beneficial to our ef-
forts not only this year, but in
previous years. We are grateful
for the assistance by Illinois
Valley News to help keep our
graduates safe.
U.S. troops in Iraq
deserve best gear
From Bill Pfohl
Kerby
Our unarmed soldiers in
Iraq constitute an act of war
from within.
This is to let you know
that our young servicemen in
downtown Baghdad are not
allowed to carry side-arms in
this battle that they are up
against.
It seems that officers are
allowed to carry side-arms, but
the lower-rank personnel actu-
ally doing the fighting are told
if they bring their own side-
arms to the war for personal
protection that they will be
charged with murder if they
use them.
Since this is what we
have going on with this Repub-
lican presidency, I will be
changing parties and voting
Democrat. I believe Hillary
Clinton will be our next presi-
dent due to the lack of leader-
ship with this administration.
Really, she could do no
harm as compared to this guy,
Bush, we have at present time.
It was a proven fact that
during World War II that one
of the German foot soldiers
could equal six Polish soldiers
due to their side-arms and other
equipment that made them a
force to be reckoned with.
Are we to send our best
and brightest to be slaughtered?
Then we better make sure they
have the best chance they can
and have the most firepower
that they can carry on them-
selves.
I think that these enemies
that take them will think differ-
ently if our soldiers had side-
arms that they could quickly
get control of to defend them-
selves with. It’s apparent to me
that they grab these soldiers
only when they see no rifle on
their persons.
I think people should con-
sider taking back our country
by voicing their opinions with
our elected representatives be-
cause they apparently do not
care about our soldiers that they
send to war.
Our founding fathers
would consider this an act of
war from within. We need to
stand up and be counted.
‘ CJ was and is already a good
neighborhood’
From Linda Schluter
Tedder
Cave Junction
Larry Osborn (who’s not
from this area) should know
that nothing really good
happens when developers rape
a beautiful small town like
Cave Junction.
Jim Frick praised Osborn
on being the only one to build
on
such
a
large
scale, willing to risk millions of
dollars to improve an existing
community.
Yeah, he’s never seen
anyone do that before. Check
out the pristine places Osborn
and his like have so-called
“improved.”
The quality of life will
only bring it down. Redwood
Hwy. is a nightmare; wasn’t
that way this time last year. I
feel that Osborn is taking ad-
vantage of the good small town
people we already have here in
Cave Junction.
He is familiar with Cali-
fornia and the toilet it now is.
Because Osborn was the only
one wanting to “develop” here
is because maybe, just maybe,
the other developers had too
much respect for the residents
and the land.
More population will also
bring more crime. “No Tres-
passing” signs where we used
to walk and ride bikes. “Take
Paradise and put up a parking
lot.”
‘Housing glut’ effect
on valley pondered
From Don Smith
Cave Junction
A June 20 Illinois Valley
News page one story, “City on
the move with projects north of
town,” quotes a real estate
agent who cheers California
developer Larry Osborn for
being “willing to risk millions
of dollars to improve the exist-
ing community.”
Jim Frick, the agent, who
no doubt hopes to make his
wallet bulge, will have to ex-
cuse me while I offer a con-
trary view.
The housing market in the
United States is on the skids.
Things have gotten so bad that
89 lenders have gone bankrupt
(see: ml-implode.com).
With inventories of un-
sold homes across the country
at near-record highs, it’s not
likely that the real-estate bust
will recover anytime soon.
Some argue it will take years.
In fact, the National Home
Builders Association reported
last week that new home con-
struction is at its worst since
1991, during the last big hous-
ing bust (see: calculated-
risk.blogspot.com).
To top it off, the cost for a
home loan is on the rise as
long-term interest rises. Add to
this tighter lending standards
and fewer people able to get
loans to buy new houses,
which explains why mortgage
applications across the country
are on a downhill slide.
What is taking place na-
tionally may not necessarily be
something to concern ourselves
with locally. But drive the
streets behind the new clinic to
view the “spec’” homes. Count
the number of homes that are
sold compared to the number
for sale.
And drive past Taylor’s
meat plant down to the river.
Take a look at streets laid out
for the new housing develop-
ment, streets that have been on
the ground now for around two
years. Count the number of
homes. Not many are there.
Go to the new streets by
the airport built for new homes.
How many houses are there?
My last count two months ago
was zero.
With the real-estate mar-
ket looking more and more like
smoldering ashes, including
locally, one has to wonder
what Osborn and the other
developers were thinking when
they jumped into the valley to
improve our quality of life.
Could it be that they and some
lenders missed the party when
it was going full bore?
When I’ve brought up the
housing bust to friends and
asked what might be the conse-
quences here: namely, how
many folks are likely to move
to the valley and buy all these
new homes, they say: “People
in California can still sell their
homes and buy ones a lot
cheaper here, so they’ll come,
right?”
Nope. Fact is, the housing
bust is greatest in California,
where the subprime debacle has
led to record-setting foreclo-
sures, creating a glut of new
houses. So, if those retirees --
about the only ones likely to
move here since jobs are few
and far between -- want to sell
their homes to move here,
they’d have to reduce their sell-
ing prices drastically. Chances
are they won’t do it.
With all the new homes in
the valley that are unsold, plus
the new homes being built,
along with those on the draw-
ing board, and then add the
increasing number of old
homes up for sale (for the latter
see: realestate.yahoo.com),
seems likely Cave Junction too
will have a glut of unsold
homes.
As a result, home owners
should expect their property
values to come down signifi-
cantly, at the same time that
property taxes are likely to go
up. Not a happy scenario, is it?
So, instead of Osborn’s
lots offering views that he says
will be “absolutely incredible,”
instead of a cheery nesting
place for happy new residents,
we’ll see half-empty row
houses that resemble Any-
where Suburbia USA, sticking
out from the rest of the com-
munity like a sore thumb.
One last point. As I under-
stand it, Osborn also plans on
building some commercial
stores for our pleasure, al-
though I.V. News makes no
mention of this. If it’s true, he
may want to rethink this before
it’s too late. As it turns out, the
booming commercial real-
estate market looks like it may
go the same way as housing.
Seems that the subprime
debacle is creeping into com-
mercial real estate as the cost
for loans sold to investors goes
up. Bankruptcies are likely as
ill-advised loans snare unwary
developers, ones who underes-
timate the “risk” Frick refers to
in the first sentence above.
(see: markit.com and go to
CMBX for increasing costs to
builders).
(Editor’s Note: The let-
ter-writer is incorrect in his
statement that the commer-
cial aspect was not included
in the story.)
Fine Dining
Steaks - Chicken - Fish - Large Hamburgers
Restaurant separate from lounge
Now Available Every Day!
Prime Rib & Prime Rib Sandwiches
Bring in this ad for a 10% discount
Open 4 to 10 p.m. 7 days
592-2892 or 592-4222
Kerby Belt Lodge
BREAKFAST
Saturday, June 30, 7 to 11 a.m.
Jubilee Park
Eggs-Bacon
Taylor’s Sausage
Hash Browns
Biscuits & Gravy
Juice-Coffee-Tea
Proceeds support
youth activities & scholarships
Illinois Valley
Country Fair
Saturday, June 30, 10 to 4
County Building & Sterling Bank parking lot
(corner of Redwood Hwy. & Lister)
•
Arts & Crafts
•
Food & Music
•
Farmer’s Market
•
Animal Exhibits
Illinois Valley Family Coalition
535 E. River Street, CJ
Phone 592-6139
A community organization helping those in need.