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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2007)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 8, 2007 Traveling by air always amazes me, not only because of the altitudes and comfort, but because of the speed. And the free pretzels and peanuts. Besides that, what would take 18 to 20 hours by car (Cave Junction to North San Diego County) is diminished to two hours. And some of us tend to take this amazing situation for granted. Actually, I was a bit nervous heading to Rogue Valley Interna- tional Airport by car last week because of dense traffic on the roadways. I had left plenty of time to get through the security section to reach the boarding area, but there were so many other folks on the roads from Cave Junction to Medford that it took me some 15 minutes longer than I had planned. Editor Bob (he’s the one on Then there’s that long the right) with Franciscan Fr. walk from Long-term Junipero Serra, known as the Parking to the terminal father of the California mis- (odd name for an air- sions, at San Luis Rey. port, especially for those of us with butterflies in our guts). Anyway, I was fortunate to fly via Horizon Air from Med- ford to Portland, and via Alaska Airlines from PDX to Chong Wang … er, John Wayne Airport in Orange County. There my wife, Jan, and our daughter, Vicki, picked me up, although there was a 45-minute delay in our getting together because I was at the upper level, and they were at the lower level. (They were given bad advice by an airport employee). Anyway II, that was the start of a fine visit with Vicki and her fam in Carlsbad in San Diego County. Although we didn’t “do” all the things or go to all the places I had in mind, we still had a most enjoyable trip. One highlight, for me, was to revisit the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside. When I was a little boy in Linda Vista and National City, my parents often went to the site, although there was a lot less traffic and fewer free- ways in those days. Strangely, the mission, more than 200 years old, hadn’t changed much, as far as I could tell, from the last time I had visited. Probably around ‘55 (that’s 1955). Granddaughters Natalie, who’ll be 5 on Aug. 21, and Ella, 2, had a great time. They especially like loose rocks, pretty flowers and running water. Oh yeah, there was a security man at the mission who kept staring at us as though we were vandals or people with two heads. He kept warning us about getting too close to this or that, etc. Every time we turned around, he was glaring at us. Give some guys a badge, and ... Well, speaking of airline travel, as at the beginning of this dispatch, I am still amused by the announcement for “preboarding.” Probably the airlines mean “special,” “early” or “privileged” boarding. But using “pre” sounds as though peo- ple can board the plane before they board the plane. Weird. Then there’s the pilot announcement that we can feel free to move about the cabin. Yeah, right. If we were on a train or a bus, that would be entirely possible. But on most flights, the “Fasten Seat Belt” light is almost always on, and those large refreshment carts block the aisle at either end of the aircraft. Not conducive to moving about the cabin, unless you have a dire need to reach the amazingly tiny restrooms. I’m not complaining; just keep those pretzels and peanuts coming. An extensive selection of: Reasonable Prices Stones & Fossils Beads Crystals Jewelry Kaleidoscopes Books & Music Dragons & Fairies Unique Gifts Toys for All Ages Open 7 days, 9 - 6 18435 Redwood Hwy. Selma 597-4300 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. 21 Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Jennifer Newsted, Millie Watkins and Tina Grow Adios & farewell, Scott “Rabble-Rabble” Jorgensen 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. * * * I .V. Lions Club, Michels gain great gratitude From Carolyn Robertson Cave Junction I appreciate this opportu- nity to publicly recognize Illinois Valley Lions Club, and particularly member Sam Michel and his wife, Hilma, for the gracious use of a walker. I needed it recently when I fractured a bone. I also want to take the opportunity to inform folks in Illinois Valley of the huge supply of medical equip- ment the I.V. Lions Club provides anyone in need -- without charge. This is truly an outstanding and most commendable community service. Experience provided on defensible space work From Sharon Silva Kerby While reading De Spell- man’s letter to the editor in the Aug. 1, 2007 edition of Illinois Valley News I had an old anger reawakened. If people want to go to the meetings De is hosting and listen to her talk about what a good thing SB 360 is going to be, fine. However, if she has someone in mind to help you with your defen- sible space area and fuels reduction around your home, it would be best to think twice. A few years back, while De was employed by Illinois Valley Fire District as the fire prevention coordinator, I contacted her for help with making a defensible space around my home. She came to my house with a man who was supposedly very good at this sort of work. De set the dollar amount, even called me back to say they had under-bid the cost. Long story short, for the defensi- ble space, and fuels reduc- tion on 5 acres the cost was $4,800. Yeah, I know, I was an idiot to agree with this. However, at the time, even my good friends were tell- ing me I could trust De. I felt she had to be correct in what she was saying be- cause she was backed by the good name of our I.V. Fire District. Long story even shorter, the goon she sent up here to work demanded money from me from day one, and did not do what De prom- ised me he would do. I paid him (I know -- stupid, stu- pid, stupid -- but he was an intimidating kind of guy). Also I was afraid my wheelchair-bound Vietnam veteran husband was going to kill the guy for not doing the work De promised us he would do. I thought it best to pay him and get him off my property and out of my life. What he did do, accord- ing to I.V. Fire Chief Harry Rich, was make a “bad situation worse.” He came to my home to view the dev- astation. By that time, De had been terminated from her position as fire preven- tion coordinator. The chief told me that it was not part of her duty as an employee of the fire dis- trict to set up the contractor, or to bid on the price of the job. De should have simply given me a list of contrac- tors I could phone to make arrangements for the work to be done. I believe it is my civic duty to warn people to be aware of any person De claims is an expert in creat- ing defensible space and fuels reduction. Hopefully she is no longer engaging in this practice. She and her “expert” sure set us back, and I don’t want anyone else to go through what we have been through. Her promises to “make it right” never materialized. We could not even get our $300 rebate, as the work was so poorly done. With the possibility of SB 360 on the horizon, many people, including my- self, are recognizing the need to have their properties as fire safe as humanly pos- sible. I spoke with Rich last week (Aug. 3). He told me that anyone who plans on having fuels reduction and defensible space created on their property need to make sure they use a contractor with a farm and forest li- cense, who is insured and bondable. So learn from my stu- pidity. If De recommends someone to you, don’t trust him just because she said so. Land of Enchantment reader likes ‘Noose’ From Paloma Martinez Taos, N.M. While checking the Internet for information about something in the state of Illinois, I accidentally came across your Website (illinois-valley-news.com) and began checking it out. Frankly, I am quite fa- vorably impressed with what you put out there from your community. Your arti- cles are well-written, and you seem to have a handle on what’s significant in your area for your readers. I especially enjoyed your Police Blotter. I’ll be checking your site every week, and perhaps visit your valley some day, as I am a silversmith and painter, and your valley seems to have a large artistic population. Some parts of Bible he finds disturbing From Wally Hardie Selma Faith in any God im- plies a lack of faith in hu- manity. When I was very young and encouraged to attend Sunday school and church, I was instructed to love this God that the Bible presented me. We were told to read our Bible, although I know that few did. In reality, they don’t really want you to read the Bible; at least not very much. Part of the Good Book, as it is called, began the ending of my church- going days. God forbade any show of mercy, and, according to I Samuel, demanded the slaughter of man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. In the Book of Exodus through Judges, God said that large numbers of certain segments of the population should be killed, and that the young girls should be raped and enslaved. My God took no ac- count of innocence or good intentions. He killed poor Uzzah for touching the Ark of the Covenant to keep it from falling off its oxcart. In Samuel 6 he had 42 children torn to pieces by bears for making fun of Elisha, who was a bald man. I became horrified as a child when reading the Bible. Why anyone would wish to traumatize their child with horror stories is beyond me. There are more loving ways and depth of need than worship and hate. In ancient Egypt, the deceased had to recite the Negative Confession before Maat, the judgment god- dess, in order to enter Para- dise. Part of it goes: “I have done no evil, I have not inflicted pain, I have made no one weep, I have harmed no animal. I have not robbed the poor. I have not fouled the water. “I have not trampled the fields; I have not behaved with insolence. I have not judged hastily. I have not stirred strife. I have allowed no one to suffer hunger. I have not increased wealth at other’s expense.” ‘Church sale’ position perspective offered From Ali Madjdi Takilma Man walks down the street; slips and falls. To bystanders it’s comical; to the victim it’s tragic. One man’s tragedy is another’s comedy. Kendon Leet finds the situation (Tribe disputes land sale, Illinois Valley News, Aug. 1, 2007) “comical and repetitive.” A church gets sold; Leet represents the seller, and gets a commission. As fast as crud is com- ing to the surface in this deal, it will not be long be- fore those of us who have endured the tragedy could be laughing at Leet and his associates. Think “comical and repetitive.” (Continued on page 3) LIVING WELL (chronic disease self-management) Are you or a loved one living with arthritis, cancer, heart dis- ease, diabetes, stroke, asthma, or other chronic diseases? Stanford University designed the Living Well With Chronic Health Problems work shops to help those who have significant health problems learn how to take control of their care in order to live happier and healthier lives. Sign up today (6 classes in each series) No charge - Registration required - Enrollment limited Contact: Bernadette, 864-9611 www.sohealthyoregon.org Class begins: Aug. 21, Tuesdays, 2 to 4:30 p.m. All workshops will be held at The Washington Outpatient Center, 1505 N.W. Washington Blvd., Grants Pass. Brought to you through a partnership of local health and human service providers in collaboration with the Rogue Valley Council of Government Senior and Disability Services.
