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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2007)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Cold weather in our neck of the woods, and in my neck now that you mention it, prompts me not only to blow on my half-frozen fingers as they struggle to type, but to recall certain cold memories. Or actually, memories of cold, although some icy memories have a warm spot in my memory. Something like that. I know that many out there have experienced many more chilly times than I, with more bitter temperatures. But they’re not writing this column, he said frostily. Being a San Diego boy, I had to get out of town for arctic- type weather. One memory revolves around my first Boy Scout overnighter, at Camp Hualah-Cucush in the Cleveland National Forest area. That’s not the proper spelling of the camp, but I could not locate the correct name. Apparently it’s no longer used, being supplanted by Mataguay Scout Reser- vation between Julian and Warner Springs. But that camp story, wow. First, the whole troop made the trip in the rear of a large stake-bed truck that had a partial canopy. All our gear was on the bed, which meant that some of our stuff got a bit crushed on the cruise. We Tenderfoot and Second Class-rank Scouts were in the open part of the bed, while the First Class and higher ranks got the protection of the canopy -- (RHIP). When we arrived at the camp on a frosty Friday night, hav- ing enjoyed the brisk breeze during our “sub-zero” trip, we could see our breath. A lot. We hiked in the moon-illuminated evening to our designated location and set up our campsite. We slept well, as we had warm sleeping bags. But when we awoke early Saturday morning, we noticed something. Snow. Everywhere. Approximately 3 inches of it. Overhanging tree branches kept most of it off us, but there definitely had been a surprise storm. We were smart enough to recognize that. And as Be Pre- pared is the Scout motto, we were prepared. Prepared to eat breakfast and get the heck out of there. Which is what we did, although we had to carefully warm the syrup bottles for our campfire pancakes, as the sticky-sweet stuff was frozen. Thus fortified with hotcakes, plus cups of scalding hot chocolate in tin cups, we made our exit. It was extremely win- try. Like glacial. When I got home that afternoon, half my camping stuff was missing from my pack, which apparently had been forced open by people standing on it. I did not care about the missing items. All I wanted was to get warm. So I took one of the longest hot showers on record. Another recollection involves covering a missing child story in Idlewild, Calif. I was working in the former San Diego Evening Tribune Escondido bureau and was assigned by telephone. To make a long story short, I drove to the search- and-rescue camp; spent the night (a cold one) on the front seat of a rescue rig with half-a-dozen radios blaring all eve- ning; and stayed at the scene until the next evening. When I got back to our home in Escondido, the mountain chill was still in my bones. So I took the longest hot bath on record. Guess I don’t enjoy being Polarized. 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 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. 35 Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Jennifer Newsted 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. * * * Aiken’s positive article garners ‘A’ response From Nancy Schwickrath Cave Junction I really enjoyed the arti- cle by Wally Aiken, “He Knows We’ve Got Warts…” (Illinois Valley News, Oct. 31.) It was a pleasure to read a positive article about Cave Junction. It gets very dis- heartening to hear about the meth problems, police short- falls, library closures, etc.; all the things that make the Illinois Valley seem like a dreadful place to live. I know these problems exist and they need to be ad- dressed, but Aiken’s article reminded me of why I live here in the first place. We have amazing artists in this valley including mu- sicians, painters, furniture- makers, and writers and crafters. We also have a number of art/furniture gal- leries, the Kerbyville Mu- seum, live music at Taylor’s Country Store on Friday and Saturday nights, open mic Thursday nights at Nacho Mama’s and live music on Saturdays. We have Art Walks in CJ and Kerby, the seasonal farmers market in Selma, year-round courses about the region at Siskiyou Field Institute, and events at Spi- ral Living Center. Plus we have a national landmark at Oregon Caves National Monument, miles of hiking trails, beautiful scenery, free summer con- certs at Jubilee Park pro- vided by Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, and many worthy nonprofit organizations that bring re- sources into the community. There are plenty of other events and community expertise and resources that I haven’t mentioned. How many other small communi- ties can boast of such abun- dance? More citizens of Illinois Valley might be inclined to deal with the hard problems facing this valley if they participated in even a frac- tion of the positive things that make this a worthwhile place to live. Fuel dispute ends on happy note From Bob McCarver O’Brien Well, God bless Amer- ica. Me, the guy in the van and a wheelchair, got the $22.50 I believe I was owed from the Oregon Caves Chevron owner. I’m glad we still have freedom of speech in our country. Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in O’Brien by Cheryl & Harry Johnson. *Fri., Nov. 2 58 - 35 *Sat., Nov. 3 58 - 34 *Sun., Nov. 4 56 - 34 *Mon., Nov. 5 56 - 35 *Tue., Nov. 6 55 - 38 *Wed., Nov. 7 55 - 37 *Thurs., Nov. 8 54 - 36 Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in Cave Junction at Natural Designs Farm. *Fri., Nov. 2 62 - 31 *Sat., Nov. 3 68 - 29 *Sun., Nov. 4 65 - 32 *Mon., Nov. 5 67 - 32 *Tue., Nov. 6 64 - 33 *Wed., Nov. 7 64 - 32 *Thurs., Nov. 8 62 - 32 He’s calling project ‘Open Pit Junction’ From Larry Herman Cave Junction It’s strange to wake up to an unfamiliar sound, in a place you’ve been living in for more than 17 years. In a little while you realize that there is a full-blown mining operation going on at the old Martin Dairy bordered by Martin and Rockydale roads. What look like over- loaded dump trucks begin to travel down Rockydale with regularity, depositing part of their contents on the road and obstructing the center line between the mining site (Little Elm Ranch) on Rockydale and Barlow Rock, 1.5 miles down the road. The part of Rockydale above Crest Drive is an ex- tremely dangerous blind curve, and anyone entering the road below this point needs to be vigilant of traffic coming out of the void. It is as if we were in- vaded by an alien presence, viral or human; it’s hard to distinguish the difference. It’s as if terrorists set up shop in our neighborhood. So Copeland Sand & Gravel/Barlow Rock, and Little Elm Ranch (formerly Martin Dairy), team to get the agricultural zoning changed, to create a wet- land. The plan calls for the removal of gravel and rock to a depth of 19 feet, which undermines the ancient riv- erbed, and is below the pre- sent Illinois River. The hole will be 700 feet long, 33 feet wide, and 19 feet deep. This intrusion went unnoticed; and the residents of the area were given only one-month no- tice to provide written opin- ion, by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Dept. of State Lands. I phoned the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Eugene; it is the agency to OK the pro- ject’s safety as a wetland. I asked if it were legal to profit from a wetland? The engineer assured me that there are ways to circumvent the law. I also asked, in the event our wells were com- promised, who would be liable: the U.S. Corp of En- gineers, the state of Oregon, Little Elm Ranch or Cope- land? He told me to send a letter. I did -- and have never received a response. The U.S. Government doesn’t care if a covert ac- tivity that is subverting peo- ple’s lives without recourse is taking place in my neighborhood. The Jose- phine County Planning Commission is hearing a Cave Junction Wednesday, Nov. 14 Good chance of rain High--58 Low--43 petition from Copeland/ Barlow, to change zoning on Holland Loop on a 55-acre piece, from agriculture to aggregate, in order to open pit mine 11.5 acres, that will also be trucked to Barlow Rock on Rockydale. How many more places in this area will be violated, for greedy purposes with total disregard for inhabi- tants? Both the Rockydale mine and the Holland Loop mine projects are across the river from each other and approximately 2 miles above the Cave Junction water treatment plant. How much longer will outside interests be allowed to destroy the environment? There will be a planning commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 26 in Grants Pass at 7 p.m. This meeting should be rightfully held in Cave Junction, where a large crowd in opposition to the mining would assemble. But it is not in the best interest of Copeland and its hired law- yers and assorted experts to play on a level field. Only concerned citizens can prevent waking up with a mine in their back yards. Stem cell ruling stirs ‘respect for life’ wish From Chris Matthews Cave Junction I recently read about our president vetoing money for stem cell research due to his concern that these cells have the potential for life. I wish he had more respect and concern for the actual inno- cent lives being lost on a daily basis. We have 3,800 dead Americans and thousands more wounded, with tens of thousands of innocent dead Iraqis, with no end to the killings in sight. Too bad George doesn’t hold actual lives more important than potential lives. Plus, stem cell research offers a potential cure for thousands of people around the globe from horrible, de- bilitating diseases. Too bad George didn’t spend $500 billion on helping people, furthering medical research instead of padding corporate America profit margins. Maybe he would be more inclined to fund stem cell research if he or one of his family or rich friends comes down with dementia or Alzheimer’s or a host of other diseases stem cell re- search may cure. JoCo board endorsement of timber plan cited From Ananda Floyd & Daniel Dalegoski O’Brien On Monday, Oct. 15 the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to endorse BLM’s WOPR Al- ternative 2. This is the “highest-cutting” alternative BLM is considering. Jim Raffenburg and Dwight Ellis are in favor; Dave Toler is not. This type of forest man- agement would dramatically affect the quality of life, water, and air we all en- joy. The “Timber or Taxes” rhetoric is political pander- ing meant to distract us from the more immediate need to address the budget crisis. We’re writing our commissioners at bcc@co.josephine.or.us to let them know that we want a solution to our problems, not the destruction of Ore- gon’s heritage forests. The public was not ade- quately informed prior to the meeting during which the commissioners voted on this issue. We understand that the agenda for the Oct. 15 meeting was published in the Grants Pass Courier without mention of the WOPR, but instead under the heading of a Natural Resources Subcommittee Recommendation. We have been unable to confirm or deny this via the Courier archives. It is, however, our un- derstanding that the public was not aware of this vote in time to voice opinions to our commissioners. They should be advised that the public is upset by the unclear an- nouncement of this impor- tant meeting. We understand that there were less than five members of the public at (Continued on page 3) Is GREEN important to you? At Z Coffee we recycle all plastic, glass, cardboard, tin cans, & even used coffee grounds (for gardening)! OPEN EVERY DAY 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Gregory & Kylene wish you all a Very Happy Holiday Season from Yanase Jewelers Thursday, Nov. 15 Increasing clouds, chance of rain late High--59 Low--39 Friday, Nov. 16 Cloudy; evening showers likely High--57 Low--36 Saturday, Nov. 17 Rainy and rainier High--57 Low--37 Sunday, Nov. 18 Some rain; then possible snow High--52 Low--30 Monday, Nov. 19 Cloudy, morning snow and rain High--48 Low--31 Tuesday, Nov. 20 Cold with rain High--49 Low--36 Gregory is leaving for his last deployment in November, then to permanent duty at Whidbey Island Navel Air Station by May, 2008 Open: Tuesdays - Fridays, 9 to 6 Most Saturdays, 9 to Noon 23772 Redwood Hwy., Kerby 592-4838 www.yanasejewelers.com
