Page 5
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Digital TVs
bring solid
waste crisis
The switch to digital-
only broadcasting will arrive
in February 2009, and solid
waste specialists at the Ore-
gon Dept. of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) are urging
Oregonians to either hold on
to or properly recycle their
old television sets to reduce
the amount of electronics
waste going into the state’s
waste stream.
“Many people may be
thinking about discarding
their TVs because of the
switch when they really don’t
have to,” said Kathy Kiwala,
who manages DEQ’s Elec-
tronics (E-Waste) Recycling
Program. “Keeping your ex-
isting TV is the best option,
environmentally and finan-
cially.”
The federal government
is requiring all U.S. television
stations to switch from analog
to digital-only broadcasting
by Feb. 17, 2009. The switch
will free airwaves for public
safety communications and
wireless services, and provide
better picture quality and
sound, she said.
Many people may be
under the mistaken impres-
sion that they need to get a
new television with the
switch, Kiwala said. “In fact,
you do not need to purchase a
new TV to receive program-
ming after the switch. You
may, however, need to take
some simple steps to ensure
continued service,” she said.
“What you need to do,”
she continued, “depends on
the source of your program-
ming (free broadcasting, ca-
ble or satellite service) and
the type of TV you have
(analog or digital).”
A simple one-time pur-
chase of a converter box (for
analog TVs using an antenna)
or a cable or satellite sub-
scription (for analog or digital
TVs) will allow reception of
digital broadcasting with ex-
isting TVs.
Persons who choose to
purchase a new digital TV
and have an existing TV in
working condition have sev-
eral options:
Keep the old TV as a
second TV for games, videos
or DVDs; give the old TV to
a friend or donate it to a sec-
ond-hand store.
“If your old TV is no
longer working,” Kiwala said,
“bring it to a recycler. TVs
and other consumer electron-
ics contain materials that can
be reclaimed and used again.
They also contain toxic com-
ponents, which a responsible
recycler can safely dispose of.
(Continued on page 8)
SSI extended to aid refugees
Sens. Gordon H. Smith
(R-Ore.) and Herb Kohl (D-
Wis.) were successful in pass-
ing recent legislation to allow
for an additional two years of
Supplemental Security In-
come (SSI) benefits eligibility
for refugees and other hu-
manitarian immigrants.
The legislation was
approved in the Senate by
unanimous consent.
“We cannot turn our
back on the most vulnerable
political (asylum seekers) or
refugees who are seeking
safety in this great country of
ours,” said Smith. “Many of
these individuals are elderly,
and fled persecution or torture
in their home countries.
“They include Jews
fleeing religious persecution
in the former Soviet Union,
Iraqi Kurds who fled the Sad-
dam Hussein regime, Cubans,
and Hmong people from the
highlands of Laos who served
on the side of the U.S. mili-
tary during the Vietnam War.
“They are elderly and
unable to work, and have
become reliant on their SSI
benefits as their primary
source of income,” according
to Smith.
‘Walk a Mile in My Shoe’ entry titled Sam’s Toeing Company , by Sam Drake. (Photo provided)
‘Walk a Mile’ entry widely traveled
By JUDY HOYLE
If there had been an
award for the greatest dis-
tance traveled, “Sam’s Toe-
ing Company” would have
won hands down in the Illi-
nois River Valley Arts Coun-
cil (IRVAC) annual silent
auction of decorated shoes.
The event benefits Sec-
ond Friday Art Walk.
Designed and created by
Sam Drake of San Diego,
“Sam’s Toeing Co.” -- a
clever play-on-words entry,
got its origin last year when
Sam, 11, came to Cave Junc-
tion with his mother and older
brother to visit family friends.
During the visit, they
attended the Wild Blackberry
Festival. Sam and his brother,
Jerry, were quite taken by the
“Walk A Mile in My Shoe”
auction entries. Jerry had the
winning bid on a shoe for his
girlfriend back home.
Sam revisited the display
of shoes several times during
Blackberry Festival, then
announced to his family that
he would make one for this
year.
Many 11-year-olds might
quickly forget such a goal,
but Sam kept thinking of
ideas and discussing them
with his family during the
course of the year. Six
months ago, he selected his
title and started planning the
design. Some two months
ago, Sam got his mother to
take him to a large number of
resale stores, looking for just
the right shoes for his crea-
tion. He then assembled his
entry and shipped it to Cave
Junction.
IRVAC board members
appreciate Sam Drake and all
those who decorated and bid
on shoes this year. For photos
of other shoes, Second Friday
Art Walk and Learning
Through Art activities, visit
www.irvac.com.
Now Serving
Dinner
Fridays & Saturdays
5 to 8 p.m.
Enjoy Bev’s Home Cooking
plus
Special Creations by Chef Randy
203 N. Redwood Hwy.
(541) 592-4128
Rider Roche wins her trail trials class
A trail trials competition
hosted by Grants Pass-based
Southern Oregon Horse Ac-
tivities (SOHA) was held
recently at Lake Selmac.
The Senior Class, cover-
ing riders ages 18 to 49, was
won by Danita Roche, of
Cave Junction. She was rid-
ing her Foundation Quarter
Horse mare, Little Girl.
Danita and Little Girl scored
92 points out of 100.
A trail trial is a fun, so-
cial trail-riding event during
which riders are asked to ne-
gotiate their equine on a trail
through safe and natural ob-
stacles designated by num-
bers. Riders are judged on
Danita Roche with Little Girl
(Photo provided)
how they and their mounts
maneuver in meeting each
obstacle. The main criteria
are safety and common sense.
Trail trials help riders
gain knowledge of the re-
sponsibilities of a rider and
the responsibilities of educat-
ing horses. Such events teach
about hazards to look for on
the trail for horse and rider,
and how to negotiate them. It
also teaches riders how to be
prepared for a trail ride, items
to carry, and how to recog-
nize warning signs of their
horse’s condition.
All equines are eligible
for participation -- whether
horse, mule, pony or zebra.
And all ages of participants
are eligible.
A portion of the entry
fees pays for prizes. SOHA
also donates a portion of the
entry fees to an equine rescue
fund.
Now through Saturday, August 30
Business
Opportunity
High school graduation more difficult
Oregon’s State Board of
Education voted unanimously
this year to change high
school graduation require-
ments.
Beginning with this fall’s
freshmen, students will have
to work a little harder on
math, reading and writing, as
well as essential skills and a
method of proving they have
mastered them.
“Oregon School Boards
Association (OSBA) and its
members applaud the State
Board of Education’s moves
to strengthen standards by
increasing rigor,” said Execu-
tive Director Kevin McCann
of the outcome of the three-
year diploma remodeling
process.
Five task forces studied
and made recommendations
on implementation issues,
essential skills, standards and
assessment, proficiency-
credit operations, and cost of
implementation to districts.
An important part of the
plan is the flexibility students
will have in demonstrating
mastery of essential skills.
Students will be allowed to
do so in one of several ways:
*Completing a work sam-
ple or other student project
that will be scored locally.
*Passing state reading,
writing and math tests.
*Passing a standardized
test yet to be determined.
“It’s wise of the board to
recognize and respond to the
need for alternative methods
of assessing achievement,”
said David Williams, OSBA
liaison to the Oregon Dept. of
Education.
The new graduation re-
quirements and phase-in time-
line have been available for
some time. Starting with the
class of 2010, students must
have 24 credits to graduate, up
from 22. The plan will be fully
phased in by 2012, when
graduating seniors will need 24
credits from specified aca-
demic areas, have opportunities
to demonstrate “Essential
Skills” in reading, writing,
math and speaking and com-
plete personalized learning
activities.
The state board voted to
continue “personalized learn-
ing requirements,” which it
adopted in 2007, for students.
Kate’s Redwood Bar & Grill presents
Concerts
by the
in Wonder,
featuring Aggressive
Creek
Nature Band
Saturday, August 30
Beer Garden 6:30 to 10:30, Live Music 7 to 11
~ Food Available ~
Come enjoy an evening under the stars!
Sorry, no outside beverages,
no minors, no pets.
476-8990
for your
Art Gallery
Tuesdays - Saturdays, 11 - 5
144 S. Redwood hwy., CJ
Gallery Dream!
592-6431
Crocker Financial Services
Phone: 541-592-4454