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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2008)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Ye olde editor is not much of a camper, preferring nice motel rooms with all the amenities, but years ago we had a 14-foot Western camp trailer. It was kind of a classic, with the pine paneling and interior roof, and what I called the Roy Rogers upholstery (fake brands and steer heads) on the dinette that made into a bed. Fourteen feet isn’t much space, but we were smaller then. Using our Poor Man’s Suburban, we hauled the trailer north in 1974, on the occasion of our 10th anniver- sary, while Jan’s parents stayed at our house with our three children. It was cold in that trailer, but if you bundled up in a double sleeping bag, and shared your warmth, it was great. We chose November for that ‘74 trip, looking for some- where to relocate from Poway in San Diego County. As it was November, and we were in Northern California and S.W. Oregon, well, it was chilly and rainy. In fact, we cele- brated Thanksgiving in the trailer. Jan fixed scallops we had purchased on the coast. It was on that outing that we “discovered” Illinois Valley. It was much more rural and remote then. Although the valley had five grocery stores. After returning home, I tried to get a job with Bob Grant, who owned the “Noose” with his wife, Jan. He wouldn’t hire me, saying that the economy wasn’t that good, and he couldn’t afford me. (Does this sound like a familiar refrain?) So we subscribed to the newspaper, and eventually moved to Escondido, where we lived for around two years before I got a job in Brookings. Oh, about the trailer, the kids and I took it into the de- sert on the eastern edge of San Diego County once. It was an interesting weekend with the four of us in there. But we had a fine time. It was a bit of a trick to cook on that pro- pane stove, but we managed. We loaned the trailer and our Suburban to friends once, and they returned the trailer with dents in it. Seems that they didn’t know how to back up and crank the steer- ing wheel properly, so they backed one side of the rear of the Suburban into one corner of the Western. Ah well, no big deal. I used a plunger and some big suction cups to pull out the dents. Looked OK. I have to admit that backing the Western through our front gate from a narrow dirt road in Poway was not easy. But I never caused any dents. Dents or not, the trailer was used more as a playhouse by our kids and their friends than for camping. We eventu- ally sold it to a young woman who was leaving home. Don’t know if she was heading north, but if she did, I hope that her fortune is as pleasing as ours for coming to Oregon. Attention: Kerby Ditch Association Members We have succeeded in saving all of the Kerby Ditch water rights. The Oregon Water Resource Dept. has helped us by preparing all 50+ applications and reducing the cost from $350 to $175. This means that we have five years to make beneficial use of the rights. The Association plans to put the water directly into the Ditch in about six months, rather than the 18 months required to install a pipeline. The only option we have to put the water into a pipe- line is if the state would give us back the $250,000 grant we used to have. We will be distributing applications for signatures, and collect- ing checks of $175 payable to Oregon Water Resource Dept. If you have any questions, contact Robert Kerivan, president of the Kerby Ditch Association. Phone (541) 592-4688 or email to bvw@bridgeviewwine.com Water Wells Pump Sales Installation Service 592-6777 1470 Caves Highway Licensed • Bonded • Insured Locally owned and operated in the valley for over 25 years. WWC #1504 • CCB #152266 • CPl #7-113 Member Oregon Ground Water Assoc. 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 71, No. 29 Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Millie Watkins, and Bruce Stone 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. Gener- ally, 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 illinois-valley-news.com (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter- writers.) * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be con- sidered. “Thank you” sub- missions are not accepted as letters. * * * Protecting children; community input sought From Patty Schalk/Jessica Welcome Co-instigators of Crosswalk Safety Committee Cave Junction How many years have the school children of Cave Junc- tion needed a safe crosswalk at the intersection of Redwood Hwy. and River Street? For- ever: Everyone’s answer has been -- forever. Robbie & Joan Robinson, who formerly operated Rob- bie’s Automotive at the corner of River Street, voluntarily risked their lives, literally, to aid in crossing the kids safely. Thank God that there haven’t been any serious accidents there. (Editor’s Note: The late CJ Mayor Tom Green suffered severe injuries when crossing there one night many years ago.) Children walking from Evergreen Elementary School, who need to cross Redwood Hwy., are encouraged to use the Lister Street intersection at the county building, but not all do. Not only does this create a dangerous setting for children, the passing drivers now have an added object on the road. Redwood Hwy. is a state- wide freight route, and when combined with the many re- ported rear-end collisions, makes me believe that there are a lot of big, fast-moving vehi- cles, and that not all the drivers are paying attention. The old saying, “Go play on the free- way,” suddenly sounds differ- ent. I’m sure it’s not always pleasant walking to and from school for these kids. They have no choice when it comes to going to school. Students see the busy in- tersection with the speeding cars and trucks. When the Rob- insons were active, students also saw the crossing guards, one who escorted our precious children across the street and another guard standing in the middle of the street with a sign to stop traffic. Today that story doesn’t have the same ending. There is a painted crosswalk on the street and a flashing yellow light overhead to meet the chil- dren. It’s time for a change. It doesn’t take a big city or a lot of money to secure safety for children or to bring awareness to the drivers in our commu- nity. My daughter-in-law re- cently gained employment at a business at the corner of River and Redwood Hwy. One day we were discussing a plan in case I couldn’t meet my grand- son at the bus after school. We talked about him, maybe, walk- ing to the shop after school. “No, there’s no way I’m letting him cross that street!” was her remark. Right there many wheels started turning. The ideas have turned into some exciting plans. A committee is working to recruit volunteers and train them to be crossing guards. ODOT will provide four vests, four street flags, and a video at no charge. I.V. Senior Center is al- lowing our group to meet at the center and has offered support. Many individuals and civic groups have offered their sup- port; the response has been overwhelming. I’m sure all those people will be there when it’s time to ask the community to volunteer as a crossing guard. We have contacted the Oregon Transportation Safety coordinator for crossing guard safety. She has a safety pro- gram to present to schools when the time is right. ODOT has an open file with our name on it. It is pursu- ing a push-button red light to be activated at designated hours to assist at the intersec- tion. An on-site inspection has been conducted, and ODOT saw a lot of fast traffic and the need for yellow flashing lights prior to the crosswalk. ODOT has been behind this project 100 percent and offered any services within its reach. And its representatives are reaching out for us as they are talking to their superiors with more ideas. ODOT is going to install a traffic counter at the intersec- tion. I know people avoid it and drive another route for convenience, but by doing so the state won’t get an accurate reading to help assess the need correctly. Drivers should con- sider driving the River Street route when driving to school instead of an alternative route. At this time we need as much positive input from eve- ryone who has a concern about the safety of this intersection. We’re not screaming for a sig- nal light, we just would like to see a safer crossing place for the kids by adding trained crossing guards. At the high school in Ashland they have a crossing guard to help them cross the street for high school kids. Redwood Hwy. is busy enough in Cave Junction that even now at Lister Street I be- lieve there should be a crossing guard. People can contribute to this project by sharing stories, ideas and suggestions to ensure maximum results. Now is the time to give the input. The goal is to help secure safety for the children, seniors and everyone in-between. Information can be sent to P.O. Box 624 in Cave Junction, or phone 592-2491. Global warming scam From Marvin D. Sprinkle Cave Junction In reference to your article -- Secretary of State espouses views on climate changes, ‘global warming’ -- (Illinois Valley News, Sept. 24), I must disagree with all the hyperbole of our illustrious secretary of state and his global warming hype. I quote John Coleman, Weather Channel founder: “It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended. Global warming: It is a scam. Some dastardly scientists with envi- ronmental and political motives manipulated long-term scien- tific data. And I am telling you global warming is a nonevent, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. “I say this knowing you probably won’t believe me, a mere TV weatherman, chal- lenging a Nobel Prize, Acad- emy Award and Emmy Award-winning former vice president of the United States. So be it.” V.A. care; McCain criticism From Wally Aiken Kerby In the early 1970s, I was called on to serve my country during a war. I enlisted because I felt it was the right thing to do. I served honorably for four years and was discharged in 1975 with this promise: My government would provide medical care for me through the Veterans Administration for the rest of my life. I had no starry-eyed illu- sions that this would be top-notch, grade-A medical care, but it was good to know that in a crisis I had medical care available. In the early 1990s that crisis hit. A major heart problem was detected after I exhibited signs of a heart attack. This should have been covered by the V.A. even though I went to a civilian hos- pital. But because it was a heart infection, rather than a heart attack, the V.A. denied my claim because a heart infection is not an emergency and therefore I should not have gone to a civilian hospital, but rather should have driven four hours to get to a V.A. facility. I should have done this even though I was experienc- ing chest pain, profuse sweat- ing, shortness of breath -- all the signs of a heart attack. I contacted the offices of my elected representatives to ask that they look into this situation. One of my senators responded by saying, “Too bad. The V.A. made the deci- sion, and I won’t interfere.” That response came from Sen. Jon Kyle (R-Arizona). My congressman, Rep. J. D. Hay- worth (R-Arizona), never re- sponded. Nor did my other senator, John McCain (R- Arizona). This man McCain, the supposed friend of war veter- ans, didn’t even have the de- cency to tell me , as Kyle had, that he doesn’t care about vet- erans unless they serve a self- ish purpose for the McCain agenda. But his silence speaks volumes. Four years ago, I was in a band that played for a Bush rally in Medford. Also speak- ing at the rally was my old senator, John McCain. He spoke in glowing terms about all things Bush. He made it very clear that he was firmly in the Bush/Cheney camp and that any comments to the con- trary were false. He insisted, in no uncertain terms, that al- though they disagreed on mi- nor points of policy, Bush was a noble and honorable man. Now McCain wants my vote. This is a man who strenu- ously supported a man named Charles Keating, who was a central figure in the sav- ings-and-loan debacle of the 1980s, a situation brought about by Republican policies of deregulation, much like the mortgage debacle of today. This is a man who has made it clear, when politically expedi- ent, that he believes in the Bush/Cheney agenda. Most importantly, this is a man who has turned his back on his fellow veterans who served in the same war that launched his political career. He should be ashamed, but I honestly believe that the man has no shame or decency. (Continued on page 3)
