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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Every four years a significant event occurs on Jan. 20.
And this year that date will be especially significant as a cer-
tain person achieves a milestone.
This person has been acclaimed by many, although
there are some who have made disparaging remarks. But
that is understandable, as men of his stature and position
often find themselves in unusual situations as they deal with
public matters and people of many levels.
The man is, for the most part, a humble individual. He
calls himself “greatly humble.” He speaks well of others. He
keeps his desk neat and plays well with others. He tries to
accentuate positive aspects of life and his daily business
even in the face of disappointment and difficult challenges.
On Jan. 20, 2009 there actually will be some in the na-
tion unaware of the importance of the date and the special
circumstance that will be marked. Unfortunately that is the
way it goes sometimes, and the man who will mark his ex-
ceptional day understands that without rancor.
On his most-unique day it is certain that the Man of the
Hour will be blessed in his new endeavors. His family and
friends will be especially pleased with his progress. And the
man himself will take it all in stride.
Yes, Jan. 20, 2009 will mark the 65th birthday of Robert
R. “Bob” Rodriguez, co-publisher with his wife, Jan of Illinois
Valley News. They’ve been Cave Junction residents since
February 1986, and are 30-
year residents of Oregon.
And lest we forget, on the
same day, Barack Obama
will be inaugurated as presi-
Cave Junction
dent of the United States.
Wednesday, Jan. 14
Sunny and warm
High--65 Low--24
Thursday, Jan. 15
Sunshine
High--56 Low--25
Friday, Jan. 16
Cloudy
High--51 Low--27
Saturday, Jan. 17
Sunny
High--53 Low--25
Sunday, Jan. 18
Sunshine
High--53 Low--26
Monday, Jan. 19
Afternoon rain
High--55 Low--39
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Rain
High--53 Low--38
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, rainfall, and
snowfall recorded in O’Brien by
Cheryl & Harry Johnson:
*Fri., Jan. 2
51 29 .91
*Sat., Jan. 3
36 26
*Sun., Jan. 4
38 28
*Mon., Jan. 5
51 37 .35
*Tue., Jan. 6
53 45
*Wed., Jan. 7
56 46
*Thu., Jan. 8
49 39 .43
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures and rainfall
recorded in Cave Junction at
Illinois River Farm:
*Fri., Jan. 2
49 28 .62
*Sat., Jan. 3
38 28 .01
*Sun., Jan. 4
38 28
*Mon., Jan. 5
50 36 .89
*Tue., Jan. 6
53 44
*Wed., Jan. 7
57 46
*Thu., Jan. 8
49 31 .64
Illinois Valley Computer Service
“Service at your door”
Microsoft Certified Professional
116 N. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction
www.ivcsonline.net
Zane Blankenship
541-761-4351
Tony Mistretta
541-761-4321
zane@ivcsonline.net
tony@ivcsonline.net
(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 considered. “Thank you”
submissions are not ac-
cepted as letters.
I.V. Lions recap 2008
From Harry Johnson
Member, I.V. Lions Club
Board of Directors
The Illinois Valley Lions
Club is proud of its accom-
plishments of 2008. This
year, as during so many other
years, we showed the com-
munities in Illinois Valley
that we care.
As most know, sight and
hearing work are a main part
of what we do in our commu-
nities. We sponsored more
than 30 eye exams and free
eye-glasses; and two hearing
exams and hearing aids.
We’re proud to say that we
have one person awaiting
cataract surgery.
During ‘08 we loaned
more than 200 pieces of
medical equipment to fami-
lies in Illinois Valley. Every-
thing from crutches and
wheelchairs to beds is avail-
able to all who need them.
In ‘08 we had a wonder-
ful Easter in the Park event
with more than 3,000 eggs for
the children, 154 eggs with
$1 in them, 75 eggs with a
coupon for a free toy, and 12
eggs with a coupon for a free
Easter basket. The club also
had its train giving free rides.
Members dressed as the
Easter Bunny and Smoky
Bear gave candy.
In September, we had
our 37th annual Labor Day
parade with 45-plus year Li-
ons member Lewie Spencer
as grand marshal. It was fan-
tastic with at least 75 units
and walking participants. Our
three-day Labor Day Festival
had one of its largest turn-
outs. We had the wild and
crazy Tuff Truck racing.
Those who never have seen
this must come in 2009 and
witness the spectacle.
We had train rides for the
kids, and delicious hamburg-
ers and fries. All members
worked quite hard. On Labor
Day we raffled a 2008 Harley
Davison motorcycle. We sold
270 of the 300 tickets printed
at $100 each. It was a great
success for the club.
The 2009 raffle fund-
raiser is under way with an
‘09 Harley displayed at Tay-
lor’s Country Store in Down-
IVHS Activities Calendar
Brought to you by the folks at
592-3556
Cave Jct.
469-7545
Brookings
Illinois Valley News
www.illinois-valley-news.com
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
Co-publishers: Bob & Jan Rodriguez
Editor-in-Chief: Michelle Binker
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
P.O. 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. 44
Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins
Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
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Medford
THURSDAY, JAN. 15
* 21st Century 3:30 p.m.:
scrap-booking, drumming,
home-style cooking,
scholarship essay class
FRIDAY, JAN. 16
* Basketball vs. Hidden Valley
JV boys @ 5:30 p.m.
Varsity boys @ 7 p.m.
* Basketball at Hidden Valley
JV girls @ 5:30 p.m.
Varsity girls @ 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 17
* Wrestling at North Coast
Classic - Eureka @ 9 a.m.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20
* 21st Century 3:30 p.m.: brain
bowl, guitar lessons, sewing,
theater/improv, scholarship
essay class
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
* 21st Century 3:30 p.m.: yoga,
drama club, running/walking,
home-style cooking
* Wrestling at Glendale
@ 6 p.m.
(All 21st Century events are open to
parents of students at any I.V. school.
Also open to homeschoolers.)
town Cave Junction. Tickets
are available at Taylor’s or
through the club.
Last year, as during years
past, we showed our support
of young scholars in Illinois
Valley. We awarded five
$1,000 scholarships to gradu-
ating seniors at Illinois Valley
High School. We hope this is
the beginning of their road to
success. We also sponsored
several youth sports teams:
Illinois Valley Little League,
the Boys & Girls Club foot-
ball team, and our state cham-
pion IVHS wrestling team.
Our club gave money to
help support the Cave Junc-
tion Cares holiday meals pro-
gram. In August, members
went to Evergreen Elemen-
tary School and helped build
new playground equipment. It
was two days of hard, but
enjoyable work.
Past president David
Anderson last year received
the “Crystal Pin” Award from
Lions International for a year
of positive growth by our
club; and he received an
award from District for club
membership growth.
Other members received
awards during ‘08: Jerry So-
mers, Don Sills and Steve
Lyons received awards for
bringing the most new mem-
bers to the club. Gale Hatch
was honored as the club’s
“Lion of the Year.” Two
members received the prestig-
ious Helen Keller Benefactor
Award from Lions Interna-
tional: Vale Hatch and Rich-
ard Strohl. We’re also proud
of Lion Don Moore, who’s
one of our newest members,
for his landslide victory and
becoming new mayor of
Cave Junction. We know he
will do a great job for the city
and will represent us well.
The club received an
award from the I.V. Chamber
of Commerce thanking the
club for the money and busi-
ness brought to the city and
its local businesses, because
of our Labor Day Parade and
Festival.
In 2009, we will have a
busy year. We will have the
usual eye care and hearing aid
care support that never stops.
We’ll continue filling the
medical equipment needs of
the valley. The real fun starts
with our free Easter in the
Park event and the thousands
of painted eggs. And the ’09
Labor Day weekend looks as
though it’s going to be an-
other success.
FAC insights
From Mara Carnes
Cave Junction
I have the distinct pleas-
ure of holding the position of
project coordinator for the
Forestry Action Committee
(FAC). We are a non-profit
organization, and value vol-
unteerism and community
spirit.
FAC believes you can
accomplish anything if you
bring the community together
in a positive way. Our motto,
“Together, we can do a lot,”
reigns true. Our employees
embrace the chore of empow-
ering land owners to restore
riparian areas on their land.
We provide not only the tools
needed for land owners to
accomplish this task, but also
provide support and guidance
for the years to come as land
owners proudly watch their
trees mature.
Our services are pro-
vided free of charge to par-
ticipating land owners.
Healthy streams mean
healthy fish habitat. Taking
care of the environment that
surrounds us is a job we all
must accept responsibility for
-- for ourselves and our fu-
ture. To date, FAC has
planted almost 300,000 trees
in Illinois Valley. This is a
huge success for us all.
FAC believes in open
membership, mutual consen-
sus, courtesy, respect and
power from the bottom up.
Our goal is to empower the
unempowered, and to come
up with creative changes and
solutions in which the com-
munity can find common
ground.
With the coming of this
new year, I invite the commu-
nity to attend our board meet-
ings and meet the new staff.
The FAC board meets on first
Thursdays in the Butler Bldg.
(lower US Forest Service
compound) at 3 p.m. All
meetings are open to the pub-
lic.
FAC encourages public
involvement, and encourages
anyone interested in finding
out more about us to attend.
All financial records are
available for review, and we
offer open discussion for new
ideas, old ideas, praise, ques-
tions or criticism.
For those who cannot
attend a meeting, our door is
always open to the public.
People can come and be a
part of our organization, see
what’s new for 2009 and do
something good for our com-
munity.
Images of Gaza
From Ali Madjdi
Cave Junction
There is nothing Israeli
foreign minister Tzipi Livni
can say or do that can take
from the minds of people
across the world the images
of Christmas in Gaza.
You see, there is some-
thing special about pictures;
long after words have blown
away with the wind, images
keep haunting us. That is why
a picture is worth a thousand
words. Dead babies don't lie!
Water Precious Response
from Tony Paulson
Cave Junction
I thought I would add
some clarity to Ms. Spell-
man’s issue (Letters, Illinois
Valley News, Jan. 7).
Water conservation is
appreciated by the city.
Relating to the monthly
utility billings, the water fee
of $28 is for the first 500 cu-
bic feet of water used, and
that is what the city must
charge in order to fund the
operation and maintenance of
the water system and to be in
compliance with the condi-
tions of a grant award that the
city received to upgrade the
water treatment plant and
distribution system.
The sewer fee, with a
base rate of $31 per month, is
the amount the City must
charge to fund the operation
and maintenance of the sewer
(Continued on page 3)
Sierra
Nevada
Corona
6-pack
bottles
$7
6-pack bottles
$7 .99
.99
plus deposit
plus deposit
12-pack cans
12-pack cans
$8
.79
plus deposit
$10 .69
plus deposit
Looking to make a difference?
Volunteer opportunities
in your community
Crisis Line Worker:
Provide information, referrals,
emotional support, options,
and resources evenings and
weekends. Shifts are flexible
and you work from your own
home.
In Office Crisis Advocate:
Provide information, referrals,
emotional support, options,
and assist in applying for
restraining orders. Shifts are
flexible and you work in the
Alliance offices.
Office Support Services:
Answer phones, take and
forward messages, maintain
office environment.
Maintain children’s center.
Accept donations. Write
thank you cards.
Outreach Advocates
for High School, Middle
School and Grade School :
Working with an advocate to
maintain and facilitate
prevention programs and
support groups in the different
schools.
Specialized training provided
for each of these positions,
including on-the-job training
with advocates. This will be
the hardest volunteer work
you’ll ever love.
For more information or to
enroll, phone 592-2515
Illinois Valley
Safe House
Alliance -
More Than
a Safe Place
Winter is Still With Us
Come try our llama felt hats
and more
At the Studio
5489 Takilma Road 592-6078
and at
Hampton’s Rock Shop
in Kerby 592-2800