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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Again this year, no institution of higher education (or
even lower education) felt the need to invite me as a
commencement speaker. That seems like a wise deci-
sion.
Printed newspapers involving those of us in the
Fourth Estate are not perceived of late as being on the
cutting edge of today’s society. In fact, if I were either a
high school or college graduate this year, entering the
wonderful world of newsprint journalism likely would not
be my first choice as a major or a career move.
Although, there are the elite among us; those who
subscribe, let us say, to newspapers including this one.
In my case, newspapering has been my life’s work
(officially) since 1963. In fact, whenever we travel, even
if it’s simply to maybe Eureka, Yreka, Eugene, Bend or
Salem, I am compelled to purchase the “local newspa-
per.” Can’t help myself, it’s in my blood, along with sev-
eral ounces of printer’s ink no doubt.
Newsprint journalism has a long and mostly honor-
able history. Like any vocation, avocation, industry and
the like, bad apples turn up occasionally. But by and
large, journalists strive to honorably bring the public the
news, and some reporters have turned up some star-
tling and intriguing items. Watergate and President
Nixon for example. (Some younger folks out there
probably will have to “Google” or otherwise check what
this means.)
As for me being a commencement speaker, I’d
probably break into tears trying to bring a message to
this year’s crop of graduates. For not only am I a senti-
mental, nostalgic slob, I am an admitted technology
dope. I’m lucky to be able to use a PC, what with having
entered journalism when hot lead and Linotype ma-
chines, manual typewriters and green eyeshades pre-
vailed. See, there’s that nostalgia factor.
But back to Doltish Tech; I don’t Twitter or text or
tweet, except when imitating birds. I thought Blueberry,
or whatever that fruit name is, had to do with toast and
biscuits. I still feel goofy when I see people seemingly
talking to themselves, only to discover they have some
sort of device on one side of their face and they’re talk-
ing to someone about something or somebody, usually
having a “conversation” of no value. (My bias; sorry.)
Now back to graduates, facing their share of the
national debt, around half a million bucks each at this
point. Unemployment is high, although not as major as
during the Great Depression. Why it’s called great is a
mystery to me. It should be called the Horrible Depres-
sion or the Really Bad Depression; something like that.
Our country is fighting two wars; some nations are fool-
ing around with nuclear thingies; cities and counties are
going bankrupt; home foreclosures are rampant.
Etc.
Life goes on. Graduates will find a way to not only
survive, but thrive. We always do.
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 considered. “Thank you”
submissions are not ac-
cepted as letters.
Carrying torch for IVFD
From Ken LeGaux
Selma
We read and hear a lot of
complaints about this area,
but let me tell you of a very
recent experience.
We got a call about 4
a.m. from Sue Fasching that
they had just called 911 -- our
oldest son’s home at 6375
Lakeshore Drive was on fire.
I jumped out of bed, hooked
up my water wagon and was
met at the house by Josephine
County Undersheriff Don
Fasching and Maintenance
Battalion Chief Chris
Sherman of I.V. Fire District.
They were amazing, on the
radio and directing heavy
equipment, firefighting men
and women.
You would have seen
poetry in motion. The fire-
fighters performed like the
U.S. Marine Corps. They
responded very fast and did
not stop for one minute. Just
kept pumping from all sides,
up and down, all around, and
the professional crew was
there with special life-saving
gear, crawled into hell as we
were not 100 percent sure that
the whole family was not
home.
The whole firefighting
crew worked as one magnifi-
cent team. We thank God
that the family was not home,
but if they were in the house,
I believe the firefighters
would have been their only
hope. The house was com-
pletely lost, but the fire-
fighting team was able to
save the adjoining buildings.
Folks need to remember
something very important: the
majority of the firefighters are
volunteers, putting their very
lives on the line for all of us
without pay. We are so ap-
preciative of this community,
families, friends who also
responded so fast with help
and encouragement.
If you have any negative
feelings about I.V. Fire Dis-
trict, I would say to go to a
fire and stay there until they
complete the job. You would
definitely take on a better
opinion of them if you were
to stick around to the end and
be thankful that you didn’t
get the gut-wrenching feeling
to find someone in there after
the fire is out. I pray that it
doesn’t happen to you. It’s an
experience you never forget.
Law enforcement and
firefighters should be the very
first and foremost for our tax
dollar support.
Wonderful I.V. firefighters
From Sue Ellen Fasching
Selma
On May 31, about 3:45
a.m. my neighbor’s house
was engulfed in flames.
Within 10 minutes after
the 911 call, the first Illinois
Valley volunteer firefighters
were on scene. Within 30
minutes there were more than
seven fire trucks from the
Illinois Valley, Rural/Metro
Fire Dept. and Grants Pass
Dept. of Public Safety.
These men and women
worked for more than four
hours, risking their lives to
save the property of others. I
just wanted to say that I am
proud to live in Illinois Valley
knowing that these wonderful
men and women are here
taking care of us and our
property.
Hard times - small towns
From Tom Ninow
Cave Junction
You all know what’s
been going on with the econ-
omy lately -- businesses that
were never supposed to fail
are gone. As it stands now,
hundreds of thousands of
people are out of work.
But here in Cave Junc-
tion, where unemployment
has been above average for
years, we hardly see anything
different. People still drive
their shiny vehicles through
town to the coast every Fri-
day night and back again on
Sunday afternoon.
The unemployed and the
homeless still wander around
town -- looking -- looking
everywhere, perhaps for some
treasure to enhance their
lives. Businesses are still
open, the parking lots are full,
all is normal -- or is it?
News media report that
the North Koreans now have
that atomic bomb that they
swore they were not building,
and a missile delivery system
to go with it. Our country is
in debt to record levels, and
going deeper each day. Our
president is working hard to
stabilize the economy, but
despite his best efforts Gen-
eral Motors, the company
whose president said some
years ago, “What’s good for
General Motors is good for
(Continued on page 3)
Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
$5 (includes soup refills)
Lots of Choices
Take-out Available
Immanuel United
Methodist Church
200 W. Watkins St., CJ
Illinois Valley Little League
BIG EVENT
FUND-RAISER
Sunday, June 14, starting at 10 a.m., Jubilee Park
• Car Wash • Bat-a-thon • BBQ • Band
• Dunk Your Coach/Player Tank
• Other Family Fun Games
Please come support the youth
of the Valley and enjoy some
good, wholesome fun, food,
and entertainment while getting
your car washed.
Providing A Positive Place For Kids
OF THE ROGUE VALLEY
ILLINOIS VALLEY BRANCH
2009 “Save Our Club” Sponsors
Gold Level - "OHFM
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3PCFSU#BSCBSB#FBO
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Ron & Lavina Fonseca
Champions - *OTQJSBUJPO
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Partners - )PQF
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Supporters - %SFBN
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Robert & Debbie Bell
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Mike & Candyce House
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ILLINOIS VALLEY KIDS
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Thank you to all of our
“Club Saving” 2008 Sponsors
• Batzer Construction Services, Batzer Family
• Robert & Barbara Bean
• Robert & Debbie Bell
• Richard & Joyce Boothe
• Bridgeview Winery, Bob & Lelo Kerivan
• Dave’s Outdoor Power Equipment
• Ron & Lavina Fonseca
• Fire Mountain Gems and Beads,
Stuart & Chris Freedman
• Good Shephard Lutheran Church
• Allen & Kathy Hathaway
• JO CO Parks Foundation (Pool Committee)
• Harry & Janis Jourdan
• Illinois Valley Lions Club
• Illinois Valley Grange #370
• Lutheran Women of Illinois Valley
• Mike & Candyce House
• Miller’s Shady Oaks
• Glen & Dulcie Moore
• Harry & Lorraine Rich
• Joseph & Mary Schiffiler
• Shelagh Shafer
• Southern Oregon Sanitation - Fahey Family
• Taylor’s Sausage, Chuck & Marilyn Taylor
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• Wild River Brewing & Pizza
Upcoming Events!
#*/(0BU
"OOVBM8JOFNBLFST%JOOFS
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0DUPCFS
Vineyard
& Winery
Toll Free: (877) 273-4843
Phone: (541) 592-4688
4210 Holland Loop Rd.
Cave Junction, OR 97523
For 30 years Bob and Lelo Kerivan have been part of the Illinois
Valley. As the owners of Bridgeview Winery, they employ many
members of our community. The Boys and Girls Club gives employees
the opportunity for their children to participate in a healthy, supportive
and safe environment after school.
Bob and Lelo continuously support the Boys and Girls Club.
Sponsoring the annual Winemaker’s Dinner each year at their winery
and by participating in other fundraising events throughout the year.
“It’s very important for us as employers that our employees’ children are
taken care of -- so our employees can do their job without worrying about
where their children
are or where to pick
them up after work.
For that reason, I feel
all employers should
help support the
Boys and Girls Club.
There’s not much for
kids to do out here
and the Boys and
Girls Club gives them
somewhere to go.”
