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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2009)
Page 5 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 1, 2009 After 60 years, ‘Bob’ Hall earns GED from RCC O’Brien resident walks halls of education after dropping out to marry high school sweetheart Isaac Daniel and Ryan Brown. (Photo provided) Brown-Daniel engaged Cave Junction residents Wes & Nancy Brown an- nounce the engagement and forthcoming wedding of their daughter, Ryan Brown, to Isaac Daniel. A July 26, 2009 wedding is planned at Fall Creek, Ore. The prospective bride- groom is the son of Arlene Daniel, of Baltimore, Md., and Ralph Daniel, of Eldersburg, Md. Brown is a 1997 graduate of Illinois Valley High School. She earned a bachelor’s de- gree in biology from the Uni- versity of Oregon at Eugene, and her master’s degree in forest resources from Oregon State University at Corvallis. The bride-to-be is now a recreation planner for the Wil- lamette National Forest. Daniel is a 1998 graduate of Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Maryland. He received a degree in forest resources and geography from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He is employed with the Willamette National Forest trail crew. The couple plan to reside in West Fir, Ore. By SCOTT JORGENSEN IVN Staff Writer Illinois Valley resident R.L. “Bob” Hall has lived most of his 78 years without regret. Happily married for more than 60 years, he has a total of 75 family members including children, grandchil- dren and great-grandchildren. But last year, Hall had a dream in which he saw a young man graduating from high school. That dream re- minded Hall that he never accomplished such a feat, and inspired him to begin getting his General Education Di- ploma (GED) at Rogue Com- munity College Learning Center in Kerby. Hall hit the books, and was among the 58 graduates in RCC’s June 13 graduation ceremony at the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. He was even one of the com- mencement speakers. The ceremony repre- sented a long journey for Hall, which began in Hunters, a small town in Eastern Washington state. Hall attended his first two years of high school there, from 1946 to January 1948, and even fell in love. Then he discovered that his Last year, Hall volun- girlfriend’s family was plan- teered for the Start Making a ning to move to California, so Reader Today (SMART) he left school to get married. program, where he read to Even though Hall and his children at Evergreen Ele- wife, June, were only 16 at mentary School. Hall said the time, he looks back on that experience, with support that particular piece of per- from June, helped inspire him sonal history fondly. “It was the right decision,” Hall said. “I didn’t want to lose her.” To support his new bride, Hall be- gan working at a sawmill for $1.10 per hour. That was more than suffi- cient, he said. “We could live on it,” Hall said. “My rent was only five dollars.” Bob Hall (Photo provided) By 1949, the Halls had their first child. Three years later, Hall to complete his studies. was doing heavy construction “I had time on my work at the dam being built hands,” Hall said. by The Dalles. He continued He started studying for in construction throughout the the five GED tests in Septem- West Coast for the subse- ber, and said he did so for quent 40 years until retiring in four hours a day, four days a March 1991 at the age of 59. week. He took the tests at the The Halls had purchased RCC site in Kerby between property in O’Brien prior to January and June. his retirement, and settled Gray Conway, facility down in the community. coordinator for RCC’s Illinois Valley Learning Center at the Belt Bldg., said that Hall was a positive influence on every- one he encountered during his studies. “He was like a breath of fresh air. He set a fine exam- ple for all of our students,” Conway said. “His charm and confidence were good for our students to be around, too.” Hall said that he would be happy if he could inspire just one student to stay in school. Now, Hall is looking at various online programs to further his education even more. He said that he would like to take some writing classes this fall. “There’s a possibility that I might go for a bache- lor’s (degree),” Hall said. Beyond that, the active lover of life might write a book, something he’s been considering for more than six years. He also has accumu- lated around 300 poetry works that he might publish. But even if Hall never does any of those, he said that he at least has the self- satisfaction of having achieved a major life goal. “It was worth it,” he said. “Every second of it was worth it.” Plans for 2009 Wild Blackberry Fest squashed Siskiyou Project To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Oregon Caves National Monument, there will be a free hike on Sunday, July 12, to two of the most popular backcountry destinations adjoining the monument: the Bigelow Lakes Botanical Area and Mount Elijah. Illinois Valley historian Greg Walter and Siskiyou Project staff will lead hikers through flower-filled mead- ows and sweeping Siskiyou Mountain vistas, while dis- cussing natural history. The Bigelow Lakes are located in a glacial cirque ap- proximately 1 mile east of the monument. The area is re- nowned for its botanical diver- sity. Nearby Mount Elijah is named for Elijah Davidson, who discovered the Oregon Caves in 1874. It will be an all-day, moderate 4-mile hike with a 900-foot elevation gain. A car pool will leave from Illinois Valley Visitor Center at 10 a.m., or meet on the Oregon Caves parking lot at 11 a.m. Hikers should bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water. Jesse Lorentz III U.S. Army National Guard Pfc. Jesse Lorentz III has graduated from nine weeks of Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. He is the son of Arthur E. & Wendy Lorentz, of Waldo Road in rural Cave Junction. The soldier is a 2004 graduate of Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction. I don’t know why so many ‘so called’ chocolate lovers complain about the calories in chocolate, when all true chocoholics know it’s a vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, ‘nuff said. ~ Anonymous Although the 2009 Blackberry Festival is can- celed, the grass-roots com- mittee that’s staged it for the past three years has not dis- banded and has some ideas for 2010. The Wild Blackberry Festival Committee most recently has been led by Cave Junction residents Mark & Judy Russo, who stepped up in 2005 for the 25th annual event. It’s traditionally been held during the second week- end of August. Besides putting up a goodly portion of their own money to present the pro- gram, and not seeing reim- bursement, the couple simply is discouraged about the lack of participation. That applies to vendors, and the commu- nity as attendees. Their views were pre- sented during the committee’s quarterly meeting Wednesday night, June 17 at the Illinois Valley Resource Center. Join- ing them were committee board members Michael & Karen Yanase. Said Mark, “I have to admit, 2008 was a dismal disappointment. Many people turned out to be all talk and no walk. “The 2008 festival lacked the spirit of the two before it. One third of the paying vendors didn’t show up Saturday morning to claim their reserved spaces. Enter- tainers blew us off without the courtesy of a phone call. “Some vendors not regis- tered,” he said, “refused to pay for their spaces, citing (that) the property owner gave them permission to be there. This is always a lame reason, as the space near the sidewalk is owned by the city, which allows us to charge for those spaces.” Russo added that vendor spaces were lost last year because, “Evidently some merchants do not see the CJ city water deemed safe During the past couple of weeks, city of Cave Junc- tion residents have been re- ceiving copies of the city’s 2008 Consumer Confidence Report in their mail. The city and other water suppliers are required by law to produce the report to comply with state and fed- eral drinking water regula- tions. According to the report, the city met standards for Honoring Those Who Serve 4th of July Fireworks Celebration Josephine County Fairgrounds Gates open 7 p.m. Admission FREE Pre-show Events Guest speaker State Representative Ron Maurer “She Flies With Her Own Wings” sesquicentennial play by Josephine County Historical Society Taylor Rose performing Country and patriotic music “150 Flag” presentation sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank U.S. Flag retirement ceremony by Civil Air Patrol and Rogue Valley Young Marines “Unique Paper Plate” drawing for cash prizes The “Cowboy Poet” Concessions available at grandstands “Past, Present, and Future” Events Past: Wednesday & Thursday, July 22 & 23 - Kerbyville Museum, Kerby Present: Saturday & Sunday, August 29 & 30 - Jubilee Park, C.J. Future: Saturday-Monday, September 5-7 - I.V. Lions Labor Day Festival, Jubilee Park microbiological testing in 100 percent of samples taken. There was no detect- able lead or copper in the city’s water supply sources, and there were no reported city water system violations in 2008. The report states that the city’s water treatment staff conducts monthly testing for micro-biologicals and weekly water quality tests. The testing require- ments are mandated by the Oregon Dept. of Human Services Drinking Water Program Dept., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. City Recorder Jim Polk said that he is “pretty sure” the city has had no viola- tions since it began using its new, mandated water treat- ment plant in 1999. value of having a colorful booth in front of their busi- nesses.” Other disappoint- ments he listed included lack of attendance for a free con- cert last year at Jubilee Park as part of the festival; and little or no attendance for other programs, presented by Rogue Valley Flyers and an historical group. And despite I.V. Family Coalition’s participation with attractions at the park, not many showed up there. As well, members of I.V. Volun- teer Firefighters Association took a bath with their hot dog cart due to lack of customers. Said Russo, “ I have spo- ken to past Blackberry Festi- val organizers, and the com- mon denominator can be summed up like this: A lot of people want to see the festival continue, but very few want to do anything to help.” He, his wife and the Yanases feel that it could work for an existing “fresh” valley organization, perhaps Rotary Club of Illinois Val- ley, or Cave Junction Lions Club, to take over the festival. Russo said that he would be happy to work with any group to help it put on. “We believe in the festi- val,” said Russo, getting agreement from those pre- sent. Various ideas for attrac- tions were touched on, in- cluding perhaps a rebirth of the pie-eating contest, and maybe a recipe or baking contest among other thoughts. “It seems that the festival needs to be re-invented,” said Michael Yanase. “It needs new people, new blood and a new focus.” The committee plans to hold its next quarterly meet- ing on Sept. 16, or the 23rd, depending on circumstances. It will be announced in Illi- nois Valley News. 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