Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2009)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 8, 2009 As a younger man, I used to sing along with the popular tunes emanating from the AM radio in my smokin’ vehicle, and sometimes misheard lyrics. One example: There was a song containing the words, “Poetry. Poetry in motion.” What I heard, and sang aloud until the person who became my wife stopped staring at me with a baffled look, was: “Oh a tree; oh a tree in motion.” Hey, it made sense to me. Can’t you see a tree swaying in the breeze? OK, so I was cuckoo. Which reminds me of really young children whose vocabulary and frames of reference provide them truly interesting lyrics and comments. Example: Our grand- daughter Natalie, 4, was at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego County and happily pointed at an animal, identify- ing it as a “cantaloupe.” Also, after a recent trip to Dis- neyland, her preschool teacher asked about her favorite ride. Natalie replied that it was the “Pirates and the bean.” She also told her mom, Vicki, that the blow dryer she was using should be called a hair conditioner. And last week, retired “Noose” co-worker Virginia Gilliam sent some malapropisms from various sources. One mom wrote that when her twin daughters were young she taught them the Lord’s Prayer, only to over- hear them saying, “Give us this steak and daily bread, and forgive us our mattresses.” One man noted that when he was young, he learned the prayer as, “Our Fa- ther, who are in Heaven, Howard be thy name.” A woman as a little girl prayed, “Hail Mary, full of grapes.” Yet another recited, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, howjda know my name?” Another stated, “Give us this day our jelly bread.” Someone recalled hearing a child who, in the Pledge of Allegiance, said, “I led the pigeons to the flag.” One boy wondered who was Richard Stands be- cause in the pledge he heard, “I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the republic for Richard Stands.” One person said that she once knew a child whose favorite Sunday school hymn was, “Gladly, the cross- eyed bear.” A girl, 8, had to be shown in the hymnal that, “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful,” was the title, and not, “Oh, Connie be Faithful.” Some folks recalled a song about Noah in which the words were, “And the rains came down, and the floods came up.” Two tiny sisters who lived next door were overheard singing it as, “And the rains came down, and the spuds came up.” And there was the boy who, in singing “God Bless America,” intoned, “Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from a bulb.” One more: I heard about a guy who mistook the lyr- ics, “Then I saw her face; now I’m a believer,” as “Then I saw her face; now I’m gonna’ leave her.” (Bob's Note: The preceding originally was printed in our May 31, 2006 issue. Thanks for the memories ... ) 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 72, No. 17 Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins Advertising sales: Kenny Hix Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts 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 publisher’s discretion. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publisher’s 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 Life is an adventure in forgiveness. ~ Norman Cousins ~ (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. Fire District appreciated From Mayor Don Moore Cave Junction On behalf of the city of Cave Junction, I would like to express appreciation for the efforts of the fire district staff and volunteers during the Wednesday, June 24 fires. The response of the crews to the “arson” fires around the city and area was outstanding. Their efforts prevented the series of fires from becom- ing a devastating event. With the wind on that day, the fires could easily have expanded and included many homes. Right to drive From Christopher Smith Cave Junction Recently, George McElroy, Raymond Karczewski and I traded let- ters to the editor regarding the topic of the “right to drive.” In my letter I asked that if driv- ing was a god-given right for them to please prove it to me. I was then presented by McElroy with an envelope of information of which he claims supports his belief that people have the right to drive. Included was a 21-page brief printed off the Internet. McElroy also included a note in which he expected to see me submit a retraction to my original letter. Here is my “retraction” — I read all the documenta- tion that McElroy provided. I found parts to be humorous and parts to be obscure. It included several sites from legal trials and rulings. I ques- tion if McElroy researched to see what those trials were. I wonder if some of the sites were actually taken out of context, and I question their relevance to the issue at hand. I also question the accu- racy of the Website from which it was printed. Just be- cause it is on the Web does not make it true, right or accu- rate. The documentation basi- cally did not sway my opinion toward agreement with theirs. Oddly enough, it seems that the majority of the fine folks in Cave Junction do not share the sentiment about people having a right to drive. Since my letter was printed I have heard from sev- eral people who are in agree- ment with me. Not a single person has told me that I was wrong, except for McElroy and Karczewski. McElroy did bring up the right to travel vs. the right to drive. I do not argue that peo- ple have a common right to travel. People have been trav- eling since the dawn of man. I could not care less if people want to walk, run, bike or whatever to get around. I do care that people carry a plastic card called a drivers license showing that at one time during their life they were able to prove that they could competently operate a 2,000- pound plus piece of machinery called a car. A car can do some serious damage if the person behind the wheel does not know how to operate it. After reading what McElroy provided me I under- stand that it is his belief that people have the right to oper- ate a car no matter what age, experience or training. So is he then saying that it is OK for my 3-year-old son to drive my car? I wonder if McElroy would change his mind if my son, being an inexperienced driver and 3 years old, was to miss the corner where his store is and drove into the storefront. That example is extreme, but if we follow the evidence that he provided it could hap- pen. This could go for some- one of any age behind the wheel of a car without training or experience. My next point comes from Jan. 12, 1976. That is the date of my sister’s birth and also the date that my grand- mother died. She was driving on Redwood Hwy. toward Grants Pass to see my sister at a hospital. A drunk driver was headed toward Cave Junction on the wrong side of the road. He struck her and she died. This occurred prior to my birth. That drunk driver who in the eyes of some had a right to drive took away my and my sister’s right to a grandmother and my father’s right to a mother. My sister and I never got to even meet a woman who was described to us as extraordinary by those who knew her. If I am ignorant, as I was referred to by Karczewski, it is that I am ignorant in the love of a grandmother. I know that there are others in the world who are also ignorant in the love of a family member taken from them by someone who was driving, but really should have had no right to drive. Do McElroy or Karczewski fall into this category, or are they ignorant of the feeling of los- ing a loved one to an auto wreck? My final note is that it is funny that McElroy has li- cense plates on his autos. For someone who preaches that licensing restricts a right he isn’t following his own be- liefs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he even has a current and valid Oregon driver’s license. The phrase “practice what you preach” comes to mind. Continuing the vision From Guenter Ambron Kerby It was a privilege to help assemble the team of people that gave their positive views (Illinois Valley News, July 1) for the future of our economy in Josephine County. We are in the process of reaching out to community members and business here in Illinois Valley to stage a dis- cussion on the matter during the next few months. If any- one has an interest in support- ing such dialogue, they should contact Community Media & Education of the Illinois Valley at 23831 Red- wood Hwy. in Kerby. Among developments emerging from dialogues on the economy is that people are voicing their intention that the county consider a resolu- tion to support three locally supported projects. They are: 1) Utilizing crops like hemp, canola and camelina on county land. 2) Consider adoption on county-owned land the “Natural Selection Alternative” presented by Selma resident Orville Camp. 3) The arts-and-crafts com- munity, IVCDO, RCC and other educational entities are forming groups to invest in a regional arts project along the lines of Jerry Work’s presen- tation, Lessons From Appa- lachia. The need for us to work together has never been more apparent. More information is available by emailing jocoeco@frontier.com, phon- ing 592-4695, or visiting my- place.frontier.com/~jocoeco. around the festival and par- ticipate in the activities that make up the festival, buying food, playing games, etc. The pie-eating contest was good and should be brought back. There needs to be awards (ribbons, plaques) given to the winners and maybe a free pie or some- thing of an incentive. The baking idea seems good, but I have an idea about it to throw your way. Maybe do a “Most Creative Blackberry Dish.” If business owners that were not setting up booths of their own, a compensation for allowing a vendor to set up in front of their store might get a different tune out of them. The committee charges ven- dors to set up their booths in front of businesses, and keep- ing all the money angers the business owners. In this world you have to give a little to get a little. The last and perhaps the most important piece of ad- vice I have is advertisements. To get a great turn-out, pump it up. The festival needs to be advertised in newspapers, on the radio, flyers, etc. But most importantly it needs to be ad- vertised widely, from the coast to Ashland to Eugene. Also, to get vendors the committee needs to tell them the plan and that it is going to be grand, and that local vendors will be a huge majority as well. Tell everyone that we have go-kart races, pie-eating, cook-offs, tons of blackberry homemade goodies, carnival rides (if the committee can get them), etc. If well publicized, many people will be drawn to the beautiful Illinois Valley for our legendary Blackberry Festival. I wish the committee the best of luck. Blackberry Festival ideas From Drake Pernicka O’Brien I have lived in the valley for 13 years and am a 2008 graduate. I recently returned to the valley from my first year of college at the Univer- sity of Oregon. After reading the article in the July 1 issue of Illinois Valley News, I decided to offer some advice from my perspective to help the Wild Blackberry Arts & Crafts Festival Committee with its dilemmas. First thing on the list are the go-kart races. These are very important on the turnout and survival of the Black- berry Festival. When the races ended some years ago, the participation and atten- dance dropped significantly. The races bring in a wide variety of people, young and old, as well as tourists. When the kart drivers aren’t driving and their crews aren’t working they will have nothing better to do than walk In the caption reporting Mike Wilbourn’s hike across America (Illinois Valley News, July 1, 2009, page 18), it was incorrectly reported that a $1,800 grant from The Carpenter Foundation will be used to support his effort. It is not. That grant can and will be used solely for upgrades to the photo studio in Southern Oregon Guild's Artists' Center and Gallery in the RCC building in Kerby. The only Guild support being provided to Mike is from private donations from Guild members and from others spe- cifically for the purpose of sponsoring his trip. No other Guild funds or Foundation monies are being used for this pur- pose. The Illinois Valley News regrets the error. Parenting Raising Children to be Tomorrow’s Leaders Come join Bridges to Motherhood Pregnancy Center 592-6058 319 Caves Hwy., Cave Junction PregnancyCenterIV.org Say you saw it in the I.V. News S P O R T S C A M P Physicals only $20* Cave Junction & Grants Pass Call today to schedule your exam! 541-592-4111 Siskiyou Community Health Center M ED I CAL CLI N I CS Grant s Pass 125 NE Manzanit a 541- 471- 3455 Cave Junct ion 25647 Redwood Hwy. 541- 592- 4111 * La b fe e s e x t r a . D EN TAL CLI N I C 1035 NE 6t h St . St e. B Grant s Pass 541- 479- 6393 w w w .sisk iyou h e a lt h ce n t e r .com OUTREACH Grant s Pass 125 NE Manzanit a 541- 471- 3455 Cave Junct ion 216 S. Caves Ave. 541- 592- 6444
