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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2009)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 19, 2009 It never gets easier, no matter how many times the situation has arisen, when one has to bite the bullet, make that decision, be tough — and decide that it’s time for a pet to be sent to animal Heaven. So it was early last week when we took little Maui, our 2002 Biscuit Fire buddy, to our veterinarian for The Injection. We pet lovers, you know, tend to use euphe- misms for Maui in earlier days euthanasia (see animal Heaven, above: no pun intended). We say, “put down,” or “put to sleep.” We should simply say “euthanasia.” Probably won’t though; it’s just a thought. Anyway, Maui was hanging around a church we used to attend in Cave Junction. She was mostly wild, and mostly pregnant. Quite pregnant. We had stopped at the church to get something, or return something; I can’t remember which, while on our way out of town via motor vehicle. Jan had been feeding the stray feline for some time, but because of her pregnancy, decided she needed more care. So, knowing that she had one chance only, she sweet-talked the small Siamese kitty into coming fairly close; then made a super grab and got hold of one of the beast’s legs so as to give it a home (not just the leg, but the entire cat). We took her home, and urgently told our house-sitter to take care of the feisty feline until we came back, then roared off to Interstate 5, as Jan doctored her scratch wounds from the grab. Upon returning from our trip, and naming the kitty Maui because of her special “Maui”-sounding meow, it was not long before the former orphan gave birth to a litter of four in one of our closets. From that mass of mewing milk munchers, we kept one. He was the first born, and turned into a rather large guy. We named him Bubba, and he now weighs around 18 pounds. He looks a lot like his mom, including six toes on each hairy foot, and having cool blue eyes. But he’s much bigger, as his mom was petite. At the time of Maui’s “capture,” our veterinarian esti- mated that she was 6 years old. Couple that with the seven years since the Biscuit Fire, and that puts our girl at around 14. Couple that with the bleak life she led on the street before, and well, she was kinda’ beat, a bit worn. She had lived inside and outside with us, and was not always the best house guest. We loved her anyway. Making the choice to end a pet’s life sometimes is delayed too long. Because we’re selfish, we don’t want to make the decision. But for a range of reasons, includ- ing her overall health and quality of life, it was time. Aloha ‘oe, Maui ... Evergreen Elementary School ALL returning students are required to enroll during August. Open enrollment: August 17-20 Monday, August 17, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 18-20, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Teacher assignments given when enrollment paperwork is complete. 520 W. River St. 592-3136 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. 23 Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins 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 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” submis- sions are not accepted as let- ters. Roadside manners lacking From Michelle Windust O’Brien I have lived in O’Brien for four years at the Nielson’s Almost Heaven Resort just 7/10 of a mile from the Cali- fornia border on U.S Hwy. 199, across the street from a former truck stop/weigh sta- tion. The border is the gate- way to our beautiful state. People stop at the former weigh station for numerous reasons: nausea from the curvy turns; they need to use the bathroom; throw away trash, etc. Either they missed the O’Brien Store going south or they missed the rest area going north. They stop because they are not aware there is a store or rest area coming up. The consequences are environ- mentally devastating and pre- sent a public hazard. The stink of human waste and the sight are enough to make a U.S. Marine vomit. This is absolutely not “putting our best foot forward.” I will clean this mess. But it does not stop there, it is just a Band-Aid on the real problem. The solution being one of two things: signs alert- ing people going north and south to the proximity of the O’Brien Store and the rest area which are located exactly 4 miles north and south, re- spectively; and/or locating portable toilets and a dump- ster continuously maintained at taxpayer expense. I think we Oregonians would prefer the signs and a one-time fee. Because 199 is a U.S. highway, a copy of this letter also is being sent to Rep. Pe- ter DeFazio (D-Ore.), of the 4th Congressional District. I love Oregon, and I want the gateway to our beautiful state to be just as beautiful. Town hall mumbo-jumbo From Henry Meier Cave Junction With all due respect to our righteous ability to hold a town hall meeting in Cave Junction on Wednesday eve- ning, Aug. 12, with Congress- man DeFazio: Unfortunately, due to the large turnout, I was unable to get a seat inside and found myself on the parking lot sur- round by a whole bunch of really expensive SUVs be- longing to a whole bunch of people who came wanting more than they need, and blind to the understanding that that which they want isn’t even good for them in the first place. As for what I heard: I heard a whole bunch of mumbo-jumbo that more than likely won’t amount to a bowl of beans for a beggar. On golf course volunteers From Marjorie Culbertson Cave Junction We appreciate all who worked so hard and spent so many hours keeping our golf course in such good condi- tion. They are doing a won- derful job. We really appreci- ate it. Proud of fellow townspeople From John Roth Cave Junction I appreciate nearly every- one at the town meeting last Wednesday night in which Congressman Peter Defazio answered questions on draft bills which seek to reform health care. I have never been prouder of my fellow towns- people. The audience “sshhhed” loudmouths so that most people could have their voices heard. As noted in the Grants Pass daily newspaper, our meeting was nothing like the disrupted meeting in Grants Pass. Even extremists got their say, as in one comment that the government can never manage anything well. The war in Iraq is a good ex- ample of federal mismanage- ment; the best estimate is that it will cost us taxpayers more than $5 trillion, mostly in medical benefits to veterans. However, Oregon Caves National Monument shows how well government and business can work together to build a National Historic Landmark (the Chateau) and National Historic District. The concession there is now part of the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization. Without such successful collusion, Cave Junction would likely be much smaller, like Kerby or O’Brien. Health-care reform can also be such a successful col- laboration. If you think gov- ernment can’t manage any- thing well, then let’s do away with town hall meetings, na- (Continued on page 3) Our office is temporarily closed due to flooding, but we are still available. Phone Ted at 415-0240 Back Street Salon 592-4277 • Facials $40 • European Facials $50 • Acrylic and Gel Nails - Full Sets $25 • Students Back-to-School Haircuts $5 (August 24-29) • Highlights starting at $30 in August with Crystal • Perms $30 in August with Denise - long hair extra Time Capsule Is Back! Vintage & Retro Clothing & Jewelry Welcoming Dee formerly of Dee’s Barber Shop specializing in men’s haircuts 222 N. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction Visa/MasterCard accepted for all services
