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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Ever sit at your PC and know that you’re supposed
to compose something, but can’t recall the many topics
that came to mind the night before? Now, I’m not saying
that I’m absent-minded; actually I’m talking about a
friend who keeps forgetting “stuff.”
Well, there’s a minor topic: the utter misuse of the
words “stuff” and “things.” Too often we have lazy
brains, so instead of using a specific, definitive word, we
use the all-encompassing (and somewhat meaningless)
words “things” or “stuff.” Big deal.
Although many might not notice, we at the “Noose”
strive to be not only accurate, but precise. It doesn’t al-
ways seem that way, because sometimes for a variety
of reasons, we err. Not on purpose, but it happens.
Now I’m on a bit of a roll. See, it takes a tremendous
effort to produce the weekly newspaper you now are
holding. It’s hard work that takes time and dedication. It
costs money. So that’s why we solicit advertising and
subscriptions. Got to have cash to pay the bills, pay the
employees. And eat (see roll, above).
This is a real newspaper with real stories and
photos about a real community. Dang it, I’m pleased
with what we do. And stuff like that.
Clot he s
Give -Aw a y!
Sa t urda y, Oc t . 1 7
9 to 5
T a k ilm a Bible Churc h
1 0 3 4 3 T a k ilm a Rd.
Members Don’t Worry About Emergency Ambulance Expenses!
A $55 yearly membership to Paramed covers all family members in the home.
Illness and injury can strike without warning; but, it’s comforting to know that
your cost is covered for emergencies and medically necessary transports.
“Serving The Northwest Since 1913”
2 4 H ours • 7 Da ys A We e k
(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. News ‘right wing’
From Matt Richards
Cave Junction
I’ve subscribed to the I.V.
News for quite a few years to
keep up on local news, sports,
kids’ photos and the like.
I’ve found the prominent
featuring of Scott Jorgensen’s
partisan and transparently
right-wing articles these past
six months irritating. While
the News has always had a
somewhat politically conser-
vative bent (the use of news
releases from The Heritage
Foundation for example), in
the past it was a reasonably
small aspect of the paper.
Those seeking to publish
and read ideological local
“journalism” can find plenty
of it in other places. Couldn’t
the I.V. News tone it down a
bit, or balance it out, at least
for those of use who are buy-
ing your paper to find out
what’s for lunch at Evergreen
Elementary School, and
aren’t ready to join the John
Birch Society?
Enjoyed farm festival
From Eileen Renno
Cave Junction
What a fun time my fam-
ily and I had at the I.V. Farm
&Garden Festival at Jubilee
Park weekend before last.
From live music, good food,
interesting booths and great
demonstrations, there was not
one dull moment all day.
I especially enjoyed
learning about cob building,
and it was so cool to have
alpacas and sheep taken for
walks in the park amongst the
crowd. The atmosphere of the
festival was friendly and in-
viting. And to top it off, the
weather was perfect.
What a great way to pro-
mote sustainability in our
valley. Count me in for next
year’s Farm & Garden Festi-
val.
Absolute peace of mind with expert critical care just a phone call away.
FOR EM ERGEN CY CALL 9 1 1
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For Paramed Information Phone
1 (800) 228-7601
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. 30
Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins
Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Giving the people a choice
From Jack Alan Brown Jr.
Grants Pass
I filed my candidacy on
Sept. 14 for the Josephine
County Commission seat
currently held by Dave Toler.
I did so by petition, gathering
in one weekend half again the
necessary signatures, rather
than paying a filing fee.
I am the first candidate to
file for this position. I have a
long primary campaign ahead
of me with the goal of getting
a majority vote in the 2010
Elementary Schools Lunch
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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
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
Support your community newspaper.
Advertise in the Illinois Valley News
THURSDAY, OCT. 8
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popcorn chicken, pepperoni or
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FRIDAY, OCT. 9
In-Service Day
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MONDAY, OCT. 12
Hot diggity dog, hamburger,
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TUESDAY, OCT. 13
Very teriyaki dippers, chicken
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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14
Spaghetti with meat sauce,
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tuna torpedo sandwich, it’s
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Primary Election.
My goal is realistic in
view of the name familiarity I
enjoy at this point from my
previous race. Consider that I
received 16,505 votes in my
contest with Commissioner
Dwight Ellis in the 2008 Gen-
eral Election. (A shift of 600
votes would have made me
the winner.) Then consider
that Dave Toler received only
15,210 votes in the 2006
General Election.
I have pledged myself to
defend our rights, develop our
resources, and conserve our
tax dollars. I am obviously
the right choice, even as Dave
Toler is the left choice. This
contest will give the people a
real choice.
Another farm fest fan
From Christine Perala
Gardiner
Cave Junction
I want to commend the
Spiral Living Center and all
the volunteers who created
the first Farm & Garden Fes-
tival Saturday, Sept 26. The
event was so beautifully or-
chestrated and focused, not
just on locally grown food,
but on the whole food system
of the Illinois River Valley.
Cave Junction Mayor
Don Moore's speech helped
us to look at the importance
of creating jobs through local
food security, growing more
food on farms in our region
and putting folks back to
work. Making the distance
shorter from where our food
is grown to where it’s eaten
makes good economic sense.
The Gleaners Project is
making strides to gather the
food that otherwise would go
to waste, and getting that food
into the food banks and kitch-
ens. There is hunger right
here in our valley, and these
good folks are doing some-
thing about it.
I'm looking forward to
next year’s festival.
Health Care Reform
From Nicole Rensenbrink
Cave Junction
I am confused by so
many working people’s posi-
tion against health care re-
form.
The agency I work for
changes insurance carriers so
often that by the time I re-
member who’s covering me,
we’ve changed companies.
Astronomical rate hikes each
year have become the norm
and we all pay more and re-
ceive fewer benefits than we
used to. My son was laid off
and is now uninsured. My
daughter, a college student, is
uninsured. My husband, who
has a small local business, has
employees who are all unin-
23772 Redwood Hwy.
Kerby 592-4838
www.yanasejewelers.com
sured. Everyone is delaying
or ignoring their health care
needs as much as possible
because of costs and this has
resulted in some bad conse-
quences for more than one of
the above mentioned.
We have to do something
about health care because it
will break us, particularly
when we baby boomers
dominate the Medicare-
Medicaid rolls. My 77-year-
old father was recently put in
an ambulance for a ride
across town and hospitalized
overnight due to an anxiety
attack, which he protested to
no avail. An 80-year-old
friend, diagnosed with a ter-
minal cancer on his neck, had
to fight off the doctors who
wanted to do intrusive testing
on the other places in his
body even though there was
no escape from the cancer
already diagnosed. My
mother’s doctor encouraged
her to get a knee replacement.
She was ambivalent but went
ahead. The experience and
(Continued on page 3)
One of Yanase Jewelers
Precious Gems
FROM: Ted Crocker LTC Advisory Representative*
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4454
If I Leave My Job, what will I Do With My 401(k)?
In previous decades, employees worked for one company until their retirement and
received payouts from the company pension plan. However, imagine if when you retire,
you had to piece together up to nine separate 401(k) plans from your various employers.
Tracking down all of the companies and taking distributions could be difficult and costly
tax-wise.
If you leave your job, what will you do with your 401(k)? Some companies may allow you
to remain in the 401(k) even if you are no longer an employee, or you might not be able
to remain in that plan. You could roll that money into your next company's 401(k). For
many American workers, a rollover to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a good
vehicle for retirement savings when you change jobs.
When you decide to request a rollover, contact your company's benefits department about
rollover procedures. Typically, you have two options when handling this transfer. You can
receive a payout from the company directly or roll the funds to an IRA. If you receive the
funds directly, the distribution will be subject to a mandatory 20% withholding even if you
intend to roll the funds to an IRA within 60 days. And if you have company stock inside
your 401(k), you may want to take advantage of the long term capital gains rate on your
earnings instead of rolling the stock to an IRA.
For information, call 541-592-4454.
*Securities offered through H.D. Vest Investment Services SM , Member SIPC, Advisory services
offered through H.D. Vest Advisory Services SM , Non-bank subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company.
Crocker Financial Services is not a registered broker/dealer or independent investment advisory
firm.
Our office is temporarily closed due to flooding,
but we are still available.
Phone Ted at 415-0240