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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 21, 2010
People (including me) joke about “losing our mem-
ory” as we become older, and I’m here to tell you that
it’s not funny. After all, how many times am I supposed
to enter a room and forget why I’m there?
Besides that, losing my memory reminds me of los-
ing my car keys, cell phone, wallet and eyeglasses. Not
always at the same time. Well, not always.
Forgetting why you are somewhere is not the same
as simply being inattentive. For example, those people
who drive with their turn signals on, although eventually
they turn them off. For example, on Interstate 5 near
Grants Pass I was behind a guy who was signaling for a
right turn. He signaled and he signaled. And he did turn
right. In Portland.
But returning to “losing our memory,” maybe most
embarrassing and frustrating is making a telephone call,
and then realizing when someone answers that (1) You
have no idea who they are, and (2) Even if you knew
who they are, you can’t remember why you phoned
them. Makes for interesting conversations though.
What’s fun, after entering a room and having no
idea why you’re there, is deciding to try a memory jog-
ger. So you stand there and look around hopefully.
Maybe you’ll see something that will spark your brain.
When that doesn’t trigger the desired result, you leave
the room with the idea that if you return to your original
point of departure, you will recall whatever. Unfortu-
nately, it’s often the case that you can’t remember
where you started from anyway.
And why is it that I can remember kindergarten and
Mrs. Schaeffer at Chesterton Elementary School in the
Linda Vista section of San Diego, and my best friends:
Chris, Murray, Bobby, Esther and Joey -- but now I can’t
dredge up what I was told to buy at a grocery store five
minutes later while I’m wandering the aisles. Why?
The reason, I am sometimes told, is that I don’t lis-
ten closely. There’s probably some validity to that. Still, I
blame a clogged brain. After all, other than sports statis-
tics, I’ve been cramming it with every bit of flotsam and
jetsam that comes my way for the past 66 years. So it’s
like having a storeroom into which you place every bit of
scrap lumber, broken tools, old books, ancient maga-
zines (the ones you find to read in medical office waiting
rooms), boxes of worn-out clothing, odds and ends, this
and that, and junk and stuff.
Therefore, when you want to think of a current sub-
ject, such as why are you in your car getting ready to
drive somewhere (?), you have to sort through all that
debris in your storeroom. No wonder we become lost,
memory-wise or in a store or on a highway: There’s sim-
ply too much information for us to process rapidly.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Actually, I was going to write about some other topic
this issue, but I forgot what it was.
Illinois Valley News
www.illinois-valley-news.com www.facebook.com/ivnews
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 73, No. 19
Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins
Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
(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.
Defending the League
From Jane A. Gigler,
Education chairman,
League of Women Voters
of Oregon
The League of Women
Voters of Oregon would like
to respond to Art Robinson’s
misleading comments about
the League in Scott Jorgen-
sen’s recent article (Illinois
Valley News, June 30, 2010).
While the League has its
roots in the women’s suffrage
movement, today it is a dedi-
cated grass-roots organization
of men and women who work
to encourage participation in
government. The goal of our
members is to empower citi-
zens to understand govern-
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 - $28.00
One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $39.00
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
And, if Robinson is inter-
ested, the League of Women
Voters of Coos County would
be happy to host a debate
among all the candidates run-
ning for Congress in District
4. It would be a neutral de-
bate, because while the
League is political, it is most
definitely nonpartisan.
CJ post office comments
From Kirk Van Stone
Takilma
Is anyone in Illinois Val-
ley as fed up as I am with
what I contend is a rude and
dishonest Cave Junction U.S.
Post Office?
I’m a retired/disabled
wildland firefighter. I was
permanently disabled while
fighting the Silver Fire in
1987. I worked on the Long-
wood Complex fire too.
I feel that everyone has
the right to get their mail at
their street mail box, which
we did until a couple years
ago. At that point two postal
carriers took out a vendetta
against us from a neighbor-
hood dispute from the 1990s
just after Myrna Hooey, the
best mail carrier the world
had seen, retired.
My next door neighbor
took over Myrna’s route, and
that’s when the trouble began.
Since then, I have seen be-
havior that disturbs me. Be-
cause of that, I reluctantly
reported her to the USPS Of-
fice of the Inspector General.
I was told that an anonymous
complaint was filed, but the
next day my mail carrier had
an e-mail from USPS with
my anonymous complaint on
it and was at my gate.
I can no longer get street
mail, so I got a post office
box, but was locked out be-
fore the rent was due. I re-
quested a change of address
back to my street mail, but
due to allegations that I'm
“abusive” we have to go to
Selma to get our mail.
Many people in I.V. have
told me about their com-
plaints about the CJ Post Of-
fice. If I’m the only one who
complains, nothing will
change. Those who feel the
same as I do and know the
truth behind what I feel is a
corrupt post office, phone 888
-877-7644 and put a stop to
what I see as an abuse of
power.
Heat-related illness on the job a risk
Imagine working over a
hot stove or sizzling asphalt
on a 90-degree day.
Performing job duties in
the heat can be more than
uncomfortable.
It also can be unsafe.
Workers run the risk of
developing heat-related ill-
ness when physical exertion
combines with high humidity.
During the past five
years, 33 workers received
benefits through Oregon’s
Workers Compensation sys-
tem for heat-related illnesses.
The workers who qualified
for the benefit were disabled
for three days or more.
Oregon OSHA, a divi-
sion of the Dept. of Con-
sumer & Business Services,
does not require firms to re-
port less-severe cases of heat
exhaustion that do not require
overnight hospitalization.
Employers and workers
should be familiar with some
of the common signs of heat
exhaustion. A person over-
come with heat exhaustion
will still sweat, but might
experience extreme fatigue,
nausea, lightheadedness, or a
headache. The person could
have clammy and moist skin,
a pale complexion, and a nor-
mal or only slightly elevated
body temperature.
If heat exhaustion is not
treated promptly, the illness
could progress to heat stroke,
and possibly death.
Workers on construction
sites could be at greater risk
for heat illness due to heavy
exertion, enclosed operator
cabs with poor circulation,
and prolonged sun exposure.
To help a person suffer-
ing from heat exhaustion:
Senior Nutrition Menu
Sponsored by
DEADLINES:
News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters
mental issues and to partici-
pate in the political process.
As the League grew and
developed, it evolved into
two separate organizations
under the same umbrella. One
advocates on issues after thor-
ough research and study. For
example, we recently com-
pleted a study of “Water in
Oregon” and will establish a
statewide consensus on that
topic, and then advocate for
that position. This side of the
League works through educa-
tion and advocacy to influ-
ence public policy and to
build better communities.
The other side of the
League focuses on civic en-
gagement through its Educa-
tion Fund. It seeks to provide
balanced, accurate, nonparti-
san information to all citizens,
and to empower citizens to
vote.
League members register
voters, publish a neutral
“Voters Guide” and host can-
didate forums that are scrupu-
lously neutral. The League’s
neutrality on candidates ex-
tends to a policy that invites
all the candidates running for
a particular office to a forum,
not just the two larger politi-
cal parties.
Meals are served in the
Cave Junction County Bldg.
541-592-2126, 541-955-8839
FRIDAY, JULY 23
ROAST PORK WITH GRAVY
Whipped potatoes with gravy,
succotash, caraway rye roll,
French apple pie square
MONDAY, JULY 26
VEGETABLE CHEESE
STRATA
Herbed carrots, marinated
vegetable salad, dill wheat roll,
chocolate/vanilla swirl pudding
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN
OVER STEAMED RICE
Oriental blend vegetables,
oriental pea salad, almond
cookie
*Move them to a cool,
shaded area. Don’t leave
them alone.
*Loosen and remove
heavy clothing.
*Provide cool water to
drink (a small cup every 15
minutes) if they are not feel-
ing sick to their stomach.
*Try to cool them by
fanning them. Cool the skin
with a spray mist of cold wa-
ter or a wet cloth.
*If they do not feel better
in a few minutes, phone 911
for emergency help.
Certain medications can
increase a worker’s risk. Peo-
ple who have experienced a
heat-induced illness in the
past or who must wear per-
sonal protective equipment
while on the job are at higher
risk for heat illness.
Heat stroke is a different
condition than heat exhaus-
tion. There are several reac-
tions that occur in the human
body with heat stroke: dry,
pale skin (no sweating); hot,
red skin (looks like sunburn);
mood changes; irritability and
confusion; and collapsing
(person will not respond to
verbal commands).
Phone for emergency
help immediately if you think
the person is suffering from
heat stroke. If not treated
quickly, the condition can
result in death.
Ideally, employers and
workers can prevent heat ill-
ness. Here are some tips:
*Learn the signs and
symptoms of heat-induced
illnesses and what to do to
help other workers.
*Do the heaviest, most
labor-intensive work during
the coolest part of the day.
*Slowly build up toler-
ance to the heat and the work
activity (this usually takes up
to two weeks).
*Use the buddy system,
working in pairs, to monitor
heat.
*Drink plenty of cool
water (one small cup every 15
to 20 minutes).
*Wear light, loose-
fitting, breathable clothing
(such as cotton).
*Take frequent short
breaks in cool, shaded areas,
and allow your body to cool.
*Avoid eating large
meals before working in hot
environments.
*Avoid caffeine and al-
coholic beverages (these bev-
erages make the body lose
water and increase the risk of
heat illnesses).
A “Heat Stress Safety”
pocket reminder card is avail-
able from Oregon OSHA.
You can download the card,
in both English and Spanish,
from www.orosha.org. Under
“Publications” look for "Heat
Stress Card" (#3333E). The
National Institute for Occupa-
tional Safety & Health
(NIOSH) also has a booklet
with heat-stress prevention
tips, “Working in Hot Envi-
ronments.” The booklet is
available for download from
NIOSH's
website,
www.cdc.gov/niosh/
hotenvt.html.