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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2011)
Page A-4 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Whose riches? Court to rule This article first ap- peared in the April 3, 1935 Grants Pass Daily Courier. “Last week the south wind wafted a call to Jed Hittson and he’s going back – back to the Siskiyous, where he kicked some rocks around and in three months harvested a crop of gold quartz, which put $16,500 to his credit in a Med- ford bank. “Once before he heeded the summons from the south, thereby accumulating a poten- tial fortune and a flock of law- suits. But Hittson is not wor- rying about lawsuits just now, though they have succeeded in tying up his Medford funds until the courts decide whether they belong to him or some- one else. Jed (christened Wade E.) says the money is his and there’s lots more where it came from. “Owners of the Ruby claims, not far across the Cali- fornia line, say Hittson’s rock kicking was done on their property, but Jed pooh-poohs this statement. He retorts that he has his own group of 16 fine claims, which he has worked off and on for six years, and that these are the Golconda. “Hittson crashed the front pages of newspapers far and wide when the story of his find became known. It matches the most glamorous imaginings of fiction writers, B.E. Harader, Medford banker, revealed it last week. “A couple of months ago, so Harader said, Jed appeared at the bank, lugging a bat- tered suitcase from which he dumped quartz and nug- ‘Sky’s the Limit’ for IV gets worth $4,000. Harader nearly had heart failure as he piled up the rocks, each of which seemed richer than the first. The lot was dispatched to the mint and presently a sizable credit was posted opposite Hittson’s name on the records. Then the visitor and his suitcase disappeared from town. “A few weeks later Hitt- son turned up again, stagger- ing under a heavy load. He mopped his face, caught his breath and unloaded. This time the dilapidated suit- case disgorged a real heap of gold. It too went to the mint, and when the report came back $12,500 more was on the book for Mr. Hittson. “Now Jed and his wife, the Lucky 13 claims which Hittson says he bought be- cause his original holdings surrounded them, and the bank are defendants in an ac- tion designed to show where the Medford man got his gold. “George M. Roberts, half owner of the Ruby group, contends it came from the Ruby. He asks half the $16,500 which reposes in the bank and three other men, owners of the other half of the claims, want the rest. “According to these men, the credit at Medford is only part of the story. At Yreka, Cal., a close outlet to the fabulously rich diggings, are 25 sacks of ore held for Hittson’s account. This ore, not improbably a hundred times as valuable as what was brought to Medford, have been impounded by the courts pending decision on ownership.” By Darcy Wallace IVN Staff Writer Many Josephine County high- school students are noticed for their exceptional academic and athletic tal- ent. Not every student, though, maintains a 4.0 grade-point average or becomes a team’s MVP. But some students, who have gone through con- siderable obstacles before earning a diploma or GED, still deserve to be recognized. The Josephine County Commis- sion for Children and Families started the Teen Awards Celebration in 1993 to direct attention to those who achieved high-school diplomas or went back and earned their GEDs despite poverty, family troubles or behavioral setbacks. On Tuesday, April 5, ten students in Josephine County high schools were honored at the 19th annual ceremony at the Bear Hotel in Grants Pass. Ericka Dean, Winona Gallegos, Rhiannon Quall and Breanne Smith represented Illinois Valley High School in the ceremony. According to Bell, the event was held off and on when it first began, but later became an annual event. “There are awards for youth who have wonderful talents or can accom- plish great things in academics,” said commission director Janet Bell. “On the other side, it takes a lot of effort when you might be facing homeless- ness, or you got in a scrape and ended up in juvenile justice, or you lost a family member.” Bell stressed that the ceremony intended to recognize the students in a positive light, showcasing their achievements instead of focusing just on the hardships. As part of the application process for the ceremony, Bell said students are Meth materials found in CJ The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received a report Saturday, April 9 of a backpack with suspicious contents in the 400 block of North Sawyer Avenue in Cave Junction. Two locals walking along the street found a worn, black backpack with tan patches lying on the side of the road. Deputy Cory Krauss responded and recognized the contents as liquid and dry chemicals, reportedly associated with producing the drug methamphetamine. Local resident Carol Valentine is producing a concert to benefit the Dome School featuring world- renowned musician and storyteller Kevin Carr. The event, “Stories from the Musical Realms: Inspiration and the Music Between the Notes,” will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17 at the Takilma Com- munity Building. According to Valentine, Carr has played music with traditional musicians from the former Soviet Union, Spain, France, Quebec and others, and has picked up several tales along the way. At the benefit, Carr is scheduled to tell some of his folk tales and perform music from his upcoming Brandy’s Boutique 25 E off vErything i n S torE L aSt D ay - a priL 30 Josephine County Commissioner, Simon Hare. CD, “Fiddle Fables” using fiddle and traditional instru- ments from France, Slovakia and Galicia, Spain. “When I was very small, the whole family would gather on a Sunday afternoon to hear my grandfather tell tales about life,” Carr wrote on his website. “My par- ticular love is in finding stories that weave together with the music I make on fiddle and banjo, and on a host of rare and exotic bagpipes from all across Europe and the Middle East.” Admission is on a sliding scale at $10 to $15 for adults, $5 to $10 for ages 10 to 17, and under age ten by donation. For more information contact Valentine at 597-2839 Bills propose Monument expansion On Friday, April 7, Oregon lawmak- ers introduced legislation into the House and the Senate that includes preserving 4,000 acres into the Oregon Caves Na- tional Monument. Peter DeFazio, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley proposed three bills to expand the monument, designate Devil’s Stair- case near the coast and Umpqua and Smith rivers as Wilderness, and prevent suction dredge mining along the Chetco river in Brookings, Ore. According to Senator Ron Wyden’s website, the Oregon Caves bill would transfer 4,000 acres in the Caves National Monument from the National Forest Ser- vice to National Park Service, designating the land as a natural preserve. “These areas are among Oregon’s most prized possessions and they deserve protection,” Wyden said in a news release. “Between the Oregon Caves and Devil’s 0295 n Ext to t ruE v aLuE now and have jobs already. It’s really up- lifting and encouraging.” Bell said students got up to speak at the awards celebration and one student stood out to her in particular by directly addressing fellow nominees. “One youth was speaking with other students saying, ‘We’re here, we can do this. Congratulations to you too; let’s go forward and be role models for others,’ ” Bell noted. For Bell, the support from the local community of businesses and individuals was a central part of the event’s success. Classic Catering, a group of Grants Pass High School students in the culinary department, collaborated by serving food at the ceremony. “We couldn’t do it without the con- tinued support of community businesses,” Bell said. “With limited resources on our part, even through economic hard times businesses in our community continue to support teen awards throughout Josephine County. That is just wonderful.” Dome School event lands big headliner After officials took samples of the chemicals, tests by a hazardous waste cleanup team from confirmed red phosphorus, acid and solvent chemicals reportedly connected to manufacture of meth. The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with knowledge of the backpack owner or related information call the tip line at (541) 474-5160. A photo of the backpack can be found online at http:// www.co.josephine.or.us/ News.asp?NewsID=246. % nominated by an adult mentor such as a teacher or counselor who has seen them grow and progress towards their goals regardless of what they might have gone through. “I’m thinking of a couple of people who nominate from the Illinois Valley such as [IVHS Principal] Mrs. Bethany and Monet Talty from the College Dreams program,” Bell said. “They truly under- stand the purpose of the teen awards, so they also do an excellent job being in- volved with their youth and knowing what these awards are about.” Local businesses in the county also donated prizes for the award winners. But one of the more unique prizes included letters of congratulations and recognition from elected officials, Bell said. “As an employer, you’re looking for someone who can accomplish some- thing,” Bell said. “There may be some of those letters that they can use, or it can just be for themselves.” Josephine County Commissioner Si- mon Hare, who also chairs a committee for children and families, said members of Senator Jeff Merkley’s office went to the April 5 ceremony along with other gov- ernment officials. “It was a great opportunity to recog- nize [the students] with their friends and family and community support,” Hare said. “There were at least three elected of- ficials…from the local, state and national levels.” Hare said IVHS principal JoAnn Bethany nominated Smith and that Ni- cole Rensen-Brink, who works with local youth, nominated Quall. Students from other Josephine County high schools including Hidden Valley, Grants Pass, Gladiola and alterna- tive private school Inn Sight also received awards. “These kids [at the ceremony] are exceptional especially considering their circumstances,” Hare said. “A lot are go- ing through Rogue Community College Staircase legislation more than 34,000 acres of Oregon land will preserved and protected for future generations to en- joy.” Wyden believes setting aside ad- ditional land will increase tourism and encourage ecological forest restoration. According to Wyden’s website, the legis- lation would also designate the River Styx traveling through the caves as scenic. Trust in your investments requires trust in your Financial Advisor. “Come grow with us!” Are you ready for Spring? Dedication, integrity and proffesionalism aren’t just words in an ad to us. They are the foundation on which this firm was built and by which we continue to operate today. 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