Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2013)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June. 12, 2013, A moment with Mary: By Mary Halvorsen I left on a trip to Iowa the morning the post office burned down, quizzing the person who told me, “Completely, or just smoke damage?” unable to imagine something so crucial disappearing overnight. Driving by later showed a roofless stand of charred boards within a yellow-taped perimeter. It was gone. Scenes from inside the building on the corner began playing as I turned north onto Redwood Highway. We had slid into the same parking spot for twenty-five years, first in a Ford Econline, then a Club Wagon, a black Lincoln, a gray Buick, a blue Pinto, a red Audi, and now, a silver Toyota. We waited in line scrawling addresses on envelopes and packages, turned in pink squares of paper at Christmas for packages of my Mother’s three-layer fudge and my sister’s chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. Checks came during the early years to help with visits home, along with birthday cards, Thanksgiving cards, letters from aunts and siblings and congratulation cards when our son graduated high school. It all sat waiting, loosely stacked, in the space behind the little locked door. It was a connection to Iowa and family. To find out it had burned down on the eve of a trip home felt unsettling, as if a link had been severed, an anchor yanked loose. Even with all the instant communication to choose from, the important things were sent and received through the Post Office. Structures in cities across the country burn weekly and are rebuilt, but when it happens in a small town, it seems a gaping crater has formed. Flying over the western states, it stayed in my mind, the yellow tape, all the correspondence that had been waiting to be picked up, or sent out. I wondered where mail would go now, if we would get another post office. The flight arrived eight hours late, but we made it to my nephews wedding. Later in the evening, I listened as my brother, microphone in hand, reminded a hall full of guests that our Mother had passed away when his boys were young, a couple of them too young to remember her. He spoke of her brothers and sisters, how afterwards, they began showing up for football and basketball games, birthdays, vacations, holidays and barbecues, year after year, making sure the part of our mother that lived in them, would be something her grandchildren would know. Candles glowing, beaded chandeliers catching the light, he pointed out their table, asked them to stand, as 200 applauded. It was a moment of community within a family and I wondered if moments of family can exist within a community. The loss of a tiny post office cannot be compared to the loss of a Mother, but it was a beating part at the heart of a town. Maybe like Aunts and Uncles stepping in to fill a void, so too will a town and valley come together and feel the bonds of community a little stronger. The first visit to the County Building/Post Office, though, made me wonder. I stood waiting for the retrieval of my mail, alongside a couple who had been informed their two large envelopes could not be processed. sIt was explained that for now there was box service only. “Really” the woman replied, the kind of “really” that seems more statement than question. As it was offered that the branches in O’brien or Selma offered that service, she asked “Isn’t there a post office in Kerby?” The negative response brought another “really.” A genial voice farther back in line joked “Welcome to country living.” She turned and replied, “Well, when I lived here, we didn’t burn down the Post Office.” Wondering who was meant by “we”’ I was barely able to hold back, “Well, neither did we.” Even in big happy families, especially in times of stress, dissention is not surprising. I’m going to try to run with the “Welcome to country living” take on it. Letters to the Editor Illinois Valley News welcomes Let- ters to the Editor. Please e-mail them to dan@illinois-valley-news.com POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ encourages letters to the editor provided they are legible and not libelous or scurrilous. All letters must be signed, including name, 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. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. *** (Editor’s Note: Views and commen- tary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers) The sheriff let the cat out of the bag. Only 5% of taxes collected in Josephine County stay here. The 95% of taxes goes to the bureaucratic management aristocracies of the State. It’s not that Josephine County had become dependent of the O&C Forest moneys. It was that the State bureaucratics are addicted to their good salaries and pensions. Instead of the County and State demanding, “We the people fund this prison none of us can afford,” why not turn it over to the State and the State patrol to fund that other 95%with the money collected in taxes by the State bureaucratic, management autocratic? We the people have had our jobs and industries exported to foreign national and foreign nations many of them tyrannies lead by despots oppressing their own people for the benefit of their own autocratic management bureaucratic. Most of our money goes to fuel highly taxed by the state to benefit a very few individuals who manipulate the refiners to keep the prices high. Until this ends there is no way out of this depressing recession. We need a refinery here in Josephine County better still in the Cave Junction area. To reine everything and anything into fuel. Only last year, Sheriff Gilbertson stated he was ready to back the growing of industrial hemp and the creation of a hemp industrial manufacturing complex for the processing of hemp into fuel, fiber and food. This would help greatly to lower the cost of fuel and to create much need jobs and business right where we live. We need to reopen the Cave Junction Sheriff’s office and small jail under the courthouse. We need our own elected Sheriff and deputies on duty 24/7. They need just like the old Westerns, to clean up the town drunks, thieves and violent criminals and send the hard core criminals to State prisons not local jails funded by the County. We need less square thoughts which resist circles of creativity! It is estimated we the people already pay over 50% of our income for permits, codes, rules, regulations, laws, fines, fees and taxes. That’s not enough for the State now they want County income tax. Short of a violent revolution, how do we reverse enwreathing the few at the expense of the many? We did vote no over and over again. Mark Wichers Cave Junction Obituaries Isabella “Diz” Harvey, age 83 , of Kerby, passed away quietly at her home on Tuesday, June 4th, 2013 of natural causes. Graveside services to be held at 1pm on Thursday, June 13th, 2013 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Diz was born Isabella Marie Dingwall on February 23rd, 1930 in Tulare, California. In Oildale, California she married the love of her life, Richard C. Harvey on October 20th, 1951. She moved from Santa Margarita, California and lived in Wilderville, Oregon for five years before moving to Kerby, Oregon. While in California she was a homemaker, motel manager, active in scouting, avid golfer and gardener. Her fondest memories include gardening, motorcycle touring throughout the U.S. and visiting her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard (1998) and her son, Stanley (2012). Survivors include her sons, Richard and Russell and her daughter, Christina. She had 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (support. woundedwarriorproject.org). Please sign the family guest book at www. since1928hull.com. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. John A. Horn, age 62, of Cave Junction, died Friday, June 7, 2013 at Rogue Regional Medical Center. No services are planned. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. Ellis Paul [Bud] Couron passed away on 8 June 2013 at his home in Cave Junction Oregon. Bud was born on 1 May 1923 on the family farm in Milford, Iowa. The family moved to the San Fernando Valley, California in 1935 where Bud actually attended an elementary school in bib overalls and barefoot. Graduating from high school in 1941, he enlisted in the Navy and was in boot camp on the 13th of December after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He spent the entire World War II on a destroyer in the South Pacific. After 14 years in the Navy he enlisted in the United States Air Force and after six more years, retired after 20 years of military service in 1962 after achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He married Joyce Johnson in 1944 in Oakland, California. She passed away in 1968. He later met and married the love of his life, Josephine Wilson in 1970 in Hayward California. In 1978, the couple moved to Cave Junction and built a home themselves, where they lived until Bud passed away. Bud was an avid hunter and fisherman and general handyman for whomever needed something fixed. He had a passion for Doberman Pinschers as house dogs that his wife continues. He is survived by Josephine, his wife of 43 years, and children Norman Crainie, David Couron, Catherine Couron, and Anna Marie Crainie. He will be missed by all who knew him and benefited from his help and knowledge. A viewing will be held Thursday, June 13 at 9:30 at the Illinois Valley Funeral Home with a graveside service at the Laurel Cemetery at 11:00 am later that same morning. Sammy Henderson of Cave Junction died Friday May 31. No information was avaiale at presstiem other than a Celebration of life is being held Sunday, June 16, 1 p.m. at the Sportsman Tavern Potluck, bring a dish and a story. HELP! HELP! HELP! HELP! The Illinos Valley Chamber is looking for help watering the flower baskets. They are ready to be hung and need someone to help water before they can be hung. The chamber need one person to water for twelve weeks or twelve people to water for one week. . IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAMBER OFFICE. 541-592-3326 THANK YOU!!!! Hi All, it’s been a challenging year and our board has been working hard to identify fund-raisers to make their goal of $20,000 this year. We will have a yard sale, Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th. We are putting out the call for “gently used” items: clothing, household items, art, even furniture (but please it must be in good shape). You can bring items to our office (103 S Kerby Ave.) next to the DMV on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So, here’s your chance to lighten your load and help keep community- based services for survivors available in the valley. Thanks and if you want to call ahead, call 541.592.2515. Save the date June 14 June 15 Second Friday Artwalk 2013. June 14 downtown CJ. Pancakes from Scratch! A Custom Breakfast fundraiser for the Volunteer Firefighter Association will take place 8 to 11 a.m. this Saturday at the I.V. Airport. The breakfast will feature omelets to order and pancakes from scratch with real butter and maple syrup; coffee and juice. I.V.F.D. volunteers must buy their own June 14 & 16 Madrone Adventist Elementary School will hold its annual yard sale. Yard sale is a fund-raiser with all proceeds going to Madrone. 9-3 Friday and Sunday. Closed Saturday. Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523 Illinois Valley News is published at 221 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523 Telephone (541) 592-2541 FAX (541) 592-4330 Since 1937 periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction OR 97523 P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820 duty apparel and the Volunteer Firefighter Assn. helps them and the district to buy much needed equipment. Come taste the world’s best pancakes! Only $8 adult. Information: 541-597-4814. June 15 starting at 7 p.m. June 16 Celebration of life for Sammy Henderson Sunday June 16th 1 p.m. at Sportsman Tavern Potluck, bring a dish and a story. June 20 A benefit to help Junior Golf will be Emmanuel “Mic” Day and starting on June 20. Lessons his family. Entertainment will be on June 20, & 27, July SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $28.50 One year in Jackson and Douglas counties - $32.50 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $39.00 Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions. Remainder of subscription will be donated to the charity of your choice. 11 & 18. The Tournament of Champions - first place winners will have their names added to the Frank and Maryellen Ault Junior Champions plaque will be July 25. Everyone’s a winner at junior golf and we will announce those winners at the Junior Golf Banquet on August 1. Junior Golf is open to those children ages 5 to and including 15. The cost News - Dan Mancuso dan@illinois-valley-news.com Circulation - Kimberly Potter office@illinois-valley-news.com Advertising / Composition Dan Mancuso dan@illinois-valley-news.com Mailroom - Millie Watkins Office Manager-Laura Mancuso office@illinois-valley-news.com DEADLINES: News, Classified and Display Ads, Announce- ments and Letters 5 P.M. FRIDAYS per player for the complete 6 week program is $2.00. We are also offering a Youth Pass for golfers 17 years of age and under for $100.00. The Youth Pass is valid June 1 - August 31. Call the Illinois Valley Golf Course at 541-592-3151 or come out to sign up for Junior Golf, or purchase a Youth Pass. POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ encour- ages letters to the editor pro- vided they are legible and not libelous or scurrilous. All let- ters must be signed, including name, 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. Letters are used at the discre- tion of the publisher.