Page A-2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June 26, 2013
A moment with Mary: By Mary Halvorsen
A professional basketball player was being
interviewed on A.M radio as I cruised home early one
evening last week. He told of his ex-wife keeping his
two young sons from him, and that he had just won a
year- long custody battle. As the segment wound down,
he advised we should treasure every moment we have
with our kids, that it goes by fast.
It was Father’s Day weekend and as I listened
to him talk about the struggles he had been through, the
importance of his own father in his life, and the kind of
parent he was trying to be, I was surprised there was no
mention of his team’s upcoming trip to the NBA finals.
It seemed he was able to separate being a basketball
superstar from who he is the rest of the time: a dad,
getting breakfast in the morning and switching the lights
off at bedtime.
It made me think of my own son, how when he
was born, when he was 2, 4,10,12, 16, him waking up
and falling asleep down the hall, seemed like it would go
on forever, the rhythm of it so natural, there was no way
it could change.
I shifted in the seat, sensed my heart pounding a
little, wondered if it was the mocha I has just finished. It
was a quiet beat, like the second hand on a clock, ticking
round and round; a reminder that things keep moving.
The basketball player talked on as I sped home
from work, and I pondered his advice to treasure every
moment. As I steered over the route that runs parallel to
the town of Rogue River, a line of Cottonwood trees that
shield the waterway from the Interstate were letting loose
in the wind. Large fluffs of white drifted and swirled
before the windshield, and blew all over the landscape. I
thought of the nights driving this same stretch, in winter
storms, with the streetlamps and headlights capturing
snapshots of falling snow.
Out my window though, it was vast and blowing, lit
by sun, and set against a background of blue sky, and tan
hills, trees climbing toward their crest. It was more than
the description from “Trees to Know in Oregon” of, “...
cottony fruits that fill the air and water around them, in
early spring...” and much more than “...unsightly cotton
showered all over the place...” put forth to describe this
particular tree’s springtime ritual.
The sentiments of the ballplayer resonated as I
drove through the cottonwood blizzard. It seemed clear
how precious some moments are, how one persons mess
is another one’s magic. I thought of my son, of living
life with heart, even if the beat turns a little intense
sometimes.
Summer is here, and long, warm days stretch
ahead. Be ready for the moments that aren’t planned.
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)
Dear Editor
with the Josephine County
Assessor’s recent purchase
of $600,000 software, but a
$60,000 annual maintenance
fee seems incredible. Hopefully
they are getting full-time tech
people for that cost! My hope is
that the new software can bundle
all future tax bills, as assessment
revisions about 8 or so years
ago created supplemental parcel
numbers and multiple bills for
most property owners. I have
received 2 property tax bills
(2 pages each) since then with
double envelopes, inserts and
postage! Good software or a
decent programming fix can
make sure those bills get enclosed
in one envelope. Up to six sheets
of 20 lb. paper can be mailed in
standard, letter sized envelopes
and not exceed 1 ounce. Using
inserts and envelopes printed
on lighter weight paper coupled
with zip code sorting tax bills
before printing, enclosing and
affixing postage, brings even
more savings. IBM assisted
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
Company’s programmers in
doing that back in the late 1970s.
I worked at Ma Bell’s southern
California hub for decades
and we mailed almost 200,000
customer bills daily. If we
could do it then, the Assessor’s
new software certainly ought
to be able to do it now. If not,
the Assessor’s office should call
their tech people and demand the
enhancement before the property
tax bills are created for 2013.
Marilyn Arnold
OBrien,
Letter to the editor:
A wonderful young artist
presented his art at the Cave
Junction branch of the J.C
library at the June 14 ArtWalk,
along with several other artisans,
and none were mentioned
in the article. River Zion, a
talented youth, deserves to be
recognized for his talent, spirit
and willingness as a young artist
and entrepreneur.
Would have made more
sense than free advertising for
the Red Gutter, oh excuse me,
Garter.
After all, isn’t that what fund
raising for IRVAC’s art in the
schools is hoping to promote?
Dee Qualls
Cave Junction
I understand yet struggle
Obituaries
Jim Rich passed away peacefully at
home late Sunday night June 23 at age
68. He was beloved by many friends
and relatives. He was born in Kansas
City, Missouri. Feb. 11, 1945. He earned
a music degree from Northwestern
University in Chicago, became at
classical music recording executive,
learned black-smithing in 1972 and
moved to Takilma, Oregon in 1973. He
helped found Baroque musical groups in
Oregon while continuing his blacksmith
work. He learned to sail tall ships, earned
a Master’s certificate, and loved to sail
and work on wooden ships. An informal
remembrance is planned for Friday,
June 28 at the Takilma Forge, 9345
Takilma Rd. around 3:00 p.m. A second
one is planned for Sunday at Newmann
Methodist Church in Grants Pass.
Delbert Lee Brummett, 72 of
Cave Junction died June 4, 2013 at
Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass
Ore. after a brief bout with pneumonia.
He died with both his daughters at his
side.
A memorial will be held on
saturday June 22, 2013 at 12 p.m. at
Lawncrest Chapel in Redding Calif.,
with grave side services to follow at
Cottonwood Cemetery. Brummett
was born March 27, 1941 in Delphi
Ind. to Russell Richard Brummett
and Lena Mac (England) Brummett.
He was the eldest of five children and
attended 12 different schools during
his childhood as his father moved
the family often in pursuit of better
work opportunities. While still in
high school he married Karen lenore
Thomas and together they had three
children.
Brummett was a journeyman
ironworker local 118 by trade and
was very proud of the high rise steel
construction that he was able to leave
his thumbprint on. He loved his work
and his brother in the union. He also
had a life long love of motorcycles.
During his 30s he participated in
motocross racing and won numerous
trophies and awards. His is survived
by his daughters Robin Paulson
(Tony) and Lona Gutlerrez (Greg).
His son Russell Brummett. His
sisters Evelyn, Joyce and Nancy.
Also his brother Doug Brummett. He
was a grandfather to 13 and a great
grandfather to 4. He was preceded in
death by his parents.
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date: Reunion Mania
or Cathy Campell Pullen 541-592-2512
or mapullen@frontiernet.net.
The Class of 1958, Dinner at 6 p.m.
July 5
at My Place Café with at Special Menu
The Class of 1993, 7 p.m. at Wild
upstairs. Info: Jean Knight Hull 541-779-
River from Menu. Info: Kristen David,
8579 or jrhull@charter.net
503-650-6700 or kristen@teleport.com.
The Class of 1988, 6 p.m. at Scott &
July 6
Alicia’s House (No Kiddies) Info: Brian
Illinois Valley Golf Club at 10 a.m.,
Proett 541-914-0560 or brianproett@
4 person scramble, $50 per player, Info:
hotmail.com
Coach Ray Yarbrough, 541-787-0191 or
The Class of 1973, 6 p.m. at Perfect
IV Golf Club, 541-592-3151.
Pizza. Info: Janie Soell Pope 541-592-
Kerbyville Museum Guided Tour,
3884 or popej77@frontier.com
2 p.m., $2, The place to drop off your
The Class of 1978, 4 p.m., Family
donated auction items and take a pre-
Picnic at Rough & Ready Park – Toting.
auction look at the Gift Baskets and other
Info: Debbie Day Mitchell 541-660-7878
Silent Auction bargains.
or debbiemit@msn.com.
The Class of 1993, 7 p.m. at
The Class of 1963, 5:30 p.m. at Lynn
McGrew’s, Dancing to Silas Wolf - $3
& Lary’s House Info Lynn Riggan Smith,
cover. Info: Kristen David, 503-650-6700
541-597-4196 or llsmith@cavenet.com
or kristen@teleport.com.
Reunion ’13
The Class of 1988, Saturday July 6
at 1 p.m. Kid Friendly Pig Roast, Scott
& Alicia’s House. Info: Brian Proett, 541-
914-0560 or brianproett@hotmail.com.
The Class of 1983, Saturday, July 6
– 6 p.m. at Carlos Restaurante – Buffett
- $15. Info: Lisa Harman Talton at 714-
796-2384 or ltalton@freedom.com.
The Class of 1973, 2 p.m. at Jann’s
House, Catered by Phil Aria - $20 per
person. Info: Janie Sowell Pope at 541-
592-3884 or popej77@frontier.com.
The Class of 1978, 6 p.m. at Taylor’s
Country Store – From Menu. Info:
Debbie Day Mitchell 541-660-7878 or
debbiemit@msn.com.
The Class of 1958, Dinner at 6 p.m.
at My Place Café with at Special Menu
upstairs. Info: Jean Knight Hull 541-779-
8579 or jrhull@charter.net.
The Class of 1953, Noon – Visit!
Hug! 3:30 p.m. Fire Up BBQ – Donate!
Tote! Pat’s House. Info: Pat Spalinger
Hamme, 541-592-6351.
Reunionless Alumni - Enjoy dinner
from Judy’s Special Menu at My Place
Café, 5:30 ‘ish, Need head count. RSVP
to Chris 619-295-1752, 619-895-0392
or cleppert@cox.net or find her at the
Museum!
July 7
Breakfast at Jubilee Park Pavilion
from The Illinois Valley Fire Department,
8 a.m. – Noon, $6, ($4 for Kids,) Silent
Auction during breakfast, 19th Annual
Meeting follows breakfast. (Welcome
Class of 1948!)
Sunday afternoon, Fund-raiser $5
Ice Cream and music at the Kerbyville
Museum on your way out of town.
Wanted: Office space 200-400 Sq ft. Business: IV Trophy & Collectibles Call Cary @ 541.450.2184
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
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.
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
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.