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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
If it seems like I have been running
a lot of fire photos lately, you’re not
wrong.
The reason is threefold. For one
thing, Dale Sandberg of the Illinois
Valley Fire District has taken some
amazing shots. Secondly, we have had
a lot of fires. Lastly, I feel it’s important
to keep constant reminders that we live
in an area that is either raining or on
fire.
We’re in the heart of fire season
and with the lack of snowpack from this past
winter, this will be a long, dry and hopefully
not to smokey summer.
As most of you are reading this, the Fourth
of July will be over and it may be too late to
give extra caution this year when it comes to
fireworks safety. So, I hope you were all as
careful as possible.
I hear so many rumors about the recent
structure fires and some are just completely out
of this world. Apparently, some newspapers are
just as bad when it comes to rumormongering.
Just last, week the Grants Pass Daily Courier
ran an article about the Meriwether Print Shop
fire that stated that Meriwether was going to set
up temporary shop here at the Illinois Valley
News office. Where did that come from?
My point, I suppose, is that if you don’t
know something for sure, don’t repeat it. Go to
the source and verify.
Have a fantastic and safe Fourth of July!
Thank you for picking up this week’s
paper. ~ djm
Obituaries
Helen E. Versteeg, age 94, of Cave Junction ,
died Monday, June 24, 2013 at her home.
A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 13, 2013
at Illinois Valley Funeral Directors (chapel) with Walt Freeman
conducting. Private interment will be at Laurel Cemetery. Hull
& Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Remembrances may be made to Illinois Valley High
School Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2086, Cave Junction, Oregon
97523 or the American Red Cross, Southern Oregon Chapter, 60
Hawthorne Street, Medford, Oregon 97504.
Helen was born December 2, 1918 in Forest Grove, Oregon
to William & Minnie Haage. After graduating from Forest
Grove High School she attended Pacific University, Oregon
State College and the University of Oregon where she received
her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Nursing. In 1943 she married
Charles Versteeg Sr and in 1948 moved to Cave Junction.
Helen was a member of Eastern Star; Illinois Valley Garden
Club; and served on the Josephine County School Board (now
Three Rivers).
She especially loved to play bridge.
Survivors include five children; nine grandchildren; and
two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr Charles
Versteeg Sr in 2002.
Donald Gene “Don” Bray, age 76, of
Grants Pass, died Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Rogue
Regional Medical Center.
A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July
1, 2013 at Wilderville Cemetery with Pastors Matt Heverly and
Dick Boden officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in
charge of arrangements.
Remembrances may be made to Gospel Rescue Mission,
PO Box 190, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528.
Please sign the family guest book at www.since1928hull.
com.
Don was born December 4, 1936 in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma to Verle & Helen (Holden) Bray. In 1954 he
graduated from East Bakersfield High School. On July 29, 1955
in Eugene, Oregon he married Grace Parrett and they moved to
Bakersfield, California. While in Bakersfield, he worked for
Bell Telephone Company and Bankers Life of California. In
1961 they moved to Sacramento where he worked for Farmers
Insurance. After moving to Auburn, California he worked for
Auburn Lumber Company. He returned to Sacramento and
worked for Hostess Cakes for eight years. He then attended
Sacramento State University where he received a Bachelor’s of
Arts degree in Corrections and while attending school he worked
for New York Life Insurance and owned and operated a Mexican
import business selling imports at fairs in Oregon, California and
Washington. He also worked for the California Youth Authority.
In 1974 he moved to Grants Pass where he was the only adult
parole and probation officer in Josephine County. In 1983 he
moved to Hawaii and lived there a short time before returning
to Grants Pass. He then opened construction cost estimating
schools in Federal Way, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and
Laurel, Maryland. He returned to work for Josephine County as
a parole and probation officer retiring in 1999.
Don was a member of Toastmasters and attended Edgewater
Christian Fellowship and a men’s Bible study.
His hobbies included horseback riding, shooting guns, and
swimming.
Don is survived by his wife, Grace Bray of Grants Pass,
Oregon; a daughter, Kelly Breuninger of Arroyo Grande,
California; a son, Donald “Scott” Bray of Hillsboro, Oregon;
a sister, Susan Napier of Santa Barbara, California, two half
sisters, Theresa Butterworth of Burbank, California, and Tracy
Bray of Goleta, California; a half-brother, Rob Bray of Berkeley,
California; and seven grandchildren.
Former Grants Pass and Cave Junction
resident Gordon “Digger” Sallee, 56, of Gold
Hill died Friday June 7, 2013 at Providence Medford Medical
Center.
A memorial celebration potluck will be held at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday July 6, 2013 at
Whitehorse Park, 7613 Lower River Rd., Grants Pass.
Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives is in charge of
arrangements.
Log onto www.diggersallee.com to sign the guestbook or
for more information.
He was born October 4, 1956. He served his country in the
U.S. Army and was employed
with Grayback Forestry.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, Duane and Cody;
daughters, Jennifer, Heather and
Sarah; and six grandchildren.
See page 12 for Jim Rich
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Float Fly comes to Selmac
23rd Annual Float Fly
Grants Pass, OR - Rogue
Valley Flyers announce
their always popular Float
Fly at Lake Selmac in
Selma. This year’s event
will be on Saturday and
Sunday, July 13 & 14.
Radio Control pilots from
throughout the state will
launch a bevy of float-
planes from the beautiful
blue waters of Lake Sel-
mac. The public is invited
to enjoy the fun. While
there is no admission, the
club will be grateful for
the donation of a canned
good that will
CHE AP!
CHE AP!
CHE AP!
be delivered to the Jo-
sephine County Food
Bank. Visitors should also
be aware that Josephine
County Parks have a day
use fee of $4.00 per ve-
hicle. Flying will begin at
9:00 a.m. and continue as
long as winds and weather
permit. Bring a picnic,
lawn chairs, sunscreen
and prepare to look up.
This year’s event is
sanctioned by the national
organization for radio
control, the Academy of
Model Aeronautics. Ad-
ditional
information may be found
on the club’s web site:
www.roguevalleyflyers.
com.
Save the date
July 5
The Illinois Valley
Safe House Alliance
board is holding a fund-
raiser on Friday, July
5 and Saturday, July 6,
T he N ew J. I.
Usually refers to a product
that is sub-par, inferior or
not good.
406 S Redwood Hwy - Cave Junction, OR
Dos Gringo’s is not cheap.
We are affordable,
original and, most of
all, we are good!
Bar
DJ Night
541-592-3016
F riday , J uly 5
illies
L ive B and
S aturday , J uly 6
541-592-2200
131 N. Redwood Hwy
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
shifts are from 10am to
2pm and 2pm to 6pm on
both days. We’re bagging
at Shop Smart, way fun!
Call Chris (Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays
only) at 541.592.2515 to
reserve your spot to help
bag groceries and support
services here in the valley.
Social & Live Auction
Petals
N
Thyme Saturday, July 13 at 2
Flower Shop is hosting a p.m. at Community Bible
chamber mixer from 5-7 p.m. Church Gym, 113 S. Caves
Refresgnebts will be served.
Avenue, Cave Junction
Please RSVP at 541-592-
Tickets: $3.00 per
3326.
person, all you can eat ice
July 13
cream Live Auction: Lots
Pregnancy
Center of Auction items
of the Illinois Valley is
hosting an Ice Cream
July 12
LostForestRecordings.com would like to thank
Frontier Communications for going out of their
way to help us bring the music from Reggae in
the Trees to the world.
“Will, Andy, Don and Eben were fantastic in their help and
understanding of how important music is to our community
and how sharing ourselves with the world is such an asset to,
not only our part of Oregon, but America itself. ”
Daily Burger SpecialS!
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
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One year in Jackson and
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One year in all other
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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
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