Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Page A-3
IVHS track about to cross finish line
By
Judy Hoyle
IVN Contributing Writer
Following four years of efforts by the Illinois Valley Boost-
er Club, the funding phase for an all-weather track at Illinois
Valley High School is very close to completion.
According to interim track coach Ray Yarbrough, IVHS is
the only school in the State of Oregon 3A Division that does
not have an all-weather track that meets specifications for host-
ing competitions. This creates a disadvantage for IVHS students,
who currently have to travel to all their meets. It’s also a dis-
advantage when it comes to training in wet weather. Finally,
IVHS’s inability to host meets is an economic disadvantage
for Cave Junction businesses. Families who would be spending
money here go elsewhere for these competitions.
“Studies show that kids who are involved in athletics are
better students as well, they can take pride in their achievements
and that pride gets passed on,” Yarbrough states. “We use the
track for physical education, but bad weather often keeps the kids
stuck in the building. Between high school and middle school
use, there’s close to 500 kids who use it for different sports.”
The four Josephine County Rotary Clubs committed to
helping Illinois Valley Booster Club with this project four years
ago. Last year was slated to be the final year funds from Ro-
tary Duck Derby would go toward the track, but Rotary decision
makers have included the track for one more year since the proj-
ect is so close to its goal.
Last summer, the first phase of the project was completed
— laying out and paving the track and event surfaces. The sec-
ond phase of the project will be to install the all-weather cover-
ing. The cost to complete the track is just over $180,000.
To date, $118,893 has been raised according to Ryan No-
lan, IV Rotary Club president and IV Booster Club member.
“This summer we will receive approximately $25,000 from
two pledged donors,” Nolan states. “That means we are less than
$40,000 away from completing this track project.”
In the past, the IV Booster Club has helped purchase band
uniforms, bags for the golf team, and given the Equestrian team
money to help with feeding and transporting their animals to
competitions. Nolan adds, “We also installed a sound system in
the school gym, built batting cages for the baseball and softball
fields, helped with other baseball field improvements, refurbished
the softball field, and built a press box for the football field. We
have accomplished all of this with help from this community.”
Nolan goes on to point out, “So far, our community has
supported walk-a-thons, golf tournaments, comedy nights, com-
munity track nights, biggest loser contests, individual donations,
the Rotary Duck Derby, and numerous grants from foundations
and corporations in order to make this track a reality for our kids
and community. We just need a little more help to make the all-
weather track a reality. ”
The Rotary Duck Derby will take place September 21 and
duck sales are currently underway. The grand prize this year
is $15,000 credit toward purchase of a new car or truck from
Roe, Jim Siegel, Lithia, Mock or Wheeler plus 0% financing.
Over a dozen other prize packages include legal services, tires,
health club memberships, vacation packages, jewelry, food and
a $1,000 gift card from Fred Meyer.
Ducks will be for sale at the Labor Day Festival, Fred
Ball’s Bi-Rite Auto Parts, Mary Reynolds’ Jefferson State Finan-
cial Group across from the Senior Center, and First Community
Credit Union among other adoption locations.
Nolan added, “Remember, for just a few dollars, this is one
way to help support your local high school and give them an
even playing field.”
Exchange students need homes in the Valley
Just two weeks before school starts, Illi-
nois Valley High School still has 2 slots avail-
able for exchange students. Exchange students
provide a real world cultural experience for
local teenagers while they experience the life
of an American teen. That type of cultural ex-
change is invaluable for both the foreign stu-
dent as well as the friends they make in their
host community during their exchange year.
Exchange students live with volunteer host
families who provide a room (can be shared
with a teen in the host family of the same gen-
der), food, and loving parental guidance during
their exchange year. Their natural parents cover
all other expenses and the students have medi-
cal insurance coverage.
I work with International Cultural Ex-
change Services (icesusa.org) - a nonprofit that
matches exchange students with local host fam-
ilies throughout southern Oregon. We are work-
ing hard to place some of our exchange students
at Illinois Valley High School.
Host families get to select their students
and we still have several wonderful students
waiting for sponsorship. Due to State Depart-
ment regulations, we can only share photos of
our current students with host families who
have undergone background checks. Here are
brief descriptions of some of the students who
still need host families:
Sihao – 17 year old boy from China (Eng-
lish name “Fred”) who enjoys basketball, boat-
ing, music, film, and guitar.
“My parents have been telling me my
whole life how amazing it was to be a part of
a new culture as well as bring our culture to
other people. They often tell me to be good to
everybody, and so I do. I have a lot of friends
in my life, and I cherish every one of them. I
am expecting to make friends with people in the
U.S.”
Louis – 17 year old boy from Belgium
who enjoys swimming, cycling, camping, and
scouting.
“I am a scout leader so every Saturday I go
to the scout meeting and I organize games and
activities for scouts who are between eight to
twelve years old. One of my teachers is Ameri-
can. He is very different from all the other
teachers. His way of teaching is much more ac-
tive and entertaining. He always makes us par-
ticipate. I feel like the American people have
a different understanding on many issues. Be-
sides this, I have a lot of interest for American
sports like American football and baseball even
though I never had the opportunity to practice
one of these.”
Tianxin – 17 year old girl from China
(English name “Smiley”). Tianxin enjoys swim-
ming, tennis, piano, and basketball. She loves
to sing in the choir.
“It was always a great dream of mine to
live and work in a foreign country and I am re-
ally excited that it will become a reality soon.
I would like to go to America because I’m ea-
ger to know what real America is like. This is a
great opportunity for me to gain new perspec-
tives on life, be more mature and have another
family on the other side of the world.”
Paulo – 16 year old boy from Brazil. Paulo
enjoys soccer, video games, music, and sports
“I am a good student and I have good
grades. In my school I have English classes ev-
ery week. I usually play soccer with my friends
when we are not studying. I choose the United
States because it is a place I like very much. I
wish to learn a new culture. I think it will be a
very good life experience and I am very excited
to know my host family.”
If anyone is interested more information
can be provided by Tonya Graham, the South-
ern Oregon Area Coordinator for International
Cultural Exchange Services at 541.778.0718 or
tonya8971@yahoo.com.
City League Softball updates & schedules
All right all you city league softball fans. Here are the cur-
rent final scores and standings so far. The league just finished up
its fifth week and has six more weeks of fun to go.
Rita’s Rebels v. Misfits, 0-20 Rita’s Rebels
Rock-n-Soil v. Good Earth Organics, 8-21
Good Earth Organics
Tuesday 6
Rita’s Rebels v. Tree House, 16-21 Tree House
Balls Out v. Good Earth Organics, 3-20
Good Earth Organ ics
Rock-n-Soil v. Green Horns, 7-22 Rock-n-Soil
Thursday 15
Misfits v. Good Earth Organics, 0-19 Good Earth Organics
Green Horns v. Balls Out, 0-18 Balls Out
Rock-n-Soil v. Tree House, 6-8 Rock-n-Soil
(Forfeit for Rock-n-Soil, Tree House won by default)
Thursday 8
Rock-n-Soil v. Rita’s Rebels, 10-13 Rita’s Rebels
Tree House v. Good Earth Organics, 17-23
Good Earth Organics
Green Horns v. Misfits, 11-13 Green Horns
Standings for city league softball as of Thursday 15 are:
1. Good Earth Organics 7-1
2. Balls Out 6-1
3. Rita’s Rebels 5-3
4. Tree House 5-4
5. Green Horns 2-5
6. Rock-n-Soil 1-7
7. Misfits 1-7
Tuesday 13
Balls Out v. Tree House, 7-8 Balls Out
The Dome
School
Jenn’s Back
For More Information Call
9-B all tourneys
Cant’ wait to
see and hear all of you!
Ellipse
Friday, August 23
@ 5:30 p.m.
Taylor’s
Karaoke - Dancing
Country Store
Live Music
Thursday 29
Green Horns v. Rock-n-Soil @ 6:00pm
Tree House v. Rita’s Rebels @ 7:30pm
Good Earth Organics v. Balls Out @ 9:00pm
F irst and t hird F ridays
K araoKe with s teve -o hs
Serving Cocktails & Food
Acoustic favorites
and originals
Tuesday 27
Good Earth Organics v. Rita’s Rebels @ 6:00pm
Balls Out v. Misfits @ 7:30pm
Green Horns v. Tree House @ 9:00pm
DJ every FriDay Night
s econd and F ourth F ridays
Arts Red
Garter
Where the
Valley comes
to play
Thursday 22
Rita’s Rebels v. Balls Out @ 6:00pm
Good Earth Organics v. Green Horns @ 7:30pm
Misfits v. Rock-n-Soil @ 9:00pm
S PORTSMAN TAVER N
is now accepting registration
fees for fall classes.
Spaces limited.
592-3911 or 592-3632
Sixth and seventh weeks of softball schedule, games
are as follows:
J Barley
Sat., Aug. 24
@ 6 p.m.
Every Wed
Open Mic. Night
From
6-8 p.m.
Chateau . at the
Oregon Caves
Dave Angus
Blues Piano
Aug 23, 7 p.m.
View-Master Event
Gretchen Gruber
Aug 24, 11 a.m.
T HE J UNCTION I NN
406 S Redwood Hwy - Cave Junction, OR
541-592-3016
Bar
Kate’s
Redwood
Bar and Grill
Tuesday to Sunday
Noon to Close
Is
open!
Happy Hour 3-5
Stop in and see
Bob Clark
Celtic Harp
Aug 25, 4 p.m.
Kate and Mamie
Today!
EAT
@
Mc Grew’s
of
Course