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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 2014)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, Letters to the Editor Illinois Valley News welcomes Letters 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 The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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 commentary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers) Anyone else’s paychecks keeping up with Inflation? The Oregon PUC authorized ANOTHER increase request- ed by Pacific Power. My calculations based on only my bill is an increase of 37%. Did I just miss the request? Was it published in small print on our bill? Why do they deserve it? How many customers do they have? For round numbers, let’s say one million. If each household is increased only $1.00, Pac Power made $1,000,000.00. What is this “public purpose” charge? The “Energy Conservation Charge”? The almost a dollar for the “Low Income Assistance” charge? Several years ago when my job went away & I was con- cerned about paying my power bill, I called the # on the back. You know, the one with great spin that says: “If you find yourself in a position in which you are not able to pay your electrics bills, we encourage you to contact us; we have a variety of options to help?” So I did. First question this user friendly company rep asked was whether I’d received a notice that they would shut off my electricity. Answer: No Response: I suggest you go to your local church, they have funds set aside to help. So again, where are our payments going? Just gathering interest for the company or executive bonuses? I’d inquired the last time PacPower requested an increase. What I’d learned is that our state politicians make the laws, the triumvirate PUC adheres to it. There’s a group of concerned citi- zens who provide input to the PUC asking for the rationale of why there should be an increase or suggest a lesser increase than requested (to no avail). So circle jerk that it is, which is why I’m not going to frus- trate myself with this non-transparent system, the rationale I’ve been told is Pac Power requests a rate increase, if it’s “within the guidelines of the law” it’s granted. Why do we need 3 people sitting on the PUC being paid for approving requests? DANG! wish it were so easy for we employees. Go ask the boss for an increase to keep up with inflation. Then there was the Mail Tribune article last week that said the Medford building rates were increasing by 20%. Just received my Dish bill. Yup, rate increase. Everyone has good PR spin -- prices are going up, gotta keep up with infla- tion. Guess how much Social Security went up for 2014? One point five percent (1.5%) That’s called a COLA - Cost of Living Adjustment. Does NOT begin to cover increase in food, gas, definitely not utilities, house insurance, car insurance, property taxes. We pay our Federal politicians $174,500.00 annually. That comes to about $14,500.00 A MONTH. What’s the Federal poverty level? It’s about $14,500.00 ANNUALLY. No wonder our politicians haven’t a clue about the working person & based on recent legislation, prefer to subsidize big Ag, big Oil & not extend unemployment benefits or food stamps. Wonder why about 51% of our Federal politicians are mil- lionaires while only 1% of the general public is? B. A. Grodhaus Cave Junction provisions of the Farm Bill regarding the full funding in it for organic farming (IV News, 2/12/14)), were you aware he voted against it? As a Josephine Co. Farm Bureau member I find his “no” vote extremely disingenuous. His reasoning? He claimed he just couldn’t vote for a 1% cut in the SNAP (Food Stamp) Program, which accounts for al- most three-quarters of this trillion-dollar Bill. Fortunately, his fellow Oregon Democrat Kurt Schrader and others who got the Bill passed must have read it before voting. Not one Oregonian will lose their base benefit, and if the state puts at least $20 an- nually toward an eligible individual’s heating bill, or a copy of one’s heating bill is presented to the state, they can keep their increased benefit. He was also willing to vote away $56 billion in conserva- tion funding and $15.6 million in PILT (in lieu of payments) to Oregon counties to help cover losses of property taxes on federal lands. DeFazio is certainly no friend of Oregon farmers or citizens. Lynne Vanderlinden Cave Junction You are what you eat Thank you Mr. Dez for your January 15 I.V. News article about “Meat.” I was encouraged by it. My health has improved greatly since I stopped eating meat and cheese a few years ago. My cancer is gone. Not only has my high cholesterol been great- ly reduced, but I hardly ever seem to get sick anymore. I’m really enjoying the healthful life since I learned about the problems that meat eating can cause. Now I understand what “You dig your grave with your teeth” and “You are what you eat,” means. Especially when we get older, we have to be careful what kind of food we put into our bodies. Let’s eat the foods that have healing power, that is plant food. Thank you again. Etta Mack Cave Junction DeFazzio is no friend While Peter DeFazio may have publicly applauded the I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Obituaries Rex Dean Kerr, age 78, Rex’s father and siblings on the inter- ence Works, touching many lives in of Selma, died Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at his home. No public services are planned. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. Please sign the family guest book at www.since1928hull.com. Rex was born September 9, 1935 in Miller, MO. His father left the family six weeks after his birth and with his mother so young, Rex spent a lot of time with his grand- parents. He grew up in Tulare, Calif. living on a farm and spending much of his free time riding horses. Dur- ing high school his two main inter- ests were football and horses - riding broncs and team roping until an injury helped him decide that fishing was a much safer sport. In 1954 he married Bonnie Pay and they later divorced. In 1955 he joined the United States Army. In 1968 he married Margarete Daniels and they later divorced. Rex sold insurance for awhile, but found driving tucks was his real love and for 25 years he worked for Delta Freight Lines. He also worked for Von’s Gro- ceries until his retirement. In 1999 he married Earlene Edwards and in 2003 he moved from Hornbrook, Calif. to Selma. After Rex’s son Rodger found net in 1998, Rex met his two broth- ers, Don and John and sister, Joanne. Rex was a gold miner and be- longed to the New 49ers Gold Club since 1996. He also belonged to the Teamsters, the Eagles Lodge in Med- ford, and Disabled Veterans of Ore. With a lake only three miles away, he spent much of his free time at Lake Selmac. His life-long love was fishing. Survivors include his wife, Ear- lene Edwards; three children; Todd Kerr, Michele Noppers, and Nancy Gerard; two brothers, Don and John; 16 grandchildren; and 44 great-grand- children. He was preceded in death by two sons, Rex Jr. and Rodger; and a sister, Joanne. Adella Mae Young, former resident of Cave Junction, Kerby, and Roseburg, Ore., having lived most re- cently in Richland, Wash., went to be with the Lord on February 3, 2014, at the home of her daughter in Etna, Calif. She was 85 years old. For many years, Adella was an active member of Women of the Moose, receiving her Star Recorder Award several times. She was a Field Operations Coordinator with Experi- the Southern Oregon Area. Adella was born December 12, 1928, in Broken Bow, Neb. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jay Oakes and Christine Slama Oakes; her brother, Collins Oakes and her husbands Francis Badden, Bill Cow- drey and Rendall Young. Adella is survived by her chil- dren: daughter, Nancy Silva and her husband, Gerry; son, James Badden and wife, Janet; daughter, Susan Hiatt and husband, Glenn; grandchildren, Lindsay Thumm, Brian Silva, West Hiatt, Jamie and Tanner Badden; great grandchildren, Curren and Greyson Thumm, Marissa Hiatt, Jackson and William Silva. Adella was a much loved sister, daughter, mother, and friend. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and missed by all who knew, loved and cherished her. A private family memorial ser- vice will be held in Wash. on Feb. 22, 2014. Girdner Funeral Chapel is as- sisting the family. Online condolenc- es can be made at www.gridnerfu- neralchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Madrone Hospice of Yreka, Calif.: www.ma- dronehospice.org/ in memory of Adella Young. Margaret “Peggy” Bod- kin, 53 years young, passed away Fund-raiser for Illinois River Valley Arts Council’s public benefit pro- grams. www.irvac.com 541-592- 4444. stock the blood supply this February. Severe winter weather throughout January across much of the country forced the cancellation of about 770 Red Cross blood drives, resulting in more than 25,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations. On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 units of blood every day for patients at approxi- mately 2,700 hospitals and transfu- sion centers across the country. With additional winter weather already forecast for parts of the country in the next week or two, all blood types are currently needed to ensure a suf- ficient blood supply is available for patients. suddenly due to complications of Dehydration and Peripheral Vascular Disease, also known as Toxic Shock Syndrome on December 9, 2013. Peggy was born Margaret Jane Purdon on September 12, 1960 in Portland, Ore. to Glen and Kather- ine Purdon of Salem, Ore.; where she grew up, went to school and at- tended church at First Congrega- tional United Church of Christ. She also attended college in both Salem and Monmouth, Ore. and wanted to become a teacher. Peggy lived in the Illinois Val- ley, residing in Kerby since 2004. She leaves behind her best friend and soul mate Mike Brewer; a brother Carl; six children and eight grandchildren between her and Mike. Mike and Peggy met as friends, and thru years of companionship, be- came soul mates. They loved travel- ing, camping, boating, and enjoyed natures wilderness together, beach- combing and the Oregon Coast. Peggy was a partner at” Trea- sures of the World”, in Cave Junc- tion at the time of her death. She was also one of Avon’s ladies, serving the Southern Oregon region from Brook- ings to Medford. Peggy and Mike also spent many hours of their lives ministering to the needs of their respective kids and grandkids that they loved and sacrificed themselves for. A service to Honor Peggy’s life will be held Friday, Feb. 21, at 2:00pm, at I.V. Funeral Home in Cave Junction. Margaret “Peggy” Bod kin Save The Date formation call 541-592-6009. Feb. 21 Bird watchers have more fun. Honestly they do! We live on a mi- gratory route in Cave Junction so we see a number of birds (some locals, some passing through). Harry John- son, our local bird watcher, can, and will tell more Friday, Feb. 21 when he gives a presentation at the Illinois Valley (IV) Garden Club. He will answer your questions and take com- ments as he does in his Illinois Valley news column. The IV Garden Club meets the 3rd Friday of the month at United Methodist Church, 200 W Watkins (across from Shop Smart) in Cave Junction, OR. Coffee hour at 12:30PM. Meeting at 1PM. For in- Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher Feb. 22 Tired of Winter? Join us for “LOVE BOAT – A Caribbean Cruise!” 5 – 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Selma Community Center! 5 p.m: Silent Auction, No-Host Bar & Rumba Lesson. 6 p.m: Dinner Ca- tered by The Vine Restaurant, Dance to Oregon Little Big Band Duo & Live Auction. Formal or Resort Wear Please! $25 person, $40 couple. Tick- ets: Evergreen Federal Bank, C.J. or G.P. main branch. No ticket sales af- ter Feb. 14! Special Thanks to Deer Creek Vineyards, Evergreen Federal Bank, Wild River Brewing & Pizza. 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 Feb. 26 Wed, February 26th – Craft Night: Origami, 6 p.m. Roberta and Rochelle are fold- ing fancy paper into beautiful flow- ers and would love to share the joy. Paper and instruction are supplied, just come join us! Where: IV Library 209 W Palmer St, Cave Junction, OR 97523 (541) 592-4770 contact: Ro- berta Lee rlee@josephinelibrary.org Feb. 27 The American Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors to help re- SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $30.50 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. There is an urgent need for blood types O positive, O negative, A nega- tive and B negative. Eligible donors with these blood types are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to give in the coming days. While weather in this area did not cause problems for blood drives, the Red Cross hopes local blood do- nors will continue to support patients in need. Upcoming blood donation op- portunities in Josephine County: Thursday, February 27: 12:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Illinois Valley Se- nior Center, 520 East River Street, Cave Junction 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.
