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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 The latter need not
be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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
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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.