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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2014)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Page A-5 Bob Rodriguez is a lucky guy By Judy Hoyle IVN Contributing Writer Although the former 24-year owner, edi- tor and publisher of the Illinois Valley News moved to Wyoming five years ago, he and his wife, Jan, have maintained friendships in the Il- linois Valley, which came in handy two weeks ago. Rodriguez still owns three commercial buildings in downtown Cave Junction. The for- mer Illinois Valley News office, which is rented by the Pregnancy Center of the Illinois Valley, is one building he owns. Out front along the highway is Lady Thyme, owned by Ruth Over- holser. The other commercial space, a two-story structure, has served as a thrift store under sev- eral different business owners. “The house we still have in Cave Junction is managed by Harris & Taylor Century 21, but the three commercial buildings, I’ve always done that myself,” Rodriguez explained via telephone. “My confession is that I didn’t check out the tenants adequately in advance, I just wanted to keep the place rented,” Rodriguez added. “I’d checked their driver’s licenses and they seemed sincere. When they told me they wanted to keep running the thrift shop, I said, ‘Sure’.” As is the case in some landlord-tenant re- lationships, the situation went quickly downhill from there, and Rodriguez had to go through the legal process of eviction. He then made the 2,600-mile roundtrip driving journey to help prepare the property for the next tenants. When Rodriguez regained possession of the building, there was an enormous mess to clean up. “Literally two to four feet of clothing, shoes, junk, garbage, cardboard boxes and trash,” he said. “When people found out, they jumped in to help. It had become a flop house for awhile – they’d even installed a cow bell in the rear so the people living upstairs could hear it. They had so destroyed the bathrooms, it was reported that there was a pile of plastic bags filled with human waste.” Drug paraphernalia was also found. A crew of three to four people, led by Pregnancy Center director Mary Lefner, took time over three days, just to clear pathways to allow the bigger cleanup to take place. Then, on Thursday and Friday, July 24- 25, nearly three dozen people worked two solid days to help Rodriguez fill two 30-yard dump- sters, plus a half-ton pickup truck. “And I don’t mean throwing things,” Ro- driguez said. “They were carefully placing stuff so it would all fit.” One of the dumpsters held 5,260 pounds of items while the other held 4,020 pounds, ac- cording to Southern Oregon Sanitation. “A lot of folks wanted to help the Preg- nancy Center because they plan to move into the building,” Rodriguez said. There were also helpers from the Cave Junction Ward of the LDS Church, Rodriguez’ former house of worship, the Valley evangeli- cal Free Church, St. Patrick of the Forest Catho- lic Church, Lady Thyme and My Place Café. “Bob Knott filled his stake bed trailer with televisions, computer monitors, all kinds of electronic junk and drove it to the recycling center in Grants Pass,” Rodriguez said, noting that the volunteer crew worked wonders and the most often asked question was, “How did this happen?” Rodriguez said he is most glad to be back home, where Jan waited for him with their six cats surrounded by abundant wildlife. They live in the spread-out community of Clark, popula- tion 500, located roughly between Cody and Powell. He left Cave Junction on Saturday morning and took three days on the road to get home. “Since there are no direct routes, I took one driving down and a different route driving home,” he said. “It was a long trip. We’re not as young as we used to be.” Rodriguez said he is very grateful that the people of the LDS Church and the Pregnancy Center just dived in to help him. They worked like crazy,” he said. “When you find that level of volunteerism – it’s over- whelming emotionally.” The next step will be renovating the build- ing, which has also been vandalized. “Ceilings, toilets – just a lot of interior damage,” Rodriguez said. “I learned a real hard lesson there. It was quite an experience.” Driver cited for Duii after vehicle leaves road According to a press release from Oregon State Police, on July 30 at approximately 4:39 p.m., a Chevrolet pickup driven by Rose Sallee, 51, from Grants Pass, was driving Highway 199 near milepost 23 when the vehicle traveled off the highway and struck a tree. Sallee is facing a charge for DUII following her involvement in the collision. Sallee was extricated by Illinois Valley Fire District fire- fighters and then transported by Mercy Flights air ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life threat- ening injuries. Initial investigation led OSP to cite her for DUII. OSP was assisted at the scene by Illinois Valley Fire Dis- trict, AMR Ambulance, Mercy Flights, and ODOT. (Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News) Debris left at the New Life Thrift shop in Cave Junction on Thursday, July 17. WHERE’S THE ALARM? The volunteers and staff of the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to these recent Emergency calls… Monday-07/28 100 blk S HUSSEY AVE, Medical Emgcy 2600 blk LAKESHORE DR, Electrical Fire 16000 blk REDWOOD HWY, Traffic Accident 2200 blk REEVES CREEK RD, Grass Fire 200 blk HOGUE DR, Medical Emgcy 24500 blk REDWOOD HWY, Medical Emgcy Tuesday-07/29 24000 blk REDWOOD HWY, Lift Assist 700 blk LAKESHORE DR, Medical Emgcy Wednesday-07/30 200 blk PROTTSMAN WAY, Open Burn 1800 blk ROBINSON RD, Grass Fire REDWOOD HWY / GOLD CANYON DR, Traffic Accident 27500 blk REDWOOD HWY, Medical Emgcy Saturday-08/02 6000 blk ROCKYDALE RD, Assist Other Agency Sunday-08/03 19000 blk CAVES HWY, Medical Emgcy Fire Season Update The Oregon Department of Forestry has completely shut down the public use of power-driven and spark-emitting equipment. Chain saw use is prohibited. Mowing of dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited. Please note that these restrictions are deter- mined by the Oregon Department of Forestry. If you have ques- tions or concerns please contact ODF directly at 541-474-3152. REEVES CREEK FIRE Final size 204 Acres. Mop up still in progress. Ground units and Air units were used to fight the fire. No structures lost!!! THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT! www.IVFire.com | www.Facebook.com/ivfire FIRE SEASON NO BURNING ALLOWED Friday-08/01 37600 blk REDWOOD HWY, Traffic Accident Enormous thanks and gratefulness to all who helped clear the former “thrift shop” at 319 S. Redwood Hwy. in Cave Junction next to Lady Thyme herb shop and in front of the Pregnancy Center of the Illinois Valley. It was a monumental work of hard labor with tons of love that comprise nothing short of miraculous. We filled to their brims two 30-yard dumpsters and a 1/2-ton pickup truck with what was left behind in the build- ing. As well, a large load of usable books was removed. And we swept, scrubbed and gen- erally cleaned the interior as best we could. The next step is to rehab the interior and part of the exterior to repair damages. The clean-up and hauling debris and rubbish was accomplished on Thursday and Friday, July 24-25. An amazing, wonderful effort that in- volved plenty of sweat with some tears, and lots of prayer. Thanks to all. The fantastic volunteers: Pregnancy Center of the Illinois Valley: * Amy Stephens, Caleb and Aurora * Isaac Stephens * Staci Slippey * Mo Connolly, Daisy Tree * Beth &Kevin Funk, Travis Griess * Mary Lefner * Roger & Dolly Newton * Justin Hanshaw * Jasun Hanshaw * Alex LDS Church Cave Junction Ward: * Bob & Christie Knott * Mel & Darlene Love * Eric & Kitty Bertlin with grandchildren Mack- enzie Paulson and Annika Paulson * Jim & Polly Johnson St. Patrick of the Forest Catholic Church: * Kim Young Lady Thyme: * Ruth My Place Cafe: * Dana Hunt * Melinda Valley Evanglical Free Church: * Marvin & Anne Porter Additionally, appreciation must be noted for Lew Lyons, and Steve & Terri Lyons for their thoughtfulness and hospitality during my time in CJ; to Shop Smart Food Warehouse for taking the many carts of cardboard; to Southern Oregon Sanitation for responding so quickly with placement and removal of the huge dumpsters; and to Mayor Carl Jacobson for his aid. With heartfelt gratitude; Bob Rodriguez, owner of the building.
