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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, December 31, 2014
The first day or two was pretty tough. I have become so
reliant on my BlackBerry that I was totally lost. By the time
Sunday came around, it seemed I had gotten over it. It was ac-
tually kind of peaceful not having it ping and ring all day long.
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
I lost my phone while out cutting wood last Friday.
Fortunately, no one picked it up and sent random texts to my
children.
In today’s world we have data coming at us from all
directions. Work email, personal email, texts, RSS news feeds,
Faceebook and Twitter. What did we ever do before Google?
My fear is that as a species we are dumbing down. Don’t know
the answer to something? Google it. No thought or logic is
needed to type a question and get instant gratification.
Having everything at our fingertips may seem like a cool
thing and, at times, it’s quite useful. But, is it good for us? I
think not. I feel we are also shortening our attention span with
20-second news spots on broadcast media and bloggers feeding
us bits and pieces of information in such small doses. It worries
me that many people won’t have the attention span to read a
full article in the future.
Another problem I have with the web is people are losing
the skill of holding actual conversations. We have reverted
back to junior high on many Facebook posts. The things I see
some people post makes me shake my head. Face-to-face, they
would not dare to say these things, but hiding behind the moni-
tor, many people seem to lose common decency and become
downright brutal.
Anyway, I digress. Back to my missing phone which I
know longer actually missed. I think that my resolution for
2015 will be to not touch my phone one day a week. It’s doubt-
ful I will succeed, but it’s worth a try.
I also would like to thank all of you for picking up the
paper each week. And, as always, thanks to all of our advertis-
ers. Without you, none of this would be possible.
Happy New Year to all ~djm
Big Brothers for Cows: by Annette McGee Rasch
If I were in charge, Earth’s “New World
Order” would be staffed with scientists, histo-
rians, counselors, environmentalists, teachers,
children, storytellers, animals, spiritual people,
healers, plants and dog trainers.
This global leadership would exclude law-
yers, CEO’s, lobbyists, high-level government
officials, generals, popes and politicians. For
these folks, I’d designate a special social reha-
bilitation program: The Big Brothers for Cows.
Or simply: The BBFC.
But before getting into the BBFC, let me
say that the New World Order wouldn’t toler-
ate chemicals, GMO’s, sloppy nuclear activity,
old-growth logging, fracking or indiscriminate
burning of fossil fuels. Bans on human activities
that increase global warming, pollution, habitat
destruction and extinction would be strictly en-
forced. After all, humans have evolved plenty
enough to better utilize more of their minds and
far less of Earth’s flesh and blood to satisfy the
hungry practical needs of civilizations.
There’d just be one rule: if any proposed
human activity hurts other life forms, you can’t
do it – not without super-solid justification that
passes the scrutiny of bio-regional boards that
report directly to the New World Order.
No worries - we’ll simply call the BBFC!
That’s right, the Big Brothers for Cows! Let the
recycling begin!
Though obviously, the immediate end of
planes, trains, ocean tankers and gas-guzzling
vehicles would cramp global bio-restoration
during the transition to better technologies. Yet
the wetlands can’t wait – they need reviving
now! All those pesky dams must be removed,
not to mention the badly located cities and leak-
ing landfills that require extraction from the
flesh of Our Mother.
Since the New World Order decides it’s
wrong to breed, imprison, torture and then
butcher animals so humans can consume their
flesh - the meat industry is sunk. This moral de-
cision is backed by sound economics: as it takes
10 to 20 pounds of grain to produce one pound
of beef – an awful waste of land and water.
Letters to the Editor
Illinois Valley News welcomes Let-
ters 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 commen-
tary, including statements made as
fact are strictly those of the letter
writers.)
Monument Expansion
Not Unfair to Timber and
Mining
For more than 20 years I have
heard opposition to the expansion of
Oregon Caves based on claims that
this is unfair to timber and mine.
Consider these facts:
I have hiked through Lake
Creek and Cave Creek canyons and
have found no evidence of historic
gold mining in this watershed since
the time the Oregon gold rush 160
years ago. Most of this watershed
was filled with rocks and boulders
from landslides during the 1964
flood so a prospector looking for
gold would have to dig through
2-6 feet of nothing to get to a place
where nothing significant has been
found for 160 years. How is taking
nothing unfair?
Satellite images show Oregon
Caves surrounded by a region of old
and new clear cuts. Look anywhere
in Oregon’s 30 million acres of
forestland and you will find an ocean
of logging impacts surrounding tiny
islands of wilderness and parks. In
approximate proportions, it appears
the timber industry has 95% and the
travel and recreation industry has 5%
and expansion of the monument is
called unfair.
National Parks are found in just
Get SMART with books
Winter break is right around the corner, and
holidays can get pretty hectic! Routines can fly
out the window with celebrations, travel and out-
of-town guests. As your family prepares for the
holidays, use these tips for keeping kids engaged in
learning and reading over winter break.
Read for fun! Whether your child is in the
mood for holiday stories or the newest installment
from a favorite series, winter break provides the
perfect opportunity to set aside school books and
read for fun. Make time for bedtime stories to cre-
ate the routine and enjoy books on a daily basis.
Stock up on books at the local library. Help
your child pick out books they’re interested in
reading over the winter break. Libraries may also
have fun, free holiday activities throughout the
break.
Make the most of travel time. Turn travel time
to or from a holiday get-together into an opportu-
nity to practice reading. You can look for license
plates from different states, try to find the alphabet
on the license plates, or count the number of red (or
white or green) cars you see. Read street signs and
billboards you see along the way.
Create a new tradition. A little predictability
is comforting for kids. Starting a special Winter
Break Story Time can be a new tradition that links
reading with happy memories. Hot cocoa and your
favorite stories will have the whole family feeling
comfy and cozy, while creating memories that will
last a lifetime.
Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to
help your child with reading. By simply interacting
with children around books, you can show them
that books are important and worthy of our atten-
tion. These tips came to you from SMART, the
local non-profit that places volunteers in schools to
help children learn to read. At SMART, we believe
every child should be able to read. With your help,
they can.
Each year, SMART reaches thousands of
Oregon children with vital one-on-one reading sup-
port, and books for those who need them most.
For more information please visit http://www.
getsmartoregon.org/.
about every country and the world
understands this is where you find
a nation’s hallmark recreational,
scenic, and cultural resources. The
expansion makes us a stronger
competitor in the two trillion dollar
global travel market and the one
trillion dollar USA travel market.
Show me a mining or timber
operation that can take 4,000 acres
of land and permanently create an
opportunity of this magnitude.
Roger Brandt
Cave Junction
David:
Gates of memories will never close
How much I miss you, no one knows
Days will pass away into years
And we’ll think about these memories with silent tears
Love,
S uSan , B etty , J uStin ,
B oBBy & F riendS
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save The Date For more listings go to www.ivcalendar.org
Jan. 3
younger siblings are also invited (with par-
ents) to attend.
Young Master Gardeners will meet
and explore beneficial bugs in the garden
on Friday, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m. at the I.V.
Branch of Josephine County Library on
Palmer St. All children 6-12 yrs. old are
welcome to attend this free presentation,
The January Senior Talk will take place
Monday, Jan. 5 at noon at the I.V. Senior
Center, 520 E. River St. This free presenta-
tion is open to the public. Learn how and
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
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
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Jan. 5
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charity of your choice.
why you should appoint a substitute deci-
sion maker when you can’t speak for your-
self. Includes: Power of Attorney, Advance
Directives, fiduciary services and more.
Jan. 7
All are welcome at Cave Junction’s
Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Open
House. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 6 p.m. (each
day except Wednesdays at 5 p.m. until Fri-
day the 16th) Matthew 18:19 “Again I say
unto you, That if two of you shall agree on
earth as touching anything that they shall
ask be done for them of my Father which is
in heaven.” May God Bless
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
laura@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.