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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
Back in the early 1800s, if you wanted to come to Oregon
Country you took a four-month, 2,000-mile journey. How many
Americans today would walk two miles, let alone 2,000 miles? I
assume not many, if any at all. While the thought of wagon trains
may seem romantic, the journey was very tough.
My house in Wyoming overlooked the North Platte River,
which the trail followed. Near Fort Laramie, Wyoming you can
still see petrified wagon wheel ruts. Many people who inhabit
Goshen County, Wyoming had kinfolk who decided the barren
high plains desert of Wyoming was as nice as any other place to
call home.
Ah, the Oregon Trail, for rugged people who were willing
to walk months to seek a better place. This is impressive to me.
In Oregon, your federal assistance is loaded on an electronic
benefit transfer
card ironically called the “Oregon rail
Card.”
In the Illinois Valley, roughly 1,700 households (more than
3,000 people) hold an Oregon Trail card. That’s nearly 20 percent
of the Valley’s population. Don’t worry, Grants Pass is worse.
Oregon leads the nation in food assistance. Compare that
to another Oregon Trail state, Wyoming, which is amongst the
lowest with a 10-percent tally. Oregon tops 17-percent!
A few months back, I was in a convenience store and a
young lady purchased a pack of cigarettes using the “cash”
portion of her Oregon Trail Card. I was stunned. I remember
leaving and thinking, “I just bought her a pack of cigarettes.”
I have no issue with folks getting help to buy food; cigarettes
are a whole other issue.
I don’t know which genius decided to name our state’s EBT
card the “Oregon Trail Card” but I am certain they didn’t think
it through.
Calling food stamps and financial assistance the “Oregon
Trail Card” is a slap in the face to the many that walked 2,000
miles. These were the same folks who dumped family heirlooms
on the side of the trail to lighten the load of their animals. The
same folks who had to set up camp, find food, water and firewood
every night for four months without assistance from anyone but
themselves.
Thank you for picking up this weeks paper, enjoy! ~ djm
Obituaries
Brant Andrew Schnitzer
(Iliya) was 60 years of age at the time
of his death. He lived in Kerby, Oregon
where he passed surrounded by his
family on Jan. 4, 2015 from cancer.
Brant was born April
10, 1954 to his parents
Henry and Florence
Schnitzer. Brant was
the older of two brothers
surviving him, Scott
Schnitzer of Neshanic,
New Jersey and Wade
Schnitzer of Poconos,
Pennsylvania.
Brant enjoyed the
outdoors including, hiking,
camping, and fishing.
He attended Applegate
Christian Fellowship.
Brant is survived
by his significant other
Patricia Schnitzer and his
three daughters Corinne
Johns, Alaina Schnitzer,
and Katie Godwin; and his
two grandchildren Maddox
and Ariana.
Services have been
held. Illinois Valley
Funeral Directors are in
charge of arrangements.
Please sign the family
guest book at www.since1928hull.com.
Candace Cleary Ouellette,
age 60, died of cancer on Thursday,
Jan. 15, 2015 at Haven House 2 in
Grants Pass.
Candace was born Oct. 2, 1954 in
San Mateo, California. In the 1980s,
Candace moved from the Bay Area to the
Illinois Valley. She was a loving mother
to her son, Mark. She loved the creative
process especially watercolor painting.
She also made and sold candy called
“ ruffles from eaven.” She spent many
years as a college student.
Candace attended St. Patrick of the
Forest Catholic Church and participated
in activities there.
She loved her home and forested
property in the Illinois Valley and
enjoyed sharing it with the deer, bear ,
cougar, wild turkey and other friends
Survivors include her son, Mark
Ouellette of the Illinois Valley, Oregon;
her mother, Prudence Cleary and
brother, Coalter Cleary of Menlo Park,
California; sister, Amity Cleary-Evans
and husband Russ of Eugene, Oregon;
sister, Kate Cleary of Half Moon Bay,
California; sister, Cece Cleary of San
Carlos, California; brother, Mans Cleary
and wife Jean in the Illinois Valley,
Oregon and nieces and nephews Spencer,
Caitlin and Patrick Hilligoss and
Charlotte Cleary.
She was preceded in death by her
father, Mansfield R. Cleary Jr.
A memorial mass will be at 11 a.m.,
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at St. Patrick of
the Forest Catholic Church.
Please sign the family guest book at
www.since1928hull.com.
Jason S. Prather passed away
in Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday, Jan.
10, 2015, at the age of 43. He was a
frequent resident of the Illinois and
Rogue Valleys. Jason is survived by
his father, Michael C. Prather, of Cave
Junction, OR; his daughter, Carlene,
of Lafayette, IN; his sister, Michelle
Robertson, of Lafayette, IN, and his
sister, Jessica Prather, of CO. He was
preceded in death by his wife, Sandy and
his mother, Dixie. A private memorial is
being planned by his family.
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
J an. 24
Illinois Valley Health & Wellness
Fair Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the
IV Senior Center: 520 E. River St., C.J.
Local health and wellness providers share
their knowledge, demonstrate services and
sell their goods. For a schedule of events
or more information you can go to www.
healthyucenter.org or call 541-592-4888.
J an. 26
The Josephine County Board of Com-
missioners will be hosting a Town Hall
Community meeting in the Illinois Valley.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday,
Jan. 26, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., Cave Junc-
tion County Building, 102 South Redwood
Hwy. Cave Junction, Oregon.
All County residents are invited to at-
tend.
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Jan. 27
chine. Information: 541-592-6888.
Community Meeting
Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m. at the County
uilding by the CJ Post Office. Potluck,
Neighborhood Watch Updates, Forum for
concerns of citizens, Emergency Prepared-
ness topics, Law Enforcement Levy Pros
& Cons, Short Film on Geoengineering,
Conclude with Open Mic and music. For
Agenda, to include your presentation or ta-
bling contact coordinator Guenter at 541-
592-4124 or cmec@cavenet.com.
Feb. 5
The 2nd annual Securing our Safe-
ty auction will be held Feb. 5, 2015, 6
p.m. at the Roux 26, corner of H and 5th
Streets in Grants Pass. Troon, Bridgeview
and Schmidt Wineries will do tasting as
well as Frank N Stene’s Brewery. A vari-
ety of appetizer will be served by Roux.
26. Over 30 art items will be offered for
auction, donated by local artists. Tickets
Feb. 2
will be $25 and are available at the Grants
Learn about Sleep Apnea at the “Se- Pass Chamber of Commerce, 1995 NW
nior Talk,” Feb. 2 at noon at the I.V. Senior Vine Street, Platinum Financial at 752
Center, 520 E. River St. The presentation NW 56th Street andhttp://securingour-
is free and open to the public. An expert safety.org/sos-art-auction.
from the V.A. will discuss risk factors like
high blood pressure, diagnosis and treat-
ment and will demonstrate a CPAP ma-
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
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.
Feb. 18
“Don’t let me blow my top” every-
thing you always wanted to know about
pressure canning vegetables, meat, poul-
try and fish. Master Food Preservers will
conduct this class on Feb. 18, 6:30-8:30
p.m. at the RCC/Belt Building, 24311
Redwood Hwy. Call Jennie 541-592-
0327 to register, registration closes Feb.
16.
March 7
SOS Run For The Law, A Commu-
nity United! 10k Run or 5k Walk/Run &
Kid’s Dash For details and registration
see this page: http://securingoursafety.
org/run-for-the-law-a-county-united/
For more information contact: Holly
Lidey (541) 660-8186.
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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