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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 1, 2017
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’ encour-
ages 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need not be published, but will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 com-
mentary, including statements
made as fact are strictly those
of the letter writers.)
Thank you CJ
On Jan. 2, 2017 my
husband and I were trying
to drive from Grants Pass to
Crescent City. It was early
evening and snowing heav-
ily. Erroneously we thought
that the storm would turn
from snow to rain and so we
continued toward the coast.
By the time we reached your
city we realized our mistake.
The first motel was dark, so
we went on. We tried to pull
over into the driveway/park-
ing area/off road area across
from the Chevron station.
If that motel had had hot
water we probably would
have left our car stuck off
the road and spent the night.
Even though we have front
wheel drive, we were well
and truly stuck! Thanks to
some of your fine, caring,
and compassionate adults
we were able to get back on
the road. Several young men
and a young lady worked
hard with a borrowed snow
shovel to dig us out and
give us a push back onto
the roadway. We will never
know them, or they us, but I
want to tell you what “Good
Samaritans” they were, how
proud you should be of your
community members, and
how very much we appreci-
ated their help! We finally
ran out of the snow at the
city limits of Crescent City:
80 miles in 4 hours.....Thank
you very much and please,
if there is any way to ac-
knowledge their good deed,
please do so.
Sincerely, the older
couple in the blue Toyota
phony.
The old fashioned
method of communication
(telephone) is feeling heated
wires as increased calls to
representatives urge resis-
tance to what Trump and
Congress promise.
Many of us are learn-
ing how to use Facebook
and Twitter so we can re-
spond through social media.
In the Rogue Valley, I
am concerned about our en-
vironment; we must commit
to holding representatives
accountable.
So what is happening
in the Climate Movement?
After years of overlooking
social justice and inequal-
ity, we are adjusting our
patterns of thought. We
Leonore Kilmer
Hadlock, Wash.
Plastic and
Energize.
Two words keep run-
ning through my mind:
‘Plastic and Energize.’
The election of the
plastic man as president has
energized individuals to take
action. Women all over the
USA, their friends and rela-
tives, are acting on Jan. 21.
There have been in-
creased donations to organi-
zations whose missions are
threatened by a slick lying
are realizing that we should
express our empathy and
compassion; that we are
interdependent, require
reciprocity and cooperation.
There is no ‘magic bullet’
that will fix everything. To
address the disasters this
president and Congress
promise we must collaborate
in resistance.
Leadership is bubbling
up. Find your passion, show
up at government meetings,
ask questions, speak your
mind, and most importantly,
get involved!
Louise D Shawkat
Ashland
Obituaries
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death
of Gary Lee Bickford, who passed away on Jan.
16, in his home in Vancouver, Wash. Gary was born in
Des Moines, Iowa in 1950 where he spent his childhood
before moving to Azusa, Calif. where he dazzled in the
roller derby rink as a star for the Los Angeles T-birds.
He spent his adult life on the golf courses and rivers of
Iowa, Oregon and Washington, throwing countless tennis
balls for his four-legged best friends and beautifying and
restoring the Oregon Caves, Whitman Mission and Fort
Vancouver National Parks. When he wasn’t in his uniform
he most often could be found in his signature attire of
Oregon Ducks gear or Tommy Bahama shirt, dreaming of
his next vacation with a smile on his face. He was preceded
in death by his father, George Bickford. He is survived by
his mother, Leona Freel; his daughters Champayne Furber,
Carrie Gonzales and LesLee Bickford; grandchildren Lee,
Jaden, Blake, EmmaLynne, Marlie, Andren and Henrik;
and his brothers Larry and Terry. A memorial will be held
at the Pearson Air Museum Tex Rankin Theater at Fort
Vancouver, 1115 E 5th Street, Vancouver, WA Feb. 25 at
2 p.m. The family asks that no flowers be sent. Instead,
donations can be made to your local Humane Society or
animal rescue, or Stand with Standing Rock.
(Photo by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Bertha Miller (center) and the congregation from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church awarded a $250 dona-
tion from Thrivent to CJ Patrol after a pizza party at Wild River Brewing and Pizza Co. Monday, Jan. 30.
Gary Bickford
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Feb. 3
IVHS basketball at home for
Senior Night vs. St. Mary’s: girl’ JV
4:30 p.m., girls’ varsity 5:30 p.m.,
boys’ JV 5:30 p.m. at LBMS, boys’
varsity 7 p.m.
rant in downtown Cave Junction on
February 8, 5 p.m. We’ll be talking
about future fund raising events and
sight and hearing applications. For
more info please call Harry Johnson
at 541-596-2104.
Feb. 4 & 5
Feb. 11
Whirlwind 24-Hour Play Fes-
tival returns! “Out of Hibernation”
February 4-5 at the Takilma Com-
munity Building 6 p.m. Saturday:
Play-makers arrive to write, direct,
and/or perform new, locally-made
plays in 24 hours, start to finish.
Email mkellyngross@gmail.com for
more details or to register (all ages,
no experience needed). 6 p.m. Sun-
day: Audience arrives for showtime.
Everyone invited!
Child Care Business Class-
a FREE introductory class Feb. 11
from 10 a.m. - noon
Illinois Valley Library: 209
Palmer St., Cave Junction, call to
register: 541-956-7400. Become a
paid child care provider. Learn the
legal rules, listen to successful care
providers, get business skills and
low interest loans. This introductory
class is free. Some of the next-step
classes such as infant CPR, have
fees. Help with costs is available.
Feb. 8
The Cave Junction Lions are
meeting at River Valley Restau-
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Feb. 16
Rogue Valley Food Systems
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
Since 1937 periodicals postage
paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Network (RVFSV). The new date is
Thursday, February 16, from 9:30-
noon at the Kerby Belt Building,
with additional optional network-
ing from 12-12:30. Lunch will be
served, so your RSVP is appreci-
ated, 787-KATE.
This meeting will bring to-
gether food farmers, food produc-
ers, food access workers, and local
providers of services which include
meals (such as Head Start and Three
Rivers School District.) We will
learn what RVFSN has to offer our
local food system, hear about recent
comprehensive surveys of our farm
sector, and share our needs and con-
cerns. Farmers will learn how other
regional farmers are using USDA
programs to get their local food into
school meals, and discuss how to
get more access to local foods for
local families.
Utilizing the regional knowl-
edge and power of the Rogue Valley
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year in Josephine
County - $35
One year in Jackson and
Douglas counties - $36
One year in all other
Oregon counties and
out-of-state - $43.00
Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
Food Systems Network, the orga-
nizational strength of the IVCDO,
and the framework of the IV 20/20
Strategic Plan, we will create our
own innovative solutions to our own
challenges. Please join us.
Continuing
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store is
under NEW MANAGEMENT and
is looking for new volunteers. Join
the crew and make new friends. You
don’t need to be a senior citizen to
join the store. Call us at 541-592-
6630. Open Monday – Saturday, 10
a.m. – 4 p.m.
*The C.J. Substation hours are
changed. We are now open on Mon-
days, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
(closed Wednesdays) from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. The phone number at the
Sub is 541-592-5151. We are look-
ing for more volunteers to expand
the hours; applications to become
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Editor -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Classified Ads -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Circulation - Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Advertising / Composition -
Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Mailroom - Millie Watkins
a volunteer can be picked up at the
Substation.
*Cave Junction Patrol, LLC is
looking for volunteers. CJ Patrol is a
private citizen volunteer orgnaniza-
tion dedicated to effectively address-
ing heretofore-unchecked property
crime in our city and neighborhoods.
The primary mission of CJ Patrol is
to prevent, interrupt, report and de-
crease property crime in the city of
Cave Junction. Call 541-592-9665,
cjpatrol.org. Monthly meetings are
first Thursday at 6 p.m. at Wild Riv-
er Pizza, 249 Redwood Hwy.
* Committee Meeting STATE
OF JEFFERSON Josephine Coun-
ty 1st Thursday of each month at
5:30 p.m. Black Forest Restaurant,
Grants Pass and 3rd Thursday of
each month at 6 p.m., Wild River
Pizza in Cave Junction.
DEADLINES:
News, Classified and
Display Ads,
Announcement and
Letters
4 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.