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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
Like most of our readers, I was shocked when I got
my recent power bill. My power was out for 15 percent of
the month, and I used 60 percent more electricity. “It was
colder,” said Pacific Power.
greatly increased when we have it. Certainly, all of you can
agree with that?
The same applies to law enforcement. Not many want
to pay for police. We really don’t want to give the county
any more of our hard earned dollars than we have to. But,
like electricity, we need it. Yes, we can live without it, but it
greatly enhances our lives.
The newest levy brought to us by the sheriff, is the
best one yet. It focuses on the jail so we can keep many of
the repeat offenders from, well, offending. And if they can
reopen the juvenile jail, law enforcement may be able to
prevent them from going to the adult jail later in life.
For those of you who think the county has plenty of
money, you are wrong. The county doesn’t have any money.
Please, don’t take my word for it, read the budget for
yourself.
Thank you for picking up this week’s paper. ~ djm
Well, according to my bill, the monthly average was
only 1 degree colder and because we use wood heat, in my
opinion, could not be the cause of a 60 percent increase. Yes,
there was a price increase, but I was not speaking about the
increased price, but strictly the kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage.
“It was a longer billing cycle,” Pacific Power said next.
Again, no it wasn’t, it was the same as last year’s; 34 days.
With everything else going on in the world, I let my
electric bill slide out of my mind, until last week.
My office bill arrived, showing a 40 percent increase
in the kWh usage. With the exception of the heater there
shouldn’t be a change in my bill. I don’t change the settings
on my heater, ever. Yet, another unsolved mystery.
Our electric bills are one of the things that tie all of us
together in this community. Everyone that I have spoken
to in the past few weeks has mentioned their bill. We all
pay our electric bills, because at the end of the day we need
electricity. Yes, we can live without it, but quality of life is
Obituaries
Roland Dolor Roux,
85, died peacefully Friday
morning at his home in O’Brien.
Born in Detroit, Mich. July 3, 1931
he retired in O’Brien with his wife
Gayle 16 years ago but lived in
Calif. for many happy years prior.
Roland was a man’s man who
enjoyed hunting, fishing, wood
working, homesteading and most
of all, family.
He was self-made. Having
learned the art of carpentry as a
child from his father, He started
Contractors General as a young
man and made a successful career
for himself.
Roland was extremely
loving and proud of family, he
was a focused son, brother, uncle,
husband, father, grandfather, great-
grandfather, great-great grandfather
and friend.
The family is conducting
a rosary on Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.
followed by a funeral mass in his
name at St. Patrick’s of the Forest
in Cave Junction, 407 West River
St. All who would like to celebrate
his amazing life are welcome.
Verne McDonald, 71,
of O’Brien, died Jan. 23, 2017 at
his home.
Verne was born Sept. 10, 1945
in Spokane, Wash. to Sylvester
& Melva McDonald. As a young
child, he moved with his family to
Cave Junction and graduated from
Illinois Valley High School. In
1966 he moved to Ashland where
he attended what is now Southern
Oregon University studying
literature and science. In 1966 in
Roseburg, he married Sharon Lee
Ellis. He moved first to Medford
then Phoenix, Oregon where he
worked as a shipping and receiving
supervisor for Modoc Orchards
and Reter Fruit Company, Harry
& David and Associated Fruit
Company retiring in 2010. He
moved from Phoenix to O’Brien
six years ago.
Verne enjoyed playing guitar,
writing songs, and creative writing.
Survivors include his wife,
Sharon McDonald; two daughters,
Wendy McDonald and Holli
McDonald all of Phoenix, Ore.;
a granddaughter, Brittany Blum
and a great-grandson, Zenequious
Blum both of Grass Valley, Calif.;
and a sister, Glenda Bartlett of
Salem, Ore.
Family services will be held.
Illinois Valley Funeral Directors
are in charge of arrangements.
Please visit the obituary
and sign the guest book at www.
since1928hull.com.
Joy Deckman and husband,
Ron, Joanne Hoopengarner and
husband, Ed, Renea CooperSmith
and husband, David Smith; sister,
Lou Fife and husband, Rick;
nine grandchildren; and 12 great-
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by two brothers, Jack and Doyle,
sister, Shirley Saunders; and wife,
Marion Cooper.
Bill enjoyed family get-
togethers and woodworking.
A memorial service will be
held at noon Saturday, Feb. 18 at
the Illinois Valley Senior Center.
Bill J. Cooper, 90,
died Feb. 6, 2017 at a foster home
in Cave Junction. Bill was born
in Eastland, Texas Jan. 22, 1927.
His family moved to Oilton, Okla.
where he attended school. Bill
enlisted in the Navy and served on
a destroyer in the Pacific in WWII.
After the war he lived in Long
Beach, Calif. and moved to Cave
Junction in 1960. Bill worked as
an electrician in the Valley and in
Alaska. He was head millwright
at Murphy Creek Lumber for over
20 years and retired as the county
building inspector in the ‘90s.
Bill is survived in death by
his two sons, Rex Cooper and
Danny Cooper; three daughters,
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Feb. 16
Feb. 18
Feb. 20
Rogue Valley Food Systems
Network (RVFSV). The new date is
Thursday, Feb. 16, from 9:30-noon at
the Kerby Belt Building, with addi-
tional optional networking from 12-
12:30. Lunch will be served, so your
RSVP is appreciated, 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
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.
The I.V. Garden Club will be
celebrating it’s 90th anniversary on
Friday, Feb. 17. We will have a pre-
sentation on the garden club’s his-
tory by local historian Roger Brandt,
a special anniversary cake, and a
seed sharing. The I.V. Garden Club
meets the 3rd Friday of the month
at United Methodist Church, 200 W.
Watkins (across for Shop Smart) in
Cave Junction. Social time and fin-
ger foods at 12:30 p.m. Meeting at 1
p.m. Visitors are welcome.
Feb. 19
A Community and Neighbor-
hood Watch Support Meeting will be
held: Monday, Feb. 20, 5 – 6 p.m.,
at Wild Rivers Pizza, 249 Redwood
Hwy., in Cave Junction. This meet-
ing is part of a Support Campaign
effort with all Neighborhood Watch
Groups, their leadership, and for
anyone that wishes to get help with
outreach, in your area, to organize a
watch effort. Topics include the new
Levy. We will have support train-
ing on; communications, radios, and
Networking. We share information
and resources between all groups.
Regular weekly meetings will con-
tinue on Mondays, at 5 p.m., located
at Wild Rivers Pizza, when possible,
or at another announced location.
Contact Guenter - 541-415-1929 for
details.
Agnes Baker Pilgrim - Take-
lma Tribe Elder will be joining us
for a celebration and book signing
at the Takilma Community Build-
ing, in Takilma, Feb. 19 from noon
to 3 p.m. Her new Book: “Wake Up.
World!” will be featured. You can
also visit Pinecone Books in Cave
Junction for copies. Contact Guenter
541-415-1929.
Local Master Food Preserv-
ers will offer a class Saturday, Feb.
25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kerby
Belt Bldg. to help you prepare for
the fair! Jams/jellies/fruit roll-ups
are just a few of the topics. A DIY
pizza will be made for lunch. Con-
tact JoCo Ext. Office at 541-476-
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Feb. 18
Spaghetti Dinner at the I.V.
Grange, 3763 Holland Loop Road,
Cave Junction, 541-295-7579, $6,
Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1 – 4 p.m.
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
Feb. 25
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.
6613 or Kimberlie at 541-592-4763
to pre-register by Feb.20, $5 per
registrant.
Feb. 21, 28,
March 7, 14 and 21
Tuesdays 5 -7 p.m. Parenting
tools, Learning Fun Nights at Ev-
ergreen Elementary School, 520 w.
River St. CJ For sign-up call Erica at
541-592-3136.
March 1 – April 5
Workshop Scheduled for Cave
Junction~Living Well with Chron-
ic Pain, March 1 – April 5. Meets
once a week on Wednesdays from 2
– 4:30 p.m. Call for more informa-
tion and registration required. Learn
new ways to control pain and im-
prove activity; learn better ways to
talk to your doctor and family about
your health; solve problems and get
the support you need. Sign up Now:
Call Living Well Southern Oregon
541-864-9611 or Pre-Register online
at www.sohealthyoregon.org.
Continuing
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store is
under NEW MANAGEMENT and
is looking for new volunteers. Join
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
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
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.
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