Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Page A-3
City undergoes staffing changes, new faces and places
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
After 10 1/2 of working
as Cave Junction’s utility clerk,
Becky Patton has moved onward
and upward into the city recorder
position.The vacancy she left behind
was recently filled by Deanna
Rodriguez, a longtime resident of the
Illinois Valley.
The city’s utility clerk mainly
deals with utility bills, like water
and sewer, but also assists the public
by answering questions, picking up
the phone and helping the municipal
court with administrative tasks.
“I’m only on my second week
and I’m loving it—it’s fantastic,”
Rodriguez said, happy that the job
was as agreeable as it appeared.
Previously, she worked for Umpqua
Bank in Cave Junction. She heard
about the position from someone
who used to work for the city.
Rodriguez feels that working for
the citywill be the perfect long-term
career and plans to stay there until
she retires.
Although Rodriguez has briefly
moved to Southern California twice
in the past, she has spent the vast
majority of her life in the Illinois
Valley. “I always come back because
it’s my home,” Rodriguez said,
theorizing as to why she never leaves
for long.
Currently, Rodriguez and her
husband are primarily working
toward owning the house they
live in with their four children.
Her immediate family spends the
majority of their time hanging out
at home but they also enjoy going
to the rivers, hiking and spending
as much quality time as they can
together. That is, when they can fit it
into their busy schedules. “I’m just
happy here in my little town; I don’t
need to go anywhere anymore,”
Rodriguez said, dedicatedly resigned
to her jam-packed lifestyle.
Rodriguez’s three brothers and
parents also live in the Illinois Valley
though she, in good humor, admits
that she “stole” her husband from
California.The rest of her family,
including, aunts, uncles and cousins,
mostly live in Grants Pass though
the majority of them originally came
from Cave Junction.
Patton, also born and raised
in the Illinois Valley with a large
portion of her life spent here, bought
a house in 2007. At the time, when
she applied for the utility clerk
position, she was working as a home
inspector. Although Patton admitted
that she “wasn’t really looking”
for a full-time office position at the
time, as she was happily working for
herself, she applied anyway and got
the job.
Patton took on the role of
city recorder May 1, and, over
the last 10 ½ years, worked very
closely with the previous city
recorder. Although the recorder’s
duties aren’t completely foreign to
her, she estimates that it will take
another six months of effort to feel
comfortable with her new position.
In the meantime, Patton has more
than enough assistance from the rest
of team to make things run smoothly
and learn as she goes.
As if learning the new
position was not enough, she is
simultaneously training Rodriguez
in her new role. “She’s basically
teaching me everything I know and
she’s amazing at it,” Rodriguez said,
grateful to have a good teacher.
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Deanna Rodriguez awaits your arrival at the city’s water desk.
The Archive Zone: by Hillary Mohr from the Illinois Valley News archives
Photo
Freeze! Drop what you are doing! It is time for lions, ghost
calls, exes who don’t live in Texas and washing machine thieves in
this week’s Police Blotter Archive Zone. The Date: July 28, 1999.
Location: Cave Junction and the Illinois Valley.
from two pay phones in the 200 block of West Watkins. Deputies
found the phone booths empty and the phones hanging off the
hook.
Wednesday, July 21
Sunday, July 18
*Assist the public was requested at Jubilee Park after a
woman and her two sons were locked inside the park by an
unknown person. *Harassment was reported in the 200 block of
Kerby Mainline Road by a man who said that his neighbor harasses
him at night, does damage to his property, and causes his dogs to
bark. *Assist the public was requested in the vicinity of Laurel
Road and North Old Stage Road after a man walking his dog
blocked the road, shook his cane and yelled obscenities at a woman.
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
A Jeep Cherokee was trying to beat the heat Mon-
day, July 31, near the second bridge.
Monday, July 19
*A roaring lion in the 27000 block of Hwy. 199 was reported
as keeping a man from sleeping. The owner of the lion was warned
about the noise ordinance. *Two 911 hang-up calls were reported
*Theft of a washing machine was reported on West River
Street by a woman who said that she has proof of ownership of the
appliances. *A man that was walking by Kenyon’s Grocery said
that two men in a black pickup robbed him of $290.
Saturday, July 24
*A noisy lion was the subject of a noise complaint in the
200 block of Pinewood Way. He complainant said that the noise
has been ongoing for the past two weeks. *Criminal mischief was
reported in the 3000 block of Rockydale Road after a woman said
her ex-landlord, and ex-employer as well, dumped garbage on her
property and threatened her and her husband. *A man in the 9000
block of Thompson Creek Road said that he was slugged in the
face by another man.
Monday-Sunday: 6aM-8pM
New photo
goes here
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Friday, Aug. 4
Saturday the 5TH @ 6 p.m.
Saturday Pool Tourney @ 7
Every Wednesday
Open MIC Night
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J Barley
Fridays @ 6 p.m.
Selma Center
Drive - In
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Sportsman
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Alice Through the
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airtight
alibi
FRIDAY, Aug. 4
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$5 donation
rated pg
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- Gates Open @ 8:30pm
- Movie Starts @ 9:30pm
reasonable $ concessions
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