Page A-8
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Mother Earth Connections environmental news from local to global
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
Cave Junction’s new radio
station, KXCJ-LP 105.7 FM, is
well under way and as time goes
on, its roster of enthusiastic local
DJs will no doubt be filled to the
brim. One of the first DJs to sign
up for a show slot are Tim Leyba
(also known by his family name
Mondragon) and Suzanne Vautier,
local environmentalists by both
trade and now hobby. Although
the couple has never done a radio
program before they have been
interviewed on National Public
Radio (NPR) and have been DJs for
school events.
Their show, which airs on
Sundays from 3-5 p.m., is called
Mother Earth Connections and it
centers itself on environmental
news ranging from local to
global and also highlights Native
American politics nationwide.
Additionally, the program will host
news regarding wild edibles which
will serve to both notify and inform
when they are in season.
The duo’s goal is to cover
topics that the media doesn’t
often discuss and will try to bring
as much positive news to their
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Raffle tickets are $100 and are available
for purchase until 5:59 p.m. on Labor Day.
The raffle itself, which caps off the event, is
at 6 p.m. So far they’ve sold over 200 tickets
and as such have both met and exceeded their
minimum sales goal. Lyons made a point to
the thank Taylor’s Sausage for selling tickets
and letting them park the bike in their store.
Additionally, Illinois Valley Lions
Club member Steve Culver has once again
organized the annual Labor Day festival’s
entertainment schedule. Culver reported
that the county western band TJ &the Spurs
with perform Saturday and blues rock group
Takilma Jam Band will perform Sunday. Both
bands will start at 6 p.m. and play until 9 p.m.
The 11-year-running Labor Day talent
show will be divided into three age groups
listeners as possible. “We’re just
going to try to make it good news
and let people know about the good
things that are happening around.
We hear the bad stuff all the time,”
Leyba said.
In between talk segments,
they air an eclectic mix of music
from their sizable record collection
alongside blocks of Native
American music and, at least
once, whale singing. Mother Earth
Connections will also be host to
performances from live musicians
when suitable and available.
Lebya and Vautier are
considering hosting a segment
over three days and can be signed up for at
any time, starting Saturday. The show will
go on until all participants have had a chance
to show off their skills. The children’s class
age group, capped at 12 years old, will go on
stage at 2 p.m. Saturday while the teenagers,
ranging from 13 to 19, will perform Sunday
at the same time. Adults will get their chance
to shine at 2 p.m. Monday. Trophies will be
doled out to the first, second and third place
winners of each age bracket.
In addition to live music performances
and the talent show, Jammer Dave, the event’s
sound engineer for the past four years, will be
hosting a citizen’s variety show throughout
the day during timeslots that are not being
used for other purposes. Dave’s show will
primarily be featuring karaoke but local
musicians and anyone else that wants to
entertain the festival’s crowd is encouraged to
join in.
Roadsters
Country & Country Rock
live at
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F riday , S aturday
SePt. 1 & 2
9 P.M. - CloSe
entitled “Share Your LP,” a segment
where fans can bring in their
favorite music or perhaps even
their own band’s recording for them
to play on the air. Should a fan
be interested, and the segment be
implemented, the music is subject
to laws enforced on all public radio.
The primary motivation
behind the content of their show
comes from their love of the
outdoors where they both work
and play. Leyba has contracts with
several governmental agencies
and performs helicopter surveys
that locate populations of noxious
and otherwise harmful invasive
species. Suzanne works for the
Oregon Department of Agriculture
and, like Leyba, concerns herself
with noxious weeds as well as
etymology, the study of insects.
Leyba is active in organizing
fundraisers to help pay for the
station’s final touches as well as to
keep it alive, well and broadcasting.
Currently, he is attempting to
organize a concert which will
feature several tribute band and will
likely be held sometime in the near
future. “We need a few more things
to make it so that we’re top shelf,”
Leyba said, highlighting the goal of
his efforts.
Don’t miss out on your chance to win this bike Sept. 4. at Jubilee Park.