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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Her life in
the Valley
of Riches
by Laura Mancuso,
editor
It is easy to get caught up in all the problems to be found
in the Valley when you are in the news business. Issues like
code violations, meth use and crime, homelessness, and so
many others can be found in our local paper.
But today, I want to focus on something wonderful in the
Valley and that is all the amazing volunteers we have.
I am so pleased that Tina Wright (known for assisting
Kelly Thibodeaux with fiddle lessons at Evergreen) decided to
be a volunteer site coordinator at Evergreen Elementary School
for the SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program. She
has already talked me into volunteering for one hour a week.
For those of you that know me, I used to be a first-grade teacher
before moving to the Valley. I have really missed reading with
children; it is such a rewarding experience to help a child read
and develop a love for books. If you would like to volunteer
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays – Thursdays go to the
website www.getSMARToregon.org or call 541-734-5628 for
more information.
Other volunteers that amaze me are the Cave Junction
mayor and city councilors that donate their time to make the
city a better place. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to
hold a volunteer position like this and is often a thankless job.
I could go on and on about all the volunteers in our Valley,
because they are some of the main reasons that I love living
here.
Even as I sit in my office writing this article in Downtown
Cave Junction at night, I feel very safe, because if I have any
problem at all I know Jimmy Evans with CJ Patrol is just a
phone call away. So, I hope you will join me in thanking all of
our Valley volunteers today!
Enjoy this week’s paper.
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need not be published, but will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.)
Reader wonders
where the chamber
was
Of all the groups
that did not weigh in on
Grocery Outlet, what
happened to the chamber of
commerce?
Cary Riley
Cave Junction
Reader says less
store and more
trees
In return for letting
the Grocery Outlet put a
store at the Junction of
Caves Hwy and 199, they
should create a green space
around the big trees that are
there at the front and along
the fence to Shop Smart
and along the back with
enough room around them;
not paved to keep them
healthy. They should save
the one big tree with an
island of green around it.
A lot of people like
the idea of this store. But
with large stores we get
more litter. A recycling
station in town would be
very helpful. We don’t need
their big size store. We
want the smaller one with
a green space in front and
save our beautiful old trees
to keep the country in rural
America.
Mrs. Peno
Cave Junction
Reader is thankful
for others
I’d like to thank
Nicole Resenbrink for
her recent “Healthy U
News” column in last
week’s edition of the I.V.
News. When I was in high
school I realized the ideas
of “John Wayne” rugged
individualism and “survival
of the fittest” were deeply
flawed ones. From driving
our cars on roads built
by others to buying food
produced by others to
receiving a favor or hand-
up or encouragement at a
crucial time in our lives we,
NONE of us, do anything
all by ourselves. Even the
most dedicated loners need
others.
The “survival of the
fittest” myth evokes this
image of the strongest
and smartest individual
rising like cream to the
top of the species. The
reality of our existence is
that to be entirely alone
or cast out of the group
is to die. It is impossible
for any one human being
to do everything needed
for their survival let alone
their upbringing, education,
or advancement. Even in
death it’s others who help
us for a final time.
Thanks for the
reminder Nicole!
Iris Chinook
Cave Junction
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Feb. 3
Continuing
*Oregon Humanities presents “Talking
about Dying” a community conversation Feb.
3, 2018 starting at 10 a.m. at the I.V. Family
Coalition, 535 E. River Street, Cave Junction,
541-592-6139. This Conversation Project pro-
gram provides an opportunity for participants
to reflect on what stories and influences shape
their thinking about death and dying and to
hear perspectives and ideas from fellow com-
munity members. Sponsored by Illinois Val-
ley Family Coalition and Clear Creek Family
Practice. Refreshments will be provided.
*Evergreen Elementary school is looking
for SMART (Start Making A Reader Today)
volunteers. The program will run Tuesdays
through Thursdays and volunteers are asked to
come to Evergreen around 11:30 a.m. and will
be out at 12:45 p.m. To learn more about the
SMART program you can call 541-734-5628
or visit the website at www.getSMARToregon.
org.
Feb. 10
*16th annual Siskiyou Film Festival
Southern Oregon’s largest environmental film
festival, a KS Wild Production.
Feb. 10 at Grants Pass High School,
Performing Arts Center Contact Allee Gus-
tafson, Siskiyou Filmfest Organizer -al-
leegus@gmail.com 541-218-8690 for more
information.
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
I.V. News LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
*Illinois Valley Community Watch Meet-
ing every Monday from 5 - 6 p.m. at Wild
River Pizza, 249 Redwood Hwy. – Cave Junc-
tion. A Public Safety Outreach Campaign ef-
fort with all I.V. Neighborhood Watch Groups
– representatives, including businesses and
churches, and support for anyone wishing to
start a neighborhood watch. Includes a 2-way
hand held radio program briefing from 4:20 -
4:50 p.m. Contact Guenter - 541-415-1929 /
ivwatch541@gmail.com.
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
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.
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store: Join the
crew and make new friends. You don’t need
to be a senior citizen to volunteer at the store.
Call us at 541-592-6630. Open Monday – Sat-
urday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*Your public library has activities hap-
pening every week! New Storytime reader,
Melanie, has crafts and stories for kids of
all ages Saturdays at 12 noon. Families at
Play baby-parent group is for babies the first
Wednesday of the month from 1-2 p.m. Early
literacy skills are taught within a thirty-minute
storytime of songs, bounces, and reading, fol-
lowed by a half-hour of play and chat time. For
more information contact Roberta Lee at 541-
592-4770. I.V. Branch, Josephine Community
Libraries, 209 W Palmer St, CJ
*The Sheriff’s Office Substation in Cave
Junction is now open on Mondays, Tues-
days, and Thursdays, 10 to 2. Volunteers are
still needed to staff additional days.Appli-
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
cations are available at the substation or on
line at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/Files/
Volunteer%20Application.Mar%202014.pdf.
*Cave Junction Patrol, LLC is looking
for volunteers. CJ Patrol is a private citizen
volunteer organization dedicated to effectively
addressing heretofore-unchecked property
crime in our city and neighborhoods. The pri-
mary mission of CJ Patrol is to prevent, inter-
rupt, report and decrease property crime in the
city of Cave Junction. Call 541-592-9665 or
visit cjpatrol.org.
*Committee Meeting STATE OF JEF-
FERSON Josephine County 1st Thursday of
each month at 5:30 p.m. Black Forest Restau-
rant, Grants Pass and 3rd Thursday of each
month at 6 p.m., Wild River Pizza in Cave
Junction.
DEADLINES:
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Display Ads,
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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.