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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2021)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Page A-3 Gearing up for the Fabulous ‘50s Charity Car Show By Laura Mancuso IVN Editor Start your engines and head to Riverside Park in Grants Pass for the Fabulous ‘50s Charity Car Show Saturday, July 24 at 10 a.m. for the opening ceremony. This Fabulous show will also have ‘50s music, a raffle, 50/50, breakfast and lunch vendors, participant gifts and merchandise booths. Then, at 2:30 p.m. there will be an awards ceremony. The car show is organized by the Rogue Valley Classic Cruisers (RVCC) with Chair Kathy Simmons at the steering wheel. Simmons has been organizing the Fab ‘50s for 15 years. When asked what motivates her to keep planning the show, she said, “The charities are so important for our community and our club is behind this.” Simmons explained that 80% of the proceeds go to RVCC charities. The 2021 charities will be Hearts With A Mission, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Women’s Crisis Support Team as well as two $1,000 scholarships to Rogue Community College automotive students. Interestingly, Simmons reported that most of the recent scholarships to automotive students have gone to females. The other 20% of the proceeds of the show go to local nonprofits in smaller donations. Simmons says she has always been motived to volunteer. She is also a member of the Illinois Valley Garden Club and Beta Signa Fi, a women’s philanthropic group (nonacademic sorority). If you’re wondering how Simmons got involved with RVCC, then you haven’t met her husband Bob. Bob Simmons is an “antique car enthusiast” who has owned 96 antique cars in his 79 years of life. Just recently he won an award for his ’55 Chevy, 4-door wagon he calls Buttercup at an RVCC show held at the Hidden Valley High School to support the girls’ soccer team. “I won the ‘Best Walmart Parking Lot Car’ award and before that she won the ‘Trailer Queen’ award,” said Bob with a chuckle, and then explained that they always come up with funny names at the Hidden Valley car show. (Photo by Laura Mancuso for the Illinois Valley News) “Out of 120 cars they only give out Kathy and Bob Simmons in front of their rural Cave Junction home Sunday, July 18 with Buttercup, 10-15 awards.” a ’55 Chevy, 4-door wagon and Baby Blue, a ’72 Chevy C10, shelf wheelbase stepside pickup. Bob and Kathy Simmons have been married for 34 years and have Odds are that if you see a classic yellow classic stands out in a show California. “My first car was a ‘26 lived in rural Cave Junction since car with an octopus made of yarn with the surfboards on the roof and Bucket-T 48 Cadillac flathead and I 2004 when they moved from Ukiah, hanging from the rearview mirror, island-themed décor. paid $25 for it.” California to be close to family Bob Simmons may have had a hand When talking about his cars, His other street rod is just as in retirement. Kathy is a retired impressive, a ’72 Chevy C10, shelf in it. His mother, who has now Bob gets a twinkle in his eye and administrator with the Bureau of Land wheelbase stepside pickup named passed, made him an octopus for all a spring in his step. “I bought this Management of 30 years and Bob Baby Blue. Bob bought the car from his classics and he often handed them car (Buttercup) in Kansas City, was an insurance salesman who then out to friends. Missouri and she was born in Lincoln, owners in Medford and he upgraded sold his business before retiring at age it with a different grill and a Tonneau If you are excited for the car Nebraska. I found the original owner 60. retractable cover in the back. “This show and would like a sneak peak in Nevada and learned she had “I am very lucky with the wife model was popular in early cars,” said there is a free pre-show from 7 a.m. to been used as a newspaper delivery I have,” Bob said with gratitude. Bob with glee, and then demonstrated 2 p.m. at the Growers Market parking car,” said Bob as he showed off the Kathy lovingly supports his hobby how fast his truck could go with a 350 Lot on F Street, between 4th and 5th detailed pinstriping done by the late that he started when he was 13 years Street in Grants Pass Friday, July 23. Don Tippit from Nevada. He said this hp engine. old living on a ranch in Hopland, Professionals of color speak up about racism By Laura Mancuso IV News staff Racism still needs to be addressed in Josephine County according to a panel of speakers for “Inclusive Spaces for a Diverse Workforce” sponsored by a grant for SO Health-E that was held at the Allcare Conference Room in Grants Pass July 15. The community organizer and moderator of the panel was Cave Junction resident Connie Dillinger, who is community advisory council member for Allcare Health. Many area human resources personnel and management teams that work with hiring and retaining employees were invited to this private event. The panel was made up of professionals of color that included: Dr. Jacob Herring, Vincent and Brenda Aguilera, Rashi Woods and Nicole Schlienger. Dillinger said, “The speakers are here to speak their truth about experiences, tell why they came here, and how they have been treated.” The discussions were filled with emotion and real-life experiences that panel members have had with racial injustices that have happened in Josephine County during past events and current times. They all had hopes of making an impact in future social change. One thing that all the panelists agreed upon was a statement made by Dr. Herring, a diverse workforce consultant. “Never say ‘I don’t see color.’ The person will think you are an idiot.” Herring pointed out, “When you say that, you are wiping away a huge part of who I am.” Herring told his truth about his Black son being bullied at a school in Grants Pass and how he decided to have him change schools. Brenda Aguilera, a program manager for Project Youth Plus, said she wants change for all students of color. Brenda told the story about how one of her sons ended up moving away from Grants Pass to California and finally confided in her that in Grants Pass he felt like, “I was a black dot on a white piece of paper.” She explained that the population of people of color is growing in Grants Pass and “if you are hiring, you should make your job more known (to people of color).” Rashi Woods, an Illinois Valley resident along with her husband and four children, told stories about how she and her family have been treated in Cave Junction. Her son has been called the “N” word and she has had sarcastic customers try to converse with her in Spanish in a condescending manner, when she is a Black American that speaks English. She wishes that employers would pay attention to these situations and address them. One of her frustrations is the Confederate Flag being flown. “How can white people say that the flag is not racist?” Woods asked, and added, “It makes me feel that ‘I don’t matter and neither does my family.’” SEE RACE ON A-9 Open till 1 a.m. Last Call at 12:30 Yo u r n e ws i s o u r n e ws Free! O b i t ua r i e s, a n n i v e r s a r i e s, b i rt h days, w e d d i n g s & mOre! Only $10 for Photo Call Laura 541-592-2541 or laura@illinois-valley-news.com Sportsman Tavern Friday Nights Prime Rib Dinner Dining & Takeout 541-592-3556 $21.95 541-592-5358 Open Mic Taylor’s Wednesdays @ 5 PM Country Store P ool T ables & l oTTery o Pen 10 am To 1 am Thanks loyal patrons! KXCJ (LP) 105.7 FM Illinois Valley Community Radio Download our current program schedule and live streaming at kxcj.org Eat at McGrew’s 541-596-2202 Friday July 23 @ 7 Pm $5 OutdOOr Stage Frankie Hernandez Band
