Annette McGee RaschIVN Senior Contributing Writer The Josephine County Animal Shelter is literally crumbling. There are only 32 kennels – and despite a 74% increase in dog intakes in the last 9 years, no new kennels have been added since 1978. Space and safety are huge problems.“Our county is facing[Read More…]
Author: Annette McGee Rasch
New practitioner at Siskiyou enjoys working with seniors
A surprisingly varied educational and professional background make Adult Nurse Practitioner Mary Lou Alonso a very interesting new addition to the staff at Siskiyou Community Health Center in Cave Junction. For 30 years she worked as a registered nurse, while holding at the same time a Master’s in education.But then[Read More…]
Chainsaw safety isn’t a joke, wear protection
Close call with chainsaw averted by safety gear! ‘Tis the season to make firewood, do some brushing and cut Christmas trees. That means the chainsaws come out. But in just a split second a chainsaw accident can change lives forever.That’s what almost happened to one Cave Junction family. However their[Read More…]
Smith River Complex firefighters remain on the job
Nearly one month has passed since the Aug. 15 lightning storm that ignited multiple fires in the Smith River Complex – and the blazes, with a footprint that’s grown to encompass over 86,000 total acres (with about 10,000 on the Oregon side of the state border), are now 21% contained.On[Read More…]
Rain temporarily tamps down Smith River Complex fires
Rain! Almost every living thing in the Illinois Valley surely felt relief when the wet stuff came at the end of last week. While not enough to erase the threat from the Smith River Complex fires, rain, cooler temperatures and higher humidity brought a substantial reprieve from the hazardous levels[Read More…]
Conditions improve for fight on north end fire
“We’re preparing now and so should you,” Warner said. “We have this favorable weather window in these coming days, but that may not last.” Dean Warner, fire behavior analyst With a change of wind direction expected to bring improvement in the hazardous smoke conditions that have plagued the Illinois Valley[Read More…]
Residents with animals need more time
DON’T WAIT to make plans to evacuate your animals! These are unstable and unpredictable times with wildfire on our doorstep and if the Smith River Complex – or any other fire – comes knocking, you may have little time to react.“By level 2, you should be loading those animals and[Read More…]
Condor enthusiasts can get update at Hathkapasuta
This originally ran in the June 14 edition without the jump. Those following the progress of the eight California condors released by the Yurok Tribe in the Redwood National and State Park last year can talk to a condor exert at the annual Hathkapasuta River Celebration. The event will be[Read More…]
Condor enthusiasts can get update at Hathkapasuta
Those following the progress of the eight California condors released by the Yurok Tribe in the Redwood National and State Park last year can talk to a condor exert at the annual Hathkapasuta River Celebration. The event will be held – rain or shine – at the Illinois River Forks[Read More…]
Attention low-income seniors: free air purifiers available!
Annette McGee RaschIVN Senior Contributing Writer Illinois Valley Wellness Resources, a local nonprofit organization with a mission of helping senior and disabled individuals stay comfortably in their own homes, is giving away new air purifiers to those who qualify.Illinois Valley Wellness Resources Programs Director Laura Mancuso submitted a grant application[Read More…]