The Applegater

24 Spring 2019 Applegater 7200 Williams Highway Murphy, Oregon · HiddenValleyMarket.com SHOP LOCAL. BUY FRESH. LIVE WELL. ™ Hand-Cut Meats Craft Beer Farm-Fresh Produce Local Wine Picnic-Perfect Deli Sandwiches Tasty Side Salads Keep those articles, letters, opinions and "Reading the Gater" photos coming in. You are the Gater! The Applegater Board of Directors Look who's reading the Gater! Take us with you on your next trip. Then send your favorite "Reading the Gater" photo to gater@applegater.org or mail to Applegater, PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Photos will appear as space allows. Photos, top row, left to right: —Bobbie and Larry Winters cruise the Panama Canal by following seaworthy directions in the Gater's nautical section. —Tony Mantle, aboard Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth Historic Dock, United Kingdom, reads Nelson's plans for the Battle of Trafalgar in the Applegater, printed in 1778. Photos, bottom row, left to right: —Jesse Bratt and son, Jens, at home in Balestrand, Norway, are impressed with Grandfather Chris Bratt's recent Gater article about the environmental benefits of Norwegian whale meat. —Carla David brought along the Applegater for warmth as she braved the chill to see the sunrise at Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park in Mexico. —Steve Emick was lucky to have the Gater for titillating company while cooling off in a tributary of the Amazon River 300 miles north of Manaus, Brazil, after a hard day fishing for giant peacock bass. ■ MERETE'S COVE Continued from page 1 fast. In the engine room below decks, Keith was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he was surrounded by rising seawater and shipmates in distress. Keith spent the next 14 hours in the water assisting in the rescue of his fellow sailors and saving the ship. Keith says this event changed his life forever. He was awarded a medal for bravery. Saving the park for posterity was a way for him to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Applegate River and to honor his mother by naming the park after her. Since purchasing the property in 2015, Keith has made several improvements, including a new bridal cabin and a patio. He encourages weddings and musical events. Keith currently limits his liability exposure by restricting his clientele to personal acquaintances or personal requests. He is sensitive to neighborhood concerns of drugs and vagrancy, does not allow alcohol, and strictly controls time of use. That said, Keith is open to suggestions from the community on how he can best manage the park. For Keith, "everything is negotiable." For example, he permits kayakers from the Northwest Rafting Association to periodically launch or take out from the park. Keith characterizes his purchase as "the best decision I ever made." He feels that he's prevented inappropriate development of the property and kept it intact for the community in its historical context. And he's a strong advocate for fish and other river wildlife and believes he is helping to maintain the river as their conduit of life. He intends to keep the property in his family. Tom Carstens • 541-846-1025 To inquire about using Merete's Cove, contact Keith directly at the park or at the Applegate Store and Cafe. If he's not around, the store will know where he is.

• Cover