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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 2003)
City plans to toss two of its “alcohol” rules Some in Cave Junction would call it a “Catch 22.” Others would describe it as “stupid.” And there are some who simply can’t under- stand how such a situation could occur. No matter your view, the city council at the rec- ommendation of legal counsel is planning steps to essentially eliminate its ordinances titled, “Consumption of alcoholic liquors in public places prohibited,” and “Public intoxication.” The council on Mon- day night, Sept. 22, during a 10-minute meeting in city hall that missed the mark of being the shortest on record by three minutes, agreed to bring those ordi- nances into compliance with Oregon Revised Stat- utes (ORS) -- which are in direct opposition to those two city rules. As well, other areas including vagrancy are included in the ORS. Es- sentially the state rulings, in effect since the early 1970s, prohibit the city from deterring such areas. To come into compli- ance, the matter will come BEAR IN THE AIR - Two 650-pound bronze hollow bears were installed last week at Evergreen Fed- eral Bank’s Illinois Valley Branch in Downtown Cave Junction (photo above right). They were unveiled in a public cere- mony on Saturday, Sept. 20. Brady Adams, Ever- green president; and Corky Quen, branch man- ager help with the unveil- ing (photo right). Adams said that Evergreen wants to help improve the appearance of Down- town CJ and that he feels bears are representative of the Pacific Northwest. Additional photos on page 8 & 16. (Continued on page 8) Residents, merchants show support for IVCP More JoCo workers in August than in July, but fewer for year Josephine County’s unemployment rate de- creased from 8.6 percent during July to 8.2 percent during August, and with a loss of only 30 jobs, 31,116 persons were em- ployed during August. The Oregon Employ- ment Dept. (OED) also reported that during the past year, total payroll job counts also have declined, shedding 60 jobs since Au- before the council during a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 13. And as it will be declared an emergency, elimination of the two or- dinances would take effect on Oct. 14, City Recorder Jim Polk said last week. At the recommenda- tion of legal counsel, the council will be asked to “reserve” the two ordi- nances, which basically sets them aside and makes their numbers available for any new ordinances to avoid having to reprint the city ordinance book, Polk noted last week. The reason, which ne- gates the city enforcing those ordinances, is that under ORS 430.325, it states, “(1) A political sub- division in this state shall not adopt or enforce any local law or regulation that makes any of the following an offense, a violation or the subject of criminal or civil penalties or sanctions of any kind: “a. Public intoxication. “b. Public drinking, except as to places where any consumption of alco- holic beverages is gener- ally prohibited. gust 2002. The county un- employment rate has in- creased from the same month a year ago, when it was 7.5 percent. For August this year, Jackson County had an unemployment rate of 6.8 percent. It was 6.4 percent during the same month last year. It was 7.5 percent during July this year. OED said that there were approximately 2,550 persons unemployed in Josephine County’s labor force during August, up from 2,300 in August last year. According to OED: “Changes in payroll employment during Au- gust were slight in most industry sectors, with the largest net decline in local government, which shed 40 jobs, 20 of those in lo- cal education. Construction employment rose by 30 ‘KIDS & BUGS’ - A group of youngsters participated on Saturday, Sept. 20 in a ‘Kids and Bugs’ program at Chinquapin Campground on Grayback Creek out Caves Hwy. The event taught how to collect and identify aquatic insects and their value in rela- tion to the life cycle of salmon, and water quality. Co-sponsors were the Rogue Basin Coordinating Council and Illinois Valley Watershed Council. (Another photo, page 8) during August, and despite a reduction of 180 wood products manufacturing jobs during the past 12 months, overall manufac- turing in the county is vir- tually unchanged during the past year. “Retail trade showed little movement in August, but has gained about 270 jobs during the year in Jo- sephine County. Food and beverage stores have added 80 of those new jobs within retail trade. “Another sector that did not experience any growth during the month, but more jobs since August 2002, is the financial ac- tivities sector consisting of finance, insurance and real estate businesses. This population growth and in- terest rate-sensitive sector has added nearly 100 jobs in the past year. “Health care and social assistance employment rose slightly, adding 20 jobs in August. However, total employment in this broad industry category has fallen by 90 jobs dur- ing the past 12 months. “Government employ- ment fell by 40 in the county during August, and stands at 320 jobs below the year-ago number. Lo- cal government employ- ment accounts for all the over-the-month loss, and is 220 jobs below the number recorded in August 2002. (Continued on page 8) Lights, action: It’s the Illinois Valley Citizens Patrol (IVCP), a group of volunteers working to re- duce crime in Downtown Cave Junction. Directors and potential members met in the Jose- phine County Bldg. on Monday evening, Sept. 22 to continue working on details for operations. Patrolling already is under way, but the group wants to increase the fre- quency to “light up suspi- cious incidents, vehicles or persons” in and around the downtown area. In addi- tion, patrollers -- equipped with two-way radios, cell phones, scanners and strong lights -- will swing through O’Brien and Selma too. Potential patrollers or supporters can phone 592- 9296, or pick up applica- tions at the “Illinois Valley News” office. Background checks of applicants can be required by IVCP, which is working with the Jose- phine County Sheriff’s Office. One board member addressed the I.V. Cham- ber of Commerce board during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18 in Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. The chamber is check- ing to see if its insurance coverage can be extended to include IVCP. The IVCP representa- tive told the chamber board that some retaliation in the form of paintball attacks and telephoned threats has occurred to at least two merchants in- volved in the patrol. The speaker noted that community spirit is dying because of vandals and burglars wandering the streets in the dark hours. (Continued on page 8) I.V. residents arrested, cited on meth, marijuana charges Some 19 gallons of chemicals and several marijuana plants were seized and six Illinois Val- ley residents were cited or arrested on methampheta- mine and marijuana charges after search war- rants were served in Selma and O’Brien on Wednes- day, Sept. 17, said Jose- phine Interagency Narcot- ics Team (JOINT). According to JOINT, arrestees are: *Todd Clark Re- necker, 34, and Bill Sherman Renecker, 56, both of 900 Naue Way in O’Brien. *Julie Kathleen Brack, 31, of 6087 Rockydale Road in rural Cave Junc- tion. *Mary Jane Usher, 32, of 8560 Deer Creek Road. Cited were: *Robin Rhodes Coat- ney, 60, and Paul Freder- ick Coatney, 33, both of 8560 Deer Creek Road. Both Coatneys were cited on charges of manu- facturing a controlled sub- (Continued on page 8)