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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2004)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 11, 2004 Three-year police levy due ballot by city of CJ By MICHELLE BINKER Staff Writer In the interest of dou- bling the number of hours of dedicated police protec- tion for Cave Junction, the city council officially has decided to place a three- year law enforcement levy on the Nov. 2 ballot. The council reached its 5-0 decision during its Monday night, Aug. 9 meeting in CJ City Hall, attended by Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel and Lt. Lee Har- man. Speaking strongly in favor of the additional pro- tection, John Mansfield, manager of Pharmacy Ex- press in Downtown CJ, cited a recent burglary at his store “which would not have happened had there been a deputy on patrol.” Not all were so enthu- siastic. “I’ve said it before...I am sick and tired of paying more taxes,” said CJ busi- nessperson Sally Palmer. Palmer did recommend reducing the original levy proposal from five years to three, which the council took into consideration in its final decision. The city currently pays the sheriff's office approxi- mately $88,000 per year for 40 hours of dedicated patrol. This contract rate, the sheriff’s office said, pays the salary, general liability insurance, overtime and vehicle maintenance costs of one full-time deputy. The levy, if passed, would help provide 80 hours coverage per week. Based on his patrol experience in CJ, which began in 1978 on the city’s former police force, Har- man predicted that addi- tional coverage would re- duce thefts and burglaries, and increase city revenue due to traffic citations. Daniel did not exactly endorse the proposed levy. Instead, he suggested that an additional 40 hours might not be sufficient. “Cave Junction is no longer a small town,” Daniel said. “Cave Junction (population 1,421) is a small city which is grow- ing fast,” he said. “My rec- ommendation would be for 24/7 police coverage.” The sheriff recom- mended that the city con- sider forming its own po- lice department, or work with the sheriff’s office to provide “168-hour-per- week coverage.” That equates to 24-hour cover- age seven days a week. While recognizing the city’s growth and need, Mayor Ed Faircloth said that the city is in no posi- tion to take on a police department. But he recom- mended forming a commit- tee to explore the idea, and trying to secure additional patrol coverage in the meantime. “There’s no guarantee that if we put this on the ballot it will pass,” said the mayor, “but we owe it to the people to give them the option.” Biscuit Fire salvage sales in limbo following ruling To log or not to log: That is the question sur- rounding Biscuit Fire sal- vage sales. A preliminary injunc- tion was issued in U.S. District Court in Medford on Tuesday, Aug. 3, block- ing logging in old-growth areas of the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Subsequently the Siskiyou National Forest filed a motion agreeing to use its own personnel to mark trees slated to be left standing. U.S District Judge Mi- chael Hogan blocked log- ging on five recently auc- tioned fire salvage timber sales, based on claims by preservationist groups that failure to mark the trees violated the National For- est Management Act. Rather than rely on timber industry employees to preserve the correct trees, the Dept. of Agricul- ture is required to see to it that the work is done by someone with no financial interest in the matter. Siskiyou National For- est is now awaiting Ho- gan’s response to the mo- tion filed in response to his ruling. Hogan’s Aug. 3 ruling also indicated that claims that logging in late succes- sional reserves violated the Northwest Forest Plan would not likely win. Rural plan unit needs help Volunteers to fill a vacancy on the Josephine County Rural Planning Commission are sought by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. The planning commis- sion is made up of nine residents from various geo- graphic areas of Josephine County appointed by county commissioners to serve four-year terms. The planning commis- sion reviews and decides significant land develop- ment requests, such as sub- divisions, commercial, in- dustrial and resource uses, and conditional uses. The deadline for ac- cepting applications is Sunday, Aug. 15. Applica- tions are available in the- JoCo Board of Commis- sioners’ office, Room 154, Josephine County Court- house, Grants Pass. For more information phone (541) 474-5221. For Investments 4 Huge View Lots 2 Lots $180,000 & 2 Lots $190,000 Multifamily / Single Family Dwellings New Private Street 1660 NE Foothill Blvd., Grants Pass (541) 476-2127 Page 9 BIKE-ARAMA - Some 270 bicyclists rolled into Cave Junction on Mon- day, Aug. 9 and set up camp at Illinois Valley High School. Among the participants is Dan Wil- kins, 72, of Newberry Park, Calif. (below). The cyclists average 75 mile per day and the route involves an average rise in elevation of 3,500 feet per day. (Top photo by Michelle Binker; bottom photo by Shane Welsh) Valley gets surprise visit by Oregon Bicycle Ride By MICHELLE BINKER Staff Writer Some 270 riders from throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond are braving 100-plus degree heat to participate in the 18th annual Oregon Bicy- cle Ride. The 500-mile, seven- day event, touted for “low density and high adven- ture,” began in Roseburg on Sunday, Aug. 8. The cyclists arrived in Cave Junction Monday afternoon, Aug. 9, and set- tled on the ball field at Illi- nois Valley High School to camp for two nights. During their one-day layover in Illinois Valley, many of the cyclists visited Oregon Caves National Home repair advice listed For home repair work, hire only licensed contrac- tors, said Oregon Con- struction Contractors Board. It also noted that con- tractors should not be paid in full until a project is completed, and that “free” inspections should be monitored. For more information phone (503) 378-4621. He who has achieved success has worked well, laughed often and loved much. - Elbert Hubbard - Monument, and took in other valley attractions. Many of them went shop- ping in Downtown Cave Junction and patronized the restaurants. “This is the original cross-state ride,” said event organizer Sandy Green, of Bend. While some partici- pants are preparing for the 2,200-cyclist Cycle Ore- gon event that will occur later this year, a number said they prefer the smaller, less-crowded event. From CJ the riders will travel to Ashland, on through Ft. Klamath to Diamond Lake and con- clude their trip in Rose- burg on Aug. 14. Get that unbeatable combination now with Auto, Fire, Life or Commercial insurance from Farmers Fast, Fair, Friendly Service NOW WITH TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! 128 S. Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction, OR (541) 592-4541 (next to Treehouse Florist & Gifts) 134 N.W. ‘E’ St. Grants Pass, OR (800) 888-6704
