50¢
CJ assessed value up
12.35%; county levies
ascend to $46.3 million
WELCOME to the new
‘Illinois Valley News’
Website. Go to
illinois-valley-news.com
* * *
The ‘Noose’ is loose!
Open burn
laws in I.V.
tightening
Top three firefighters
now packing heat
Illinois Valley Fire Dis-
trict’s (IVFD) top three per-
sonnel are now allowed to
carry firearms in connection
with enforcing a stricter pol-
icy against open burning
without a permit.
They are not carrying all
the time, only under certain
circumstances.
Chief Harry Rich said
that the three also are avail-
able to back up deputies from
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office, should that assistance
be needed.
He stressed that their
primary duties will continue
to be fire protection and pre-
vention. There is no intent to
become law enforcement
officers except in certain
situations, he noted.
Rich told the IVFD
Board of Directors Thursday
night, Oct. 13 that he, Deputy
Chief Jeff Gavlik, and Fire
Marshal Jerry Schaeffer have
been sworn as special depu-
ties by Sheriff Dave Daniel
with authorization to be “gun-
toting.” Rich made the an-
nouncement during a board
meeting at administrative
headquarters.
The chief noted that there
have been a number of in-
stances where firefighters
were threatened by armed
residents when checking for
illegal open burns. “One man
shoved a shotgun in my
face,” said Rich.
He noted that as special
deputies, not only can they
issue citations that carry fines,
but they can testify in court if
necessary.
The board heard the first
(Continued on page 6)
Following are the high-
and-low temperatures recorded
by O’Brien residents Cheryl &
Harry Johnson.
*Fri., Oct. 7: 64-43
*Sat., Oct. 8: 66-39
*Sun., Oct. 9: 70-46
*Mon., Oct. 10: 72-38, T
*Tues., Oct. 11: 69-48
*Wed., Oct. 12: 71-38
*Thurs., Oct. 13: 75-39
Illinois Valley
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Partly Cloudy
High--69 Low--39
Thursday, Oct. 20
Mostly Cloudy,
showers possible
High--66 Low--38
Friday, Oct. 21
Mostly Cloudy & Cool
High--65 Low--33
Saturday, Oct. 22
Mixture of Clouds
& Sunshine
High--64 Low--33
Sunday, Oct. 23
Mostly sunny
High--65 Low--33
Monday, Oct. 24
Partly Sunny
High--67 Low--33
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Mostly Cloudy,
rain likely
High--66 Low--31
Arson is indicated in a Cave Junction structure fire. (‘Illinois Valley News’ photo)
Suspect arrested in CJ building fire
Following a structure fire
at 2200 Laurel Road in rural
Cave Junction Tuesday night,
Oct. 11, a woman was ar-
rested the next day.
She was identified as
Elizabeth A. Mathews, 41, of
2200 Laurel Road. She was
charged with second-degree
arson and first-degree crimi-
nal mischief, said Josephine
County Sheriff’s Office
(JCSO).
Illinois Valley Fire Dis-
trict (IVFD) and Oregon
Dept. of Forestry units re-
sponded at approximately
7:40 p.m. to the alarm. Those
first on-scene reported what
appeared to be a “fully in-
volved outbuilding.”
There was minor exten-
sion to the surrounding wild-
land, and a power line at the
site was arcing, with sparks
emanating.
There were rumors at the
scene that the structure, con-
sisting of a shop and garage,
was a methamphetamine lab,
but evidence of the same was
not confirmed, said JCSO.
Because of statements by a
man who claimed to be the
owner that the building was a
lab, it was allowed to burn,
and firefighters stayed away
from the smoke.
There were three explo-
sions during the fire.
The loss to the building
and contents, plus a 1985
pickup truck, was estimated
at $9,000 by IVFD Chief
Harry Rich.
JCSO said that the sus-
pect, who had been living in
the building, had argued with
her mother, Dorothy Hicks,
prior to the fire, about a man
living with Mathews.
Meyer Memorial Trust grants $85,000
to help expansion of I.V. Senior Center
Illinois Valley Senior
Center has received an
$85,000 grant from Meyer
Memorial Trust to support the
center’s expansion project,
said Dave Toler, project de-
velopment assistant.
The estimated project
cost, he said, is slightly more
than $300,000. The expan-
sion will increase the size of
the current facility on E.
River Street by approximately
50 percent.
A key element of the
expanded area will be a well-
ness center. Toler said that
the center has received recon-
ditioned exercise equipment
worth approximately $20,000
from Asante Health System.
“It’s very nice equipment
and is in great shape,” Toler
said.
Expansion of the senior
center is needed to accommo-
date a rapidly growing mem-
bership, now at some 470
members.
Board member Roger
Thomas said that with “lots of
senior housing on the draw-
ing board in Cave Junction,
the already stretched senior
center needs to expand to
serve the growing Illinois
Valley senior population.”
Toler added that he’s
hopeful that he will be able to
secure funds in time to begin
construction in spring 2006.
The center is looking for
builders in the community
who might want to provide
some discounted services.
“Given the high profile
of this center,” he said, “I
think it’s a great project for
involvement by local build-
ers.” For more information
phone Toler at 592-4434.
Total tax levies, assess-
ments and fees imposed
throughout Josephine County
this year total more than $46
million ($46,338,648) an 8.28
percent increase (more than
$3.5 million) from last year.
The total assessed value
of all taxable property in the
county has increased 6.29
percent from 2004.
As of Jan. 1, 2005 the
taxable total value rose to
$4,762,774,263. The total
taxable value in 2004 was
$4,481,076,323 (an increase
of nearly $300 million).
The largest increase in
taxable assessed value is in
Cave Junction, an increase of
12.35 percent, with Grants
Pass increasing 9.47 percent.
The market value (as
defined by Measure 5) of
taxable property increased
throughout the county. The
total market value for 2004
was $6,502,753,771; and for
2005 is $8,017,637,670. An
increase of 23.3 percent
(more than $1.5 billion).
The 2005-2006 fiscal
year county property tax
statements are to be mailed to
property owners on or near
Saturday, Oct. 22.
Property owners needing
more information can contact
the Office of County Asses-
sor at (541) 474-5260 or the
Tax Collector’s Office at
(541) 474-5175. Both offices
are located in the basement of
the Courthouse. Assessor
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Mondays through Fri-
days. Tax collector hours are
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays
through Fridays.
If property tax bills are
paid in full by the Nov. 15
due date, there is a 3 percent
discount. To receive it, pay-
ments must be postmarked on
or before Nov. 15.
Taxes also may be paid
in three installments due Nov.
15, 2005; Feb. 15, 2006; and
May 15, 2006. Taxpayers are
encouraged to pay early to
receive the discount; prevent
holiday mailing delays; and
to avoid delinquent-payments
interest.
Generally the assessed
value of a property can only
increase 3 percent from one
year to the next. The required
3 percent increase is the result
of Measure 50, a constitu-
tional amendment approved
by Oregon voters in 1997. The
measure required a roll-back
of the ’97-’98 assessed value
to the ’95-’96 level less 10
percent.
Each subsequent year,
Measure 50 requires the
maximum assessed value to
increase by 3 percent annu-
ally unless it exceeds the real
market value. Thus, the as-
sessed value of most proper-
ties increases by 3 percent
more than the prior year.
If there is new construc-
tion, a new parcel, a new sub-
division or the removal of a
special assessment, the as-
sessed value may increase
more than 3 percent. The real
(Continued on page 6)
Spirit Parade Friday part
of I.V. Homecoming week
This is Homecoming
2005 Week at Illinois Valley
High School with activities
including a parade in Cave
Junction on Friday, Oct. 21.
The parade will begin at
1:15 p.m. It will move down
E. River Street to Evergreen
Elementary School; then
south on Kerby Avenue; east
on Lister Street; south on
Hussey Avenue; and east on
Watkins Street.
The procession with
floats from each class will
then move north on Hwy.
199; east on Lister; north on
Junction Avenue to Lorna
Byrne Middle School; and
then return to IVHS.
A bonfire was part of the
celebration Monday night,
Oct. 17. Events Wednesday,
Oct. 19 were to include
“powder buff” and “powder
puff” football, followed by a
field night around 7 p.m.
The homecoming dance
will be held at the school Sat-
urday, Oct. 22.
Valley’s attractiveness draws retirees
Senior Spotlight, a spe-
cial feature, is on pages 4 and
5 with a number of distinctive
offerings.
Southwestern Oregon,
with its scenic beauty and
other attractions, is well-
known as a desirable location
for retirees.
In fact, in Josephine
County the largest population
segment consists of 24,254
persons 55 and older, accord-
ing to 2004 information from
Oregon Employment Dept.
Josephine’s total popula-
tion is 75,726. That is a 3.8
percent rise from the figure in
2000, adding 2,874 new resi-
dents.
Increases in population
are noted for the city of Cave
Junction and the county’s
unincorporated areas. The
city population in 2000 was
1,363; and last year was
1,440. There were 51,360
person in the unincorporated
areas in 2000, and that num-
ber last year rose to 53,370.
Besides new building in
Grants Pass, a tremendous
growth rate is in the works in
the city of Cave Junction.
Approximately 800 new
homes are planned or under
construction, including one
major development at the
north end of the city that also
includes expansion of Laurel
Pines Golf Course.
As well, Siskiyou Com-
munity Health Center is
building a new clinic at the
north end. Also, an assisted-
living development is
planned, plus at least two
commercial retail projects.
There also is a plan for
business development at Illi-
nois Valley Airport.
HOMECOMING ROYALTY - Voted by classmates as
Homecoming 2005 princesses (from left) senior Erika
Riley, junior Jenna Heald, sophomore Jaime Farr, and
freshman Breana Burgess; and as princes (from left)
senior Garret Crowl, junior Robert Bell, sophomore
Nathan Green, and freshman Jack Anderson.
(Photos by ‘Illinois Valley News’)
Chateau protected by I.V. Fire District
A contract to respond to
structure fires at The Chateau
at Oregon Caves National
Monument has been signed
with the National Park Service.
Chief Harry Rich of Illi-
nois Valley Fire District
(IVFD) informed the IVFD
Bopard of directors about the
agreement during a board
meeting Thursday night, Oct.
13 at administrative head-
quarters.
“It’s our obligation,” said
Rich, “because if we lost that
building (the historic lodge)
we’d be cutting our throats”
with regard to tourism and the
historical value.
“We have signed an
agreement to cover structure
fires,” the chief said, indicat-
ing that Oregon Dept. of For-
estry and U.S. Forest Service
firefighting personnel are
wildland firefighters, not
structural firefighters.
Rich said that the district
already responds with Ameri-
can Medical Response for
medical calls to the monu-
ment, 22 miles east of Cave
Junction.
The park service would
reimburse IVFD for any re-
sponses, the chief said.
He added that based on a
recent inspection at The Cha-
teau, “They are well-
protected with interior and
exterior sprinkler systems,
including a 25,000-gallon
water tank on the roof.”
Additionally, “They are
well in tune with fire preven-
tion,” he told the board.
Rich said that IVFD will
conduct twice-yearly inspec-
tions, and help conduct fire
drills in case emergency
evacuation is needed.
Remember- Visit us online:illinois-valley-news.com
Wildfire topic for public forum
Wildfire risk and related
topics are on the agenda for a
public workshop Monday,
Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. in Anne
Basker Auditorium adjacent
to the county courthouse in
Grants Pass by the Josephine
County Rural Planning Com-
mission.
The workshop is to re-
view the wildfire risk in the
county, the county’s inte-
grated fire plan, and fire pro-
tection options.
Also, wildland fire vs.
structural fire protection, un-
protected areas, mutual aide
between agencies, Senate Bill
360, and the county’s new
Article 76 (Wildfire & Emer-
gency Services Safety Stan-
dards).