Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Page 8
WHO BUILT THIS? -- Spanning the East Fork of the Illinois River,
just downstream of its confluence with Althouse Creek (above), a
largish rock and gravel dam has been constructed. Downstream of
this structure (photo at left), water flow is significantly reduced,
and green algae is thriving in the shallow water. The dam appears
to have been built to divert river water into an existing irrigation
ditch, which runs west from the site. It is unknown whether appro-
priate permits were obtained to perform this work in the water, or
even if such a permit is obtainable. Brian Ross, director of opera-
tions for Barlow Sand & Gravel, stated that the structure had not
been constructed by his company, which owns or has worked on
properties in the vicinity.
(Photos by Michelle Binker, ‘Illinois Valley News’ )
Governor promises beefier staff during OSP’s 75th anniversary observance
A program to the 2007
Legislature to strengthen
Oregon State Police by pro-
viding 24-hour, seven-days-
a-week patrol coverage on
highways, and beefing up
criminal investigation and
crime lab services to fight
meth trafficking, ID theft
and other crimes was an-
nounced last week by Gov.
Kulongoski.
“We must restore full
capability to the Oregon
State Police,” the governor
said. “For the sake of our
troopers, and for the safety
of our citizens, we must re-
build this critical agency. I
am committed to fighting
for the safety of our commu-
nities and adequate invest-
ment in our state police.”
The governor made his
announcement at a celebra-
tion of the 75th anniversary
of OSP. He praised the ser-
vice, bravery and dedication
of those serving Oregon’s
communities. He added that
we should honor them not
just with words, but by ade-
quately investing in their
critical work.
During 1979, OSP had
665 sworn, full-time troop-
ers, the governor pointed
out. Because of successive
budget cutbacks during the
past 27 years, the agency
now has only 333 -- ap-
proximately half as many,
even though the state’s
population has grown by
more than a million, or 40
percent.
“To continue to limp
along with just half the state
troopers we had nearly three
decades ago is unthinkable,
and in my view unaccept-
able, the governor told a
luncheon gathering of troop-
ers, their families and retir-
ees, marking the agency’s
75th anniversary.
“Nowhere in Oregon
can we provide 24-hour
coverage of state highways,
seven days a week,” the
governor said. “Cutbacks
have forced the state police
to patrol bigger areas, elimi-
nate duties, make response
times longer, and compro-
mise officer safety.”
The governor worked
with state Senate President
Peter Courtney (D-Salem)
and House Speaker Karen
Minnis (R-Wood Village)
earlier this year to secure
approval by the Legisla-
ture’s Emergency Board of
10 new troopers and nine
evidence technicians for the
OSU aiming
studies for
resources
Oregon State Univer-
sity (OSU) is this summer
launching two “seed pro-
jects” to explore effects of
land-use and resource man-
agement policies in South-
western Oregon and along
the Oregon coast.
One study will engage
decision-makers and resi-
dents in the Klamath Basin,
exploring how Oregon’s
land-use planning system
affects owners of agricul-
tural lands and their ability
to manage their land --
and water rights and usage
-- in a sustainable manner.
The second project will
train local residents in three
coastal communities to
gather data on the impor-
tance of fishing to their
community. The study will
include characteristics of
local fishermen and fishing
families, economic change,
changes in the fishing effort,
and effects of recent man-
agement decisions.
“In both projects,
through our Sustainable Ru-
ral Communities Initiative,
we are looking to establish
partnerships with civic lead-
ers and citizens to collec-
tively gauge the effect of
state and federal policies on
local communities,” said
Bruce Weber, a professor of
agricultural and resource
economics at OSU and di-
rector of the initiative.
That data will help re-
gional and federal decision-
makers better understand the
potential effects that fisher-
ies management policies
may have.
Specific coastal sites
will be identified later.
Funding has been pro-
vided by OSU as part of its
strategic plan.
Only the curious will
learn and only the
resolute overcome the
obstacles to learning.
The quest quotient
has always excited
me more than the
intelligence quotient.
- Eugene S. Wilson -
State Police. It’s a start, the
governor said, but the state
must do more.
“I will restore 24-hour,
seven-day-a-week coverage
on Oregon’s highways as
soon as possible,” the gover-
nor said. “Oregonians de-
serve to feel safe on our
roads. And they’re entitled
to expect timely medical
and life-saving help when
accidents occur.
“This is a basic public
service that we must not
neglect any longer.”
The governor also
wants to strengthen the
Criminal Investigation Divi-
sion and the Forensic Ser-
vices Division to fight crime
in Oregon -- especially sex-
ual predators, ID thieves,
and meth traffickers.
“Local law enforcement
agencies have done a superb
job of fighting crime in this
state -- especially meth
crimes and ID theft -- but
they need more help from
the state,” the governor said.
“In particular, they need
more intensive engagement
by OSP. I’m determined to
ensure the state police get
the resources they need.”
The governor’s next
budget will include money
to begin restoring 24/7 pa-
trol coverage of Oregon’s
roads and highways by
OSP, he pledged.
The goal is not achiev-
able overnight, he said, be-
cause the state lacks the ca-
pacity to train all the troop-
ers it needs at the same time,
but he wants to act as
quickly as possible.
Restoring 24/7 coverage
would vastly improve traffic
safety on heavily traveled
Interstate 5, he said, and
result in more arrests of
meth traffickers on the
state’s highways.
First office at I.V. Medical Center
Monday - Friday by appointment
Pain - Stress - Injuries
Deep massage
CranioSacral Therapy
Senior Discounts
Gift Certificates
Photos by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/Illinois Valley Fire District Media Dept.
MINOR INJURIES WERE
indicated in a single-
vehicle crash on Hwy.
199 reported at 1:13 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 8. Three
young Selma residents
were in a car that spun
and went through a
guard rail backwards and
down an embankment
between mileposts 15
and 16 on Hay’s Hill, ac-
cording to unofficial in-
formation. At the scene
were Illinois Valley Fire
District, American Medi-
cal Response, Josephine
County Sheriff’s Office,
and Oregon State Police.
There was speculation
that slick pavement
caused by rainfall was a
factor in the crash. De-
tailed official information
from OSP was unavail-
able in time for this
week’s issue.
What kind of foundation are
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pregnancy until the time is right, phone
the
Pregnancy Center 592-6058
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Early fall is the best time
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lence:
Replace all dirty filters,
get an oil change, and flush
and refill the cooling system if
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Have drive belts, hoses
and clamps tightened and the
battery checked. Examine tires
for remaining tread life. You
should also assemble an emer-
gency kit.
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