Page 7
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Citizens involved in law priorities
(Continued from page 1)
An example of such a
project could be a city park
with unacceptable levels of
criminal activity. Whereas
the patrol deputy is forced to
react to each criminal inci-
dent individually; then move
quickly on to the next call
waiting, the COP deputy(s)
can adjust their shifts, set up
surveillance, identify key
elements to the problems
and provide focused and
intensive enforcement until
the problem is eradicated.
Unfortunately, assign-
ing such deputies takes
manpower, and running
such programs takes money.
With deputies currently
working 12-hour overtime
shifts just to cover 24-hour
patrols and no budget to hire
additional help, the sheriff’s
Office has neither of these
important elements. We
must find a way of address-
ing the problems and the
projects that affect the com-
munity, while still trying to
juggle the ever-increasing
call load.
To do this, I am asking
for help from the community.
During our first CJSC
meeting in May, the ground-
work was laid for continu-
ing involvement of the com-
munity in its security priori-
ties. It was laid out in very
stark form just how limited
are sheriff’s office patrol
resources. Worse, is the un-
derstaffing of the jail that
makes it impossible to take
anybody but the very worst
of offenders to jail.
Most of those attending
the May meeting appeared
genuinely surprised at what
our staffing has shrunk to.
The mix of residents, busi-
ness owners and city offi-
cials decided the meetings
were a good start, and we
committed to continue them.
The problems at Jubilee
Park were unanimously
voted as the most critical
livability issue, and the sher-
iff’s office was tasked to
find ways to clean it up.
In June I was able to
report to CJSC that Jubilee
Park once again belonged to
the good people of Cave
Junction, and that the ele-
ment that had taken it over
and was destroying it was
gone. Results were from
focused enforcement action
with a zero tolerance policy
toward certain offenses such
as alcoholic beverages,
combined with some crea-
tive touches such as having
deputies write reports and
take lunch in the park.
Seeing the efforts and
the changes, citizens joined
in the project. Citizens
joined in “park patrols;” the
graffiti was removed from
the buildings, and trash was
cleaned up. Today, Jubilee
Park remains a clean, safe
place to take family again.
June’s consortium
brought two more security
and livability issues to the
table. Graffiti had been
cleaned up in Jubilee Park,
but “gang-style” graffiti was
an issue citywide. The meet-
ing had a strong contingent
of business owners who felt
victimized by a transient
element that was frequent-
ing the downtown area.
Complaints included
extreme drunkenness, defe-
cating on the sidewalks,
public masturbation, crimi-
nal mischief, violence and
threats of violence and other
lewd behavior.
By July’s meeting a
citizens graffiti abatement
team had been formed, and
the graffiti has vanished
from the city. Businesses
cooperating with focused
and persistent enforcement
by the sheriff’s office have
had a significant effect on
the disorderly transient
problems in the downtown
area.
The July meeting was
the largest so far, with ap-
proximately 80 people in the
standing-room only assem-
bly at city hall. Many
showed up to express dissat-
isfaction with the CJ con-
tract deputy’s enforcement
priorities. Interestingly,
these are the same priorities
that had been set by their
neighbors during previous
CJSC meetings.
During the August
meeting I hope to establish
some civilian leadership for
the security council by put-
ting a council secretary into
position. In this position, a
volunteer will act as a coor-
dinator and a liaison to the
sheriff’s office in security
council matters.
In response to input
from the last large meeting I
will also try to provide a
more structured format for
the meetings. Enforcement
priorities will be evaluated
and changed if necessary,
based on meeting input.
Those who have been
attending the meetings
know by now that I don’t
tip-toe around issues or con-
troversy. I will tell you the
truth to the best of my
knowledge, and if you think
I am wrong I will listen.
Undersheriff Anderson
has asked me to do some-
thing different and daring in
Cave Junction. He has de-
centralized control for this
area, and through this pilot
program has given it to the
citizens of Cave Junction.
I challenge everyone
who lives or works here not
to waste this opportunity. If
you voice concerns about
how resources are being
used -- yet fail to show up to
the meetings to assist in set-
ting these priorities -- it will
be difficult to take your con-
cerns seriously. Your
neighbors showed up, and
the actions of the sheriff’s
office in Cave Junction are
being decided by them.
I want to once again
thank all those who continue
to work with us toward
making Cave Junction a
better place to live. To date,
we have had a profound
effect on every project we
have tackled.
I look forward to con-
tinuing with the work we
have started.
ILLINOIS VALLEY CHAM-
BER of Commerce pre-
sented its fourth annual
golf tournament at Laurel
Pines/I.V. Golf Course on
Saturday, Aug. 12. The
tournament organizer
was chamber director
Vicki Gill, who works at
First American Title in
Cave Junction. First
American will host a
chamber mixer at its CJ
office Friday, Aug. 18
from 5-6:30 p.m. Refresh-
ments will be provided.
The first-place team in
the tournament (top
photo) consisted of (not
in order) Kit Fluck, Jeff
Davis, Tony Morreale
and Beth Morreale with a
net 53.6. The second-
place team (beneath top
photo) was made up of
Neal Dierkes, Huey Hults,
Scott Thornhill and
Frank Pinios (not in or-
der). The latter team,
with net 54, edged its
closest competitor,
which turned in net 54.6.
Special events at the
tournament included a
putting contest (left
photo). See chamber
‘thank you’ ad on page
15. (Photos by ‘Illinois
Valley News’)
Education is when you
read the fine print.
Experience is what you
get if you don’t.
- Pete Seeger -
Honesty - Integrity - Dependability
Help - Almost all my listings have sold. You
can get competent representation right here in
the Illinois Valley.
I support our community by spending my
commission here. References available on
request. I’ll do more for you than anyone else.
Ask me how.
Steve Lyons
541-592-3181 541-287-0290
Library tax district sent to Nov. 7 ballot by commissioners
(Continued from page 1)
Lard said, “Those who are
elected to the board would
just be out of a job.”
Lard referred to the cur-
rent paltry service level in
the library system, due to
drastic funding cuts through
the years: “We have no ref-
erence librarian, no chil-
dren’s programs, no out-
reach, no hours (of opera-
tion).”
Six years ago, the li-
brary system had 27 full-
time positions filled. Cur-
rently, there are only 4.3
FTE workers in the system.
“It’s very difficult just
to get into the library, and
with limited hours, there are
lines of people waiting for
service,” Lard said.
Library supporters were
told by the county commis-
sioners last year that the
county would be “getting
out of the library business,”
Lard noted.
At that time, the com-
missioners encouraged for-
mation of the tax district.
For those interested in
serving on the possible li-
brary board, an informa-
tional meeting will be held
Sunday, Aug. 20, from 2 to
4 p.m. in the Ben Bones
room at the Grants Pass
branch of the library.
Eden Inspector
Mark Atwood
Full Service
Mark’s Wasp Prevention Tip:
Mature nests have a higher population and
are more violent. Check for nests or steady
activity around your home. Wasps and
yellow jackets have been known to infest
wall voids, crawl spaces, and attics. Install-
ing Yellow Jacket traps, non-toxic lures, will
attract workers and queens.
FREE INSPECTIONS
OSU utilizing ‘the beetles’ to help in management of farm pests
Oregon farmers, includ-
ing some in Grants Pass, are
cultivating predator-prey
relationships and reducing
the need for pesticides by
adopting new pest manage-
ment strategies that encour-
age beneficial insect popula-
tions.
Farmers from Lebanon,
Philomath, Grants Pass and
Portland are teaming
with Oregon State Univer-
sity at Corvallis scientists.
The goal is to limit farm
pest populations by restor-
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ing and conserving habitat
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dation roles within fields
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These beneficial insects
come in many forms, but are
often bees, spiders, or
warrior beetles.
“Predacious ground
beetles are the ground troops
of the insect world,”
said Gwendolyn Ellen, the
project lead for OSU’s
Farmscaping for Beneficials
Project. “They eat a range of
pests from aphids to slugs,
and as a result many farmers
are very interested in creat-
ing habitat for them.
To serve this need
we’re working with farmers
to build ‘beetle banks’
within their fields.”
Beetle banks are swaths
of raised land 4 to 6 feet
wide in fields planted with
native bunch grasses and
provide shelter for preda-
cious ground beetles.
Does Check Cashing
28'x42' 1176 sq. ft. $25,872
36'x36' 1,872 sq. ft. $37,440
44'x30' 1,320 sq. ft. $27,720
24'x40' 1,920 sq. ft. $41,960
Permits not included on all buildings.
Completely erected on your level lot.
Includes all windows & doors.
Plans available for viewing.
24'x30' 720 sq. ft. $10,563
$35 OFF
Wasp Treatment
(not to be combined
with any other offer)
Limited I.D. - No Problem
Cheapest Rates in Town
No Amount Too Large
Come Down & Let’s Talk
Mon. - Fri. 10-6 Sun. 12 - 4
220 N. Redwood Hwy.
Cave Junction Plaza
592-2987
800-650-8815
www.edenpest.com
Life’s Nicer When You Come to Eden
N E W A PPLIANCE S ERVICE IN T OWN
Tony’s
Appliance Service
• Sales
CAVE BEAR PAWN
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“Come in and check
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Tony Smith, Owner
Serving the 592-3600
Illinois Valley 24394 Redwood Hwy., Kerby