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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2007)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Toler lists consequences without public safety levy So there I was with my head in the clouds, and the rest of me fol- lowed. Yes, for a handful of days last week I got to visit family in lovely (mostly) Carlsbad on the Pacific Coast of San Diego County, which is my point of origin. It’s now in- tensely crowded; much too congested, and it’s not the type that a decongestant will help. Because of returning late Saturday night, I am still a bit woozy from all that flying and hurrying to catch up with yelp- ing … er, helping to get this issue to the presses. Therefore, I am taking the easy way out and using some photos from this trip. Remember, a photo takes the place of a thousand words. Wow, I just saved 4,000 words. Be talking to you at more length next issue with a variety of observations. Cave Junction Wednesday, March 28 Mostly cloudy High--50, Low--33. Thursday, March 29 Rather overcast with threat of showers High--55, Low--33. Friday, March 30 Cloudy with drizzles High--58, Low--38. Saturday, March 31 Gray skies with slight chance of rain High--55, Low--38. Sunday, April 1 Sun and clouds High--62, Low--32. Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in O’Brien by Cheryl & Harry Johnson. *Fri., March 16: 77-35 *Sat., March 17: 72-39 *Sun., March 18: 66-39 *Mon., March 19: 58-42 0.47 *Tue., March 20: 56-40 0.09 *Wed., March 21: 59-32 *Thur., March 22: 70-32 Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in Cave Junction at Mountain Wind Farm. *Fri., March 16: 76-32 *Sat., March 17: 80-36 *Sun., March 18: 75-36 *Mon., March 19: 59-37 0.41 *Tue., March 20: 60-38 0.06 *Wed., March 21: 60-33 *Thur., March 22: 70-31 Monday, April 2 Part clouds and sun High--63, Low--40. Tuesday, April 3 Less clouds High--73, Low--43 illinois-valley-news.com Illinois Valley News www.illinois-valley-news.com An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by Robert R. (AKA Bob or El Jefe), Editor and Jan Rodriguez Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523 Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523 Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820 Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330 Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com Volume 70, No. 2 Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Scott Jorgensen Millie Watkins, and Tina Grow Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters 5 P.M. THURSDAYS (Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be accepted until Noon, Fridays with an additional charge.) POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters. Generally, one letter per person per month at publishers’ discretion. Letters are used at the discretion of the publishers. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publishers’ opinion. POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be resubmitted weekly if the item is to run more than one week. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $22.80 One year in Jackson and Douglas counties - $26.40 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $36 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523 By SCOTT JORGENSEN IVN Staff Writer Josephine County Com- missioner Dave Toler vis- ited the Josephine County Democratic Central Com- mittee meeting Thursday night, March 22 to seek support for a proposed May 15 public safety levy. Toler began by giving a brief overview of the county’s reliance on federal O&C dollars, given in lieu of declining timber receipts. “O&C federal money has dominated the county’s funding forever,” Toler said at Fruitdale Grange Hall in Grants Pass. He pointed out that the county did not collect prop- erty taxes during the 1970s, due to an abundance of fed- eral funds. These days, the county collects those taxes, but at a relatively low rate. “Josephine County has the lowest permanent tax rate in the state of Oregon,” Toler said. “Now we’re pay- ing for it.” If the levy passes, Toler said, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) will be able to provide five around-the-clock-patrols; the county jail will be run at a 190-bed capacity; and the district attorney’s office will have 10 deputy D.A.’s. Without federal funds or a levy, JCSO would be reduced to one patrol car for 20 hours out of each day, Toler said. The jail would operate at a 30-bed capacity “at the most,” and the D.A.’s office would be down to three deputy attor- neys from its current nine. Toler emphasized the need for Grants Pass city residents to support the levy. He said that if the levy fails, the “loudest scream” will come from them, as they are used to a higher level of ser- vice than county residents. “If you’re in the city of Grants Pass, in some ways, you’ll be hit harder than rural areas,” Toler said. Toler applauded Ore- gon’s federal representatives for their continuing attempts to secure O&C funds. How- ever, their public proclama- tions could have the unin- tended consequence of com- promising the levy passage. “Those efforts are really making it difficult for our levy,” Toler said. “Voters are saying the problem is solved already.” He said that user fees could be increased at some county agencies, and noted that the parks department’s $2 day-use fee is “going very well.” Funds collected through that fee have al- lowed the parks department to become self-sufficient, Toler said. The county Democratic Central Committee then voted overwhelmingly to endorse the levy. Toler ex- pressed much gratitude for that decision. Josephine County Re- publican Central Committee Chairman Herb Carter said that Commissioner Dwight Ellis is scheduled to appear at that body’s meeting Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at Fruitdale Grange Hall. (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including state- ments made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.) * * * Typed, double-spaced let- ters written solely to this news- paper are considered for publi- cation. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. ‘Thank you’ submissions are not accepted as letters. citizens didn’t seem to care. Despite unprecedented growth, the village had no professional planner. When the village lost its only engi- neer who oversaw develop- ment projects, village lead- ers said that was fine, they didn’t need one. And the people of the village went along their own way. The village sewer plant began operating over capac- ity. Major spills went into local streams. Streets were not maintained during ice storms, and people were injured. The cost of having no planning began to be impossible to ignore. Suddenly, the people of the village began to wake up. They began to attend council meetings and asked questions. In the nick of time, the people of this vil- lage overcame their coma- tose apathy and got involved in their village. Happily, the village was saved from sure destruction. Fifty-eight said “no” be- cause an atheist could not be trusted (or words to that ef- fect), adding that we must have a religious man we can trust, a man of honor; we need a leader with integrity, a man that does not lie, (or words to that effect). At the end of each of the 62 calls, I asked “Like President Bush?” Fifty-nine hung up on me without a response, and the other three said “Yes,” and I hung up on them. After serious thought I came to the conclusion that most of the people want to be lied to by a man of deep faith, with integrity, exactly like George Bush. So the answer seems to be, lie like hell and pray 10 times a day on public televi- sion, so the public can see how honest, sincere and trustworthy you are. A quaint village tale decrying citizen apathy From Carolyn Fosmore Cave Junction Once upon a time, there was a quaint little village tucked in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Ore- gon. For many decades, the village had suffered from high poverty rates and a struggling economy. Decades of hard times had led to a community that seemed to care little about its village government. While the village strug- gled economically, the rest of the West Coast continued to urbanize at a rapid pace, thus shrinking the supply of rural villages. This little vil- lage, long ignored by eco- nomic interests, now had what many on the West Coast wanted: a quaint, rural setting with a beautiful cli- mate and abundant recrea- tional opportunities. Sud- denly, this village was in demand. Developers from out- side the area began arriving. They were amazed at what they found. Not only was the village’s beauty and friendliness just as they had heard, but the village leaders were totally unaware of the value of what their village possessed. Still believing their village had little to of- fer, the village leaders were willing to help the develop- ers in any way they could. And the citizen apathy was truly amazing. Unlike nearly every village in Oregon, because no citizens wanted to par- ticipate, the village had no planning commission. With- out one, the citizens were out of the way. Village leaders allowed gravel driveways, subdivi- sions with no curbs or side- walks. Zoning didn’t matter. Village leaders would stuff whatever the developer wanted into whatever place they wanted it. And the village A page 5 article in the March 21 issue about a meet- ing of the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce board incorrectly stated that a proposal to trade member- ship lists with I.V. Merchants Association was received. In fact, the proposal is to swap 2007 memberships. Concealed-Carry Handgun Classes being held right here in Cave Junction! Phone for details! Women only classes also available! Seating is limited, classes are filling fast! Phone Now! NRA instructor: Steven Mohr (Reliance Concepts) Home: 592-6692 Cell: 660-9824 Bush ‘lying, praying’ seemingly acceptable From Wally Hardie Selma I recently saw a poll that showed the percentage who would not vote for candi- dates who are Black, fe- male, or of some specific religion. The very bottom of that entire list of those who would not be voted for was an atheist. Not understanding why, I took my own poll. Calling at random 80 peo- ple, I asked, “Could you vote for an atheist for presi- dent, and if not, why not?” Of the 80, 16 said they could and would if the per- son was qualified. Two asked, “What’s an atheist?” The Kerby Transfer Station is open to help you... 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