Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Page 3
JoCo leaders pose fixes
to legislators for funding
GIANT FLEA (MARKET) - Saturday, April 28 is
set for a giant spring flea market and pancake breakfast
at Selma Community Center, 18255 Redwood Hwy.,
just past Ray’s Food Place. There will be buying, selling
and trading from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the pole building;
phone 415-1000 to reserve space. The breakfast will be
served in the dining room from 8:30 to 11: 30 a.m. All
proceeds will benefit the center by helping pay for items
including insurance, utilities, maintenance and repair.
LBMS ‘AFRICA TASTE’ - Kate Dwyer will cater
Family Night at Lorna Byrne Middle School on Tues-
day, May 1 with a “Taste of Africa” menu. The event,
with live music, a book fair, plus fun and games, will run
from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Illinois River Valley Arts Council is
the sponsor. It will be the final Family Night at LBMS.
See the ad in this issue for details.
DOUBLE O-7 EVENT - A benefit dinner, fashion
show and silent auction will be held Saturday, May 5 for
the Illinois Valley High School Class of 2007 All-Night
Grad Party. Donated items are sought for the silent auc-
tion. The event will be held at the IVHS cafeteria. Din-
ner (vegetarian or meat lasagna) will be catered by Phil
Aria. Fashion show attire will be provided by Sassy’s
Time Capsule. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for
children and adults are available at IVHS, Bi-Rite Auto
Parts and Sassy’s Time Capsule, and will be available at
the door. For more information or to donate items, phone
or email Susan Kendall 592-2839 or contact kend-
all@cavenet.com.
RIVER CLEAN-UP - Volunteers are sought for
Saturday, May 19, when Down By the Riverside clean-
up projects will be held in Illinois Valley. Locations are
the Caves Creek, Chinquapin and Grayback camp-
grounds. Phone Jack & Janet Walker at 597-2410 to sign
up to help.
VIRGINA TECH MEMORIAL - All flags at pub-
lic institutions were flown at half-staff from Tuesday,
April 17, through sundown Sunday, April 22, by order of
Gov. Kulongoski, in memory of the 33 persons killed by
gunfire at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on the 16th. “The
events at Virginia Tech were not just a tragedy for Vir-
ginia, but for our entire nation,” said Kulongoski. “On
behalf of Oregonians, our thoughts and prayers are with
the families, students and community of Virginia Tech
as we mourn all those affected by this tragedy,” he said.
Thirty-two students and teachers were killed by student
Cho Seung-Hui, 23, who also shot himself. It is the
deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history.
NOTEPAD - Gems and minerals will be rampant
during a Rogue Gem & Geology Club show at the
county fairgrounds Friday through Sunday, April 27 to
29. See the ad in this issue ... Safe driving for senior citi-
zens is the topic for an AARP class set for May 21 and
22 and Illinois Valley Senior Center. Sign up at the cen-
ter … The 2007 Grad Night Party Committee will meet
Wednesday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the IVHS Library.
Final plans will be discussed. Phone 592-3691 for more
information ... Clean clothing will be given away at
Takilma Bible Church, 10343 Takilma Road, on Satur-
day, May 5 from 9 to 5 … Siskiyou Community Health
Center is planning an open house for Friday, May 18.
Watch for details ... Early Head Start for Illinois Valley
families will have openings. To check on eligibility for
the free program phone Debbie Bartlett at 592-3259. An
ad with more details is elsewhere in this issue … Arch
bearers for IVHS commencement June 5 have been
chosen: Breanna Allan, Kathryne Bell, Jaime Farr, Sa-
brina Miller, Kelcie Yeoman, Raesha Yeoman, William
Crowl, Nathan Green, Doug Hoskins, Jerrad Miller,
Larry Ragsdale and Chad Tardie ... Actual headline:
Supreme Court rules that murderers shall not be electro-
cuted twice for the same crime.
LAST WORDS - On account of being a democracy
and run by the people, we are the only nation in the
world that has to keep a government four years, no mat-
ter what it does. (Will Rogers) Disinterested curiosity is
the lifeblood of civilization. (G.M. Trevelyan)
(Continued from page 2)
the Sunni militia and battle
the Shiites. Thus the country
sits on the brink of civil war.
“But this war is be-
tween them. They largely do
not concern themselves with
U.S. troops. The insurgents
who battle the Coalition
Forces are from outside the
country. And the biggest
problem down here isn’t the
insurgents: it’s the politi-
cians; the local ones.
“Even though the coun-
try is controlled by Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki,
downtown Baghdad is con-
trolled by radical Shiite
cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The
Shiites follow al-Sadr and
thus the prime minister does
what al-Sadr says. Think of
it as if a warlord controlled
New York and blackmailed
the president into diplomatic
immunity.
“Iraq is literally a terror-
ist training breeding ground.
They have terrorist and
sniper schools. Why not?
They train by teaching them
to attack the military forces
here.
Iran and Syria have
openly proclaimed that their
number-one goal is to de-
stroy the great Western
Devil and the little Western
Devil: America and Britain.
Iran wants to control Iraq to
further this purpose.
“How do the Iraqi peo-
ple feel about everything?
Of course they don’t want
the Americans here. But
they would far rather have
us than the Iranians.
“The people want
peace. If we leave now it
By SCOTT JORGENSEN
IVN Staff Writer
Several members of the
Oregon Legislature ap-
peared at Anne Basker
Auditorium in Grants Pass
on Thursday, April 19 to
discuss the county’s pending
financial crisis in light of
possibly discontinued fed-
eral funds.
Rep. Ron Maurer (R-
Grants Pass), Rep. Dennis
Richardson (R-Central
Point), George Gilman (R-
Medford) and Sen. Jason
Atkinson (R-Central Point)
were joined by Senate Presi-
dent Peter Courtney (D-
Salem) and Speaker of the
House Jeff Merkley (D-
Portland) for the event. It
was the first stop in a five-
county tour. Lawmakers
spent the rest of the week-
end visiting towns in Curry,
Coos, Douglas and Lane
counties, all of which are
facing potentially devastat-
ing cuts in services.
Rep. Phil Barnhart (D-
Eugene), Rep. Tom Butler
(R-Ontario), Rep. Terry
Beyer (D-Springfield), Sen.
Rick Metsger (D-Welches)
and Sen. Ted Ferrioli (R-
John Day) also attended.
Curry Plight Avoided
Approximately 30 resi-
dents attended the legislative
workshop. It began with an
historical overview by Jose-
phine County Commission
Chairman Jim Raffenburg.
Raffenburg explained
how the O&C lands, exclu-
sive to Oregon, were origi-
nally exempted from federal
environmental legislation
until a series of court rulings
in the 1990s dictated other-
wise. As such, Raffenburg
said, judicial relief is needed
for those lands.
The county has spent
the last two years preparing
for the funding loss by con-
solidating its top-heavy
management and eliminat-
ing positions by attrition,
Raffenburg said. Those
changes have enabled Jose-
phine County to be better
prepared than some
neighboring counties.
“Had we not done this,
we would be side-by-side
with Curry County right
now,” Raffenburg said.
Josephine County Chief
Operating Officer Marie
Hill then brought the legisla-
tors up to speed on the fi-
nancial issues facing the
county.
Land Sale Posed
Commissioner Dwight
Ellis talked about possible
long-term solutions. A pro-
posal by the Association of
O&C Counties would set
aside 1.2 million acres of the
O&C lands for conservation
and recreation and sell the
other 1.2 million to private
timber interests.
will be a failure for Democ-
racy. Iran will control Iraq,
and the end result will be
more terrorist attacks on
America.
“The American people
don’t want soldiers dying
over here, but it’s better than
American civilians dying
over there. Do not forget
9/11. They will do it again.
“The moment we
loosen our grip, they will do
it again. And the only way
to root out the evil here is to
stop beating around the
bush; increase troops and
destroy the insurgents once
and for all. The Iraqi gov-
ernment cannot do this on
its own.
“We are the only ones
who can stop al-Sadr. This
is a real soldier’s opinion
about the war.”
That sale would raise
approximately $12 billion,
which would be put into
four trust funds to provide
money for the counties and
Oregon schools. Such a plan
would take between three to
five years to implement,
Ellis said.
Commissioner Dave
Toler reiterated that the
county is not looking to the
state to solve its problem, but
that officials at the local, state
and federal levels need to
work together on this issue.
Partnership Needed
“We really see this as a
partnership,” Toler said.
Ellis explained how
voter-passed tax limitation
measures have had a detri-
mental effect on the ability
of local governments to col-
lect revenue. For instance,
property taxes are collected
based on assessed value
instead of real market value.
More than 170,000 new
homes would have to be
added to the county’s tax
rolls to make up for the lost
federal revenue, Ellis said.
“We are in a hole that
we can’t grow ourselves out
of,” Ellis said.
He asked the legislators
to consider lifting the state’s
double majority rule, which
requires a 50 percent voter
turnout along with a major-
ity vote in order to pass a tax
increase.
“We really need that to
happen in Josephine
County,” Ellis said.
Courtney said he agreed
with that sentiment.
State Reform Needed
“This is a monster when
it comes to local people and
governments,” he said.
Raffenburg suggested
that the state directly fund
county district attorneys, as
persons in those positions
are state employees and en-
force state laws.
Because state ballot
measures put those restric-
tions in place, Raffenburg
said, statewide reforms are
sorely needed.
“This can't be corrected
at the county level,” Raffen-
burg said.
Legislators React
Ferrioli expressed tre-
mendous reluctance at
changing the double major-
ity requirement.
“I don’t believe the so-
lution lies in that direction,”
Ferrioli said, adding that
Oregon voters would ulti-
mately have to instigate the
change. “They’re the only
ones that can unlock that
process.”
Raffenburg said that the
effects of the funding loss
will be visible at a local
level in less than a month.
“Things will be differ-
ent in Josephine County,” he
said. “None of us are going
to like those differences.”
After the forum, Merk-
ley said he was impressed at
how the county has prepared
for the funding loss, and that
he will weigh the commis-
sioners’ suggestions when
he returns to the capitol.
“Some good ideas were
put forth that we will be
pursuing in Salem,” Merk-
ley said.
(5 4 1 ) 5 9 2 -6 1 6 9
Qua ds
Dirt Bik e s
La w n M ow e rs
Sm a ll Engine s
Rot o-t ille rs
EARLY HEAD START
Is Year Round!
Apply Now For Upcoming Openings for
Families Living in The Illinois Valley!
EHS: Builds healthy, nurturing relationships
between infants, toddlers, and parents &
supports the health and well-being of
pregnant women.
EHS: Provides play groups & home visits for
families with infants, toddlers to age 3 and
pregnant mothers.
EHS: is FREE if you qualify!
Call 734-5150 ext 1046
or 592-3259
debbie.bartlett@socfc.org
wwwsocfc.org
CHAD BAUER
FUND-RAISER
Join our Community
Yard Sale!
Saturday &
Sunday,
May 5 & 6
Parking lot at
My Brother’s Pub
Tables available for
rent.
Hot Dogs
Hamburgers
Live Music
Call 592-2626 to
reserve your space.
Table rent goes to
Chad Bauer
(assault victim undergoing brain surgery)
Lorna Byrne Middle School
Family Night
‘Taste of Africa'
Tuesday, May 1, 5:30-8p.m.
Live Music
African Dinner catered by Kate Dwyer
Fun & Games
Book Fair
Be sure to attend,
this is the last Family Night at LBMS!
Sponsored by Illinois Valley Arts Council
I saw it in the ‘News’
SUPER AGENT IRENE GUERRERO-ACEVEDO.
YOU’D BE A WRECK
WITHOUT HER.
AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS (541) 592-3404