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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2007)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Legal challenge puts brakes on city LID discussion It’s time to talk turkey, to get to the point and gobble a sumptuous Thanksgiving meal. Actually, the editor is (to over- kill on word usage) just a little tiny bit frazzled. Why? Mostly because it’s been cold and rainy, and I’m getting cranky. Still, there is much to be thankful for, and I’m not about to forget my blessings. A fine family; great wife; terrific Noose staff; plenty to eat in a warm place. Plus a beautiful commu- nity, and a memory that still works well (mostly). And now, because I’m taking sort of a break, here is some material that arrived via email. Read it, and have a pleasant day remembering the travails of the Pilgrims and their connection to the people they encountered: “Thanksgiving can mean the ideal family get-together or a day of awkward moments, uncomfortable silences and erup- tions of family feuds. Here are Debra Fine’s Top 10 Conversa- tion Landmines (from her book, The Fine Art of Small Talk, published by Hyperion): 1. “Are you two ever going to get married?” 2, “No, thanks. I gave up drinking after I saw the toll it took on you.” 3. “When are you two going to make me a grandmother?” 4. “Cool Whip is interesting. Did you ever think of serving the real stuff instead?” 5. “Aren’t you full yet?” -- or, "Why aren’t you eating any- thing?” 6. “Yes, I know you're a parent. But haven’t you ever thought about working?” 7. “I see you still can’t be bothered with ironing a blouse.” 8. “How is it that your son looks just like you, and your daughter looks like she could be from a different family?” 9. “Did you cook this yourself, or did you just thaw it out?” 10. “Forget this poison nonsense” -- just spread the tur- key’s legs open and jam in the stuffing “the way that I al- ways do.” NOW SERVING: ~ Eggnog Drinks ~ All Natural Apple Cider ~ NEW Pumpkin & Banana-nut Bread Still OPEN EVERYDAY Even Thanksgiving & Christmas Cave Junction Wednesday, Nov. 21 Sunny and cold High--48 Low--21 Thursday, Nov. 22 Continued cold and clear High--48 Low--22 Friday, Nov. 23 Some sun with clouds High--50 Low--23 Saturday, Nov. 24 Mostly cloudy with some sun High--51 Low--27 Sunday, Nov. 25 Some clouds then clearing later High--45 Low--40 Monday, Nov. 26 Warming with plenty of sun High--60 Low--39 Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in O’Brien by Cheryl & Harry Johnson. *Fri., Nov. 9 57 - 42 *Sat., Nov. 10 59 - 42 0.43 *Sun., Nov. 11 50 - 36 *Mon., Nov. 12 55 - 38 1.30 *Tue., Nov. 13 54 - 36 0.12 *Wed., Nov. 14 55 - 36 *Thurs., Nov. 15 57 - 50 Following are the high-and- low temperatures, and rainfall, recorded in Cave Junction at Natural Designs Farm. *Fri., Nov. 9 60 - 35 *Sat., Nov. 10 61 - 40 0.43 *Sun., Nov. 11 53 - 36 0.01 *Mon., Nov. 12 55 - 37 1.28 *Tue., Nov. 13 54 - 36 0.05 *Wed., Nov. 14 57 - 36 0.01 *Thurs., Nov. 15 61 - 49 0.02 illinois-valley-news.com Tuesday, Nov. 27 More sunshine and warmth High--61 Low--39 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. 36 Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Josiah Dean, Jennifer Newsted 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 WALLY AIKEN For IVN A Local Improvement District (LID) affecting the north end of the city of Cave Junction was slated for dis- cussion during Tuesday night’s, Nov. 13 city council meeting, but once again was pulled from the agenda. This time the delay was due to a legal challenge by the Versteeg Family Trust LLC. The trust, which owns nearly 25 acres in the LID, is represented in the action by the legal firm of Hornecker, Cowling, Hassen, and Hey- sell LLP, of Medford. According to a letter dated Nov. 6 and received by City Recorder Jim Polk, the law firm stated, “Given the serious legal shortcomings of the proposed Local Improve- ment District, we strongly suggest forwarding these ma- terials to the city attorney and obtaining an opinion before proceeding.” Polk stated that the council will review the material and explore their options. The letter goes on to list the perceived deficiencies in the LID proposal. First, the letter states that an LID can only be used to fund improvements “undertaken by a local gov- ernment.” The project in question has been undertaken by the Oregon Dept. of Transportation and has been financed in part by develop- ers of commercial and resi- dential projects. The city has had no part in the planning; and therefore, according to the law firm, the statutory obligations have not been met. Next it is claimed that the city consistently has failed to follow proper procedures required to establish an LID. Specifically the city engineer is required by law to com- plete a survey and file a writ- ten report, which to date has not been completed. The letter also claims that notification requirements were not met in that city ordi- nances require that notifica- tion must be posted in two publications, one week apart. (Continued on page 3) (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. took place at the end of the line and nobody at the begin- ning of the line could hear anything. Some people had their hands up for 10 minutes and weren’t asked to speak; the speakers were spending a lot of everyone’s time on the angry man. There were no micro- phones used until halfway through, when one was pro- duced by the ODF speakers. A lot of people had left in disgust or frustration by the time the microphone was produced, and then we could only hear the answers from ODF and not the questions from the audience. I was recently at a meet- ing in Medford, on another subject, but three people had hand-held microphones and took them to individuals in the audience who had their hands up with questions. Then, an appropriate panel member would answer, using a microphone. Maybe, if ODF has bad meeting after bad meeting, the public will get too frus- trated to follow what’s going on with ODF and ODF can enact some law or laws that the public would absolutely not vote for if they could only have a decent give-and-take conversation with ODF. bration of Oregon Caves Na- tional Monument and our unique position to promote the Sesquicentennial Celebra- tion of Oregon because we are a gateway community from California. These are opportunities we feel are im- portant to further commerce and tourism in Illinois Valley. Actually, we are unable to see a downside to the over- all goal of promoting our val- ley community and capturing more of the tourism dollars that flow through here. Our Cave Junction Draft Compre- hensive Plan reiterates this over and over again as part of the 20-year projection fore- cast for the area. Developing multiple revenue streams -- through timber, tourism and increased services to an increasing population of retired persons - - will bring greater economic stability to the valley. The increased publicity and rec- reational opportunities that will result from expansion of Oregon Caves will bring more visitors here than ever before, stimulating business for many chamber members. We believe that all cham- ber members should be sup- porting opportunities that stimulate any of the three above-mentioned revenue streams currently being de- veloped in Illinois Valley. As a chamber member we en- courage our chamber to pro- mote and support the Oregon Caves National Monument expansion proposal and the increased commerce this op- portunity will bring to our valley. Illinois Valley Lions Club gets heartfelt recognition From Ray Karczewski Cave Junction When in need, the Illi- nois Valley Lions Club is here for us. My wife, Anita, and I recently underwent another life transition. As seniors, on our 49th anniversary I went in search of a wheelchair to as- sist her in getting around. Where does one go to secure a wheelchair? To St. George of course -- that is, St. George McElroy of Holland Store. His solution to my problem: the Illinois Valley Lions Club. St. George put me in touch with St. Sam (Michel, that is) of I.V. Lions Club. He took care of my every need, free of charge, with the bless- ings of the club. Compassion, care and assistance still live in our com- munity via I.V. Lions. I am grateful for their generosity and community service. If only our society would be affected by such conta- gious altruism, we would have a different world. When I think of service, I shall think of Illinois Valley Lions Club. ODF public meeting called unproductive From Carol Brown Cave Junction I attended the Nov. 9 afternoon public meeting at Lorna Byrne Middle School put on by Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) regarding the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act (SB 360). It was completely unpro- fessional, and it was a joke. As soon as the meeting be- gan, a man started yelling and complaining about his par- ticular gripe, and kept up an angry discourse with the ODF speakers for a long time, until an audience member basi- cally told him to shut up. Then, the conversation Monument expansion seen as financial boost From Greg Walter & Mary Reynolds Jefferson State Financial Group Cave Junction We are asking Illinois Valley Chamber of Com- merce to prepare a letter of support for expansion of the boundaries of Oregon Caves National Monument from the existing 480 acres to an area encompassing slightly less than 4,000 acres. The commercial benefits that this will bring to our gateway community to Ore- gon Caves are enormous. A University of Michigan sur- vey of the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon can be used as an example of the econom- ics that we have the potential for, and are already seeing, in the way of some of these fiscal benefits. We see this as an oppor- tunity for the community to effectively promote the area for the 2009 Centennial Cele- NOTICE We urge the members of the Illinois Valley community to make every effort to attend the County Planning Meeting: November 26 at 7 p.m. Anne Basker Auditorium, Grants Pass This meeting will cover the conditional land use permit application by Barlow Sand and Gravel LLC. Together with the investment professionals at COUNTRY Trust Bank ® , I can show you options that are designed to meet your goals and take the tough investment decisions off of your shoulders. Agent Name Address Phone Not FDIC Insured No Bank Guarantee May lose Value Investment management, retirement, trust and planning services provided by COUNTRY Trust Bank®. www.countr yinvestment.com 0407-523HO Stacy, Nathan, and future “gem” (due February 14th) wish y’all a Wonderful Holiday Season from Yanase Jewelers! Open: Tuesdays - Fridays, 9 to 6 Most Saturdays, 9 to Noon 23772 Redwood Hwy., Kerby 592-4838 www.yanasejewelers.com U-Cut Christmas Trees Christmas Trees Any Size $ 25 ONLY — Cut To Order — Tabletop Trees We’ll keep you warm with ONLY Cocoa Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine cut to approx. 3 feet tall. 35 $ Includes stand & water bowl. Ship anywhere in the USA! Candy Cider and Coffee Lots Of Family Fun! S ISKIYOU E VERGREEN C HRISTMAS T REE F ARM Saturdays 10am - 4pm 11/24, 12/1, 8 & 15 This ad has been paid for by Paid for by STRIVE – Save The Rural Illinois Valley Environment. Many people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan Sundays 1pm - 4-pm 11/25, 12/2, 9 & 16 1701 White School Rd., CAVE JUNCTION 592-2213, 592-2384 or 659-5646 Hwy. 199 to Hwy. 46 (Caves Hwy.) 4 1 ⁄ 2 mi. & follow the signs!
