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 —
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We’ll
keep you
warm
with
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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!