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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2009)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 5, 2009 This was the week that you were going to hear about a book I just finished. Written by Michael Perry, the title is Population: 485. The subtitle is, Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time. It is a fine work, full of humor and pathos, keen insights and wonderful descriptions and common sense philoso- phy. But I’m not going to write about it until next issue. This week you are going to be regaled with more infor- mation than you need about a recent family visit. Yes, our daughter, Vicki, and girls Natalie and Ella, 6 and 4, came to Illinois Valley for a 10-day visit. We had great times. They arrived at Rogue Valley Medford International Airport (big name, that), and we went from there to the Medford Railroad Park. Even though the visiting trio, who live in San Diego County, had arisen quite early that morning, they weren’t tired. Yet. So off we went to one of my favorite spots, as I am a long- time railroad aficionado (nut). They rode one of the miniature trains twice; I only went once, as I wanted to take photos of them on the train. From there we went to a res- taurant for a late lunch, and then home to Cave Junction. Actually, a lot of the visit is blurry because, well be- cause we’re out of shape for keeping up with our baby daughter (she turned 41 in May), and the grandbabies. They like to be active. But I know that we had good out- ings, because. Just because. For example, we’ve lived in Oregon almost 30 years, but because of their visit, I took my first Rogue River raft trip with them and our son, Mike, and granddaughter, Kim. It was a wet and wild outing. Fun too. We went to Oregon Caves National Monument, a spot I hadn’t visited for a few years. It was a good tour, quite enjoy- able. We had many meals together; Vicki cooked for us. We went on a long walk in- volving Jubilee Park, the track off N. Old Stage Road, and that wine street area in the Hanby Lane neighborhood. We went to one of the Illinois Valley Chamber Concerts in the Park. In fact, Natalie drew the winning ticket, and the woman who col- lected the cash gave her three bucks. That was nice. Ella collected many treasures: rocks, sticks and bottle caps. She and her sister colored many pictures for us. We watched the Sponge Bob Square Pants movie for the 89th time. They went to a movie in Grass Pants while I had a medical appointment. And they swam in Illinois River near the green bridge out Eight Dollar Mtn. Road. We went to McCaleb Ranch Scout Camp out Illinois River Road. Quite a trip that, but beautiful scenery. And all too soon, our guests had to return home, as their husband/daddy unreasonably wanted them back. We reluctantly took them to the Medford airport. Now we can hardly wait ‘til they return in December. (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter- writers.) * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double- spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you” submissions are not ac- cepted as letters. Chickens: Why not? From Linda Schluter Tedder Cave Junction In reading about the issue of people being able to have chickens on their properties, it’s very interesting. These are hard times, and for some to be able to raise chickens for food is a great idea. Why not, if you have the right-sized lot, make the accommodations for at least five chickens? I mean, if you are living on at least an acre. why not? There must be rules set and abided by. This is not an easy venture. Fact is, many people would think twice before starting their own “Chicken Little Emporium.” Yes, they have issues with chickens in Los Angeles, cock fights for instance, al- though that won’t be a real issue in Cave Junction. But the arrogance of someone saying, “If you want chickens move to the coun- try,” “the status quo has been set and no reason to change it.” Makes ya’ want to go out and start pricing coops. There are many people in this valley who are educated enough to be able to teach how to raise and care for chickens. It’s quite an endeavor. Not one to be taken on in a whim. Like child rearing -- let’s not get started on that one. I patrol the streets of Cave Junction, and what is a real issue is not “chickens,” but the urban junkyards some people have for property. Junk cars, broken toys, old strollers, trash cans that never get taken in, almost Third World looking. People should be able to use their properties for how they see fit to take care of themselves and their families, and a few chickens for food is a good idea. But you need to know what you’re doing. will not allow the defendants or their counsel to inform the jurors of their true power. In 1780, John Jay, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Su- preme Court, wrote, “The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy.” “The jury has the power to bring a verdict in the teeth of both law and fact.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes U.S. Su- preme Court Justice, 1902). “...In all criminal cases whatever, the jury shall have the right to determine the law, and the facts under the direc- tion of the court as to the law ...” (Article 1, sec. 16, Oregon State Constitution). We have also lost our right to a jury of our peers and our right to counsel of our choice; two rights speci- fied in the U.S. Constitution. The tragedy: There is no one to file a grievance with. Only agencies run by attor- neys or judges. Our federal government is rewarding corporations whose greed and insatiable thirst for wealth (at the peo- ples’ expense) has led to their insolvency. Their claim: It is the only way to save the American and international economy. Our states and the people are losing their sover- eignty. The people, including me, have no hope in stopping the destruction of America. We have failed at being vigi- lant. We will eventually lose our liberty. Eroding our rights From George Lee McElroy Cave Junction It seems that my letter about losing our right to travel in our automobiles and being forced to surrender this right for a licensed privilege has unleashed some dark forces against me. The foun- dation of my beliefs has to do with the loss of rights. I was recently in court and witnessed another right we the people have lost. The judge, on two separate occasions in- structed the jury: “The jury will judge by the law as I define it to them even if they do not agree with it;” and “The jury must follow the law whether they agree with it or not.” Our founding forefathers, knowing that self-serving peo- ple would enter government and institute laws oppressive to those God-given rights re- tained by the people, provided juries with authority to judge the law as well as the facts. At the time of the adop- tion of the Constitution, the jury’s role as defense against political oppression was un- questioned in American juris- prudence. Today the courts Poetry at the Oregon Caves Chateau From Lyn Berry Cave Junction Our community has a great opportunity that it seems many are missing. I’m speaking of the appearance (free of charge) each Wednesday evening this sum- mer, as part of the Caves Chateau anniversary celebra- tion, of local David Hodges. He has a wonderful talent of reciting/reading poetry. He makes the words come alive! I’m sure many of you would really enjoy this but do not know it is happening, even though there have been a few short mentions of it in the paper. So I’m writing this to thank David for sharing his talent with us and to thank the Chateau for offering this. (It’s a lot better than any of the TV shows!) I sure hope many will participate in the weeks to come. Pool an asset From Celine Martens Cave Junction It breaks my heart to see that our beautiful swimming pool facility and parking lot is in such a state of affairs. I moved to this town nine years ago to teach swimming in that pool. For four sum- mers in a row I devoted my life to be the best instructor I could be. I have attended pool committee meetings, both formal and informal, to get a consensus on what the atti- tude is toward our facility. When my children at- tended public grade school, part of the physical education curriculum required every child to learn to swim in the small-town, covered, indoor pool. The YMCA pool and our pool are the same design and size. At last I understood that our pool was under the care of the YMCA. Our pool provided jobs for our youth, important skills for young children. As I watch the swimmers on Sat- urday morning on NBC, (Continued on page 3) 16th Annual Over 100 Artisans Fine Arts & Crafts Aug. 15 & 16, 2009 • 10 am-5 pm On the Boardwalk Port of Brookings Harbor, Oregon E Admission • Parking • Shuttle FRE Demonstrations • Entertainment Children’s Art Corner 874010 541-469-7120 • www.artfestcoast.com Named “Best Fine Arts Festival” in 2006 & 2008 Oregon Festival & Events Association NO PETS IN FESTIVAL AREA Illinois Valley News www.illinois-valley-news.com An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-publishers: Bob & Jan Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief: Michelle Binker 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 P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820 Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330 Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com Volume 72, No. 21 Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts 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. Gener- ally, one letter per person per month at publisher’s discretion. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publisher’s 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 Frontier gives you VALUABLE CONNECTIONS for your home, business and community. Stay connected with Frontier. UÊÊ High-Speed Data UÊÊ Voice Flexible, scalable access with Internet, Networking and Wi-Fi solutions. Unmatched reliability with UNLIMITED Long Distance and enhanced calling features. 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