Page 12
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Legislator ponders wilderness as federal debt collateral
requirement for collateral to
secure that debt, has been
growing at an unprecedented
rate as well.”
Whitsett noted, “The
rate of acquisition of private
lands by the federal govern-
ment has also increased dra-
matically in recent years.”
During a Friday, Oct. 16
telephone interview, Whitsett
said that there is a pattern of
resource-rich areas becoming
increasingly off-limits to any
kind of economic activity.
“The federal government
has summarily prohibited the
exploration and development
of one of the largest oil depos-
its ever discovered in the
By SCOTT JORGENSEN
IVN Staff Writer
The push for more wil-
derness protection on land
throughout Oregon and other
states has at least one state
senator wondering if it is
somehow related to collater-
alizing the nation’s mounting
debt load.
Sen. Doug Whitsett (R-
Klamath Falls) pondered the
possibility in an April 17
newsletter to constituents.
He wrote: “President
Obama’s administration has
been borrowing money at
previously unheard-of rates.
“The direct result is that
our national debt, and the
Green River basin in Wyo-
ming and Utah,” Whitsett
said. “The Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument
(in Utah) sits on one of the
largest coal deposits in the
world. It’s locked up now.”
Whitsett added that the
United States has “prevented
the exploration and develop-
ment of our own continental
shelf oil and gas, and other
nations like China are explor-
ing them for us.”
Despite the seeming co-
incidences, Whitsett stopped
just short of saying that the
issues are directly related.
“I don’t know that to be
true, but I’m very concerned
that it may be true,” he said.
“It doesn’t make a great deal
of sense unless there’s an-
other reason. My concern is
that the other reason is collat-
eralization of the debt.”
Whitsett elaborated on
the details in his constituent
newsletter.
“Is the real truth that our
creditors required further
guarantee that their collateral
is sufficient and safe?” Whit-
sett wrote. “Those nations
and banking entities that have
loaned the United States tril-
lions of dollars consider these
gigantic reserves the collat-
eral that secures their loans.
They want these resources,
their collateral, preserved
until the loans are repaid.”
If that is the case, Whit-
sett said, the nation’s leaders
are taking its citizens on “the
absolute wrong path.”
“The only way to get out
of this mess and economic
morass is to start using our
own natural resources to
build things, create jobs and
create wealth,” he said. “No
nation has ever endured
wealth and progress that has
not used its natural resources.
We do have abundant natural
resources, we just don’t use
them.”
Right now, Whitsett said,
the federal government pays
approximately $400 billion
per year in interest on its debt.
“We’re not talking about
paying down the principle,
just maintaining the interest at
the current level,” he said.
Whitsett said that the
U.S. dollar has lost 34 percent
of its value since 2000, which
may be of concern to nations
like China and Japan, which
are among the government’s
largest creditors.
“If I were that creditor, I
would want things in durable
goods, not a promissory note
to pay it back with dollars,”
Whitsett said.
Domestic violence summit in Grants Pass emphasizes solutions
Beth Williams from the
Cave Junction-based Illinois
Valley Safe House Alliance
(IVSHA) also was present.
She stated that some 10,000
domestic violence victims
have been assisted by IVSHA
and the Grants Pass-based
Women’s Crisis Support
Team (WCST) during the
past two years.
Williams cited a study
conducted by the governor’s
office, which stated that only
11 percent of victims seek aid
from survivor programs. A
study from the Center for
Disease Control also was
cited by Williams. It showed
By SCOTT JORGENSEN
IVN Staff Writer
Representatives from
community organizations
throughout Josephine County
converged on Evergreen Fed-
eral Bank’s Bear Hotel in
Grants Pass on Monday, Oct.
19 for the first Domestic Vio-
lence Leadership Summit.
Approximately 50 people
attended the summit, seen as
becoming an annual event.
There was representation
from Rogue Valley Boys &
Girls Club, On Track, Op-
tions, Zonta International, and
Grants Pass Dept. of Public
Safety.
that calls to emergency hot-
lines rose 43 percent in 2008.
“I’m taking that as a
positive note,” Williams said,
adding that it means victims
are attempting to access avail-
able services.
The overall goal of the
summit was to bring together
the different groups to de-
velop a 10-year strategy for
combating domestic violence.
An open discussion was
held regarding programs that
have been useful in address-
ing the issue. Particular rec-
ognition was given to Young
Men’s Work, which cautions
teen-age boys against vio-
of District Attorney Stephen
Campbell to prosecute crimi-
nals in the county, and added
that a plan to bolster staffing
at the sheriff’s office should
be fully implemented within
the next few months.
That will boost available
space at the jail by 40 percent
and get the county much
closer to around-the-clock
deputy patrols, Toler said.
The group spent the en-
tire afternoon discussing solu-
tions to the problems pre-
sented during the previous
discussions.
cles to solving domestic vio-
lence problems. They include
the challenges of pursuing
criminal charges against
abusers when victims don’t
show up to testify in court,
loss of jobs in the local econ-
omy, and limited services for
women without children.
Additionally, a lack of
resources for sheriff’s deputy
patrols and to lodge offenders
at county jail, and involving
men to become part of the
solution.
Josephine County Com-
missioner Dave Toler, an
Illinois Valley resident, at-
tended. He praised the efforts
lence; and programs encour-
aging mentorships.
Williams said that
IVSHA has been working
with the county’s probation
department to identify poten-
tial clients. Shannon Williams
of WCST said that group’s
crisis line helped around
6,500 victims last year.
WCST also helps bat-
tered women obtain restrain-
ing orders, Shannon Williams
said. Personnel sometimes
accompany emergency re-
sponders to domestic violence
scenes and to medical care.
Several table discussions
then were held about obsta-
After school programs offered for I.V. kids
On Thursday, Oct. 22,
Evergreen Elementary
School in Cave Junction and
the Illinois Valley branch of
the Boys & Girls Club are
hosting “Lights on After
School.” It is intended to
highlight the new 21st Cen-
tury learning Grant pro-
gram.
The school and club
have partnered to offer
classes in cooking, drama,
dance and origami. The pro-
gram will run from 2 to 6:30
p.m., with a free, hot dinner
at 3:30 p.m.
Parents are welcome to
attend the event, which is
open to the public.
For more information,
Accounting
Barber
Illinois Valley appointments available.
Off season hours by appointment.
479-3625
592-6529
(regular office)
(home/office)
phone the I.V. Boys & Girls
Club at 592-4771, or Ever-
green Elementary School at
592-3136.
A hundred men may make an encampment,
but it takes a woman to make a home.
~ Chinese proverb ~
Building Trades (cont.)
Donna Melton
Computer Services
Try the Rest - Come to the Best!
Haircuts for All Ages
Haircuts, Clipper Cuts, Beard Trimming, Shaving
592 - 3123
Tuesday - Friday 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Every other Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Northwest Hairlines
202 W. Lister St. #A
Cave Junction
Founda t ions * Sla bs * Cust om Work
M a nufa c t ure d H om e runne rs a nd st e m w a lls
(5 4 1 ) 5 9 2 -4 4 8 5
CCB# 9 3 1 7 3
592-6440
M ik e M e idinge r
Advertising in the
Advocacy Services
Dining
Illinois Valley News
won’t cost, it will
ART’S RED GARTER
Steakhouse & Saloon
592-2541
126 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction
Saloon (541) 592-4222
Building Trades
Don Smith Constr uction
Dining Room (541) 592-2892
“We Build For You”
CUSTOM HOMES ▪ REMODELS ▪ ADDITIONS
Appliances
592-6364
Handyman Work
Remodel, Repair, Painting, Decks & More
T ONY ’ S A PPLIANCES
Service and Parts
In-Shop or In-Home Repairs
CCB # 178983
11062 Takilma Rd.
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592 - 6649
(541) 659 - 4346
Rototilling • Brush Hog • Backhoe
Light Leveling • Front Scoop Service • 6” & 18” Auger
Factory Authorized
Free estimates
541-592-3600
Building Contractor
Office: 541-597-4486
Fax: 541-597-2889
Phone: (541) 592-2904
CCB # 10904
29429 Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
Attorney at Law
Dean Loyd Construction LLC
592-2195
General Contractor
Site Set-up • Excavation • Land Clearing
(541) 659-2180
References Available
Lic# 173361
Bonded • Insured
Auto
I.V. EXCAVATING LLC
Lamb’s Baaa-dy Shop
1436 Rockydale Road
592-2883
541-597-2485
541-660-6048
Dave Campbell
Edward Podoll
º Septics
º House Pads
º Road Construction
º Logging
º Land Clearing
CCB #181530 DEQ #38491
Complete Body Work * Paint * Fiberglass
Bi Rite Auto Parts
327 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction
592 - 3601 or 592 - 3691
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 4 pm
Gifts
Licensed—Bonded—Insured
MANSFIELD R. CLEARY
200 W. Lister, Cave Junction
Serving Cave Junction & surrounding area up to 35 miles
CCB #159580
New Homes • Remodeling • Room Additions
Attorneys
Gardening
Lic. #133801
Bonded ▪ Insured
PO Box 972
Cave Junction, OR 97523
NOTICE: Oregon Construction Contractors Law
(ORS 701) requires all businesses that advertise
repair, remodeling, home improvement, new
construction or home inspection services to be
licensed with the Construction Contractors Board.
An active license means a contractor has a bond
and insurance. Verify a contractor’s license at
www.ccb.state.or.us or phone (503) 378-4621.
Visa/MasterCard Accepted
Tim Hubbard Construction
541-479-5943
The Perfect Fit
CCB# 43733
Carports, Patio Covers,
Patio & Screen Rooms
Window & Door Hood
Awnings, Much More!
Sandie Barker
(541) 592 - 9363
barkers123@hotmail.com
CCB#70693
Licensed
Bonded
Insured
MJB Drywall
New Construction - Remodels - Repairs
For all your drywall needs
Free Estimates
592-3281
catalogs, fund-raisers
parties, custom kitchens
business opportunity
Health & Well-Being
Joanna Jackson
Holistic Health Practitioner
Master Herbalist and Reiki Master
Catering
JUST DESSERTS
By Jessica
541-597-8564 541-659-2380
Weddings, Birthdays and Special Occasions
Specializing in Nutrition, Herbal Care and Energy Work
for Body, Mind and Spirit.
415 - 0258
Attunements available