Page 12
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Restitution for crime victims subject of audit
The Oregon Constitution
grants victims the right to
receive prompt restitution but
several factors get in the way
of the process, a new audit by
the Oregon Audits Division
has found.
The 2003 Legislature
passed a law requiring county
district attorneys to investi-
gate and present evidence to
the court of economic losses
suffered by crime victims.
The law also requires judges
to order restitution when
losses are substantiated.
“We found everyone was
committed to seeking restitu-
tion for victims of crime and
got great cooperation as we
looked for strategies to make
the system work better,” said
Secretary of State Kate Brown.
With help from the Ore-
gon Dept. of Justice and the
Marion County District Attor-
ney, auditors identified crime
categories most likely to re-
sult in economic loss to vic-
tims. These ranged from iden-
tity theft to financial crimes to
homicide. Using sentencing
information from the Oregon
Judicial Dept., auditors re-
viewed 210 cases on file with
district attorneys in four
counties.
In slightly more than half
of the cases, restitution was
unnecessary because the vic-
tim did not suffer an eco-
nomic loss or was compen-
sated by other means. How-
ever, in the remaining 99
cases, no restitution was or-
dered even though the victims
appeared to suffer an eco-
nomic loss.
In about one-third of the
cases, the victims did not pro-
vide the necessary documen-
tation of their loss, and in
about two-thirds of cases,
district attorneys did not per-
form all the necessary steps
that lead to restitution.
District attorneys told
auditors that they do not have
the resources necessary to
fully investigate economic
Suspect apprehended
in CJ home invasion
losses of all victims. Auditors
also found one case in which
the judge chose not to order
restitution after considering
the defendant’s ability to pay.
“We certainly recognize
the challenges that district at-
torneys face every day, and we
hope that this audit helps them
improve their efforts,” said
Gary Blackmer, Oregon Audits
director. “The audit also will
help the Legislature understand
implementation of the law.”
The audit recommended
district attorneys consider
setting restitution rate expec-
tations, monitor rates and
evaluate their practices for
improvements.
A named suspect in the
home invasion robbery in
Cave Junction on Jan. 22 was
apprehended without incident
on Thursday, Jan. 28, said
Josephine County Sheriff’s
Office (JCSO) Detective Sgt.
Ken Selig.
In a press release, Selig
stated that Billy Jack Biggs,
33, was located and taken
into custody along Redwood
Hwy. in Kerby. Biggs was
lodged in Josephine County
Jail on charges of first-degree
burglary, first-degree robbery,
first-degree assault, first-
degree theft and unlawful use
of a weapon stemming from
the forced entry into the home
of CJ resident Norbert Croft,
who was severely injured in
the incident.
JCSO detectives tenta-
BLM guarantees fast track for energy projects
With the December 2010
deadline for obtaining incen-
tive funding under the Ameri-
can Recovery & Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) a year off, the
Bureau of Land Management
reaffirmed its commitment to
helping the nation reach its
“green energy future.”
This would be accom-
plished, said Director Bob
Abbey, by guaranteeing full
environmental analysis and
public review for the 31 re-
newable energy projects that
have met the required mile-
stones to remain on the fast-
track list for expedited proc-
essing.
Abbey said that this
first wave of projects (14
solar, seven wind, three geo-
thermal, and seven transmis-
sion) range in scale from as
small as 24 megawatts up to
986 megawatts, large
enough to supply power to
900,000 homes. Technolo-
gies vary, as does acreage
involved, but “They repre-
sent the first generation of
large-scale renewable en-
ergy projects to be carefully
sited on public lands over
the next several years,” he
said.
“BLM is committed to
helping diversify this coun-
try’s energy portfolio in an
environmentally responsible
manner,” Abbey said.
Fast-track projects are
those where the companies
involved have demonstrated
to BLM that they have made
sufficient progress to for-
mally start the environmental
review and public participa-
tion process. These projects
are advanced enough in the
process that they could poten-
tially be cleared for approval
by December, thus making
them eligible for economic
stimulus funding under the
2009 ARRA.
“The fast-track process is
about focusing our staff and
resources on the most promis-
ing renewable energy pro-
jects,” said Abbey, “not about
cutting corners, especially
when it comes to environ-
mental analyses or opportuni-
ties for public participation.”
All renewable energy
projects proposed for BLM-
managed lands will receive
the full environmental review
required by the National En-
vironmental Protection Act.
And they will include the
Accounting
same opportunities for public
involvement required for all
other land-use decision mak-
ing by BLM.
To help focus BLM re-
sources on the processing of
wind, solar and geothermal
energy applications and elec-
trical transmission facilities
on the public lands, Secretary
of the Interior Ken Salazar
called for BLM to establish a
network of Renewable En-
ergy Coordination Offices
that would include appropri-
ate multidisciplinary BLM
staff and resources from other
federal and state agencies to
assist in the processing of
applications.
So far, BLM has estab-
lished coordination offices in
California, Nevada, Arizona,
and Wyoming, where the
majority of the existing work-
load for renewable energy
applications and projects are
currently located. BLM also
has identified nearly 23 mil-
lion acres of public land with
solar energy potential in six
southwestern states and more
than 20 million acres of pub-
lic land with wind energy
potential in 11 western states.
It has co mpleted
Building Trades
“programmatic environ-
mental i mpact stud-
ies” (PEIS) for wind and geo-
thermal development and is
working on a PEIS for solar
development. The solar PEIS
has preliminarily identified
24 Solar Energy Study Areas
on BLM-administered land
in six western states.
Said Abbey, “BLM
would fully evaluate these
solar energy study areas for
their environmental and re-
source suitability for large-
scale solar energy production.
The objective is to provide
landscape-scale planning and
zoning for solar projects on
BLM land in the West, allow-
ing a more efficient process
for permitting and siting re-
sponsible solar development.
“Diversifying our energy
supply does not mean that we
will neglect the responsible
development of the oil and
gas resources on public land.”
Since Jan. 21, 2009,
BLM has held 35 oil and gas
lease sales offering 2.7 mil-
lion acres across the West.
The 1,312 leases that sold
generated more than $136
million in revenue for Ameri-
can taxpayers.
tively
h a v e
iden ti -
fied the
second
suspect
in the
case as
Rogue
Billy Jack Biggs
River
resident Nick Trautman, 30.
Trautman, “a white male,” is
described as 6-1 with short
brown hair, red goatee, brown
eyes, with tattoos on his arms,
chest and stomach.
Investigators are seeking
Trautman’s whereabouts, and
anyone with information is
asked to phone JCSO’s Major
Crimes Unit at 541-474-5153
or the confidential tip line at
541-474-5160.
Marital dispute turns fatal
An apparent murder-
suicide occurred on the
early afternoon of Monday,
Feb. 1 at a residence at 918
Pinnon Rd. near Merlin.
According to a Tues-
day, Feb. 2 press release
from the Josephine County
Sheriff’s Office (JCSO),
deputies were dispatched to
that address around 1 p.m.
on a report of a domestic
violence incident in pro-
gress. When deputies ar-
rived, they found the bodies
of 52-year-old Susan Carol
Richardson and 59-year-old
Ted Richardson in their
home.
Preliminary findings of
JCSO detectives determined
that the Richardsons were in
the process of getting a di-
vorce and had been sepa-
rated for several months.
With the help of a fe-
male friend, Susan Richard-
son went to the residence to
collect some of her personal
Building Trades (cont.)
belongings. As the friend
waited outside, JCSO said,
an argument erupted be-
tween the Richardsons.
Investigators believe
that Ted Richardson shot
Susan Richardson with a
handgun he kept in the
home. JCSO said that Ted
Richardson then turned the
gun on himself. The friend
called 911 and left the scene
when she heard the shots
and was not harmed in the
incident.
JCSO said that detec-
tives will be working with
the District Medical Exam-
iner in the next few days to
certify the cause and manner
of death.
Anyone with informa-
tion regarding the case is
asked to call the Sheriff’s
Major Crimes Unit at 541-
474-5153 or JCSO’s confi-
dential tip line at 541-474-
5160.
Fencing
Don Smith Constr uction
Illinois Valley appointments available.
Off season hours by appointment.
541-479-3625
541-592-6529
(regular office)
(home/office)
Handyman Work
Remodel, Repair, Painting, Decks & More
CCB # 178983
(541) 592 - 6649
(541) 659 - 4346
11062 Takilma Rd.
Cave Junction, OR 97523
“We Build For You”
CUSTOM HOMES ▪ REMODELS ▪ ADDITIONS
(541) 592-6364
Office (541) 592-6014 Cell (541) 415-0765
Lic. #133801
Bonded Insured
PO Box 972
Cave Junction, OR 97523
CCB #183926
www.oregonbuildersguild.com
jack@oregonbuildersguild.com
Free estimates
Advocacy Services
Catering
Building Contractor
Gardening
New Homes • Remodeling • Room Additions
Licensed—Bonded—Insured
Phone: (541) 592-2904
CCB # 10904
29429 Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
JUST DESSERTS
By Jessica
541-597-8564 541-659-2380
Weddings, Birthdays and Special Occasions
Rototilling • Brush Hog • Backhoe
Light Leveling • Front Scoop Service • 6” & 18” Auger
Serving Cave Junction & surrounding area up to 35 miles
Appliances
Clothing & Gifts
T ONY ’ S A PPLIANCES
Service and Parts
In-Shop or In-Home Repairs
I.V. EXCAVATING LLC
Factory Authorized
541-592-3600
541-597-2485
541-660-6048
Dave Campbell
Attorneys
Edward Podoll
º Septics
º House Pads
º Road Construction
º Logging
º Land Clearing
CCB #181530 DEQ #38491
(541) 592-2195
Foundations * Slabs * Custom Work
Manufactured Home runners and stem walls
(541) 592-4485
200 W. Lister, Cave Junction
CCB#93173
Mike Meidinger
541-592-6535
• Lots of unique CLOTHING -
teens to senior, small to large
• Indian Décor • Jewelry
• Gazing Balls • Witch Balls
Try the Rest - Come to the Best!
(541)
Visa/MasterCard Accepted
Auto
Bi Rite Auto Parts
327 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction
(541) 592-3601 or 592-3691
CCB #46654
Lots of unique gifts for Everyone
234 N. Redwood Hwy.
Cave Junction
next to True Value
Computer Services
MANSFIELD R. CLEARY
Attorney at Law
Brandy’s Boutique & Gifts
Gutter Systems
592-6440
Tim Hubbard Construction
541-479-5943
Free
Estimates
Custom made at your site
Phone Jeff (541) 597 - 4827
Health & Well-Being
Joanna Jackson
Holistic Health Practitioner
Master Herbalist and Reiki Master
Specializing in Nutrition, Herbal Care and Energy Work
for Body, Mind and Spirit.
(541) 415 - 0258
Attunements available
CCB# 43733
Carports, Patio Covers,
Patio & Screen Rooms
Window & Door Hood
Awnings, Much More!
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 4 pm
Dining
ART’S RED GARTER
Steakhouse & Saloon
Barber
Office: 541-597-4486
Fax: 541-597-2889
Donna Melton
CCB #159580
126 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction
Saloon (541) 592-4222
Dining Room (541) 592-2892
“The Heart of Caring”
Haircuts for All Ages
Haircuts, Clipper Cuts, Beard Trimming, Shaving
541 - 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
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.
541-474-1193
www.lovejoyhospice.org
Serving Illinois Valley for 26 years