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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2010)
Page 6 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 21, 2010 Commissioner candidate Lesh pitches ‘Alaska Plan’ at AFP By SCOTT JORGENSEN IVN Staff Writer John Lesh, one of 11 candidates for Josephine County Commissioner Posi- tion 1, addressed members of the county chapter of Ameri- cans for Prosperity (AFP) during its meeting on the eve- ning of Thursday, April 8 at a restaurant in Grants Pass. Approximaely 30 people were present, in- cluding commissioner candidates Rycke Brown, Ed Bowers and Simon Hare. Lesh began by read- ing from a prepared state- ment. He said that he grew to admire commer- cial fishermen while at- tending high school in S.E. Alaska, and entered that occupation after graduating from high school and serving in the military. Mostly, Lesh dis- cussed his philosophy on governance. “The growth of govern- ment was supposed to im- prove our benefits and make us more secure and prosper- ous,” Lesh said. “But the re- sult was the opposite.” Lesh lamented what he characterized as the gradual addition of regulations and bureaucracy. “The people most af- fected were those who pro- duce the products society uses to make our lives con- tent,” he said. Americans were granted the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by its founding fathers, Lesh said. “These rights are bless- ings from God, not from gov- ernment,” Lesh said. “Our government was formed to protect these rights. I believe that our primary responsibil- ity is to live up to our Consti- tutional principles.” Whoever is elected com- missioner, Lesh said, should “begin the task of dismantling the excessive rules, regula- tions, permits and high fees presently in place.” Lesh said that his plat- form consists of establishing a “strong pro-development position,” compelling state and federal agencies to coor- dinate their plans with those of the counties, forming a savings account and having county government live within its means. Also discussed by Lesh was a piece of his platform he dubbed the “Alaska Plan.” In the mid-1970s, Lesh said, Alaska began leasing land on its North Slope to companies for the develop- ment of natural resources. Those leases were “astro- nomically high,” he said, but enabled the state to become immediately wealthy. The state of Alaska took money raised from non- renewable resources and be- gan putting it into a fund, Lesh said. Approximately 75 percent of the money went toward funding government services, and the remainder was put into a “permanent fund,” he said, that voters can access and politicians cannot. Lesh said that throughout the years, his family re- ceived around $30,000 in dividends from the state of Alaska, with checks ranging from $200 to $1,200. Because of those poli- cies, Lesh said Alaskans are “very savvy in vot- ing” and tend to turn out heavily in elections. “It makes them very interested,” Lesh said. Lesh said that there is currently more than $30 billion in Alaska’s per- manent fund. He said that a similar program could be established in Jose- phine County through reve- nue off the uses of resources on federally owned land, and stated the Alaska plan is an “idea that certainly has some merit.” But during a subsequent question-and-answer session, Bowers, also an Alaska na- tive, said that Lesh’s proposal “will not work here.” “Your program is unreal- istic,” Bowers said. “Run the numbers.” Bowers said that Alaska is the “greatest welfare state in America.” Lesh was set to respond to Bowers’ remarks, but Jack Swift, chairman of the Jose- phine County AFP chapter, intervened. Swift said that the group does not allow debates at its meetings. Children’s Fair & Pet Parade Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jubilee Park F i s h i n g B oo t h Free Snacks B i k e He l m e t s P E T P A RA D E 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. REGISTRATION 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Dress up your pet! Don’t forget your leash! SMALL PETS ONLY P l a y D o ug h F u n Seed Planting Science Activity Child ID Beading Salmon Tent Lots More Students of the Month March Students of the Month** and Most Improved Students* were honored at Lorna Byrne Middle School in Cave Junction. (Rear, from left) Samantha Frederick**, Jaycee Fredrickson*, Amanda Brooks**, Meagan Flores*, Patricia Gleason**, Maddie Parker **; (front, from left) Principal Damien Crowson, Scooter Boone*, Eric Miller**, Steven Humphries*, T.J. Buckmas- ter**. (Photo by Illinois Valley News ) Battle of the Books entrants from Lorna Byrne Middle School in Cave Junction did well at the Three Rivers School District competition Saturday, April 10. First-place champions are (rear, from left) Shawn Laney, Joss Vawter and Brian Bemis; the LBMS second-placers are (center, from left) Kynan Nordal, Russell Benson and Alia Parker; and taking fourth place were (front, from left) Samantha Milner, Nicolette Pinder, Celeste Meek and Misty Rhodes; and Edilet Rod- riguez, not shown. Battle of the Books competitors must read a selected group of 12 books. They compete as teams to answer detailed questions about all the books. Their coach is Mary Trammell, LBMS science teacher. (Photo by Illinois Valley News ) Illinois Valley FUN ACTIVITES & GIVE-AWAYS F a c e P a i nt i n g Rotary Club of Illinois Valley salutes Lorna Byrne Middle School CAR SEAT SAFETY I.V. Fire District will be on site to check car seats and boosters for proper installation. Car Seats available at $20 and $10 for Booster Seats. Proudly Sponsored by Josephine County Commission on Children and Families Siskiyou Community Health Center Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries * Head Start * Early Head Start Jo. Co. Health Dept. * Early Childhood Services I.V. Boys and Girls Club * I.V. Lions Club * I.V. Fire District I.V. Family Coalition * Aflac * Oregon Caves Siskiyou Field Institute * GP Masonic Lodge Kerby Belt Masonic Lodge * CJ Kiwanis Club Dome School * College Dreams Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~ Author Unknown ~ - IVHS School Menu - Sponsored by SISKIYOU COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 25647 Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction 541-592-4111 THURSDAY, APRIL 22 Pasta with marinara / meat sauce, bean & cheese burrito, chicken burger, cheeseburger; cheese, barbecue chicken or supreme pizza; Italian or turkey & cheese sandwich, spicy chicken wrap; chef, antipasto or garden salad FRIDAY, APRIL 23 Nacho supreme, corn dog, spicy chicken burger; cheese- burger; pepperoni, cheese, supreme or taco pizza; ham & cheese or turkey & cheese sandwich, turkey wrap; chef, garden or Mandarin chicken salad MONDAY, APRIL 26 Beef soft tacos, chicken strips, spicy chicken burger, ham- burger; pepperoni, cheese, vegetarian or sausage pizza; ham & cheese or turkey & cheese sandwich, turkey wrap; chef, garden or Mandarin chicken salad TUESDAY, APRIL 27 Chicken fajitas, BBQ chicken sandwich, chicken burger, cheeseburger; pepperoni, cheese or Hawaiian pizza; Italian or turkey & cheese sandwich, spicy chicken wrap; chef, antipasto or garden salad WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28 Taco salad, sweet & sour chicken rice bowl, spicy chicken burger, hamburger; pepperoni, sausage, cheese or Italian griller pizza; veggie or turkey & cheese sandwich, turkey wrap; chef, garden or Mandarin chicken salad Say you saw it in the Illinois Valley News
