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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Letters to the Editor
Illinois Valley News welcomes
Letters to the Editor.
Please e-mail them to
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
POLICY ON LETTERS:
‘Illinois Valley News’ encour-
ages letters to the editor provided
they are legible and not libelous
or scurrilous. All letters must be
signed, including name, 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need not be published, but will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. Letters are used at the
discretion of the publisher.
***
(Editor’s Note: Views and
commentary, including state-
ments made as fact are strictly
those of the letter writers)
Finding Nirvana
When I first moved here
over a decade ago I stopped
at the DMV to get an OR
drivers license. There was a
note on the door that she was
out giving a drivers test and
would return soon. I thought
I had found nirvana. I then
went to the Post Office where
I had the same feeling. No
seemingly endless lines just
to arrive at a window of a
sour faced bureaucrat giving
you the feeling they are doing
you a favor like in big cities.
And so when I read Cathy
Bossie’s reply to my letter it
should have been no surprise.
I realized Cave Junction must
be an island of excellence in
a sea of mediocrity in several
areas. Had I read more letters
from Evergreen Elementary
teachers I would have shared
my praise among them for their
attitude of putting children first.
I would like to make
a comment on Allison
Ballard’s harangue toward
the management of Rough
and Ready Lumber. (2/9/11)
I suspect Ballard, like Barack
Obama, has never taken any
business or economic studies,
met a payroll, obeyed the myriad
of regulations or mandates
from county, state and federal
agencies, and run a large
business. Until we can educate
those anti business types and
eliminate unnecessary rules
and regulations, our robust
capitalistic economy will
not kick into full steam and
hire the millions out of work.
Gregory D Anderson
Cave Junction
Land Appropriation
of Wilderness Area
Regarding the appropriation
of all the land in Southern
Oregon and Northern California
to claim it as Wilderness Area.
Instead of claiming it as
Wilderness area and making
it all but inaccessible to many
people. Only those who are
capable of hiking through the
great forests and mountains
would have access to it.
Why can’t there be a central
road made through the area
and off-shoot spur roads
made with campgrounds at
their ends. This would allow
all Americans to utilize
the land and enjoy nature.
By doing this, it would
provide many jobs for our young
people making the roads and
campgrounds; and in addition
allow access to everyone.
Jobs will provide taxes to the
government and income to
our young men and women.
I see no reason to just mark
off all this land and basically
say only the fittest may use
it. After all, isn’t our land
for the use of all peoples,
not the select few? There
could even be wheelchair
access in campgrounds, etc.
Jeanne Ervin
Selma
Stomping on
Disabled People
A longtime
Illinois
Valley resident and disabled
person was stomped today
by the Josephine County,
Oregon Planning Commission
because he lives in an RV, like
thousands of other people,
here in Josephine County!
Robert
Peirce,
fully
disabled , and living on a fixed
income which is only $674.00
a month lives in an RV on a
rented piece of property in
Cave Junction. His check is
not large enough to afford
to rent a house and pay all
the incidentals that go along
with it so he managed to get a
motorhome and found a piece
of property with a well, and
septic system, that previously
held a mobile home, to put it
on for only $200.00 a month.
This worked well, leaving
the rest of his check for the
incidentals and other expenses
until this week! After almost a
year of living on this property,
the Josephine County Planning
Commission has seen fit to
contact the property owner and
tell them that it is against the
law to live in an RV unless it
is in an RV Park. If Mr. Peirce
has not vacated the property in
60 days, the county is going to
take the owner to court. Mr.
Peirce is fully disabled, and
his check is not large enough
to save any money to move,
much less rent a house. If
he is forced not to live in his
motorhome he will probably
lose everything he owns
and end up sleeping under a
bridge or something. He also
is on several medications and
needs this stable place to live.
If you drive around
Josephine county you can spot
many places where people
are living in RV’s in plain
sight with no problems from
the planning commission,
places where its obvious
the people have money. Yet
in this instance, where it’s
very obvious that Mr. Peirce
doesn’t have much money,
the planning commission is
all over him! Is it because the
planning commission knows
the people with money will
fight them, so they don’t mess
with them? Or is it because
they know that Mr. Peirce
does not, and can’t fight them?
The Planning Commission
has a permit process in place
so that a person living in a
house or mobile home that
needs a live-in care giver, can
have a caregiver live on the
property in an RV legally for
the duration of the disability,
Yet a person who is disabled
themselves, is not allowed this
permit process to live in an RV.
Mr. Peirce does not require a
care giver. He is essentially his
own care giver. I just wonder
how the Josephine County
Planning Commission balances
the financial aspect of giving
Mr. Peirce one of those permits
which the county gets $325.00
for against the cost they
incure by causing him to lose
everything, become homeless,
live on the streets and possibly
become hospitalized because
he no longer has a stable
place to live and ration his
medications. Is this any way to
treat a long time valley resident,
or anyone for that matter?
When Mr. Peirce made
the choice to move into the
motorhome, it was not his
only choice! He could have
gone on HUD, went to the
county for emergency rent
help, became homeless and
cost the county money, maybe
even persued help from other
county agencies which could
have cost the county alot of
money in the long run. But
Mr. Peirce didn’t do that. He
buckled down, found a way to
get this motorhome, and paid
for a place to put it, not costing
the county a penny. Now to
repay him, they are stomping
him in the dirt. Who deserves
February 24
Josephine County Republi-
can Women Regular Monthly
Meeting Date: February 24,
2011 Time: 12:00 PM - (11:45
to order lunch) Place: Elmer’s
Restaurant - GP Program:
Harold Haugen - “Private
Property Rights” Former Jose-
phine County Commissioner.
Works with the Board of Real-
tors on private property rights
Knowledgeable about Oregon
Measures 66 & 67 and how it
affects businesses in Oregon
Q&A to follow Be sure to sign
up or renew your membership
- See Sylvia for more info For
more information, please call:
Barbara Biencourt - 541 476-
3828 Sandy Abercrombie - 541
941-7474 Sandy Spickler - 541
471-1951 Sylvia McLough-
lin - 541 476-6923 or visit
website: orgsites.com/or/jose-
phinecorw Everyone Welcome!
February 26
Come join us for a FREE
birdhouse building workshop
- FREE for all ages! This will
be a wonderful activity for
families! All supplies will be
provided, and you are welcome
to take your birdhouse home
with you. Bring your family, a
pair of gloves, and a hammer
and leave with a handcrafted
birdhouse created by you!!!
10-3pm, lunch provided at The
Josephine County Building lo-
cated at 102 S. Redwood Hwy
in Cave Junction. Then, join us
afterwards at the Rusk Ranch
this
kind
of
treatment?
Robert Peirce
Cave Junction, Or.
Playground Needed
Illinois Valley is in need
of safe, up-to-date playground
equipment at Jubilee Park. The
current playground – outdated
equipment in a remote location
in the back of the park – makes
it unsafe for small children.
There are a number of area
organizations and groups who
are working together to fill
this need with an awesome
new playground. This is a big
project and many businesses,
organizations and individuals
from the community are
giving their time, materials and
donations in a show of support
for the project. We would like
to express our gratitude for:
Cave Junction’s City Council
which has provided an area
right up front for the new
playground; Mark Camp, who
is donating his time for site
preparation. For site surface
for the playground Copeland is
donating gravel and Rough &
Ready Lumber Co. is donating
wood chips. We would like to
thank Kurt Krauss who has
given very generous support
to the Jubilee Park playground
project. With the support of
Kurt and the Krauss family,
this dream is coming possible.
It is a big project and we
need people in the community
to show their support. There
are many ways you can help,
look for fundraisers that are
happening around the valley.
On Saturday, Feb. 12 the
“Have a Heart for Jubilee
Park” brunch fundraiser was
held. Thanks to everyone who
made the event so great and
thank you all for bringing
us one step closer to the
playground the kids deserve.
If you would like to
know
more
about
the
Jubilee Park Playground
project,
phone
Suzanne
Vautier at 541-592-3939.
Suzanne Vautier
Kerby
Do Your Homework!
Kurt Krauss was unfairly
represented in the letter by
Allison Bayard. She obviously
does not know Kurt, nor
understand business. For
instance, revenue does not
reflect profit (nor include loss)
so for her to imply Krauss Craft
has millions sitting around is
unfounded. Any business, no
matter how many employees,
has to make prudent business
decisions to retain those
employees and avoid layoffs
during
tough
economic
times. Krauss Craft does not
buy any parts from China.
In fact, Krauss Craft makes
more of its own components
in-house than any other US
playground
manufacturer.
Kurt Krauss has dedicated
23 years of his life to growing
his company and providing
hundreds of jobs which in turn
generates revenue to benefit
many. And Kurt has always
been
community-minded,
making many donations and
contributions throughout the
years, so it is a shame that he
was so unfairly portrayed by
someone who knows so little.
Kathleen Weckerle
Grants Pass
Here, There & Everywhere
NOTICE: Location Change
Due to some work still being
done at the Belt Building please
note the Illinois Valley Garden
Club will meet at Immanuel
United Methodist Church on
Watkins Av. Across from Shop
Smart for the Feb. 18 meeting.
Al Cook will speak on “Wa-
ter features in your garden.”
Horticulture Table/ Show &
Tell: Pond edge plants. Third
Friday of the month with
Coffee Hour at 12:30pm
and the meeting at 1:00pm
Every Wednesday
Wild River Pizza – Open
Mic. 6-8pm Call Todd
Kaberline or Jim Nolan 54-
646-0975 or 541-660-8572
February 17 & 18
Rummage & Bake Sale - The
Senior Class of 2011 will have
a fundraiser at the IVHS Caf-
eteria. Please use the South
entrance bus pick up and drop
off area. Items offered: Dress-
ers, mirrors, clothes, night
stands, chairs & much more.
February 19
Illinois Valley Little League
presents their 2nd Annual
Chili Feed & Chili Cook-off
contest. Evening entertain-
ment, silent auction & live
band. From 4:00-7:00pm at
the County Building. $5.00 per
meal includes chili, corn bread,
dessert & drink. To sign up for
the cook-off call Shelly Davis
at 541-415-1718 or Chasty
Cavazos at 541-287-2113
Auto & Light Truck Repair & Service
Same Location - Same Owner Since 1979
• autos & Trucks • Farm Tractors
• RV’s • Small engine Repair
POSTMASTER: Please send
address changes to P.O. Box 1370,
Cave Junction OR 97523
Illinois Valley News is published at
321 S. Redwood Hwy.,
Cave Junction, OR 97523
Telephone (541) 592-2541
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R&l R epair S ervice
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CONTACT US:
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“We come to You!”
Saturday, March 5, 2011 2-5PM
Learn to make luxurious, organic,
preservative-free lotion!
6615 Rockydale Road
Nature Center for a campfire
and marshmallow roast from 3
– 5 pm! (Weather permitting)
at the Rusk Ranch Nature Cen-
ter located at 27750 Redwood
Hwy. Cave Junction. Directions
from Cave Junction: Go 1 mile
south on Hwy 199, turn right
just after Philips Auto Wreck-
ing. Entrance is across the
highway from Pinewood Way.
Upon entering, follow signs to
parking area (approx. ½ mile).
May 7
The Annual Spring Plant Sale
will be held on May 7 from
9:00am to ?? in front of the
County Building on Red-
wood Hwy in Cave Junction.
Mobile Mechanic
Herbal Lotions & Creams
ROCKYDALE AUTOMOTIVE
Mon-Fri
February 24 & 25
The Illinois Valley High School
Performing Arts Department
will present the Gilbert and
Sullivan Operetta, H.M.S. Pin-
afore on February 24th. (Show
on 25th canceled due to Bas-
ketball playoffs) The produc-
tion will be held in the IVHS
commons at 4:00 and 7:00
PM. Tickets are $3.00 or $2.00
with a student/school staff ID.
H.M.S. Pinafore is a comic op-
eretta (a shorter, lighter opera)
which examines romance and
social classes onboard a fic-
tional nineteenth-century Brit-
ish warship. Lavish costumes
and memorable characters
make this period-piece one of
theatre’s most beloved works.
POLICY ON LETTERS:
‘Illinois Valley News’ encour-
ages letters to the editor pro-
vided they are legible and not
libelous or scurrilous. All letters
must be signed, including
name, address and telephone
number. The latter need not be
published, but will be used to
verify authenticity. The ‘News’
reserves the right to edit let-
ters. Letters are used at the
discretion of the publisher.