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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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The Josephine County Board of County Commissioners
sent out an April 18 press release concerning the closure of
the Cave Junction mill owned by the Rough & Ready Lumber
Company.
The commissioners’ release stated that the mill closure
was, “the direct result of litigation brought by extreme
environmentalists, resulting in the loss of jobs and our rural
economic stability.”
Fast forward to Monday, April 22. The commissioners
held a meeting in Cave Junction that was only attended
by a handful of folks by pure chance. See, the people who
attended only found out that a meeting was being held
because they were trying to book the building and found that
the commissioners had it reserved. I only found out about the
meeting because one of the attendees sent a letter to the editor
of the Illinois Valley News.
I called the commissioners’ office to find out why I
hadn’t been notified about the meeting. I was told that when
they figured out they were going to have the meeting it was
past my deadline and therefore it was decided to forgo letting
me know.
We were able to get a copy of the meeting from Dale
Matthews, a Grants Pass videographer who was in attendance.
After watching the video, it became clear why the Illinois
Valley’s only newspaper was not alerted. It was also clear
that Commissioner Simon Hare wasn’t all that interested in
being there either.
After some people in the small and pleasantly behaved
crowd started asking questions about the use of “extreme
environmentalists” in the county commission’s press release,
Hare responded that it was his opinion and said that, “I can
use any words I choose” in a personal opinion column. The
problem is that it was the same wording in the county press
release, not just some OpEd by Hare. Commissioners Walker
and Heck said that it was only Hare’s opinion and that it was
never posted on the county website, let alone sent out to the
media. Strange thing is, we got a press release on county
commission letterhead bemoaning the mill’s closure due, in
part, to “extreme environmentalists.”
It is apparent to me that Commissioner Hare is not used
to being questioned and, like many times in the past, when he
didn’t like what he was being paid to hear, he just got up and
walked out of the meeting. Didn’t say a word, just gathered
his few belongings and walked out the door.
For Hare, who apparently considers himself some self-
appointed spokesman of the timber industry, to call people
who fight and win lawsuits against timber sales e tremists,
is a joke. I am all for logging and don’t consider myself an
environmentalist by any stretch, but I do believe in the truth.
The reason the timber sales are fought against in lawsuits and
won in court is that the sales are illegal. Maybe the BLM
could start following the laws and maybe the sales will not be
contested, and certainly not won. The end result of that would
be the 85 employees of the mill could still be employed.
Commissioner Hare wants us to give the county an
additional $9 million with the upcoming levy. My question is,
how can we trust him with more money when he doesn’t even
stay for an entire meeting to earn what we pay him now?
Thank you for picking up this week’s paper, enjoy!
— djm
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 com-
mentary, including statements
made as fact are strictly those
of the letter writers)
Message to mill owners
and Commissioners -
lose the insults
I share the community’s
sorrow for the friends and
neighbors who lost their jobs
at Rough & Ready Mill but
I could live without the mill
owners and Commissioners
pointing a full magazine of
accusations at the community
and indiscriminately spraying
blame for the mill’s closure
into a democratic society of
people who have different
opinions about the future of
our public forestlands.
The forest is a toolbox
that gives each of us a way to
generate wealth. These tools
include scenic landscapes that
give value to our property,
increase the marketability of
real estate, and help attract
travel spending to our local
businesses, some of which are
important marketing outlets
for products made by our
cottage industry, wineries, and
art community. Clean rivers
and a diversity of plants and
wildlife are tools that increase
our community’s quality
of life and make the valley
more attractive to business
and industry owners looking
for a location to set up their
enterprise and bring jobs to the
valley. These jobs are equally
important as mill jobs.
What the mill owners
propose to do with our public
forest, the tools that give
the entire community a way
to generate wealth, is take
everything for themselves to
make a profit for themselves
and send our toolbox down
the road and forever out of
Josephine County on the
back of a truck along with
the opportunity for all of us
to grow a diverse and stable
economic future. You can bet
I am against that.
Roger Brandt
Cave Junction
Bad Bikers
On April 25 I had two
very dangerous altercations
with the same two dirt
motorcycles while riding my
mule in the Limestone Rock
area. The two bikers claimed
that they didn’t see me and
my mule I was riding. We
were standing in plain view
on a small treeless, brushless
knoll right next to a clear cut
dirt road, going to Limestone
Rock as they roared and
revved by. As they claimed
when I passed them taking a
break at Limestone Rock. I
told the bikers that they scared
my mule and caused her to run
away, and to be more courteous
next time. The second time
was a vicious deliberate attack
on me and my mule. When I
heard the motorcycles coming
up fast behind me on an open,
straight road, I bailed off the
mule and started tying her to a
tree, next to the road. I didn’t
have time to get away from my
mule’s panic scramble as they
roared by, revving the bikes as
they passed the mule-I couldn’t
duck around the tree because
of the sharp stubs sticking out.
So I ran a few steps and dove
into a pile of branches. They
didn’t stop or slow down to see
if I was injured or if the mule
had impaled herself on the
sharp stubs. I was able to ride
back to my truck and trailer-
several hard miles away.
I
was extremely fortunate that
I only had a swollen left knee
from this ordeal. What would
have been the outcome if I
had been a novice rider on a
young
horse?
T.Sullivan
Selma
Whither Thou Goest
Bigfoot?
A drive to Grants Pass A
tedious bore With lots of loud
music Or a stop at the store
Did we see it or did we not?
He thought so, I thought not.
Oh Bigfoot, Oh Bigfoot
Where hast thou gone? Come
back to wander Where you
belong. You gave us a laugh
And a smile for sure But I
coulda tole ya Whoever done
stole ya Is not worth a pile of
manure You brightened our
day And made our trip quicker
Please come on home And
we’ll drive with a snicker.
Loyal and Mary Jane
Ingersull
Cave Junction
The Levy: An Injustice
to the Poor
Regarding
the
Josephine County Property
Tax Levy – Measure 17-49 to
be decided on May 21, I cry
out and ask, “What is the fair
and only thing to do on this
matter for suffering humanity
of this County?
The Wise One gives
Biblical Council:
“The
Righteous Man considers
the cause of the poor; but the
Wicked Man closes his eyes
to them.” Proverbs 29:7. So
Listen: Those who plan to
support the Levy, STOP!
Consider the words of warning
from Ben Franklin: “When
you force those who don’t
want to pay their money for
what you want, you commit
the Crime of Extortion.”
efinition “ tortion is a
form of Criminal Racketeering
and of acquiring money by
threat.” – Webster’s. In Street
English: Extortion is the threat
of the Sheriff kicking you off
your land if you don’t pay the
“Threat Money” ordered by
the Commissioners.
There
are
many
Social Security poor people
in this County who are barely
squeaking by in paying the
current property tax. In paying
the current tax, they struggle
to maintain basic necessities
which are vital to sustain
life itself, but they often lack
enough nourishment for their
bodies and heat for their
homes. My wife and I would
suffer a knock-out blow if an
additional Levy were added to
the current one.
Property tax is not
the answer. Sales tax could be.
The poorest of the poor need
a place to lay their heads in
peace without being threatened
by mail every November. But
when it comes to sales tax, the
poor can CHOOSE to buy or
not to buy taxed items.
So, the Compassionate
Tax-Funding Solution is as
follows: Those who are eager
and deep-pocketed enough to
support an additional Levy, the
ounty Treasures office in the
County Courthouse Basement
wants you to know that their
doors and money coffers are
wide open to receive all of the
Levy Money you want to give.
They will direct your donations
to the County Services you
want to support. I was told
that they will even issue you a
receipt.
So, County residents,
this is the answer. Those who
are eager and in a hurry and
able to pay the additional
tax, hurry up – go ahead and
pay. The County Treasurer is
waiting. But for those who are
unable to pay the additional
tax, it is fair and just that they
be taxed at the current tax rate
only. This is the humane, warm-
hearted and loving solution to
the Tax Levy Problem with the
citizens of Josephine County.
Please Vote No! Thank you so
much.
Ron Dez
Cave Junction
Obituaries
Bonnie June Phillips
Passed away on April 4, 2013
at age 73 in Cave Junction where she
lived since the 4 s. Bonnie was born on
August 24, 1939 in Arcadia, Calif. to Carl
John McBriety and Estella Emma Donaca;
then moved to Oregon. She married at age
16 to James (Jimmy) Phillips and together
they ran the family business, Phillips Auto
Wrecking. Bonnie also enjoyed designing
houses, drawing them out on paper, she
was born for it, a self taught architect. She
loved going for rides to the Coast and in
the mountains, singing old country songs,
reading her Bible and watching her son,
Michael race around the track, she was his
biggest fan!
She is survived by Mary S.
Phillips, daughter, Cave Junction, Ore.;
Tony S. Phillips, son, Perryville, MO;
Nancy R. Allen, daughter, Cave Junction,
Ore.; Michael J. Phillips, son, Cave
Junction, Ore.
She had two brothers, Bill
McBriety and Tim McBriety. Her seven
grandchildren are Mitchell W. Thornton II,
Tasha R. Thornton, Brittany J.R. Osteen-
Allen, Trinidy M. LaRue and Devan B.
LaRue, Cloe R.
Phillips and Ross R.
Phillips. Her three
great grandchildren
are Layla Mulch,
Kayven
Flinders
and
Katherine
Tesky.
Floyd “Smokey”Stone Uhl age 47 of the
Illinois alley died Thursday pril ,
.
Smokey was born in Marietta, Ga. on February 27, 1966.
He moved to the area 35-years ago after his parents purchased
seven beautiful acres on the California Oregon border on Hwy.
199. He was dearly loved by his entire family and everyone that
knew him. Smokey was a kind and loving man who was always
willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
He is survived by his wife Tonya and their your children,
three sons Daniel 19, Cody 13 and Justin 1; and one daughter
Kaleigh 6. One brother Frank Uhl-Salem, three sisters Dixie
Uhl of San Rafael Calif, Dianna Champie of Cave Junction and
Carole Gerughty of San Rafael Calif.
He was preceded in Death by his parents Franklyn and
Johanna Uhl, A brother Marston “Johnny” Uhl and a sister
Johanna “Stormy” Uhl.
Here in our small town of Cave
Junction, Oregon, we had a very sad tragedy
affect a family with four loving children;
Daniel, Cody, Kaleigh and Justin, a loving
mother and wife. We, in the Community,
are coming together to help this family in
trying times. On 4-11-13 Smokey... (Box)
Uhl passed away unexpectedly. We ask
for thoughts and prayers to go out to the
family. We are asking all communities
for any contributions to help this family
during these hard times. We hope you can
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
POSTMASTER: Please send
address changes to P.O. Box 1370,
Cave Junction OR 97523
Illinois Valley News is published at
221 S. Redwood Hwy.,
Cave Junction, OR 97523
Telephone (541) 592-2541
FAX (541) 592-4330
Since 1937 periodicals postage
paid at Cave Junction OR 97523
P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year in Josephine
County - $28.50
One year in Jackson and
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One year in all other
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out-of-state - $39.00
Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
find it in your heart to help us help them.
If you are out of the area and would like
to make a contribution, you can mail it
to Junction Realty in care of Tonya Box
at P.O. Box 849, Cave Junction, Oregon
97523. If you are in the area there will be
contribution cans at various locations in
Cave Junction, from O’Brien to Kerby.
or you can go to any Sterling Bank and
donate, or mail a donation to the “Smokey
and Tonya Box Donation Fund” at P.O.
Box 781, Cave Junction, Oregon, 97523.
He was well known as Smoky and his
Jerky that he sold. He has lived in the
Illinois Valley since he was 14 years
old. The family operates the jerky stand
out on the Oregon and Calif. Border on
Hwy. 199. Smokey, you will be missed by
many all over the World. WE LOVE YOU
SMOKEY.
For more Information please contact
Butterfly at 54 4
4 or you may
email butterflywildediblist yahoo.com
…. THANK YOU!
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vided they are legible and not
libelous or scurrilous. All let-
ters must be signed, including
name, address and telephone
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published, but will be used to
verify authenticity. The ‘News’
reserves the right to edit letters.
Letters are used at the discre-
tion of the publisher.