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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2013)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Life in the Valley of Riches By DAN MANCUSO, Publisher Over the past few months, I have noticed a vehicle parked around town with plates that ex- pired several years ago. As I watch the vehicle, I notice that the man and woman who inhabit it have many visitors throughout the day. It doesn’t take much to fig- ure out what the lady and gentleman are up to. I have contacted the Josephine County Sher- iff’s Office, Oregon State Police and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement team (RADE). I have sent numerous photos of the people who drive the truck along with other in- formation about activity associated with the truck. Two weeks ago while on the phone with OSP, I was told they couldn’t do anything as the truck was on private property. When I explained what I do for a living and mentioned that I was going to write about the lack of concern on the part of OSP, the dispatch- er said, “Good, do that. Maybe you guys will pass the levy next time.” Yes, the dispatcher said that. I called back to get her full name and was told by her supervisor (who would only give me her first name) that she, the supervisor, was on the line and that the dis- patcher didn’t say that. The supervisor went on to say that I would get into trouble if I repeated my claim. Apparently she doesn’t know me. I suggested that I request the audio tape of the conversation and was told I couldn’t get a copy. Apparently this OSP em- ployee does not recognize the ORS statutes that cov- er public record laws. My point in all this, is this: harvest time is coming up and I bet the RAID team will be all over the Valley busting Medical Marijuana grow- ers. While it seems taking medicine away from peo- ple is more important than busting meth and heroin dealers in the Valley. I say this because not one person from any of the three agencies has contacted me to ask ques- tions or follow up with me. Thank you for pick- ing up this week’s paper. – djm A moment with Mary: By Mary Halvorsen I drove home from work this evening with an hour of daylight to spare, noting that the as- phalt of Highway 199 was damp with recent precipitation. A line of electric orange snapped from the sky to the southeast, as I wound the turns of Sis’s Gap. A few drops fell on the windshield, and I quietly urged, “C’mon, pour. Dump on us.” By the time I pulled into Cave Junction, there had been six or seven lightning strikes, some snaking high and long across the dark, cloudy, horizon. It has been a long summer, leaving the town smoky, with no post office, a closed lumber mill, and the loss of several individuals who had been part of the Valley for a long time. Some I knew, some I only felt like I knew, and some I didn’t know at all. One, I met during an EMT course at the fire station years ago, when I happened to choose the seat across the aisle from the Valley blacksmith. He was quiet most of the time, but smiled like he knew something the rest of us hadn’t stumbled onto yet. I didn’t know then, the extent of his musical background, only that I was glad he was in the class. I saw him off and on over the years; sometimes at Taylor’s, when there was a great band. We also lost a man I had only nodded to in passing, but saw regularly for years, ped- aling his bike back and forth from town, to his home in Takilma. Knowing he’s not out there anymore, making his way, is its own loss. I recently became acquainted with a woman in her 90s who had lived here sixty years. When I asked her on one occasion how it was back then, and had she liked it when she first moved here, she looked up and told me, “No. The first time I went to the store for eggs, they only had duck eggs.” She still seemed mildly exasperated by that, before continuing, “There was nothing here. Not like now.” She stayed on, though, becoming a contributing member of the community, and taught her chil- dren to do the same. I will always be grateful to have known her, though it was brief. I routinely drove by a local veterinar- ian, riding with who I assumed was one of his kids, one bike large, and the other smaller. They were always a mile or two up Caves Highway or down Laurel Road. Each time I passed them in my car, I pictured my own bike at home, and thought, “I should be doing that too.” A staggering moment was seeing the notice that one of our local kids, a young man of twenty–five, who had been my sons first friend back in kindergarten, had passed away. I still, and will always see him, climbing the long branches of a pine tree down the hill from our house, his face among the needles, looking down from ten feet up. He was quiet, but had gone up that tree like he was born to climb it, the way only a child, with another six year old by his side, can. These fires, the lingering smoke, and the recent run of thunder storms, seems a fit- ting end to an emotional summer. An editorial in last week’s Illinois Valley News, found the publisher admitting that he was “sick and tired” of the fire, the heat, the smoke, that he preferred the season of cool and rain. I think he spoke for many. Raising the windows to hear rain filter- ing through the trees, or see heavy, gray clouds hovering in the hills, will seem a relief. This season of fire and loss will even- tually be behind us, but won’t be forgotten. Nor will those we said goodbye to this summer. Letters to the Editor Illinois Valley News welcomes Let- ters to the Editor. Please e-mail them to dan@illinois-valley-news.com POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ encourages 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 commen- tary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers) Save the salmon The Coho salmon in the Illinois River watershed especially in the Deer Creek shed are in dire need of water flows this summer. Many of us have noticed that the hatch and sub- sequent juvenile Coho populations in many tributaries of the Illinois River are the best it’s been in many years if not decades. However, the streams are dropping and drying up fast and many thousands of young Coho have likely already succumbed to drying up streams. There are larger resident cut-throat trout and steelhead also threatened by drying up streams. What would help the Coho, cut- throat, and young steelhead the most is if Illinois Valley residents con- served these scarce waters resources throughout the I.V., but especially in Deer Creek and its tributaries through this extremely dry year until some good rains fall. Perhaps other streams around the valley have similar circumstanc- es? If you do find young Coho land locked in drying streams call the Or- egon Department of Fish and Wild- life at 541-826-8774 and request that they be moved to safe areas. Please do what you can to help save this ir- replaceable resource and legacy. The Coho are listed Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Fish and Wildlife have the Illi- nois River Run categorized as having a high risk of extinction. Shannon Wilson Selma, OR I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Save the date NEW LOCATION: Commune I Tea sale, strawberry shortcakes, hotdogs with 148 S. Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction Yard sale coming up this Friday and chili, essentials oils, Watkins products, Saturday. It will be the 16th and 17th ‘Classy Kats’, History of Berries in the – Next to Taylor’s Sausage. Commune I from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Safe House Valley and please don’t forget the Creepy Tea will offer tea, coffee and ‘goodies’- for a fee. Doors open at 6:00, meeting be- Crust mixed Berry cobblers. Alliance parking lot. gins at 6:30 – 8:30 Aug. 17 Aug. 17 Please come to a benefit concert with “It’s the Berries” on Saturday, August Aug. 20 Joanne Rand on Saturday August 17th at 17, 2013 at the RCC/Belt Building, High- American Red Cross Blood Drive the Takilma Community Building at 8pm. way 199, Kerby, OR 31 venders selling Where: The Church of Jesus Christ of Healing Herbal Tea and Desserts will be an assortment of items. You may find Latter-Day Saints 1969 Williams Hwy. in sold to off-set losses of postponing this what you are looking. Grants Pass, Thursday, August 22, 1 p.m. summer’s Herbal Gathering. From Apple pies to Lavender, horse Admission $10-20, no one turned away - 6 p.m. tack, blackberry puff pastries, soaps, We would like to invite everyone to for lack of money, so give what you can! jams and jellies, teas, OSU Master Food We will be singing to appease the fire come out and support our community . Preservers Display, tools, collectibles, spirits, singing to heal the land, and sing- Aug. 20-21 Indian art, Tupperware, beef raffle tick- ing for healing all who have been touched Two free training sessions will take ets, several fund-raising tables for non- by the fire’s breath. Join this healing event place next week for Illinois River Forks profit groups, jewelry, embroidery dem- as we celebrate life and renewal! Walk State Park volunteers. Participants can onstration, wood crafts, tools, American away inspired and full of life! choose to attend either Tuesday, August Legion BINGO, wood art, several variety 20 or Wednesday, August 21. Both ses- Aug. 19th items tables, So. Oregon Guild Studio Precious Dirt-Monthly sions are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon and Pesticide Meeting. On this will cover basic policies and procedures. month’s agenda- A Pesti- Each session will begin with an orienta- cide Bill of Rights. Other tion at a location to be determined and end with a field component at the park. topics pending Training is necessary in order to fulfill Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) legal requirements. Aug. 16-17 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 Douglas counties - $32.50 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $39.00 Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions. Remainder of subscription will be donated to the charity of your choice. Additional training is available for volun- teers who want to assume greater levels of responsibility, including organizing projects and special events or leadership roles. Other potential roles, including helping with the Junior Ranger program or walking park patrols will require spe- cialized training from OPRD. Illinois Valley residents who want to help assure the Illinois River Forks State Park stays open for future generations and be a part of the team that will demonstrate how a community can assume greater re- sponsibility for their park are asked to contact Brandt immediately at 541-592- 4316 to receive an application for next week’s training. Aug. 29 TIME FOR TALENT! The TALENT SHOW is just a few weeks away. The I.V. Lions Club Labor Day Festival will again host a TALENT SHOW (amateurs only) and cash prizes will be awarded the win- ners of each age group. Don’t forget to sign up by August 29. For more informa- tion and/or to sign up, please call Donna, (541) 596-2719 or Sue, (541) 592-2252. Sept. 28 Saddle up! BCHO Poker Ride, Sept. 28 in the Illinois Valley. Call 541-597- 1806 for more details. News - Dan Mancuso dan@illinois-valley-news.com Circulation - Kimberly Potter office@illinois-valley-news.com Advertising / Composition Dan Mancuso dan@illinois-valley-news.com Mailroom - Millie Watkins Office Manager-Laura Mancuso office@illinois-valley-news.com DEADLINES: News, Classified and Display Ads, Announce- ments and Letters 5 P.M. FRIDAYS POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ encour- ages letters to the editor pro- vided they are legible and not libelous or scurrilous. All let- ters 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 discre- tion of the publisher.
