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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2014)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 Life in the Valley of Riches By DAN MANCUSO, Publisher Any time you lose a loved one too soon, it’s a tragedy. The famous NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt once said, “You ask me about tragic accidents? If I am on my tractor at my farm and it rolls over on me and kills me, that’s a tragic accident. If I die in a race car, that’s life. I died doing what I love.” This has stuck in my head for years after Earnhardt died in a car wreck on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite his views, I believe his family saw his death on the track as a tragedy. On Saturday, Jan. 18, Sarah Houston held a march for her brother Jarrod Houston who died while in an altercation on Hwy 199 with Rab Calvin. Almost 200 people came to show support in raising awareness for the unsolved hit-and-run that claimed the lives of both men on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2013. I was impressed with the crowd. I honestly didn’t expect to see so many people there. While many were there for Mr. Houston, many also held signs for Mr. Calvin. I felt that the outpouring of people was a positive way to keep attention on the case. I really have no clue what either family is feeling and have no idea how I would respond in their shoes. What I do know is this: the families and many others in the community feel that what happened is a tragedy. In fact, it is probably the worst thing that will ever happen in their collective lives. But, I feel that one of the real tragedies was in the crowd. I believe at least one or more people holding signs in recent weeks knows what really happened. I believe that at least one person looks in the mirror each day and refuses to speak about what they know. I believe that the key to “Justice for Jarrod and Rab” is right under the families’ noses. That is what I call tragic. Thank you for picking up this week’s paper, enjoy ~ djm From the desk of the mayor: by Mayor Carl Jacobson Jr. This is our first letter for the new year. We have had a busy past year. There seems to be a lot of vandalism occurring in town lately. I just don’t see the good that these people are ac- complishing by tagging private and public buildings. This not only makes the tax payers have to pay for cov- ering or removing it; but, when the people in question see someone doing the job of cleaning up their mess and verbally attacks that person (who is just doing a job they have been asked to do), it borders on harassment. To go in and start fires and destroy the public bathrooms in Jubilee Park, re- move trees that were planted by the playground, and then say that is ok? Bull, it’s sad when the parents don’t see anything wrong with what their children are doing. I’m getting reports daily from a lot of different people. Blaming the sheriff’s office is not right. They are not handling the investigation, the State Police are in charge. This is a fairly close knit community. We try and help our people as much as we can without taking advantage of people’s generosity. I won’t accuse people of doing wrong, but good common sense is needed here, cool heads must prevail. That’s all I have to say on the matter. This past year we have started our 20 year master plan for the water and waste water plants. The contract was awarded to Civil West Engineer- ing and has been sent to the proper agency for their approval. We have had a mixing zone study for our out- fall at the river, plus we are working on the transportation plan. We have acquired a used street sweeper which is much quieter than our twenty plus years old one. We try and recycle as much of our rolling stock or just about anything we use in the plants. We had one contestant in “If I were Mayor” contest but she did not win at the state level. That means she can try again. We lost a member of our city council, long time vet Dr. Dan Fiske. (It was his son that won a lap top computer at our OMA meeting in Florence a few years ago). I hope that we might get more entrants this year. It is open to elementary classes 3rd grade and up, middle school, and high school. We have a new coun- cilor to serve out Dan Fiske’s term, long time city recorder Charles “Jim” Polk. The city is still in verily good shape but we need to perform a lot of maintenance to keep everything up to date. Some of our equipment is 20 years old, we are trying to upgrade things as we need them. It’s next to impossible to get spare parts to repair some of our equipment. We try to stretch the dollar as far as we can get it to go. Thank you for electing me your Mayor 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) I Don’t Get It I understand that we don’t have the police service we would like in the Illinois Val- ley. I understand that the fam- ily and friends of Jarrod Hous- ton are upset about the lack of an arrest at this point in time, my heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to them. What I don’t understand is what they want to happen now. Is there a suspect out there being ig- nored by the police? What are the police suppose to do, (I’m not defending them, just ask- ing)? I understand wanting to keep the pressure on the police to keep working this case, but what do you do with no clues, no witnesses, and nowhere to go with this? I will continue to pray for a swift arrest in this matter. I only knew Jarrod during his elementary school years and he was a sweet boy. He won’t be forgotten by those whose lives he touched. Debbie Messerli Cave Junction Take our country back It looks like your vote is not as valuable as money. But, it should be, because the per- son you vote in should be able to spend your money wisely. Taxes…I have an idea…just suppose enough of you pick someone in your family, friends etc. who would really work hard for us and spend tax dollars wisely and write their name to Letters to the Editor. Really, get their name out there. And why you think they would do a great job as commissioner. That person shouldn’t have to buy the posi- tion. Remember these words? Together we stand, divided we fall? It’s true. Big bucks don’t mean you will. Do the right thing. Time is slipping away. So let’s get started. Pick some- one. Write to all the newspa- pers. Tell them who you think would be the best person for the job. Keep doing it so when it’s time to vote their name will be out there. Have you no- ticed I.V doesn’t get the help it deserves from your taxes? Yet we pay our fair share… look it’s simple. If the sheriff wants to hire deputies, “and he does,” the deputies can’t work for free. They have rent, gas, food and families too. We need law enforcement, so let’s get some commissioners in there that will help do it right. Somehow the tax dollars seem to slip through the gen- eral fund cracks and the sheriff gets blamed for not doing his job. They can’t work for free. So, now we have to take care of ourselves. But wait. When we protect each other and make a mistake in doing so you can bet the D.A.’s office system can find the funds to fine the hell out of you and/or lock you up. Right? But the heavy drug dealers still seem to get a pass. Over night, then get out again. Now then let’s first start with getting signatures for the recall. We have power to do so. We don’t need big brother/ sister baby-sitting us. We can make decisions on our own. Have you had a Big Gulp lately? Yea, you know what I mean. And let’s not forget O… care or careless. Let’s make a difference. Clean up our neighborhood. Take our country back. Vote! But, don’t vote for the big bucks. Vote for someone that will truly work for us. We don’t want big government. Ken LeGaux Selma I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com Save Jan. The Date 22 Wed, January 22nd – Movie: Pipe Dreams, 6 p.m. Across the heartland of America, farmers and landowners are fighting to protect their land, their water, and their live- lihood in what has become the most controversial environmental battle in the U.S. today: The Keystone XL Pipeline. Jan. 23 An OSU Extension sponsored class on January 23, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Held at OSU Extension Auditorium, 569 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR. Cost is $15 each; $20 farm duo; $35 friends of farms. To regis- ter- http://wholesalesuccessthrive. bpt.me/ This class is a great soup- to-nuts overview of selling produce into the wholesale channel, and is de- signed for small and mid-sized fruit and vegetable growers interested in entering into or expanding their sales. Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher This “Wholesale Success” training was developed by FamilyFarmed.org and the USDA. It is the gold standard for learning the best practices in food safety, post-harvest handling and produce packing. The all-day profes- sional training includes lunch and a complimentary copy of “Wholesale Success: A Farmer’s Guide to Food Safety, Selling, Post-harvest Han- dling and Packing Produce”, a 312- page manual, $70 value. For questions call Maud Powell at SOREC, 541-776-7371, ext. 208; or by email: maud.powell@oregon- state.edu for more information. Wed, January 8th thru Friday, January 31st - Fine Amnesty Days Nonperishable food and pet item donations will go to the Josephine County Food Bank and Animal Shel- ter. Each donated item credits $5 to- ward overdue fees regardless of how long the item/s may have been over- due. 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 Jan. 24 LBMS is hosting a Family $1.00 movie night on Friday, January 24 from 6:00 to 8:30pm in our Cafeteria. Nachos, beverages, snacks and pop- corn will be available for purchase at $1.00 each. Movie – Disney’s PLANES - entrance fee is $1.00 per person, LBMS gold card holder is free and under 5 free. Movie will start at 6:30pm. LBMS is located at 101 S. Junction Ave., Cave Junction. For information phone Lorna Byrne Middle School at 541-592-2136 Jan. 25 The IVCDO is developing a list of volunteers to match up with tasks we will be responsible for in the maintenance of the Forks Park. There are some minimal requirements for volunteers, one of them being knowl- edge of basic safety rules while work- ing out there. We have scheduled a SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $30.50 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. 541-592-4110 Saturday morning session with a Park Ranger from Valley of the Rogue State Park leading us thru the required material. The session is scheduled for January 25 at the Kerby Belt Build- ing at 10 a.m. Any interested people should contact Willa Gustavson at 541-592-0335. Jan. 29 Wed, January 29th – Craft Night: Needle Felting, 6 p.m. located at the I.V. Library Branch. Join Ro- chelle and Roberta for a fun evening of needle felting. Don’t know how? Don’t worry, they’ll show you quick and easy ways to get started. Feb. 1 & 2 I.V. Little League will be hold- ing early registrations days. Feb. 1 and 2 at the Illinois Valley Golf Course. Early registration price $65, original birth certificate and three proofs of residency are required. Proofs must be dated between Feb. 1 of 2013 to Feb. 1 of 2014. For more info. Con- tact Jenna Larkin at 541-592-9899 Feb. 22 Tired of Winter? Join us for “LOVE BOAT – A Caribbean Cruise!” 5 – 9 pm, Saturday, Feb. 22, at Selma Community Center! 5 pm: Silent Auction, No-Host Bar & Rum- ba Lesson. 6 pm: Dinner Catered by The Vine Restaurant, Dance to Oregon Little Big Band Duo & Live Auction. Formal or Resort Wear Please! $25 person, $40 couple. Tickets: Ever- green Federal Bank, C.J. or G.P. main branch. No ticket sales after Feb. 14! Special Thanks to Deer Creek Vine- yards, Evergreen Federal Bank, Wild River Brewing & Pizza. Fundraiser for Illinois River Valley Arts Coun- cil’s public benefit programs. www. irvac.com 541-592-4444. 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.
