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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2014)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 16, 2014 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’ 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 The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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 commentary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers) Reader calls out sheriff At a recent Town Hall/Neighborhood Watch meeting in Cave Junction, Sheriff Gilbertson stated that District Attorney Stephen Campbell’s office will not prosecute cases not investi- gated by a sworn police officer, i.e., citizen’s arrests etc. I asked how many “citizen’s arrests” had been made in Josephine Coun- ty. He said he didn’t know. I told him ZERO and he said I was probably right. He also stated that Josephine County’s insurance agent said that Neighborhood Watch groups could be a liability for the County because they could be agents of the County. I, and others, asked HOW our Neighborhood Watch groups could be considered agents of the County. His response was “ask the insurance agent”. Then he talked about recruiting volunteers and training them to collect evidence at crime scenes. I asked how that would work if he doesn’t have a deputy to turn the evi- dence over to and the DA’s office wouldn’t prosecute what’s the point? His response, “I’m just throwing it out there.” I don’t think he has any idea what Neighborhood Watch groups actu- ally do. On more than one occasion, he has implied we are all a bunch of gun toting vigilantes. Obviously, I was surprised to see the front page article in the Courier again offering up the evi- dence collection training in light of the above. He’s “just throw- ing it out there” along with a lot of things, in hopes of getting re-elected. Too little too late in my book. Carol Dickson Cave Junction eader claims genetically modified crops pose risks. Studies of GMO foods and feeds from around the world show that questions of risk to health have not been resolved. Here in the US we are promised it’s all safe. Studies from else- where, and studies conducted over a longer period of time, seem to tell a different story. A study in France showed that Bt toxin kills human kidney cells. A study in Egypt found abnormalities in livers, kidneys and spleens of rats fed on Bt corn. A study in Norway found high lev- els of glyphosate (Roundup herbicide) and its breakdown prod- ucts in GMO soy. A study in Denmark ties glyphosate to human male infertility. Recently, scientists have discovered that there is a second code “hidden” in the DNA. These pieces of DNA that are moved between species contain more than one set of genetic instruc- tions, and at least one of these sets is new to science. This simply points out how little we actually know. The government bases their GMO food safety testing re- quirements on what is called “substantial equivalence”. The concept is that if a new food is substantially the same as an al- ready existing food, it can be treated the same way as the ex- isting food with respect to safety testing. This designation has allowed GMO’s to bypass the more thorough testing required of “new” foods. Current US testing requirements are not adequate to evaluate the safety issues inherent in genetic modification. There are differences between GMO crops and their non- GMO counterparts. A study in Brazil found 32 differently ex- pressed proteins between Mon 810 (GMO) corn and equivalent non-GMO corn. These differences may have impact on human and animal health. Nations that require more stringent testing, and tests not funded by the patent holder who stands to benefit, do not seem to be moving toward approving GMO’s. Genetic engineering is a process, not a product. Some GMO’s may prove to be harmless or beneficial, while others may cause harm. Genetic modification can cause substantial, un- predictable and uncontrollable changes in the modified plant or animal and its offspring. This is a new level of intrusion into the basis of life. I urge everyone to vote in favor of a ban on planting of GMO crops in the Illinois and Rogue Valley. It is a myth that measure 17-58 will mandate higher taxes. Counties set budgets and priorities and enforcement authorities do what they can with the funds they are given. It is also a myth that a ban on GMO’s only benefits organic farmers. Passing these measures would mean buyers could have confidence that all Rogue and Illinois valley products are GMO- free. GMO’s are not going away. Spraying is often cheaper than cultivating, especially at larger scales. Bigger monocultures are possible with less labor using pesticide tolerant plants. A farmer can farm thousands of acres. GMO farming has been profitable, at least in some crops and in some places. The Rogue Valley doesn’t have farms with thousands of acres. Our valley cannot compete in the market for low price commodities. What we do have is a dedicated core of specialty or organic farmers and smaller farms that are able to produce the highest quality of food, wine, seed and other products. Seeds crossed by GMO pollen have no value in the premium seed mar- ket. The demand for GMO-free food is not going away. It will be a long time before we know which, if any, genetic modifica- tions are of real value and which carry risk or cause harm. In the meanwhile, the valley can provide quality GMO-free products to those who want them. A premium price for Illinois and Rogue Valley products would be the silver lining of the GMO cloud. New GMO plant types are being released each year. Soon, restricting them from our valley will be impossible. Now is the time to say “not here” to GMO crops. Vote “YES” on measure 17-58 Jonathan Spero Grants Pass Reader questions spelling The devout can rejoice in the certainty of the unwavering observation by a higher power who retains each good deed and each transgression for reference on judgement day but they have the spelling wrong. It’s not G-O-D, it’s N-S-A. Dan Beal Kerby Obituaries Former Cave Junction resident, Greta Lilian Reesen, 94 , of Brookings died Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Sea View Senior Living Community in Brookings. No services will be held, Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives is handling the arrangements. She was born March 20, 1920 in Denmark. She immigrated to Canada in 1954 and then to the United States in 1959. She married Leif Reesen in Denmark in 1939. He preceded her in death in 2008. She moved to Klamath Falls from California in 1980 and to Cave Junction in 1990. She was a homemaker who is survived by one son, Michael Re- esen of Amarillo, Texas, One cousin Fransca Reesen, of Harbor, Ore. one grandchild and three great grandchil- dren. She was born September 13, 1936 in Hudson, New York, the youngest of 18 children. She married Clyde V. Long on October 16, 1990 in San Bernardino, Calif. He preceded her in death in 1991. She worked as a customer ser- vice supervisor for Fedco in San Ber- nardino, Calif. She moved to Cave Junction She was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith in 1999 and a grand- son. Genevieve “Jennie” A. Long, 77 , of Grants Pass died Tuesday April 1, 2014 at her daugh- ter’s home in Kerby. Private family services will be held. Grants Pass Funeral Alterna- tives is in charge of arrangements. from Fontana, Calif. in 1991. She was a member of Lions Club and the American Legion Aux- iliary Post #70. She enjoyed crocheting, knit- ting, walking, crossword puzzles and gardening. She is survived by her daughter Ellen Paul of Kerby; one son Son Mi- chael Mayhugh, of Lake Arrowhead, Calif. Ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren I LLINOIS V ALLEY F UNERAL D IRECTORS WWW.SINCE1928HULL.COM 541-592-4110 Save The Date April 16 April 17 The IV Forestry Practices Working Group will meet 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at the Kerby Belt Building to discuss the Page Creek Project in Takilma. According to group spokes- man Frederick Mittleman, “Everyone is invited to sit at the table.” April 16 2014 OSU Master Food Preserver Course Orientation - April 16, 2014 Classes start April 24 through May 29, 2014 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Cost- $150. Applications available in January. 2014 Instructors: Certified Master Food Pre- servers from Jackson and Josephine Counties and Jeanne Brandt (statewide coordinator). We invite you to an eight class learning adventure in the food preservation arts. Along the way student trainees learn how to prepare garden produce for preserving, the ins and outs of food preservation equipment, how to water- bath and pressure can safely and efficiently, as well as a host of other skills! Classes are held at the Josephine County Extension Auditorium and start April 24 with 6 consecutive Thursdays and two Saturday Labs (May 3 and 17) ending on May 29th. Tuition is $120 + $30 for the man- ual and 48 volunteer educational service hours. If you have any questions contact Jeanne Evers via email: jeanne.evers@oregonstate.edu Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher Illinois Valley String Band for Safe Farms and Families will present an evening of music, friends, food and fund-raising for “Yes on 17- 58,” 6 to 9 p.m. Thrusday, April 17 at the Madd Moose, 18252 Redwood Hwy. in Selma. Multi- national corporations will spend over a million dollars to defeat measures to restrict GMOs in Southern Oregon. No cover charge, but “bring your checkbook!” For information or to donate online: www.oregoniansforsafefarmsandfami- lies.org. April 18 The Cave Junction Farmers Market opens Friday, April 18th 2014, at the Junction of Red- wood and Caves Highway in downtown Cave Junction, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Friday through October 31, 2014. April 18 Rocky Jones, long term resident of Cave Junction and an early member of the Master Gardener Association, will talk on gardening in the Illinois Valley at the IV Garden Club meet- ing on Friday, April 18. The IV Garden Club meets the 3rd Friday of the month at United Methodist Church, 200 W Watkins (across from Shop Smart) in Cave Junction, OR. Cof- fee hour at 12:30PM. Meeting at 1 p.m. For information call 541-592-6009. 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 - $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. April 18 Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A rummage sale to benefit the Dome School Rang- ers after school program at the JoCo building in C.J. Donations may be brought on Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 541-592-3911 with questions. April 18 Friday April 18th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wonderful Event - Josephine County is happy to host Dr. Althea Rizzo from Oregon Emergency Management! She will be discussing Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes and Tsunamis. If you haven’t heard this presentation it is a must! Education is step One in Preparedness! Josephine County Fairgrounds: Floral Building Contact Jessica Schwarz, Josephine Co. Emergency Mgr 541-474-5300 April 21 PRECIOUS DIRT - Pesticide Meeting April 21st ~ @ The C.J. County Bldg FEA- TURING - the Documentary Film CHEMI- CAL REACTION A movie that speaks directly to chemi- cal trespass, and two of the primary chemicals sprayed within our valley: 2,4-D and Glypho- sate/Roundup 6:00 - 6:30 Social ~ 6:30 - 7:40 Movie ~ 7:40 - 8:30 Open Discussion Coffee/Tea and Goodies provided ~ www. PreciousDirt.org County Bldg, 102 S. Redwood Hwy @ Lister, Cave Junction 97523 Tea Lunch Silent Auction benefiting the Pregnancy Cen- ter of the Illinois Valley, 11 a.m. Location: Brid- geview Church Auditorium 5181 Holland Loop, Cave Junction. Tickets are $10 per person. April 21 Lorna Byrne Middle School Yard & Bake Sale Fund-raiser Saturday, April 26 @ Lorna Byrne Middle School 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Rain or shine We are accepting donations for the yard sale Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at A+ Storage in Cave Junction. To arrange Saturday pick up or drop off please contact Heather McLanahan 541-450-0946. All funds raised will go toward the 8th grade moving up ceremony and field trip. *Items accepted- gently worn clothing, books, toys & games, furniture (please call ahead if donating big/heavy furniture) home décor & art work, small household appliances & electronics, dvds & cds, collectibles. *Please no large appliances, mattresses or box springs, bedding or broken items. 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.
