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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 The latter need not
be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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
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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.