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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 23, 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 The latter need not be
published, but will be used to verify authen-
ticity. 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)
Reader responds to
GMO
Annette McGee Rasch’s
recent article on GMOs reads
like an opinion piece rather
than a responsible job of
reporting. In reality, the GMO
issue is not as cut and dried
as her article would make it
seem.
For instance, an Au-
gust 2013 article by David H.
Freedman in respected science
journal, the Scientific Ameri-
can, pointed out that “the
American Association for the
Advancement of Science, the
American Medical Association
and the National Academy of
Sciences have all unreserved-
ly backed GM[O] crops. The
U.S. Food and Drug Admin-
istration, along with its coun-
terparts in several other coun-
tries, has repeatedly reviewed
large bodies of research and
concluded that GM crops pose
no unique health threats. Doz-
ens of review studies carried
out by academic researchers
have backed that view.”
The article also quotes
David Zilberman, a U.C.
Berkeley agricultural and en-
vironmental economist, point-
ing out that he is “one of the
few researchers considered
credible by both agricultural
chemical companies and their
critics. Zilberman argues that
the benefits of
crops
greatly outweigh the health
risks, which so far remain
theoretical. The use of GM
crops ‘has lowered the price of
food. It has increased farmer
safety by allowing them to use
less pesticide. It has raised the
output of corn, cotton and soy
by 20 to 30 percent, allowing
some people to survive who
would not have without it.’”
The article does point out
that, “Many moderate voices
call for continuing the dis-
tribution of GM foods while
maintaining or even stepping
up safety testing on new GM
crops.” And it quotes Greg
Jaffee of the Center for Sci-
ence in the Public Interest,
who says that all crops could
use more testing. “We should
be doing a better job with food
oversight altogether.”
The GMO question is un-
deniably a complex one, and
this short letter of mine cannot
address all of the issues that
merit impartial and thoughtful
examination. The full text of
the Scientific American article
can easily be found online, for
those who would like to check
it out for themselves. And
should McGee Rasch desire, I
would be most happy to point
her toward some other respect-
ed – and balanced -- sources of
information.
Sincerely, Anita R. Savio
Cave Junction
Reader asks who will
win
Most people I know be-
lieve in basic fairness. Bully-
ing and using brute strength to
overcome what is decent and
true, makes most folks angry.
Our tendency to root for
the underdog comes from our
history as an upstart nation that
won its independence from the
rule of the distant but power-
ful British. The British had the
huge advantages of money, an
infrastructure for control, and
the most powerful military on
earth. Colonists had to cobble
together their resistance to an
unfair system of outside domi-
nation, which included the
imposition of monopoly by
one of the first multi national
corporations over an important
part of Americans’ diets, tea.
There are many paral-
lels with our local contest over
Measure17-58. A small group
of local volunteers drafted the
measure to protect their own
food choices and champion lo-
cal control. They are defend-
ing their farming and garden-
ing neighbors from the attempt
of greedy corporations to im-
pose an effective monopoly,
using corporate muscle: armies
of lawyers to sue farmers, vast
money for campaigns of mis-
information, and encroaching
techniques to contaminate lo-
cal competitors.
The wider implications
of Monsanto, Syngenta, and
other giants gaining control
of the world’s food supply are
frightening; more herbicides,
more super bugs and super
weeds, less seed saving and
more farmers being sued by
these multi-national bullies.
Josephine county volun-
teers have designed a system
that has proven in other coun-
ties to have no enforcement
costs. They finance their cam-
paign for basic justice by pass-
ing the hat.
Who will win, local vol-
unteers and farmers or cor-
porate bullies? You’ll decide
when you vote.
Barry Snitkin
Cave Junction
Reader gives his two
cents
Often elections are de-
cided by voters that do not
follow the news everyday &
frequently depend on sources
such as Bill Maher, David Let-
terman, & other dedicated lib-
eral/progressives in the major
media. Many folks carry over
prejudices from their parents
or far left teachers as well as
college instructors. (90 percent
of which are liberal/progres-
sives) It’s ironic that many of
the “finer” niversities where a
free exchange of ideas, views,
& experiences have leftists
student groups and instructors
that demonstrate if a speaker is
a conservative, especially if the
speaker is a women or a black
or the worse of all worlds for
the left, a black woman. Per-
haps the left are afraid of open
minded students being drawn
from their sphere of influ-
ence toward the conservative
principles of free speech and
debate. Haven’t we been told
over and over that Democrats/
liberals/progressives are the
“Party of tolerance”?
These low information
voters & shallow thinkers are
further handicapped in their
decision making in the vot-
ing booth by the major media,
which the past couple of de-
cades or so act as a megaphone
to carry far left messages
from their liberal/progressive
friends. Of course if the news
is unfavorable to Obama or
other leftists, they simply don’t
cover it in their news because
they don’t want people voting
against their favored ones.
Examples:
l. When
Mitt Romney debated Obama
and said in answer to a mod-
erators question that a major
geopolitical problem in the
future would be with Russia.
Obama scoffed at that answer
saying the Cold War was over
years ago. Of course today
our major geopolitical prob-
lem IS RUSSIA, demonstrat-
ing a good executive is way
ahead of most of us in their
analysis rather than “leading
from behind”. 2. Fast & Fu-
rious is the name of a failed
program under cry baby Gen-
eral Holder AG which allowed
a couple thousand weapons to
be smuggled to the cartels in
Mexico which resulted in the
killing of a U.S. agent, Brian
Terry. Several hundred Mexi-
cans have been killed by these
weapons as well. Obama de-
clared “executive privilege” to
prevent investigation into this
terrible idea, and our major
media says nothing because it
reflects bad presidential deci-
sions. 3. Benghazi is the name
of a city in Libya where we
lost Ambassador Stevens and
three other Americans in an
attack on our consulate even
though for months Stevens
had requested more security.
Our Secretary of State failed
to respond, resulting in the
deaths. Again the major media
is largely absent.
Greg Anderson, Cave
Junction, OR
Reader discusses
GMO’s
There has been much
discussion by the opposition
to measure 17-58, stating that
it will cost the county large
amounts of money should it
pass. First, there is zero evi-
dence that this is true; in fact,
since GMO crops can only be
grown with a contract, the odds
of someone growing them ille-
gally are nil. Other West Coast
counties with similar ordi-
nances have incurred minimal
costs.
But of perhaps greater
importance, the economic
benefits of having a
O
free zone for our farmers is
huge. GMOs are not saleable
in many markets, both in the
US and abroad, and farms that
can provide proven non-GMO
crops, feed and seeds will have
an advantage. For example,
Marin County in California
has a similar ordinance and
their agricultural revenues
have gone up by 700% in the
past decade. In the words of
an administrative aide there,
“If you’re thinking about eco-
nomic development, it (GMO
ban) has been a lifesaver. It’s
been critical in sustaining our
agricultural industry.”
Our farmers will be able
to grow high value crops in
our county and to continue
developing our valley nation-
wide as a premier vegetable
seed growing region, provid-
ing local jobs and contribut-
ing to our local economy. New
farmers will be drawn to this
area, knowing their crops will
not be tainted by GMOs.
The long-term economic
benefits of keeping our farm-
land GMO-free will be im-
mense. We owe it to our farms,
our children and our commu-
nity to stand up and vote YES
on measure 17-58.
Vince Alionis
Grants Pass,
Reader says yes to
levy
Two years ago I moved
from western Nebraska to
Grants Pass with my husband
and three boys. On a personal
level, adjusting to this new
community has not been as
easy as I planned, but I per-
severe in looking at the good
things that Grants Pass and
Southern Oregon has to offer,
like its pleasant weather and
inviting outdoors. But the one
thing that continues to concern
me is the lack of funding for
county emergency and safety
services.
It is promising to see the
Josephine County Jail and Ju-
venile Justice levy back on the
ballot, this time by citizens de-
termined to make our commu-
nity safe while keeping public
concerns about responsible
spending in mind. The levy
will cost $1.19 per $1,000 of
property assessed value, which
is half of a market value. It is
a five year levy that can be
extended only with a vote of
the people, and funds raised
by the levy are restricted un-
der Oregon law to be used for
jail/juvenile justice services
only. Under these safeguards,
we will benefit from the levy
increasing the number of jail
beds and re-opening the juve-
nile justice center to treat/de-
tain/shelter juveniles. And,
it will increase patrols on
our roads: If the levy passes,
county funding currently used
for reduced jail services will
be re-directed to increase the
Sheriff’s patrol.
Please join me in bring-
ing security back to Josephine
County and vote yes on propo-
sition 17-59.
Kerry Michele-Buller
Grants Pass
Obituaries
Bob Armstrong, 76 ,
of
Cave Junction, died Sunday, April 13,
2014 at his home.
No services are planned. Illi-
nois Valley Funeral Directors are in
charge of arrangements.
Bob was born January 24, 1938
in Beaumont, California. For 53
years he worked as an aircraft me-
chanic for Alaskan Airlines. In 2002
he moved from Anchorage, Alaska to
Cave Junction.
Bob especially enjoyed design-
ing and building small-scale replica
models of ships from simply observ-
ing ships during his travels.
Survivors include his wife, Pa-
tricia Armstrong of Cave Junction,
Oregon; two daughters, Deborah Al-
len of Fontana, California and Sheri
Hitchcock of Cave Junction, Oregon;
six grandchildren; and 13 great-
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a
daughter, Reva Hayes in 2012.
I LLINOIS V ALLEY F UNERAL D IRECTORS
WWW.SINCE1928HULL.COM
Save The
Date
April 24
Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce
Meeting will be held April 24, at 12 noon.
Come join our guest speaker IV Fire Chief Den-
nis Hoke.
ALL CHAMBER MEMBERS and guests
are invited
Wild River Brewery and Pizza Company.
April 25
Upcoming blood donation opportu-
nity in Cave Junction:
Thursday, April 24: 1 p.m. to 5:30
p.m., Illinois Valley Senior Center, 520
East River St., Cave Junction
April 25 and 26
The 2014 Gem & Mineral Show will be
held at the Josephine County Fairgrounds in
Grants Pass: 9 – 5 p.m. April 25 and 26 and 9
– 4 p.m. April 27; with free admission for chil-
dren 11 and under. Free admission for adults
Friday and $1 Sat. and Sun.. The event also
features a silent auction, demonstrations, kids
games, door prizes and a snack bar.
April 26
The Pregnancy Center Tea Event that was
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2014, has
been cancelled.
April 26
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 Junc-
tion. 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.
April 26
Rusk Ranch Nature Center (RRNC) will
sponsor a free workshop 11 a.m. Saturday, April
26 at the Josephine County Building, corner
of Lister and 199. Learn about Monarch But-
terflies and how to make milkweed seed balls
from Tom Landis, US Forest Service (retired).
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.
541-592-4110
Landis is dedicated to using his nursery train-
ing to propagate milkweeds and nectar plants
to bring monarchs back to the Rogue Valley.
RR C also has flats of local milkweed starts for
non-spray properties, $10 suggested donation to
support the utterfly Flyway Pro ect. Call 41
287-2164. RRNC will be open 10 to 5 Tuesday
– Sunday, May 24 through November.
May 3
Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce An-
nual Awards Meeting and Auction will be held
Saturday, May 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Wild River
Brewing and Pizza. Its Derby Day so wear your
big hats and come celebrate our Business and
Citizen of the year.
May 5
The Josephine County Board of Commis-
sioners will be hosting a Town Hall Community
meeting on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in
the Illinois Valley. The meeting is scheduled
for Monday, May 5, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
Cave Junction County Building, 102
South Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, Oregon.
All County residents are invited to attend.
May 10
Bridgeview Winery presents “The Bistro
at Bridgeview” 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
The fundraiser for the 2014 IVHS Safe and So-
ber Grad Night will include live entertainment,
a silent auction and gourmet dinner of pork
roast (donated by Taylors), au gratin potatoes
(donated by McGrews), green salad and des-
sert. Vegetarian entrée also available. Tickets
are $25 per person or $40 for two, available at
IVHS, Taylor’s Country Store and First Com-
munity Credit Union. Sponsored in part by the
Jo. Co. Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Com-
mittee.
May 10
Cave Junction Lions Club Saturday, May
10th will host its annual Mommy’s Day Bingo
event.
Doors open at 5 p.m. First game at 6 p.m.
50/50 Drawing, Door Prize for Mommys,
Special game: Last person standing; Dobbers
for sale, or bring your dobbers.
Snacks, and drinks will be available for
purchase.
For more information: call Cori at 541-
592-4301. IV Senior Center, 520 E. River St.
Cave Junction. 50¢ Cards, Half Cash Payout,
15 Game Program.
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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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.