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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Letters to the
Editor
detained or transported to jail
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need not be published, but will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)
Reader says NO
Has it occurred to Jo-
sephine County voters that
Measure 17-59, the Juvenile
Justice Center and jail levy
to be considered May 20, was
not initiated by the Commis-
sioners, the peoples’ represen-
tative? Is it possible that the
JoCo Commissioners’ last two
law enforcement levies, having
been trounced by voters, were
afraid to propose another levy,
or alternate funding option?
Instead, did the Com-
missioners opt for a “straw-
man” approach to tax property
owners by ceding the taxing
function to a group of private
citizens, under the cloak of
the Citizen’s for Securing our
Safety (CSOS) PAC, a quasi-
taxing authority, without first
publishing the proposed levy
in local newspapers for pub-
lic input, or receiving express
permission of JoCo Commis-
sioners, before initiating a pe-
tition drive?
Was it intentional that
no part of the proposed levy
provides for the enforcement
process known as Sheriff Road
Patrol? How is it that law-
breakers are to be discovered,
if there is no stated levy fund-
ing for additional deputies?
Without express budget fund-
ing defined in the levy are tax-
payers to rely on our Commis-
sioners’ promises to “fix” the
lack of funds by transferring
suddenly-found “unallocated
carryover” or other “funds” af-
ter it passes?
Recently, Sheriff Gilb-
ertson stated that road patrol
deputies would be pulled from
the jail staff, and that new jail
staff replacements would be
brought in and trained. Will
new road patrolmen need
training and be re-tested for
physical fitness Will new pa-
trol vehicles be purchased and
need upgrading to emergency
needs?
Commissioner
Simon
Hare said recently that $2 mil-
lion in general fund money
would be available from “unal-
located carryover”, if Measure
17-59 passes in May, for road
patrol and DA needs; he also
said “Our projected carryover
for 2014-15 is nothing.” But,
no mention is made of guaran-
tee of subsequent general fund
monies for years 2015-19; if
this carryover funding is not
available, will the road patrol
manpower revert to 2013-14
one or two deputy level?
The power to tax and
property confiscation is a real
economic loss of property
owner’s worth and rights, es-
pecially for people with limited
incomes, all for the incarcera-
tion process only. Collateral
damage from property con-
fiscation results in loss of tax
base, and increased county
property liability which de-
grades over time, resulting in
increased taxes on the remain-
ing property owners.
It seems Measure 17-59
has serious aws No dedicat-
ed, sustained funding for road
patrols in years 2015 – 19.
No sustained road patrols: no
crime reduction. No crime re-
duction, no need for county
taxpayers to pass the levy!
Don’t be surprised if a
new levy for Sheriff’s patrol
is next, if the jail and JJC levy
passes.
Don’t vote for higher tax-
es and NO road patrols. Let’s
go back and get it right!
Vote NO on Measure 17-
59.
Teena Kindell
Cave Junction
Reader says Vote!
Well, it’s that
time
again…are you going to do
your part? Vote? Well I’ve
heard it over and over, year
after year, “My vote doesn’t
count!” But how do “they”
get in there if voting doesn’t
count? In a way, your vote
doesn’t count, because if you
don’t vote there isn’t a vote
to count…I’ll always vote be-
cause it’s my duty to do so,
and it’s my American right and
a great privilege. Do you think
that if we don’t vote maybe
they will all just go away?
Not! Have you ever heard of
this, if you don’t vote, you re-
ally don’t have anything to say
about who won or didn’t win?
I understand why some
folks say their vote doesn’t
count, and maybe it’s be-
cause their candidate didn’t
win. But if you did vote, you
can complain, etc. Of course,
you can complain at any time,
but wouldn’t you like to see a
huge voter turnout this time?
Wouldn’t it be nice to see I.V.
turnout surpass the other ar-
eas?
Maybe just maybe we get
the right ones in this time and
the sheriff will get our tax dol-
lars he needs to bring law and
order back to I.V. and all of
JoCo, and get the bad guys out
of town like it used to be.
Have you noticed the
criminals have more rights
than honest folks like us?
Yes, just think about this for
a minute…burglars, thieves,
druggies, etc. They get caught,
fingerprinted, hot meals, clean
jail, etc. for a few days or may-
be a week then back out on the
streets to do it again and again.
But if we exercise our consti-
tutional right to protect us and
ourselves, I’ll bet we would go
to jail or be sued for doing so
and have court costs, attorney
fees and then have a criminal
record. Isn’t it just great how
that now works?
I have an idea! Why not
have a group of citizens, re-
ally good guys that run a tent
camp approved by the people
“your vote” and turn the bad
guys over to the good guys and
the good guys will then enact
punishment? Not just a slap on
the hands and then turn them
loose to continue it again. I
was asked years ago, what I
would do about rape, human
trafficking, etc. especially with
children. Here’s my answer:
Be very clear that the accused
person and or persons are
found 100 guilty first. Then
in the town it occurred in the
mayor must then build a gal-
lows and in public, hang them.
Oooh. But that’s cruel right?
But, just sit down and think for
a moment. What if it was your
little precious boy or little girl
that was abused? How would
you feel? And what kind of life
would they have constantly
thinking about that act for the
rest of their life? That’s not a
God given life at all. If that
were to be a real event, I’ll
bet the bad guys would think
twice before committing such
an act. Oooh, but some will
say that’s just not right. It’s too
cruel. But if it happens to one
of your kids or family, I’ll bet
Obituaries
Wedding Announcements
B a r b a r a joyed walking in the
Jean Jenkins- woods and cooking.
She is survived
Peddicord 73 , of
Wedding Announcement for Cathleen S.
Von Breithaupt and Kelly Wade Wright Jr.
Bride: Cathleen S. Von Breithaupt; Mother:
Muriel M. (Sparks) Walker, deceased; Father:
William Boone Walker III of Chico, California;
High School: Willow Glen High School, gradu-
ated in 1974; Further education: San Jose State
University, Colorado State University, Univer-
sity of Utah; Current employment: Unicorn Cre-
ations Custom Sewing – Owner; Her name after
the marriage will be Cathleen S. Wright.
Groom: Kelly Wade Wright Jr.; Mother:
Carmen Edwards, deceased: Father: Kelly Wade
Wright Sr., deceased; High School attended:
Gardina High School, graduated in 1968; Fur-
ther education: El Camino University; Current
employment: retired.
The Wedding will be on May 10, 2014 at
5 p.m. at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Selma
She was born
Dec. 9, 1940 to Eu-
gene Edward Fos-
ter and Hilda Joyce
(Smith) Foster.
She served in
the United States
Navy. She had a de-
gree in History and
spent her life as a
part time bookkeep-
er and house wife.
She was a
Choctaw
Native
American. She en-
by her husband
Robert Peddicord
of Selma, stepson
Charles S. Peddi-
cord of Oregon, one
sister, Edna Jane
Diggs of Memphis
Tenn. and a nephew,
Paul Eugene Diggs
of Memphis Tenn.
Date of death
and services were
not provided.
you would rethink about the
justice of it all.
Those of you, who know
me, know I’m not a mean per-
son. And what I just said may
seem mean and cruel, but I
really believe it would put a
stop to this sort of thing and
it wouldn’t cost the amount of
tax dollars year after year to
have the bad guys live without
a care in the world about hav-
ing a job, paying rent, buying
food for the family, gas for
their car, paying taxes, none
of that.. You’re paying for
them to be well taken care of
with your hard earned money.
Taxes. How do you like that?
Huh?
Well, I apologize if I’ve
hurt anyone’s feelings, but the
crap needs to stop and I bet it
will. Sooner than you think.
Thank you for taking the time
out and God Bless us one and
all.
Ken Legaux
Selma
Reader decides
According to an IVN ar-
ticle (4/23/14), “All of the can-
didates expressed support for
mining and logging and oppo-
sition to expanding the Oregon
Caves National Monument ex-
cept Nina Horsley who stated
the opposite positions.”
Now I know who’s got
my vote.
Thank you, IVN, for
making the decision clear.
Ryan Forsythe
O’Brien
Reader says YES
Our
situation
since
criminal justice services were
slashed two years ago has been
well documented, both in sta-
tistics and in anecdotes.
High-profile cases like
the Cave Junction woman who
was raped when 911 dispatch-
Saints, 209 Junction Ave., Cave Junction, Ore.
with a potluck reception afterwards. The wed-
ding will be performed by Larry Hammersmith.
Double ring; Maid of honor: Kandace McClure,
Cave Junction, Ore., best friend of Bride; Brides-
maids: Sherron Crowley, San Jose, Calif., sister;
Vanessa Jones Lacey, Selma, Ore., best friend of
Bride; Flower girl: Kiera Cress; Best man: Allen
Cress, Cave Junction, Ore., best friend of groom;
Groomsmen/ushers: Elder Lealand Overson,
LDS Eugene Mission, residence Pleasant Grove,
Utah, Roan McClure, Cave Junction, Ore., Ring
bearer: Cameron Beck, Cave Junction, Ore.
Honored guests: Willaim B. Walker (father) will
walk the bride down the aisle and in April 2014
he turned 93 years old.; Sherroll Mae W. Jenni-
fer Jo Brown, daughter of groom, Rogue River,
Ore. The couple will be living at Secret Trailer
Park, Cave Junction, Ore. Wedding trip will be
ers had no one to send to stop
her ex-boyfriend from breaking
in, or the unsolved hit-and-run
deaths in Cave Junction have
made national headlines. Our
County’s situation has been
covered by everyone from the
Associated Press to the Orego-
nian to National Public Radio.
This isn’t just bad public-
ity. It’s bad economics.
When we try to recruit
new businesses to start com-
panies here, convince much-
needed medical professionals
to practice here, or promote
Josephine County tourism,
what are we selling? Our com-
munity. And since 2012 what
are we best known for? Not
our climate, not our river. It’s
our unwillingness to pay for
the basic law enforcement that
other communities take for
granted.
This makes Josephine
County a hard sell. I have a
friend who used to camp with
her kids at Lake Selmac who
says she will never do that
again until she knows she can
call 911 from the county and
get a response. She is hardly
alone. That is costing us tour-
ism revenue, access to health-
care, business, and jobs.
The perspective of outsid-
ers was summarized by a par-
ticipant in an Oregonian forum
who suggested the Josephine
County stretch of I-5 should
be lined with bulletproof glass
so we locals could just shoot it
out amongst ourselves.
This is about more than
being embarrassed. This is
about remaining a viable com-
munity with open businesses.
We will all benefit in many
ways by fixing the criminal
justice crisis and the levy is
just the first step. Please join
me in voting “Yes” on the jail
and Juvenile Justice levy.
Elizabeth Hirni
Grants Pass
the Groom’s surprise.
All friends and family in the Valley are in-
vited to attend.
Kelly Wade Wright Jr. &
Cathleen S. Von Breithaupt
I LLINOIS V ALLEY F UNERAL D IRECTORS
WWW.SINCE1928HULL.COM
Save The
Date
May 2
Young Master Gardeners will discover all
the “inside” information on seeds at the I.V. Li-
brary (209 Palmer St.) Friday, May 2 at 2:30
p.m.
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 resi-
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
dents are invited to attend.
541-592-4110
miss all of the festivities!
May 9
May 10
Second Friday Art Walk Illinois River
Valley Arts Council www.irvac.com
Free event with art, music, & activities in
downtown Cave Junction, 541-218-8501; 5 – 8
p.m. May 9, June 13, July 11 and August 8.
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
Saturday, May 10th: Please attend the
Monument’s 13th annual Community Open
House. Free cave tours will be offered from
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We request only that
you bring a non-perishable food item to donate.
Take advantage of this opportunity to explore
and enjoy the caves – free of charge! The His-
toric Chateau at Oregon Caves will open on
Thursday, May 8th so there will be lodging and
dining available. The Chateau will also have
live music for Mother’s Day weekend, so don’t
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
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Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
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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, Spe-
cial game: Last person standing; dobbers for
sale, or bring your own. 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.
May 15
There is a Beekeepers Club in the Valley. The
informal club has meetings the third Thursday
of every month. The meetings are held at vari-
ous locations throughout the valley. The next
meeting is May 15th at 6:30 p.m. We will be
meeting at Ron Padgett’s bee yard located at
6541 Caves Highway. If you have any inter-
est in keeping bees or would just like some
information please plan to attend one of our
lively and informative meetings. Come ‘bee’
with us. If you have any questions or would
like more information, please call: Ron Padgett
541-659-0382.
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@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.