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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2014)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Life in the Valley of Riches By DAN MANCUSO, Publisher Mothers Day was a marvelous day here in the Valley. Lau- ra, the kids and I took a trip up to the Chateau for a hike. We took the long way to the big tree and contemplated heading up to Mt. Elijah, but had some time constrains. After our hike, we had a nice lunch in the coffee shop. The dinning room was full and after a moderately strenuous hike we probably would not have been very polite company. I am always amazed by how much I enjoy the Caves Monu- ment and the Chateau. I always wonder why we don’t go more often. Fortunately for us we will be at the Illinois Valley Cham- ber “mixer” there on Friday. The chamber mixers are for cham- ber members and their guests. It’s a nice way to get 30 to 60 people to spend some time together in a local business. If you would like to host a chamber mixer at your busi- ness, contact Dulcie at the chamber office. If you are not already a member, it’s easy to join. It’s a good way to help support the community that supports you. On a side note, on Facebook the other day someone com- mented that things have gotten so bad here. Have they? Or, is it possible that it’s Twitter and Facebook that make it seem that way? Think back to five or ten years ago, back to a time that your grandmother didn’t know how to even turn a computer on, let alone have her own Facebook page or follow Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Twitter. Back in the day, when something happened, it could take days, maybe even a week before everyone knew about it. With Facebook, it takes seconds or minutes. So have things real- ly gotten bad here or do we just hear more things more quickly? Thank you for picking up this week’s paper, enjoy ~ djm Letters to the Editor Illinois Valley News welcomes Let- ters 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 The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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 commen- tary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers) Are You Scared Yet? Are you scared yet? After all, proponents of the Public Safety Levy would like you to be. This levy is the concoction of two public employees, Pat Fahey (appointed chair of the Josephine Co. Budget Committee) and Mark Gatlin ( Grants Pass City Councilor and County Commissioner Candidate). These two individuals are also the heads of the Securing Our Safety Group (SOS) or, more be- fitting of that acronym, Securing Our Salaries. The shameless barrage of untruths littering our mailboxes and newspapers are designed to frighten us into willfully paying a ransom to salary more deputies at over $90,000 wages and benefits. If doing without whatever you have to in order to hire people at these ridiculous wages does not disturb you enough, ten percent of the monies from the public safety and animal control levies will be used to fund other exorbitant wages for the county commissioners, county CFO etc. We are being told that the crime rate is soaring and then given exam- ples that fall out of the jurisdiction of the county sheriff’s department. One example given is of the two men struck and killed while fist-fighting in the middle of a darkened rural sec- tion of state highway 199. This is an inappropriate example as it falls into the jurisdiction of the state police, re- gardless of how well funded the sher- iff’s department is. Crime that oc- curs within city limits, such as Grants Pass, falls under the jurisdiction of the city police and cannot be included in crime rate as it relates to the county sheriff’s department either. That said, here’s is an example of crime rate numbers publicly aired on NBC news as given by Sheriff Gilbertson. Approximately twelve months ago, before the last levy, Sheriff Gilbertson reported that the crime rate was up 50 percent. Wow, unreal! After the levy failed, the sheriff reported the crime rate was up 100 percent. Wow, it’s the wild west! Maybe we should deputize some men! Within three months, the sheriff then reported the crime rate up over 1,000 percent. Everyone in the county is either a criminal or a vic- tim! Later, the sheriff very casually declares at a county meeting that the numbers were in error. After this, I would not accept a 2 percent increase in crime rate as fact without an inde- pendent audit by unaffiliated people. The plea from Fahey and Gat- lin’s SOS group to vote in favor of these levies has included every angle they can think of to convince you to agree to increase your tax rate by over 200 percent. Yes, that is what they are proposing. SOS says: 1. Crime rate is soaring. Although the sheriff himself is unsure of what number to assign or the concept of the size of the numbers he uses. 2. You should be frightened, if not, be afraid for your neighbors. I believe there is some sort of therapy available for people with ir- rational fears. 3. We need rural patrols to pro- tect us. Of course, what these people do not seem to realize is that, even with funding, most of us had no rural pa- trols and a crime must be committed before there is a crime. 4. You are a cheapskate. Every place else pays more property tax than we do. Forget the depressed county you live in, where the largest em- ployer besides the county govern- ment (which is a liability) is what? Walmart. 5. No company will establish here because we refuse to fund our sheriff’s department. This is ludicrous. Please give us the short list, say, five companies, that were beating the county door down, willing to establish here and bring living wage jobs before fund- ing was cut. 6. If you do not buy any of the above, vote yes for the children. Apparently the children are un- derserved when we do not have ad- equate jail space. Maybe SOS could throw in men- tion of the criminals that are raping us for the price of gasoline and heating oil. That sounds pretty scary too. What we need is not higher taxes, but a sustainable, affordable government. When the majority that are employed in this county are earn- ing $15,000 - $25,000 per year, it is incomprehensible to expect them to employ people and compensate them at $90,000 plus per year. Please join us in once again de- feating this latest request to fund these enormous salaries. Demand that your public officials adopt a formula of de- termining wages commensurate with the wages of their employers, YOU. Sincerely, Raymond Smith Cave Junction Feed the world For decades we have been told that we need GMOs to feed the world. However, the idea that GMOs are necessary or even desirable as a means to feed a growing world popu- lation is simply a myth propagated by the biotech industry, with no basis in fact. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNC- TAD) 2013 report on meeting the fu- ture needs of world food production firmly states that GMOs are NOT going to feed the world, and, in fact, are causing harm. This seminal re- port recommends a rapid and signifi- cant shift away from “conventional, monoculture-based… industrial pro- duction” of food that depends heavily on external inputs such as fertilizer, agro-chemicals, and concentrate feed. Instead, it says that the goal should be “mosaics of sustainable regenerative production systems that also consid- erably improve the productivity of small-scale farmers and foster rural development.” To feed the world, we need to shift away from chemi- cal-dependent GMO agriculture, not chase after an unfulfilled promise that delivers only more poison and lower yield at increasingly higher cost. More than 60 international ex- perts contributed to the report’s anal- ysis on the future of food security, and the conclusions were overwhelm- ingly in favor of greater support for small-scale farmers, and more locally focused production and consumption of food. The report specifically shuns GMO agricultural practices. So, the next time someone asks, “But how are we going to feed the world without GMOs?” we can sim- ply answer with the truth: “With real food grown by local farmers.” Tina Hiestand Cave Junction I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Obituaries Elijah David Harriman April 26, 2014. Elijah was born April 26, 2014 at Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass Elijah is survived by his parents Tina Prall and Steve Harriman of Murphy, formally of Cave Junc- tion. His maternal grandparents Judy Wood and David Prall, his paternal grand parents Jeannie and Michael Hilleary and Ray and Kimberly Harriman Dessie V. Hinds, age 95 , of Cave Junction, died Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at her home. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Illinois Valley Funeral Di- rectors are in charge of arrangements. Jodi Illene Mayfield passed away April 14, 2014 of natural causes with her best friend of 25 years, Fredrick Braeseka at her side in Chandler, Arizona. Jodi was born December 1,1958 to Beverly L. Mayfield and Grover D. Mayfield in Grants Pass, Ore. Jodi is now in a better place at peace and happy. Her loved ones are not to worry. Jodi was one of nine children. Her sense of humor was superb. Jodi was brave and a very exciting, charismatic person. She loved music, sang often in church with her sister Lore and played the flute. Jodi reached out to her family, riding her bicycle and being outside tending to her flowers and gardening. Jodi was preceded in death by her sis- ter Sandi (Guy) Yberra , her father, Dale and a nephew Stevie (Martie and Greg). She is survived by her mother, Beverly; sisters Kathi (Bob) Day; Dayle (Larry) Cox; Linda (Harold) Hartman; Lore (Shane) Hancock; Kelly (David) Coryell; Martie (Greg) Rising and brother Rob- ert (Bozena) Mayfield. A Memorial Service will be held on May 17 at the Valley Evangelical Free Church, 498 Laurel Road, Cave Junction, Ore. with in- ternment at Laurel Cemetery to follow, starting at 1:00 p.m. Officiated by Rev. Marvin Porter. Wilma Lee Bridges, age 91 , of Grants Pass, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at Spring Village Assisted Living. A memorial service will be at 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2014 at Kingdom Hall of Je- hovah’s Witnesses in Cave Junction with Elder Larry Pera officiating. Private interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. Please sign the family guest book at www.since1928hull.com. Remembrances may be made to Jehovah’s Witnesses – Cave Junction congregation, or Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526. Wilma was born June 14, 1922 in Jerusa- lem, Arkansas to James Randolph Reynolds & Ruthie Luevie Tackett Reynolds. On Septem- ber 11, 1947 in Morrilton, Arkansas she married James Alford Bridges and in 1951 they moved from Arkansas to Cave Junction, Oregon. From 1970 to 1981 they lived in Eureka, California, and then returned to Cave Junction. In 2008 she moved to Spring Village Assisted Living in Grants Pass. Over the years Wilma worked as a waitress, cared for her invalid mother for ten years, co-owned Eureka Equipment and for ten years was an in-home health care aide until her retirement at age 70. Her hobbies included reading, writing, sewing, arts and crafts, gardening, and cook- ing. Survivors include a son, DeWayne Bridg- es of Spokane, Washington; a daughter, Deloris Colby of Grants Pass, Oregon; a sister, Bernie Bridges of Ochlocknee, Georgia; seven grand- children; 16 great-grandchildren; one great- great-grandchild; and two special nephews, Terrell Reynolds and Clifton Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Eldon Reynolds and Clifton Reynolds; and a granddaughter, Jalea Hill. Save The Date May 15 There is a Beekeepers Club in the Valley. The informal club has meetings the third Thursday of ev- ery month. The meetings are held at various locations throughout the val- ley. The next meeting is May 15 at 6:30 p.m. We will be meeting at Ron Padgett’s bee yard located at 6541 Caves Highway. If you have any in- terest in keeping bees or would just like some information please plan to attend one of our lively and informa- tive meetings. Come ‘bee’ with us. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call: Ron Padgett 541-659-0382. May 15 Glenn Morrison American Le- Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher gion Auxiliary is hosting a FREE Breakfast to all veterans on May 17 at the IV Senior Center from 8-11 a.m. Non Veterans are $6. Join us while we honor our local veterans. May 17 “Herbal Appreciation Day” club members will participate in the topic for the Friday May 16 meeting of the IV Garden Club. Horticulture table will be examples of herbs grow- ing in the Illinois Valley. Guests are welcome. 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. Coffee hour at 12:30p.m. Meeting at 1p.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 May 19 Precious Dirt Pesticide Meet- ing: On this month’s agenda: Why the Freedom from Pesticides Bill of Rights initiative is vital to the health and sustainability of our future. Con- necting the dots between the chemi- cal companies embedded in Oregon with their toxic GMOs, to their toxic poisons sprayed throughout our com- munities and county. 6:00 to 6:30 ~ Coffee / Social — Meeting begins at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. NEW: Starting May 19 we are relocating to our new meeting loca- tion: The Illinois Valley Senior Cen- ter, 520 E River St, Cave Junction, OR 97523 (East off Hwy 199 onto E. River Street, .5 miles up on the left) 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. May 22 Thursday May 22- IVHS Music Department presents the annual “Riv- ers” concert at 7:00 p.m. in the IVHS Commons. Admission is free, and performances of a variety of music by the Chamber Singers, Cougar Band, Concert Choir, and Senior Soloists will be offered. May 24 Come out and support the IVHS Cougar Band when thy march in the Boatnik Parade on May 24th! May 27 Tuesday May 27- LBMS Bands perform in their final concert of the year, “Coda.” The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Jamie Scott Memo- rial Gym, and admission is free. June 7 The annual fund-raiser break- fast for Volunteer Firefighters will take place in collaboration with 22 lo- cal non-profits and agencies provid- ing a day of youth activities, aircraft displays, remote control airplane demonstrations, museum tours, and more. Admission to the event is free. Illinois Valley Airport is located four miles south of Cave Junction. Parking will be at Rough & Ready Mill. Bring your families to enjoy breakfast, free ice cream from Schwans, participate in activities, and learn about oppor- tunities for youth to get an airplane ride, participate in local youth sport programs, learn to fly a remote con- trol airplane, and go through the fire- fighter obstacle course. 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.
