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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not be published, but will be used to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
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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
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‘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.