Page A-2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 21, 2014
I try not to involve the paper in elections. I feel it’s a slip-
pery slope for newspapers to endorse candidates. We have to
cover the winner when they take office and if Joe were to win
and we endorsed John, Joe would say we are biased since we
supported his opponent.
But now, as you read this, the election is over and I have
no idea what the outcomes are. As such, I have a few thoughts to
share about what my predictions were heading into the election.
The hottest topic was the GMO ban. My opinion is simple.
I don’t want to eat anything that Roundup won’t kill. That, of
course, ties directly into the Monsanto Protection Act. Basically,
the act states that if in 20 years we find out that GMOs are bad
for human consumption, we can’t sue them. That makes me think
that they already know it’s bad for us now.
Then there are puppies. Everyone loves a puppy. I think
that the three-year Levy for Animal Control and Animal Shelter
deserved to pass and I thought that it would.
Normally, I pontificate about the fact that we don’t need a
public safety levy. This time around, though, when it came to the
five-year Levy for Jail Operations and Youth Services at $1.19
per $1,000 of assessed valuation, I stayed pretty quiet on the is-
sue. That’s because I kind of wanted it to pass. If it did pass and,
if and when things change for the better, we will all be winners.
If not, I can say, “I told you so.” It’s a win-win for me.
I believe Steve Rich has a lot of experience and I expected
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
him to win on Tuesday. I have nothing against Wally Hicks, but
Steve’s experience should have carried him through. That’s my
analysis, not an after-the-fact endorsement.
While Ed Vincent impressed me more than I expected in
the Josephine County Sheriff contest, it seemed like a two-man
race between Dave Daniel and Sheriff Gil Gilbertson. I was ex-
pecting those two to have a run-off in the fall and I think that
Sheriff Gilbertson will be the frontrunner. Who knows, though, I
could be completely wrong!
When it comes to the county commissioner race, I’ll just
say that the field left me scratching my head and I was as curious
as anyone else to see what voters had to say.
On a happy, non-political note, I just came back from Caves
Chevron after getting the nail out of my truck tire. I was quite
surprised to hear Jeff say, “No charge because you purchased the
tires here.” Try getting that service from a website!
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)
Am I scared?
I start by telling you that I am
retired from Safeway –a senior citi-
zen who does not receive a “PERS”
government pension. I am also a
member of Securing Our Safety. As
I write, I do not know the outcome
of the May election. That is not my
concern here. What I am concerned
about is the misinformation dissemi-
nated as a reason to vote against the
jail/juvenile justice levy.
If Raymond Smith wants to vote
no on the levy, that is his privilege.
But either he doesn’t know what he
is talking about or is deliberating giv-
ing false information to support his
decision. I don’t believe his misstate-
ments should be left standing. There-
fore I want to correct the following.
Mr. Smith calls out Pat Fahey
and Mark Gatlin as “public employ-
ees” trying to save their salary. Well I
don’t know Mr. Smith’s definition of
a public employee, but by my under-
standing of the term, neither of these
gentlemen qualifies for the label.
Pat Fahey is the owner of South-
ern Oregon Sanitation and as he says
it “I’m the garbage man”. The one
thing Mr. Smith got right was that
Mr. Fahey is a member of the county
budget committee – but he fails to
recognize (I won’t try to guess his
motivation) that Mr. Fahey is a VOL-
UNTEER CITIZEN member of the
committee who receives NO COM-
PENSATION for his time.
As for Mark Gatlin, manager
of Shilo Inn, it would be news to me
if Shilo Inn was part of county gov-
ernment. But of course he is also
a Grants Pass City Councilor – an
UNPAID VOLUNTEER POSITION
– the only benefit city councilors re-
ceive is sandwiches for lunch if they
show up for the Monday noon-time
meeting.
I close by saying vote no if that
is your choice – but don’t make im-
portant decisions like how you vote
based on false and misleading infor-
mation.
Jody Nigh
Grants Pass
Reader voted no
Nearly 60 years ago my wife
and I had a conventional garden like
our folks before us, using what dis-
ease and insect control we felt neces-
sary.
Somewhere in the late 60’s or
early 70’s the term Organic Garden-
ing was born. Thinking it interesting
we adopted the method for about 10
years. Our library contains over 100
issues of Mother Earth News includ-
ing issue #1 Jan 1970, plus issues of
Organic Gardening.
Then over the years, past expe-
rience and curiosity needed answers.
Papers from professors, the Master
Gardeners course and 4-day mini
college (Corvallis) supplied many
answers. Several professors are con-
vinced if all growers and ranchers
used the organic method, in 4 to 5
years the world starve to death.
Lack of true knowledge about
food is one of the problems. Here is
only one example—ask your friends
if they have eaten any candies or
pharmaceutical or confectioners
glaze..the odds are overwhelming
your glaze was shellac.
Since I first found glyphosate it
is used around my fruit trees, grape
vines and the garden before tillage.
Read the label and be amazed what it
can do for you.
In 15 years, the Lord willing, this
writer will be 100 years old and any
new developments such as GMO by
the big companies that will help pro-
duce an abundance of healthy foods
will be used on this family farm.
So join me in voting “No” on
measure 17-58
Rocky Jones
Cave Junction
Lets Skate
There are some wonderful
things happening in our town! Be sure
to check out progress in Jubilee Park
– the SK8 Park is progressing fantas-
tically. Many are already involved in
donating time, talents, come by and
see how you can be involved. I hear
folks are bringing snacks, treats and
encouraging words, acknowledge-
ment of appreciation, its great that we,
as a community, are “taking back Ju-
bilee Park” so it will be a good place
for our kids and families to gather.
Lyn Berry
Cave Junction
Obituaries
Noel “Margie” Jensen,
79
of Cottage Grove, Oregon passed away
May 8, 2014 at her residence from cancer. She
was born December 31, 1934 in St. Louis, Mis-
souri to Monroe and Margaret (Helm) Jones.
She grew up in Los Gatos, Ca. and attend-
ed Los Gatos High School. Shortly after high
school she met & married J. George Jensen in
California. She was a member of the Kingdom
Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 51 years.
While her husband was overseas in Korea,
she worked as a stenographer for the teamsters
in California. Margie loved traveling, garden-
ing, canning, and spending time with her family
and friends, most of all she enjoyed her minis-
try work.
She was deeply loved and will be missed
by many.
She is survived by her son Aaron Jensen
and Laurie Houston of Cave Junction, Nora and
Mel Barlow of Cave Junction, J. George Jensen
Jr. of Grants Pass and four additional children.
Carley Jensen, Trent Jensen, Daniel Houston,
Sarah Houston, Elana Barlow, Bailey Barlow,
all of Cave Junction and 27 additional grand-
children and 24 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
J. George Jensen in 1982, her son, Nathan D.
Jensen of Palmer, Alaska in 2013 and grandson
Jarred Houston in 2013. A Graveside Inurnment
was held on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the Fir
Grove Cemetery, Cottage Grove, Ore.
Ila Clark, age 72, of O’Brien,
died Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Three Rivers
Medical Center.
No services are planned. Illinois Valley
Funeral Directors are in charge of arrange-
ments.
Ila was born November 28, 1941 in San
Francisco, Calif. While working at General
Telephone Company of California in Santa Bar-
bara, Calif. she met Robert Dean Clark. They
were the very first couple to be married at the
famous Dos Pueblos Ranch in Goleta, Calif. on
July 1, 1959. In 1977 Bob, Ila and their two
sons moved from Santa Barbara to O’Brien.
In addition to her husband, Bob Clark
of O’Brien, she is survived by two sons, Cur-
tis Clark of Cave Junction and Scott Clark of
O’Brien and four grandchildren.
Albert
Dean
Laorde
“Shorty”, 79 of Cave Junction passed
Melinda Kolberg, age 46,
of Selma, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at her home
with her family by her side.
Family services will be held at a later date.
Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge
of arrangements.
Scott D. Armstrong, age
51 , of Selma, died Saturday, May 10, 2014 at
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Private services are planned. Illinois Val-
ley Funeral Directors are in charge of arrange-
ments.
Scott was born September 30, 1962 in
Santa Monica, Calif.
Survivors include his mother, LaQueta
Armstrong of Reno, Nev.; a son, Scott Damon
Armstrong Jr. of Reno, Nev.; a sister, Dondi
Armstrong of Reno, Nev.; and a stepson, Cory
Livingood of Selma; a sister, Alexandra Arm-
strong-Latz of Reno, Nev. and a cousin, Shelly
Ackley of Reno, Nev..
away April 27, 2014 at his home in Cave Junc-
tion. Arrangements by Stephens Family Chapel
www.stephensfc.com.
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Save The Date
For more listings go to www.ivcalendar.org
May 22
May 27
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.
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.
May 24
Come out and support the IVHS
Cougar Band when thy march in the
Boatnik Parade on May 24th!
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
541-592-4110
more.
5:30-6:30 p.m. at Healthy U.
535 E. River St., Cave Junction, OR
(In the very back of the Family Re-
source Building, by the playground).
Call 541-592-4888 for details.
May 28
June 1
Wednesday, May 28th Healthy
U presents a FREE Health Talk titled
Senior and Disability Services: A
Community Asset For All.
Topics include: home-delivered
meals, caregiver support, elder abuse
and fraud prevention, access to in-
home care services and living well
with chronic health conditions and
IV Bikespace and Spiral Living
Center present The 2nd Annual Otis
Memorial Bicycle Ride!
A free, fun, and easy-paced
group ride from Takilma to Cave
Junction and back. We’ll start at 10
a.m. at the Lower Parking Lot of the
TCA Building in Takilma. We’ll have
one rest stop at the halfway point at
POSTMASTER: Please send
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Cave Junction OR 97523
Illinois Valley News is published at
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Cave Junction, OR 97523
Telephone (541) 592-2541
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SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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One year in all other
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Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
Coffee Heaven, then back to Takilma,
where we’ll finish at the Upper Park-
ing Lot, TCA Building around 2 p.m.
for a snacks-and-drinks pot luck un-
der the trees.
This is an unsupported, unes-
corted ride-we will all try to stick to-
gether for fun and safety!
Rain cancels. For more info
please contact Keeeth: 541-592-3722
shhhhh@sonic.net
June 7
The annual fund-raiser breakfast
for Volunteer Firefighters will take
place in collaboration with 22 local
non-profits and agencies providing
a day of youth activities, aircraft dis-
plays, remote control airplane dem-
onstrations, museum tours, and more.
Admission to the event is free and
starts at 8 a.m. 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 opportunities for youth
to get an airplane ride, participate
in local youth sport programs, learn
to fly a remote control airplane, and
go through the firefighter 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.