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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 16, 2014
hands of Congress. I have gone back and forth
on this topic and am now firmly planted on the
fence.
In reality, I really do not have a strong
opinion if they expand or not, as the land is al-
ready owned by the feds. Changing from Forest
Service to Park Service will make little differ-
ence in the big scheme of things. Outside of a
By DAN MANCUSO, rare hike up Mt. Elijah, I don’t spend any time
Publisher
in that area.
The one problem I do have is that it’s be-
ing touted as an economic engine and that’s
Last week, the Senate passed the Oregon why we should support it. Supporters say if we
Caves expansion bill, which now sits in the have more to do up there, it will keep people in
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
Cave Junction longer. But, the problem is we
have too few beds to put heads in.
This town will not prosper until we have a
viable hotel located at the junction to the caves.
The few other lodging places in the area cannot
meet the demand we currently have. This leaves
our visitors heading to Grants Pass or Brook-
ings. More often than not it is there, where they
lay their heads at night, that they fill their bel-
lies.
I encourage you to contact the City of
Cave Junction to ask them what, if anything,
they can or will do about the problems at the
Junction Inn. Call the County Health Depart-
ment. Contact Building Safety for Josephine
County to see how a building is such disarray
can continue to operate.
Now, why do I think the expansion is a
great idea? Science! You can’t argue the science
on this issue. The fragile ecosystem of the caves
needs to be protected, water is the life blood of
a cave. If the water becomes unhealthy, the cave
will die. If the cave dies, we really won’t need
a new hotel now will we?
Dont forget Concerts in The Park this
week as Guppy is the featured artist.
Thank you for picking up this week’s pa-
per, 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
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***
(Editor’s Note: Views and commen-
tary, including statements made as
fact are strictly those of the letter
writers.)
Reader claims Walker
has no respect
Dear Editor,
The current Josephine County
Commissioner Cherryl Walker recall
effort was spawned in early 2013
when residents of Josephine County
were shocked by the Commission-
er’s attack on personal and property
rights after they passed four new
solid waste and nuisance ordinances
without referring it to the voters.
Refusal to agree to allow a vote by
county residents, heavy fines, jail,
loss of property, un-elected hearings
and enforcement goons, operat-
ing without legal training or BAR
license, would hold a kangaroo court
in which a fine must be paid before a
hearing was initiated, awakened vot-
ers into action to force a vote. Com-
missioner Walker strongly favored
the ordinances, and did everything
possible to stop opposition.
When more and more Jose-
phine County residents found out the
details, they initiated a referendum
and mounting an educational blitz,
resulting in a tsunami defeat in No-
vember 2013 of all four ordinances,
with an average 20,881 voters
(78.5%) saying “NO!” to the average
5,711 voter (21.5%) pro-ordinance
group.
Commissioner Walker assumed
chairperson position in 2014, and
recently, unilaterally disrupted public
business meetings, disrespecting
gaveled down attendees she dis-
agreed with (go to www.badcounty.
com for examples), capriciously
calling police to enforce non-existent
rules and thwart speech, demonstrat-
ing her lack of decorum and knowl-
edge of county Charter (Section
29.3), which states the people are
guaranteed “…freedom of speech,
press and assembly and redress of
grievances.”
What was not widely reported
about the Commissioners’ May 21,
2014 weekly meeting was Cherryl
Walker’s unilateral agenda change
of Item 2, “Requests/Comments
from Citizens (each person will be
given three minutes to speak)” in the
May 14, 2014 and earlier Weekly
Business meeting agendas, to item
5, “Requests From Citizens: (Com-
mission will hear the request and
refer it to County staff or schedule
it for future discussion.) The Board
is available during the week to meet
with citizens”, which followed 11
Administrative Actions and 12 items
in the Approval of Consent Calen-
dar, effectively denying comments
and requests prior to discussion and
approval actions regarding those
subjects.
Josephine County’s Charter
Preamble states, “We the people of
Josephine County, Oregon, in order
to avail ourselves of self-determi-
nation in county affairs,…now or
hereafter granted or allowed by the
constitutions and laws of the United
States and the State of Oregon, by
this Charter confer upon the County
the following powers…”, granting
authority to servant officials to act in
behalf of Josephine County citizens.
Walker apparently also
failed to heed the recent Supreme
Court case Citizens United vs.
Federal Election Commission which
found: “Speech is an essential mech-
anism of democracy, for it is the
means to hold officials accountable
to the people. The right of democ-
racy, for it is the means to hold of-
ficials accountable to the people. The
right of citizens to inquire, to hear,
to speak, and to use information to
reach consensus is a precondition to
enlightened self-government and a
necessary means to protect it.”
“For these reasons, political
speech must prevail against laws
that would suppress it. Premised on
the mistrust of government power,
the First Amendment stands against
attempts to disfavor certain subjects
or viewpoints. By taking the right
to speak from some and giving it to
others, the Government deprives the
disadvantaged person or class of the
right to use speech to strive to estab-
lish worth, standing, and respect for
the speaker’s voice.
“The Government may not by
these means deprive the pubic of the
right and privilege to determine for
itself what speech and speakers are
worthy of consideration. The First
Amendment protects speech and
speaker, and the ideas that flow from
each other.”
It’s time to replace Commis-
sioner Walker, as it’s apparent she
does not respect County resident’s
First Amendment Rights or Supreme
Court rulings, and therefore, is not
qualified and should not continue
as Commissioner for the people of
Josephine County.
Please sign a Recall Petition
(Source: www.walkerrecall.com) to
give people the right to recall Com-
missioner Cherryl Walker on the
November ballot.
Robert Thomas
Cave Junction
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Obituaries
James Edward Camp, age 78,
of O’Brien, died Saturday, June 28, 2014 in
Cave Junction.
No services are planned. Private inter-
ment will be at Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junc-
tion. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in
charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be sent to Rogue
Valley Humane Society, 429 NW Scenic Drive,
Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.
Please sign the family guest book at www.
since1928hull.com.
James was born March 8, 1936 in Wister,
Oklahoma. He graduated high school in South-
ern California. On May 2, 1955 in Las Vegas,
Nevada he married LaVanda Frazier. During
his lifetime he owned and operated several
businesses including an upholstery business
where he upholstered both furniture and the
interior of vehicles. In 1970 he moved from
Loma Linda, California to O’Brien. He owned
his own semi truck, delivering food to WinCo
Save The Date
July 20
The Rusk Ranch Nature Center
will offer a free Nature & Art Festi-
val, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July
20. There will be a juried Fantasy
Recycled fashion show among other
events, vendor booth space is $20.
For further information, call 541-
592-4444.
July 21
Precious Dirt is cancelling their
meeting for this month, however…As
a catalyst for the Freedom from Pes-
ticides Alliance, giving voice to their
work and support for their efforts to
qualify a pesticide ban for Novem-
ber’s ballot this month, we are want-
ing to help keep the needed focus on
their signature gathering efforts. As
of July 8, FPA still needs another 600
signatures to qualify for November’s
ballot and meet the August 6 dead-
line. It is our sincere hope all who are
able can help in this effort, so FPA
can manifest this important goal for
our community as well as our future.
July 26
Chamber of Commerce presents
a Bluegrass event at the Trout Pavil-
ion, Lake Selmac. Gates open at 9:30
a.m. $4 parking, $15 admission, chil-
ren under 12 free. Lawn seating, food
and beverage vendors.
Aug. 2
Summer Reading Wrap-up Sat-
urday, August 2 @ 12 noon.
541-592-4110
and the Department of Corrections. In 2009
he retired.
James was a member of the Cave Junction
Seventh Day Adventist Church and was very
close with his fellowship.
He enjoyed gardening including fig trees
and grapes; his cats; surfing the internet; read-
ing; woodworking; leather carving and build-
ing furniture. While living in O’Brien he up-
holstered the O’Brien vintage police car. He
tried to be a good example.
Survivors include a daughter, Jamie L.
Camp of O’Brien; a sister, Kay Zabolski of
Carson, Washington and three grandchildren
and a brother, Lewis Camp of San Diego.
Preceding him in death was his wife, La-
Vanda Camp on July 29, 2012; a granddaugh-
ter, Marie Jean Martinho in 1989 and a son,
Edward Allen Camp in 1969.
Obits continued on A-9
For more listings go to www.ivcalendar.org
Barb from IRVAC will be mak-
ing steam-punk art, IV library team
will be awarding prizes to all summer
reading participants and free refresh-
ments will be supplied during story
time!
Josephine Community Libraries
- IV Branch 209 W. Palmer St., CJ
541-592-4778, josephinelibrary.org
Aug. 16
It’s The Berries: Saturday, Au-
gust 16, 2014 ~ 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We
are now accepting applications for
vendors inside and outside. Outdoor
spaces must bring your own tables.
$20 with a $5 refund for a cleaned
space. RCC/Belt Building 24353
Redwood Highway, Kerby, OR. Res-
ervation Deadline is August 12, 2014.
Last day for refunds is August 14,
2014. Contact Hazel Griffith, 541-
592-6433 or Jean Shubert, 541-592-
6150.
Aug. 2&3
Illinois Valley Little League is
hosting the annual Blackberry Festi-
val on Saturday, August 2 and Sun-
day, August 3.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. &
Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Great food, Music and Vendors-
Activities for the kids!!
Aug. 16
Join us along the 80 mile stretch
of US Highway 199, from Highway
101 to I-5, featuring yard sales and
special events on the third weekend
in August, 2014. There’s no charge
to participate, just set up your yard
sale in a safe place! For more infor-
mation, go to our blog at http://hw-
y199yardsale.blogspot.com or call
707-720-9379 and leave a message.
Held on the same weekend as “It’s the
Berries” at the RCC/Belt Building,
24353 Redwood Hwy Kerby, OR
Ongoing
Healing Hearts and Hooves,
therapeutic horseback riding program
has begun our 2014 season. Sunday
classes at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and
12:30 p.m. @ 4411 Holland Loop
Drive, Cave Junction. Call 541-659-
1798 or 541-596-2272 for volunteer
or student information.
Summer 2014
Country Blues Rock
Guppy Whimsical duo
Dawna Crocker & Rosie:
Coffee House singer songwriters
East Fork County Bluegrass
Ras Cricket and the Cultivators:
Reggae
June 26 • The “J” Barley Band
July 4
• No concert scheduled
July 10 • Lonesome Road:
Country Blues Rock
July 17 • Guppy Whimsical duo
July 24 • Dawna Crocker & Rosie:
Coffee House singer songwriters
July 31 • East Fork County Bluegrass
Aug 7
• Ras Cricket and the Cultivators:
Reggae
July 17 •
July 24 •
July 31 •
Aug 7 •
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
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vided they are legible and not
libelous or scurrilous. All let-
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reserves the right to edit letters.
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