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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
Josephine County held its annual fair last week and it
caught me a little off guard. Back in the beginning of July,
I stopped in to the fair office to talk about advertising. I
was referred to the Medford-based advertising agency that
was hired. I talked to the representative at the firm and
sent along our newspaper’s information along with past
ad spends for the fair.
I never heard another thing about the fair until I was
in Grants Pass August 13 and saw that the fair had started.
Fair Manager Mary Graves has done a great job
turning the fair around. I suppose working with the area
papers and other media outlets can be time consuming.
Hiring an advertising agency would take a huge weight
off and allow her to spend time doing what she does best,
run a fair.
The end result was the paper did not receive any
information about the schedule of events. The paper did
not receive advertisements, asking the Valley residents to
come over the hill and enjoy the events the fair organizers
spent so much time preparing for.
This left me wondering why. People in the city are
not what I would call traditional fair participants. I as-
sume it’s against the law to keep a pig in the city limits. I
could be wrong, though. Maybe the City of Grants Pass is
full of bovine and swine.
Some good news has come to my attention. In the
Best Grange Booth category, the Valley came out on top.
Congrats to first place winner, The Illinois Valley Grange
in Cave Junction. Right on the heels of the IV Grange was
the Deer Creek Grange, in Selma
The People’s Choice Award this year also went to the
Illinois Valley Grange.
So, we have the top two Granges in the county, but
apparently Valley residents were not encouraged to attend
this year. Maybe we just fell between the cracks. Maybe
a Medford-based advertising agency doesn’t understand
the Illinois Valley is the rural epicenter of Josephine
County.
Thank you for picking up this week’s paper, enjoy! ~
djm
Letters to the Editor
Illinois Valley News welcomes Letters 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 The latter need not
be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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 commentary, including statements
made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers)
Reader says no to nickel
Dear Editor,
I have lived in Southern Oregon for 30 years now. Please,
please protect our Partial Pristine Wilderness, No to Nickel
mining. We are so lucky to live in such an area with clean air
and water and old growth to explore. Respect – 7 generations-
You know what I mean.
Mary Raby
Cave Junction
Reader need volunteers for vets
My name is De and I coordinate the two vans that
transport veterans to their VA appointments, free of charge, we
have transported about 1,700 souls that are now friends. WE
NEED HELP we have 2 drivers and 2 vans and average 60 to
70 vets a month. This is a volunteer position, but the rewards
are many. We transport 5 days a week and transport to Grants
Pass, White City, Medford and Ashland, if it’s ordered by the
VA. We provide transport to Grants Pass for trips north with
D.A.V. transportation 330 and pick up in p.m. If I could find
four more drivers - two for Eagle 1 and two for Eagle 2 than
this program can keep helping the vets here in the Valley. It has
made a positive impact on our community and shows our vets
that WE DO HONOR AND RESPECT OUR VETS. It’s not
just a sign on the county line. There is nothing but casualties in
war, so wouldn’t you just like to be a smiling face to greet them
coming and going from their appointment and just care how
they are doing? We also transport for special things like Stand
Down, a program to help homeless vets with no income or
low income, benefited from military surplus. Additionally, we
transport to the Native American area in White City for Talking
Circle and Sweet Lodge. What we do is try to help in whatever
way works for our service men and women. So, if this sounds
like something you would enjoy or if you are looking for a way
to say, “Thanks,” to a vet, how can I help you?
If you’re interested call De at 541-944-3741 and please
leave a message, as I am probably driving.
De Spellman,
CJ
Reader thankful for firefighters
This letter is a huge thank you to all the firefighters who
have done such a wonderful job on the Reeves Creek Fire in
Selma.
The firefighters who worked so hard and long to pro-
tect our home and property were unbelievably dedicated and
skilled. They were conscious of our property and concerned for
our safety.
Everything that mattered to us also mattered to them.
They were here 24 hours a day for nearly 4 days and were vigi-
lant in finding and extinguishing any and all hot spots in a very
steep and difficult area of our property.
The bulldozer crew that was based in our large field cre-
ated a very impressive fire break on the north end of the prop-
erty and was instrumental in preventing the spread of the flames
to our northern neighbors property.
Our neighbor to the southeast had major damage to the
forested portion of their property as did we to our trees, but
again the firefighters were diligent in preventing damage to all
of the structures on their land as they did on our land.
Everyone living in this section of Reeves Creek Road
owes a huge amount of gratitude to the following fire depart-
ments and foresters that participated in the fighting of this wild
fire:
Illinois Valley Volunteer Fire Dept.; Rural Metro Fire
Dept. - #1,#3,#7; Medford Hot Shots; Grants Pass Emergency
Rescue; Jacksonville Fire Dept.; North Pacific Forestry; Indian
Hill LLC; Oregon Dept. of Forestry, Medford & Eugene; Coos
Forest Protective Assoc.; Knight Forest Management & Log-
ging; Forestry Based H B Co. INC Wild Land Firefighting Di-
vision; Grants Pass local dozer crews; the helicopter and fixed
wing water and retardant dropping aircraft crews; and everyone
who’s name and organization that I may have missed.
We will be eternally grateful for your skill and dedication.
Reader requests action
There is something wrong with the water in the Illinios
River. It’s been a month since I brought my dogs to the river,
because the last time we were there, they got sick and had diar-
hea for 4 days. Brought them to Dr. Joe and he stated that there
have been a lot of dogs coming in, because they got sick from
playing in the river.
There is less algae in the river this year then in the last
3 years. Also, where are the crawdads, insects and baby fish?
Poisoned to death or just a lack of oxygen in the water.
Between the over thinning of our public forest lands and
the clear cuts and chemical warfare on private timber land, we
have destroyed our forests ability to create the rain clouds that
used to fill up our water ways with fresh water. Our forests used
to be capable of protecting themselves from fires, because they
were thick with trees, nuts, berries, ferns and mushrooms. In
other words they used to be very moist forests. Now they are
so thinned out that our wells are running dry in January. How
many of you have had to drill new wells this year? Think about
the fact that your neighbors sewage waste is ending up in your
well water, let alone, what’s draining into what’s left of our riv-
ers, streams and lakes.
The state of California and both Jackson and Klamath
County of Oregon, all declared a state of emergency due to the
drought, to help their farmers to be able to get financial relief
due to their inability to water their crops this year. Yet Jose-
phine County Commissioners must not realize that we get the
majority of our water from the Rogue River and have failed to
do their jobs again.
But don’t worry, if Wyden’s new O&C act goes thru we
won’t have to worry about any of this. Because private timber-
land owners who have been clear cutting their lands in anticipa-
tion of getting to swap their poisoned dead lands for what’s left
of our public forest lands, will turn all of Southern Oregon and
Northern California into desert lands. So then the mining in-
dustry will come and mine all this area into a toxic waste dump
site. Think your property values suck now? Just sit back with
your head up your Ipad, and do nothing until it’s too late and do
what we all do best...Nothing but bitch and complain. It’s time
to stand together to fight for our and our children’s children’s
lives. Unless you don’t care about yourself or anyone else.
Nina Horsley
Cave Junction
Pat and Cedric Schieber
Selma
From the mayor’s desk: by Cave Junction Mayor Carl Jacobnson
It’s almost Labor Day again, please
sign up for the Parade on Monday, Sept. 1
and get your Harley tickets!
It’s also election time of the year.
There are two positions open on the City
Council and the Mayor’s Job is open. All
you have to do is get a petition and get 20
voter signatures from Cave Junction. The
deadline to turn in your petition is August
22. So, if you want your voice to be heard
and want to learn about how things are ac-
complished on the council, please make the
effort to let people know how you would
like the City to be run.
I have had the privilege to work
with Mo, Stacey and all the others that have
helped with donating money, time and tal-
ent to the people of Cave Junction. They
have come forward and made a big differ-
ence here in the Valley. I don’t care what
people say when you tell them you live in
the Valley, it’s still the best place in which
to live, work and play. With all our prob-
lems or whatever, we are no worse off then
any other small community, even in some
of the larger cities too. So, get involved and
show people you have the talent to furnish
our life with a way to do things. It’s only
taken about two years to accomplish what
we have done so far as a community.
Carl Jacobson
Mayor
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Save The Date
Aug. 21
Thursday, August 21
for Nelson Family Farm:
Pressure Canner Gauge test-
ing for accuracy by Jose-
phine County Master Food
Preserver, Hazel Griffith.
Aug. 23
Saturday, August 23,
10 a.m. to Noon. Unique
painting class, “Draw-
ing with Imagination.” If
you’ve ever looked up at the
clouds and imagined things
you see, you can learn how
to create those images on
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
paper with oil and paint.
Info. and register at south-
ernoregonguild.org or call
541-592-5019.
Aug. 23 & 24
Do your kids have
those end-of-summer blahs?
Take them to the Forks State
Park this weekend! On Sun-
day, August 23 & 24, Or-
egon Parks and Recreation
Department will be offering
a fun workshop for ages 6
to 12 titled: “Hiking 101”
on Saturday, August 23
and “Make your Own Bird
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
541-592-4110
For more listings go to www.ivcalendar.org
Feeders” on Sunday, Au-
gust 24. Each session lasts
about an hour and parents
or guardians are welcome
to join in. Meet at the park
pavilion at 1 p.m. all three
days. There’s a great swim-
ming hole, shaded picnic
tables and easy nature trails
for a fun family stay-cation,
too! For further information,
visit www.oregon.gov/oprd
I.V. Lions Club Labor Day
Festival will again host a
TALENT SHOW (amateurs
only) and cash prizes will be
awarded the winners of each
age group. Don’t forget to
sign up by August 27. For
more information and/or to
sign up, please call Donna
at (541) 596-2719 or Sue at
(541) 592-2252.
Aug. 27
TIME FOR TALENT!
The TALENT SHOW is
just around the corner. The
Aug. 30
Janie Pope Run/Walk
Benefit. The 5K Run/Walk,
Janie Pope Benefit will be
held on Saturday, August 30
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
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.
Circulation - Kimberly Potter
office@illinois-valley-news.com
Advertising / Composition
Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Mailroom - Millie Watkins
Office Manager-Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
at 9 a.m. in Jubilee Park dur-
ing the Labor Day Festivi-
ties. Janie is fighting liver
cancer and working her way
to being cancer free. She
needs help with her medical
costs and treatments. Sign-
ups start at 8 a.m. The cost
is $30.00. Please come join
us to help Janie!
Sept. 6
Saturday, September 6,
Kerbyville Natural Farms,
Dehydration Demo and
Pressure Canner Gauge test-
ing for accuracy by Jose-
phine County Master Food
DEADLINES:
News, Classified and
Display Ads, Announce-
ments and Letters
4 P.M. FRIDAYS
Preserver, Jennie Reed.
Sept. 7
Join Oregon Poet Lau-
reate, Peter Sears on Sep-
tember 7, 2014 for a poet-
ry workshop at 2 p.m. and
a reading at 7 p.m. at the
Historic Chateau at Oregon
Caves. Both the workshop
and reading are free to the
public. Please call the Cha-
teau for reservations for the
workshop and lodging at
541-592-3400. We ask that
reservations be made by
September 5, 2014.
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.