Page A-2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Letters to the dividuals
Editor
on this list. Here is the
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not be published, but will be used to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.)
Reader questions reporter
I was surprised to see an edi-
torial on the front page as though
it were a factual article. “Candi-
dates face-off in Cave Junction”
by Jude Hoyle presented a Sher-
iff Gilbertson who exists in her
imagination, not the real Sheriff
Gilbertson I have heard several
times at meetings and have spo-
ken with personally on numerous
occasions. Why the fawning over
Daniel and the caricature of Sher-
iff Gilbertson? Who knows? The
truth is that Sheriff Gilbertson has
years of experience in bringing a
lawless city during wartime to law
and order, has already stood up
against the out of control federal
government to protect our Consti-
tutionally protected rights, is not a
good ol’ boy with hidden interests
or bias, and is an honorable man
who means what he says.
Not a soul on earth could
do a better job than Gil has done
after the corrupt County Com-
missioners gutted the Sheriff’s
office to a partial skeleton while
cutting nothing else in the budget,
including buying new cars, doing
remodeling and hiring staff for
themselves.
Pramada Kisiela
Cave Junction
Measure 17-63 is under at-
tack
Measure 17-63 is under attack
from a multitude of sources who
have paid to publish and speak
their “opinions”. I have studied
the Measure wording closely and
would like to present the actual
case in support of 17-63.
The primary prohibition of
Measure 17-63 specifically states
“any corporation or governmen-
tal entity holding an applicator
license” as the target of this mea-
sure. Since that is the case, the
first list I sought out was the of-
ficial list of pesticide applicator li-
cense holders in Josephine Coun-
ty, Oregon.
There are 133 businesses/in-
good news.
There are no restaurants
with applicator licenses on the
list, therefore the passage of this
Measure into law will not prohibit
your local eatery from continuing
its established practices to ensure
cleanliness and a safe dining en-
vironment. If your favorite res-
taurant/eatery stops its current hy-
gienic practices after the passage
of Measure 17-63 into law, I’d
seriously consider eating some-
where else.
There are no hospitals, re-
tirement homes or clinics on the
list, therefore no hospitals, clin-
ics or retirement homes will have
to change their well-established
regimens which ensure the high-
est standards of hygiene for the
doctors, nurses, patients, mainte-
nance staffs and residents of these
facilities. If they claim otherwise
after Measure 17-63 becomes law,
please ask them for a copy of their
applicators license.
There are no Veterinarians
on the list, therefore your local
Vet will be able to continue to
prescribe and dispense flea collars
and the full range of medications
that he/she has always prescribed
and dispensed. If they stop or
change what they’ve always been
doing for you and your animals, it
will have nothing to do with Mea-
sure 17-63.
There are no schools on the
list. Do I have to continue?
Several of the folks who
have paid to express their “opin-
ions” have implied that farms will
fail, the timber industry will cease
to exist , school children will suc-
cumb to head lice and ticks and
the County will have to spend
“10, 20, 50% more” than some
phantom number to do something
that isn’t specified during the tele-
vision sound bite.
Here’s the reality. Farmers
have farmed and loggers have
logged for most of recorded his-
tory and they have done so for
most of that history without the
use of the toxic chemicals that
will be banned by Measure 17-63.
Those industries defend their use
of toxic chemicals with the argu-
ment – better, cheaper, faster. The
question I’m stuck with is “At
what cost?” If the argument is
that I can buy a 2x4 for three cents
less or pay a dime per pound less
for hamburger at the same time
that I’m paying $500.00 a month
for the medications I have to take
to stay alive during the constant
battle my body is losing to the
toxic chemicals that pervade my
food, water, air and soil, then the
argument is over. No contest! I’d
much rather pay a little more for
food and lumber and pay a bunch
less to the pill producers who are
in league with (or the same as) the
major chemical pesticide manu-
facturers.
Measure 17-63 specifically
states “if the local government…
fails to enforce the rights and pro-
hibitions of this ordinance” which
means that the Sheriff or Police
would be called to enforce the law
if someone violated Measure 17-
63 after it becomes law. If, and
only if, the Sheriff, Police and/
or Courts fail to uphold the law
(their job), then “direct action”
would be authorized. Since “pri-
vate residential properties” are
exempt from this prohibition, it’s
highly unlikely that anyone will
be taking “direct action” by enter-
ing your home under the guise of
enforcing Measure 17-63.
This important and timely
measure is equally as much about
restoring our rights to self-deter-
mination and self-government as it
is about Freedom from Pesticides.
Read the measure, not the paid-for
falsehoods. It’s time to roll back
the over-reach of government and
the government created corpora-
tions. Join me in support of Mea-
sure 17-63.
Mike Mann
Selma, Oregon
Vote yes for libraries!
The libraries of Josephine
County are much more than de-
positories for books. They are
centers of learning and informa-
tion that allow us access to and the
ability to do research and share
and enjoy the wisdom of the an-
cient and modern world.
The libraries provide meet-
ing spaces for lectures and study
groups. A successful library is a
great public asset to any commu-
nity. It will attract new business,
and educated families will help
all of Josephine County grow and
prosper. Who would start or move
a business to a community that
doesn’t support libraries? Volun-
teers augment the paid staff, but it
is not enough to keep the librar-
ies open. Creating a library dis-
trict will provide an independent
source of funding to keep the li-
braries open. Please vote yes on
measure 17-62 to keep our librar-
ies open and protect our past in-
vestments.
Caroline Griffith
Kerby, Oregon
Hi, I want to respond to a
letter in the October 22 IV News
which alleged that passage of
measure 17-63, the Freedom from
Pesticides Bill of Rights, will al-
low “any person or groups to enter
your and my property to look for
pesticides without any permission
or warrant.” This is an alarming
misconception to read in the pa-
per. 17-63 specifically allows both
direct and legal action by citizens,
but only against corporations and
governments, not against private
individuals who use pesticides on
private residential property.
It’s important to remember
that 17-63 is designed to stop
governments and corporations
from using the most dangerous
pesticides which are known to
cause health problems in humans
including various types of cancer.
17-63 is not designed to stop you
or me from using pesticides on
our own private property and does
not permit any action on private
residential property.
There are a number of other
strange misconceptions about
17-63. For instance, it’s alleged
that hospitals won’t be able to use
disinfectants and other important
substances. Again, only chemi-
cals being applied by corporations
or governments that require an
applicator license are prohibited.
There are many pesticides that can
still be used under 17-63 which do
not require a license.
It’s too bad there were no ar-
guments in favor of this measure
in the voter’s guide because this is
probably the most important piece
of local legislation to come before
the people of Josephine County
in a long time. 17.63 is a bold
exercise of our democratic right
to defend ourselves from harm
by entities too large for you or I
to individually defend ourselves
against.
Deadly, invisible toxins are
used regularly to control weeds in
road maintenance, timber produc-
tion, and a variety of other activi-
ties that occur in close proximity
to our homes. While often con-
venient in the short-term, these
chemicals disperse into the envi-
ronment in various, largely un-
known, invisible concentrations.
Linking a specific incidence of
illness or death to these chemicals
is difficult, and thus we cannot
simply sue for wrongful death or
illness. Our legal system is de-
signed so that the producers of
these pesticides can sell us a great,
effective product while avoiding
liability for the associated health-
care costs—those are passed on to
the consumer.
If we pass 17.63 it will be in-
convenient for some corporations
and governments to adapt to the
new law. In our democratic re-
public solutions to problems are
never perfect for everyone, and
sometimes a downright bummer
for a few. In this case the few who
will suffer the most are those who
have been inadvertently poisoning
us (and themselves) for decades—
they will have to change their
techniques and pesticide choices.
On the other hand, passage
of 17.63 will result in less illness
and lower healthcare costs for
every human-being in Josephine
County. We have been poisoned
long enough by a privileged few
chemical companies who profit
from the degradation of our qual-
ity of life. We have a brilliant op-
portunity before us to protect our
health here in Josephine County. I
believe our lives are worth it and
encourage everyone to vote yes
on 17.63.
Daniel Dalegowski
Cave Junction
Reader likes libraries
Though we and our five sib-
lings were active kids who spent
much of our summers on bikes,
or swimming in Deer Creek and
the Illinois River, we also enjoyed
many hot summer afternoons
lounging in the quiet and cool
libraries in Cave Junction and
Grants Pass. It always felt like we
might get in trouble for greedily
pulling out 10 or 12 books from
the shelves and stacking them up
just for ourselves! But instead,
the librarian and volunteers en-
couraged that overindulgence and
seemed pleased to support a de-
veloping love for books. Those
afternoons seemed to fly by and
before we knew it, our Mother
was there to pick us up.
It wasn’t until we became
adults that we realized it was an
involved public who had provided
that calm and nourishing place
for kids like us. We also realized
that the habit of reading fostered
so long ago had translated into a
growing awareness of the com-
munity and the world around us,
and a feeling of being part of those
worlds.
We would now make an even
bigger claim—libraries and citi-
zens’ habits of reading actually
protect our freedoms. Discern-
ing readers make thoughtful deci-
sions when it’s time to vote and
are not at the mercy of hotheads
and demagogues. Ben Franklin
and his fellow Junto members
recognized the potential for good
with their first rudimentary lend-
ing library. It’s no less important
today. Please join us in support of
the Community Library District,
Measure 17-62.
Jennifer Krauss Phillippi
Jane A. Krauss
See Letters on A-8
Obituaries
Lewis M. Lyons, age 87 ,
of Cave Junction, died Tuesday, October
21, 2014 at his home.
Arrangements are pending with Illi-
nois Valley Funeral Directors.
Doug Davis, age 78, of
O’Brien, died Saturday, October 18, 2014
at Three Rivers Medical Center.
No services are planned. Illinois Val-
ley Funeral Directors are in charge of ar-
rangements.
Please sign the family guest book at
www.since1928hull.com.
He was born Dal Mar Warren Davis on
September 2, 1936 in Hammett, Idaho. He
worked in the television industry starting at
ABC and working on shows such as Gen-
eral Hospital, American Band Stand, Lau-
rence Welk, Let’s Make A Deal, Joey Bish-
op Show, and Chuck Barris’ game shows
such as the Dating Game, Newlyweds, and
Family Feud. In 1969 he went to work in
television post production at Vidtronics Inc
as a telecine operator and cameraman and
for many years transferred film, commer-
cials, and features to video tape for studios
including Paramount, Universal, MGM
Warner Brothers, Sony and many indepen-
dent film makers. He helped develop the
first real time Pan-And-Scan film to tape.
Over the years he also worked for Starfax,
AME, TAV (Trans America Video), and
DUBS where he retired from. At that time,
he moved with family to Grants Pass and
eventually O’Brien.
Survivors include five children, Doug-
las Davis of Grants Pass; Mark Davis of
O’Brien; Wade Davis of Grants Pass; Vick-
ie Soy of Grants Pass and Paul Davis of
O’Brien; three sisters, Dona Guin, LaRee
Fowler and Carolyn Davis; a brother, Ter-
ry Davis; 26 grandchildren; and 36 great-
grandchildren; former wife, Shar Fairchild.
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Save
The
Date
Oct. 29
are always welcome.
The Lorna Byrne Mid-
dle School Music Depart-
ment will present the Fall
Concert on Wednesday, Oc-
tober 29 at 7 p.m. The Con-
cert Band, Choir, and Cadet
Band will perform a variety
of pieces in the Jamie Scott
Memorial Gym. Admission
is free, but donations to the
LBMS Music Department
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Oct. 31
IVHS JV Homecom-
ing Football Game vs.
Lakeview High School at
4:30 p.m.
IVHS Varsity Home-
coming Football Game vs.
Lakeview High School at 7
p.m.
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
Nov. 5 – Nov. 6
Lorna Byrne Middle
School will hold Parent /
Teacher Conferences on
Wednesday, Nov. 5 from
4:15 to 8 p.m. and Thurs-
day, Nov. 6 from 7:30 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m. Please attend
to obtain your student’s
progress report and discuss
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.
your child’s academic prog-
ress. Any questions, phone
LBMS at 541-592-2163.
Nov. 7 & 8
Illinois Valley Senior
Center, Christmas Bazaar
9 a.m.-4 p.m., 520 E. River
St., 30 booths, kichen open,
lunch can be purchased and
a bake sale available.
Nov. 8
Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9
a.m. – 5 p.m. is the “Clothes
Giveaway” at Takilma Bible
Church, 10343 Takilma Rd.
Ongoing
Dec. 5
IV Chamber Mix-
er/Auction at Wild River
Brewery Friday, Dec. 5
from 5-9 p.m.. This will be
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
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
a no host pizza with beer
and wine tasting donated by
Wild River and Bridgeview
Winery.
DEADLINES:
News, Classified and
Display Ads, Announce-
ments and Letters
4 P.M. FRIDAYS
Cub Scouting, Pack
880, Grades 1-5, Call Larry
Hammersmith,
541-592-
3919 or George Nadow,
541-592-6771.
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.