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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
Over the past few weeks, we have lost two IV Lions
who were active members of our community.
It took some time for me to grow on Lew Lyons. I would
see him at Carlos’s and his drink would be in the same spot
at the corner and he was either in the restroom or maybe
checking his luck on the machines. I would tease him that
Sherry said I could move his drink and that Lew wouldn’t
mind. He would look at me with that no-nonsense look and
tone that only Lew can do and say, “Now, what in the heck
would make you think that?” Over the years I think I wore
him down and we had plenty of great chats about life.
When Bonnie died, part of Lew did as well. Our visits
diminished to a rare occasion as he was failing in his own
health. I will miss his gruff, yet friendly manner.
Now, Jerry Sommers, on the other hand was a creature
all to himself. He was Jerry, plain and simple. Jerry knew
how to get things done.
I love a good auction and in certain circles Jerry was
the go-to-guy for auctioneer. The problem was, I had a
heck of a time hearing him. I would end up buying things
that I thought were other items, except for the wine, I al-
ways knew when I was bidding on that.
Jerry was everywhere doing everything for this com-
munity through the Lions Club and many folks will miss
him.
The last time I saw Jerry was at the park. He had been
working all day the Tuesday following the Labor Day Fes-
tival. He was sore and dead tired, and he was still there
working. To me, that says a lot about one’s character.
So, to the Lyons and Sommers families, while you have
suffered a great loss in your family, you are not alone, the
community has also lost two good men.
On a separate note, the IVHS football team will be
heading up to Dayton for its second playoff appearance in
as many years. Go Cougs!
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not be published, but will be used to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.)
Walker Recall Effort Falls
Short – Or Does It?
An October 1st article by An-
nette Rasch “Walker Recall Ef-
fort Falls Short”, quoted numbers
from Josephine County Clerk Art
Harvey and gave a lot of weight
to Cherryl Walker’s point of view.
The state required statistical sam-
pling system, mentioned in this
article, only looks at a fraction
of the submitted signatures. Ten
percent of the total signatures are
sampled and verified. The signa-
tures determined to be valid are
used in statistical formulas to esti-
mate the total number of valid sig-
natures. If these formulas indicate
that there are not enough valid
signatures, another 10% plus one
signature are sampled and veri-
fied. The valid signatures in this
sample are combined with the
valid signatures of the first sample
and, once again, used in statisti-
cal formulas to estimate the total
number of valid signatures. If this
estimate does not contain the re-
quired number of valid signatures,
and you cannot submit additional
signatures before the filing dead-
line, the petition does not qualify
for the ballot.
What does this mean? It means
that estimates based on 20% of
the total collected signatures can
disqualify the petition without
validating the remaining 80% of
signatures. Conversely, a petition
can qualify for the ballot based on
the first 10% sampling, without
the validation of the remaining
90%. Like it or not, that’s the way
the system works.
The bottom line is, Cherryl
Walker dodged a recall at this elec-
tion based on nothing more than a
statistically based estimate. Ac-
cording to Art Harvey, the failure
was due largely to unregistered
voters. It may be unprecedented
to have an elected official so un-
popular that people unwilling to
exercise their right to vote, sign
petitions to have her recalled.
Some of the statements that
Ms. Rasch quoted from Cherryl
Walker are indicative of an indi-
vidual in a complete state of denial
with the all too familiar inability,
or refusal, to accept responsibil-
ity for one’s own actions. Cherryl
Walker supported, promoted and
voted in favor of the solid waste
ordinances. Commissioner Keith
Heck also voted in favor of these
ordinances. With an administra-
tive action, these two individuals
overturned the ordinances pre-
viously adopted by the public.
They did not refer these new ordi-
nances to the public. That had to
be achieved through the initiative
process.
Once guaranteed a spot on the
ballot, came the refusal to print
a voter’s pamphlet. It appeared
that they did not want voters to be
able to read about the ordinances.
Not until former commissioner
Sandi Cassanelli publicly offered
$10,000 toward publication of a
pamphlet, did the current com-
missioners begrudgingly decide
to (or were shamed into) having a
pamphlet printed.
Walker supporters want us to
believe that it was all Simon Hare’s
fault for bringing these ordinances
to the table initially. This appears
to be an excuse for, or perhaps a
denial of, Walker’s subsequent ac-
tions. In other words, “It’s all his
fault. He made me do it!” While it
is obvious to me that Simon Hare
was in favor of the ordinances, it
is hard to fault him for the other
commissioners’ actions.
Cherryl Walker’s behavior at
public meetings is, well, public -
and recorded - as well it should be.
It is a matter of record how people
that disagree with her, and speak
out at public meetings, are labeled
as purveyors of misinformation,
liars and disruptive influences. At
times, they are even silenced by
her at these meetings for their op-
posing view(s).
Any public official, regardless
of their job performance, has some
loyal supporters. Whether it is a
political party or a local official,
loyal supporters tend to overlook
wrongdoing by their candidate,
regardless of how egregious. Yet,
they will condemn another for the
same actions.
I am certainly not singling out
Cherryl Walker. Each of our three
commissioners, through their own
individual actions, deserves a spot
on a recall ballot. Unfortunately,
the public will not have that op-
tion, at least at this election.
Ray Smith
Cave Junction
Obituaries
Lewis M. Lyons of Cave Junction, passed away at home on October 21, 2014
at the age of 87.
Lew and and his wife Bonnie moved to Cave Junction in 1991 after attending nu-
merous “Sub Station North” Reunions with other retired Long Beach Police retirees. At
age 16, he started working in the Long Beach Naval Shipyards, then McDonnell Douglas
before being hired by the Long Beach Police Department. Lew retired as a Sergeant from
the Department after 28 years of service. He served in the Army and Air Force, WW2,
and the Korean War. He was also a proud member of the Kerby Belt Masonic Lodge and
the IV Lions Club.
His hobbies included camping and dirt bike riding with his son Steve in his earlier
years and restoring and building Volkswagens after retirement. He loved to travel and
made many trips to Mazatlan Mexico with his daughters and retired LBPD friends. He
enjoyed playing poker at the Senior Center and being in the company of his friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife Bonnie of 60 years, who passed in 2012. He is
survived by his son Steve (wife Terri), and daughters Laurie and Sally. He also leaves
behind three grandsons and five great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held on November 9, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the
IV Lions Clubhouse, Airport Drive in Cave Junction. In lieu of flowers, donations to any
Animal Rescue Organization is desired.
Lew and Bonnie Lyons
I llInoIs V alley F uneral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Save The Date
Nov. 5 & 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
your child’s academic prog-
ress. Any questions, phone
LBMS at 541-592-2163.
Nov. 5 & 6
IVHS Evening Confer-
ences, Nov. 5, 4 – 8 p.m.
IVHS
Conferences
Nov. 6, 7:30 a.m. – 7:30
p.m. No Classes for stu-
dents.
Young Master Gar-
deners will meet at the C.J.
Library this Friday, Nov.
7 at 2:30 p.m. to investi-
gate trees and all their uses.
Children 5-12 years old are
invited to attend this free
event, younger siblings are
welcome with parental su-
pervision.
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
IVHS Mathletes, 7:30
a.m. – 3:10 p.m. at N. Med-
ford High School
Nov. 7
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
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. 8
Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9
a.m. – 5 p.m. is the “Clothes
Giveaway” at Takilma Bible
Church, 10343 Takilma Rd.
11:30 a.m. – Deer Creek
Cemetery, Lakeshore St.,
Selma and 1 p.m. -Senior
Center, 520 E. River St.
Nov. 14
Nov. 9
A Celebration of Life
for Lew Lyons will be held
on November 9, 2014 from
1:00 - 3:00 pm at the IV
Lions Clubhouse, Airport
Drive in Cave Junction. In
lieu of flowers, donations to
any Animal Rescue Organi-
zation is desired.
“The Cave Junction Li-
ons Club will be holding
their 12th annual, “Turkey
Bingo” on Friday, Novem-
ber 14. They will be at the
Senior Center on River St.
in Cave Junction. Doors
open at 5 p.m. and games
start at 6 p.m.”
Nov. 15
Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day
Post 70, American Le-
gion, Cave Junction
10 a.m. – City Hall, 222
W. Lister St.; 10:30 a.m. –
WWI Flag Pole, 435 Junc-
tion Ave.; 11 a.m. –Laurel
Cemetery, 1090 Laurel Rd.;
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.
The Spiral Living Cen-
ter will present a delicious
Local Foods Dinner, a silent
auction, music and theatri-
cal entertainment, Saturday,
November 15, at the Illinois
Valley Senior Center, 520
East River Street. The event
will begin at 5:30 p.m. Pro-
ceeds from this event will
allow Spiral Living Center
to continue to offer free and
low-cost programs and proj-
ects such as the IV Farm and
Garden Festival, skill-share
events, bicycle repair, and
gleaned food donations to
people in the Illinois Valley.
The dinner feast consists
of many courses of locally
grown, harvested or gath-
ered food. Advance Tickets
are available for $15 each or
2 for $25, or you may pur-
chase unsold tickets at the
door if available. Contact
SLC Director Debbie Lukas
(541) 592-3386.
Nov. 20
Taste of the IV/Novem-
berfest, Hosted by Wild
River Brewing & Pizza
Co., 249 N. Redwood Hwy.,
Cave Junction, $35 per per-
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
DEADLINES:
News, Classified and
Display Ads, Announce-
ments and Letters
4 P.M. FRIDAYS
son, Includes a fun Novem-
berfest dinner and drink, this
is a fundraiser that benefits
the Boys & Girls Clubs. For
tickets please contact Cyndi
Spencer at 541-337-7949.
Dec. 5
IV Chamber Mix-
er/Auction at Wild River
Brewery Friday, Dec. 5
from 5-9 p.m.. This will be
a no host pizza with beer
and wine tasting donated by
Wild River and Bridgeview
Winery.
Ongoing
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.