Page A-14
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Weather
Watch
Cave Junction
thursday, april 14
Rain
high --51 low -- 35
friday, april 15
T ry
Partly Cloudy
high -- 66 low -- 37
r osie ’ s
PIZZA
saturday, april 16
Clear
high -- 78 low -- 44
sunday, april 17
Partly Cloudy
high -- 83 low -- 47
ICE
L
S
-
E
H
T
-
Y
B
Monday, april 18
Clear
high -- 78 low -- 45
tuesday, april 19
Today
Clear
high -- 79 low -- 45
Wednesday, april 20
415-0517
OPEN:
M & TH 11-6
FRIDAY 11-7
aT C hevron in CJ
SATURDAY 9-1
aT G ranTs P ass
G rowers ’ markeT
FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
Partly Cloudy
high -- 73 low -- 43
Following are the high & low temperatures,
and rainfall recorded at The End of the Road
in O’Brien by Cheryl & Harry Johnson:
Apr
High
Low
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
78.4
74.8
72.5
63.2
69.8
85.0
89.9
36.1
39.3
36.0
40.8
33.6
39.4
43.0
Rain
0.06
0.03
Apt Rain: 0.09” YTD Rain: 83.03”
Average Yearly Rain Total: n/a Inches
JP Auto &
Metal Recycling
New Parts - Used Parts
-We Buy Scrap Metal-
Certified Scales
29910 Redwood Hwy
Cave Junction, OR
541-592-3691
i.V. e xCaVaTinG llC
E DWARD P ODOLL
Selma, OR
Office: 541-597-2485
Septics
House Pads
Logging
Land Clearing
Road Construction
Cell: 541-660-1798
CCB# 181530
DEQ# 38491
Deputy Lehman reflects on his first 6 months in CJ
Anita R. Savio
IVN Contributing Writer
With about six months under his
belt as a new sheriff’s deputy detailed
to the Cave Junction Substation, Ken
Lehman cited commitment to his
community as the reason he left a five-
and-a-half-year stint with the Medford
Police Department for a job with
Josephine County that offers lower pay
and less job security.
“I wanted to help out my local
community. I live in Grants Pass. I knew
I had skills I could apply over here.
Sheriff Daniel is working very hard to
improve community relations, and I
wanted to be part of that.”
The city of Cave Junction has a
contract with the sheriff’s department to
provide 40 hours per week of coverage.
Lehman brings a set of people skills
to the job that some may identify as more
often seen in the social work profession.
“I do pretty well talking and
communicating with people. I like to
build a rapport. A lot of criminals out
there are in bad situations, and with a
little help they can improve their lives.”
But, Lehman admitted, “We can
want these people to get help, but until
they decide they want it there’s nothing
we can do. That’s one of the biggest
things I struggle with.”
He referred to Trevor Praszek, who
recently died in an automobile accident:
“I heard about that accident, and first
thing that went through my mind was,
he’s an 18-year-old kid, and had he been
able to see the help he needed he could
have avoided that downward spiral.”
Praszek was suspected of recently
engaging in a spree of vandalism and
other crimes that had enraged the people
of the Illinois Valley.
Another hot button issue in Cave
Junction has been the marked presence
of street people and associated problems.
But Lehman sees progress on that issue.
“I was surprised to see how much
we’ve worked with transients to address
the problem. For the most part they
have been cleaning up after themselves.
They’ve mostly moved to the back
of Jubilee Park, and for the most part
they are leaving children and families
alone. The regular homeless have
enough respect for us that they behave
themselves. Usually it’s those traveling
through that cause problems.
“We will make arrests,” he
explained, “when they become a danger
to themselves or others. Or when their
behavior becomes excessive or unruly,
causing public alarm.”
Lehman added that Sheriff Daniel
has been working with mental health
people to try and get some of these
individuals help before releasing them
from jail.
Another struggle Lehman faces is
the county’s lack of law enforcement
personnel. He explained how sheriff’s
deputies work together to provide
coverage: “I’ll go and back up another
deputy in another part of the Illinois
Valley. Or an extra deputy will back me
up in Cave Junction, if needed.”
As an example, Lehman cited an
arrest he made of a disorderly woman at
the Speedy Mart. He made the arrest, but
another deputy transported her to the jail.
Lehman explained that Cave
Junction, because of the contract with
the sheriff’s department, gets a lot of
attention.
“Because I am out here it allows me
to spend a lot of time on investigations.
I’ve been trying to do extremely
thorough follow-ups and investigations
when a crime occurs, because that’s
going to help solve the crime.
“And because of the contract with
Cave Junction, I can lodge crimes [jail
arrestees] that otherwise I couldn’t
because of overcrowding in the jail.”
Nevertheless, according to Lehman,
the lack of law enforcement funding
means there are substantial limits to the
coverage that can be provided.
“To be out here after hours is much
more complicated logistically than to
just have one or two deputies out here.
Dispatch [911] also goes off-duty after
hours.”
Lehman lauds the response of the
Illinois Valley public in addressing the
crime issue.
“You guys have come leaps and
bounds in coming together to protect
yourselves,” he said, adding that good
leads from the community have helped
the sheriff’s department solve crimes.
“And volunteers at the Cave
Junction Substation are also taking a
huge burden off dispatchers by taking
reports, returning phone calls and
assessing needs.”
BY THE YARD:
But citizen efforts can only do
so much to address the lack of law
enforcement. Lehman referred to a
recent meeting with citizens, where the
suggestion was made that local security
company, Concierge Home and Business
Watch, can take up the slack from the
sheriff’s department.
“Concierge will not get involved
other than being the best witness they
can be. They do have authority to
make a citizen’s arrest. But even if
they arrest someone, there’s a question
about whether a jail bed is available.
In Grants Pass, where there’s a 24 hour
police agency to respond to their calls,
they’re much more effective … But if a
problem comes [in the county], let’s say
a domestic assault, they can respond,
but they cannot go inside the home and
conduct an investigation.”
But Lehman is upbeat about the
efforts being made to provide law
enforcement services.
“I know that Sheriff Daniel is
committed to considering any options
to improve our effectiveness with the
resources available. He’s very open-
minded and willing to look outside the
box for opportunities.
“The people working for Josephine
County are working for a lot less pay
than in other counties, but they’re all
happy to be helping out. We’re doing the
job because we love it, and because we
love our community.
Lehman added that he is available
to anybody who has questions, comments
or concerns. He can be reached at 514-
218-5164, and will return the call of
anyone who leaves a message. Lehman
stressed that this is not the number to call
to report a crime.
(Courtesy photo for The Illinois Valley News)
JoCo Deputy Ken Lehman
BY THE BAG/TOTE:
Pumice
1 Yard Tote
Washed Steer Manure
Reusable Totes (1.5-2 C.F.)
OMRI Organic Compost
Peat Moss (3.8 & 120 C.F.)
Compost’N Pumice
Mint Compost
ROCK’N CHUNK Perlite (4 C.F.)
ROCK’N Perlite (56 C.F.)
Organic Compost Chicken & Pumice
BY THE BLOCK:
50/50 Mix
Coco Peat Blocks
Oregon Mix
Coco Peat (fluffed)
BY THE PALLET:
WSDA Composted Chicken Manure
Peat Moss
ROCK’N SOIL
Coco Peat Blocks
1 Love Mix
EnchantMint Mix
AMENDMENTS
272 N. Old Stage Road Cave Junction, OR 97523
www.rocknsoil-oregon.com
rocknsoiloregon@frontier.com
Locally Made and Family Owned - Be Green One Tote or Truck at a Time