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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 20, 2016
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need not be published, but will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 does not
like aviation noise at
airport
When I read the front
page article of the April 13,
2016 edition of the Illinois
Valley News regarding
Erickson Aviation and their
latest volunteer efforts to
disturb the peace of our
valley, I began to wonder
if I was standing knee deep
in steer manure out in Les
Schwab country.
What kind of newspaper
reporter would claim
authorship of an article that
was clearly contrived by
the I.V. Airport manager to
disseminate misinformation
for the sake of dividing
a community over such a
pivotal point in our valley’s
history? And further more,
a healthy dose of tsk-tsk to
the editor for allowing such
obvious disinformation to
pass beyond his desk.
If either of the above
mentioned mercenaries were
out of doors between March
31 and the print date of
said newspaper, they would
know that Erickson’s S64
Skycrane has flown over the
Valley and into the airport
10 times in that 14 day
period. In fact, there were
six documented training
sessions over the residential
airspace of the Valley
between April 3rd and April
9th, not 2 as was stated by
Miss Hoyle.
The airport manager
stated in the third paragraph
that he has “zero leverage”
over the flying patterns,
times, etc. due to the lack of
a lease at the airport between
Erickson and the county.
If you visit the Federal
Aviation Administration
website you will find under
the heading of Aircraft
Noise Levels that the truth
is “Airports are responsible
for their noise impact on the
communities they occupy.
These noise impacts include
noise from arrivals and
departures, as well as noise
from aircraft in a flight
path within the immediate
vicinity of the airport. Most
airports have staff that
respond to airport noise
issues, or you can ask for the
airport manager.”
I have filed a complaint
with the airport manager
and he has failed to respond
so I have brought the case
to the attention of the
FAA (FAAHotline@faa.
gov), as was recommended
by Commissioner Hare
in response to a formal
complaint filed with the
county at the weekly
business session of the board
of county commissioners.
As there has been
documented video footage of
Erickson touching down at
the I.V. Airport, the airport
manager is responsible for
their behavior in our skies.
This inaction puts the airport
at risk of being in violation
of their grant assurances
that they receive every year
from the FAA. This blatant
neglect of public duty could
potentially create a situation
where Josephine County
would be responsible for
repayment of millions of
dollars of grant monies.
If there is in fact a
“hostile environment”
at the I.V. airport, it is
being created by first
and foremost, the most
corrupt group of county
commissioners possibly
in the history of our
county. Second to them
is the collaborative effort
between Erickson Aviation
and the Josephine County
Airports Manager, both
rooted in Jackson County, to
“spank” the Illinois Valley
residents with unprecedented
helicopter operations in our
residential airspace outside
of fire season.
Please consider joining
your fellow citizens on
Monday, April 25 at 4:30
p.m. at the Smokejumper
Base Museum for the next
airport advisory board
meeting to witness the truth
of the matter at hand.
funding, yet they push for
clean energy reforms which
are not proven to be cost
effective, and will roll out
by 2025. To add insult to
injury, they classify them
as emergency measures, to
take effect immediately, and
push them through the short
legislation session. Do they
not understand the word
emergency? Where was the
$2 bill that would have given
rural counties the ability to
provide basic public safety
services to its citizens, and
saved nearby jurisdictions
from sacrificing their own
public safety concerns and
dollars? Why did we not
see the PERS financial time
bomb addressed? This will
financially affect every city,
county, state agency (and
yes that means taxpayer),
as they scramble to fund
PERS liabilities now, not
2025. Could it be because
their own pocketbooks are
at stake? It is time for a
grassroots movement to
bring local control back
to local communities. We
can begin by reclaiming
50 percent of lottery funds
being taken from our local
counties currently going into
a “honeypot” in Salem. Go
to www.lotterylocalcontrol.
com to learn how much
money that means to your
county. Then download the
e-petition, sign and send it
to the Lottery Local Control
Committee. We need to show
Salem that rural Oregon has
a voice, and demand it be
heard! It is time.
Valerie Lovelace
Grants Pass
Sunrise Ocean
Cave Junction
PERS is the word
It is time for those of
us in rural Oregon to take
responsibility and charge of
our needs. We have stood
by and waited too long
for Salem to take notice
of the difference in rural
and urban communities.
They have continuously
ignored our pleas to help
stabilize funding in counties
dependent upon our natural
resources for county
Obituaries
Hilma J. Michel, 74 , of Cave
Junction, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2016
at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
Hilma was born a twin on Oct. 8, 1941
in Carpinteria, Calif. She met Sam Michel
while living in Carpinteria. They married in
1968 and moved to Cave Junction where they
owned and operated Sam Michel Excavating
while raising three children.
She was a member of the Eagles and
Elks lodges.
Her hobbies including vegetable and
flower gardening; camping; baking and being
with family. She especially loved being a
grandma, spoiling her grandkids and attending
their sporting events.
Hilma is survived by her husband, Sam
Michel of Cave Junction; three children,
Sherry (Brian) D’Arpino of Grants Pass,
Duke (Kathy) Jackson of Salem, and Lota
Berard of Portland; a sister, Wilma Martin of
Reno, Nevada; and three grandchildren, twin
granddaughters, Kerissa and Venessa D’Arpino
both of Corvallis, Ore.; and grandson, Cory
D’Arpino of Grants Pass.
She was preceded in death by her son,
Don Jackson at age 6 months; a brother,
Wendell “Wendy” Kerley at age 58 in 2004;
her father, Harry Kerley; and her mother,
Wilma Gregory.
She was sweet, loving, and kind. She
will be missed.
A graveside service was held Sunday,
April 17, 2016 at Laurel Cemetery. Illinois
Valley Funeral Directors were in charge of
arrangements.
Sandra Kubalek Schmidt ,
75, wife, mother, homemaker, small-business
owner and lifelong student, died March 24 at
her home outside Cave Junction, surrounded
by her family.
Born in Chicago, Ill. Sandra moved
with her family to Medford, Ore., in 1950 and
graduated from Medford High School in 1957.
She attended college in Colorado and Oregon
before marrying Robert Schmidt in December
1962 in Medford.
Sandra was passionate about education
– for her children and herself. Her college
major was English education, but she also had
a natural aptitude for math and engineering.
She loved literature and drama, and her
favorite college job was working on the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.
At the age of 56, she returned to college
at Regis University in Denver, completing
her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English
Education in 1997. Sandra looked for
opportunities to learn in every place she lived.
Over more than 53 years of marriage,
Sandra and Robert moved across the country,
including Hawaii, during Robert’s service as
an officer in the U.S. Navy. While he worked
for the Bureau of Land Management they lived
in Calif., Ala., N.M., Va. and Colo. In 2011
they returned to Ore. and settled in the Illinois
Valley.
Sandra mastered a wide range of
needlework skills during her life, including
knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch and
embroidery. Her passion for needlework and
joy found helping people led to the creation of
the Yarncrafter Shop, where she taught needle
arts and provided support on projects large and
small.
Sandra opened the business in Montrose,
Colo., in 1983 and moved it to Lakewood,
Colo., in 1989. The business lapsed following
the move to Ore., but before her death she was
excited about plans to reopen in Cave Junction.
Sandra loved animals, appreciated music,
great stories and preparing homemade meals
for her family – values she instilled in her
children. Living in the Illinois Valley, Sandra
embraced her love for gardening and the
outdoors, joining the local grange and garden
club, participating in Oregon State University
(OSU) Extension classes and taking part in the
OSU Extension Land Steward program.
She never met a stranger, was willing to
talk with anyone and had a kind heart. Sandra
would go out of her way to help a friend,
was willing to listen or provide great advice.
Her strength, work ethic and resiliency were
amazing and she lived a full life up to the end.
Sandra is preceded in death by her
father Milo Kubalek, brother James Kubalek
and mother Florence Kubalek Fotter. She
is survived by her husband Robert of Cave
Junction, daughter Theresa (Michael) Jones
of Mechanicville, N. Y.; son, Robert Schmidt
of Lakebay, Washington; daughter, Tamara
Schmidt of Lakeview, Ore.; daughter, Tiffany
Schmidt of Medford; sister, Carole (Patrick)
Cumerford of Bath, N. Y.; and two grandsons.
A funeral mass is planned for April 21
at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick of the Forest Catholic
Church, 407 W. River St. in Cave Junction.
Internment is scheduled for April 22 at 11 a.m.
at Siskiyou Memorial Park, 2100 Siskiyou
Blvd. in Medford.
Sandra Kubalek Schmidt
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
Save The Date
April 22 & 29
Rogue Community College offers “RCC
Preview Days” 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 22 and
29. Students are invited to tour campus, attend a
financial aid registration lab, and meet members
of student government. Visit recruitment@
roguecc.edu for more information.
April 22
Cave Junction Farmers Market runs
Fridays starting April 22, from 4 to 7 p.m.
through September 23. The market offers local
farmers, food producers, artisans and venue to
sell the fruits of their labor. You can even get
your bike repaired.
The market is located in the parking lot of
Jubilee Park at 307 S. Junction Ave , adjacent to
the playground.
The market takes Oregon Trail SNAP and
debit cards.
For more information contact Sarah Kuhn
at 541-415-4419
April 22
Earth Day Clean Up at Reeves Creek,
Proposed Area of Critical Environmental
Concern ACEC. This high-priority location
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
is habitat for the federally endangered Cook’s
Lomatium, but unfortunately has become a
favorite dump site. Working with the Medford
BLM, we will clean up this location before
they close the road to prevent further access.
- Gloves and trash bags provided. Please wear
sturdy shoes, - Meeting (and carpool) in Cave
Junction at Coffee Heaven 9 a.m.
IVHS boys baseball game: away at St.
Mary’s HIgh School at 2 p.m.
541-592-4110
IVHS girls varsity softball game: home
versus Klamath Union at 1 p.m.
April 23-24
Jo. Co. Master Gardeners ™ 2016 Annual
Spring Garden Fair. Saturday, April 23, 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 24, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Plants, trees, shrubs and vendors.
Free admission. No animals, please. www.
jocomastergardeners.com OSU Ext. Office:
215 Ringuette St.
April 23
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Assembly and Meeting of
Public Record,Selma Community Center, 18255
Redwood Hwy. Selma. Potluck 1p.m. - TOPICS:
Law Enforcement / Sheriff’s Patrols / Criminal
Justice System. Nearly all Commissioner
Candidates scheduled to attend, Ret. Sheriff
Gilbertson, and sheriff deputy representative.
• Law Enforcement District: • Patrols interface
with sheriff dep. • Redirect County Budget $1m
reserve $ for roads to support Illinois Valley
and JoCo public safety. • Assembly hearing
of facts, vote and recommendations to county
commissioners. Contact: Guenter Ambron,
541-592-4124, or email cmec@cavenet.com,
for program and to RSVP.
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
Since 1937 periodicals postage
paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820
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.
May 7
2016 Illinois Valley Children’s Fair and
Pet Parade 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Jubilee Park.
Annual Mother’s Day Bingo, games start
at 6 p.m. at the Cave Junction Senior Center.
Cash Payouts 50/50 drawings. .50 3 on papers.
Sponsored by the Glenn Morrison American
Legion Post 70.
Continuing
services. Fire & EMS Exploring is a hand-on
program that exposes young people to fire and
emergency services. The most popular career
exploring includes firefighter, EMT, paramedic
and nursing. Career exploring combines some
classroom training with hands-on lessons and
you will learn first aid, fire safety, emergency
medicine, leadership methods, teamwork
and much more. You will develop emergency
management skills and physical fitness and
have the opportunity to participate in local and
national competitions, community events and
real firefighting scenarios in a training setting.
Call 541-592-2225 to benefit from this college
and career readiness program.
*The C.J. Substation is now open as
follows: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number at the
Sub is 541-592-5151. We are looking for more
volunteers to expand the hours; applications to
become a volunteer can be picked up at the Sub
Station.
Fire & Emergency Services Career
Exploring is open to young men and women from
our local schools with an interest in learning more
about careers in the field of fire or emergency
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Copy Editor -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Classified Ads -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Circulation - Kimberly Potter
office@illinois-valley-news.com
Advertising / Composition -
Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Mailroom - Millie Watkins
DEADLINES:
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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.