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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 11, 2016
What we think: an editorial from the Illinois Valley News
County Commissioner Position 2
aspirant, Dale Matthews, appears to exemplify
Winston Churchill’s famous quote about
Russia being “a riddle wrapped in a mystery
inside an enigma.” In his Candidate Statement,
and unlike his competitors, Matthews’
occupational background sounds suspiciously
vague. With one exception, he does not
identify a single employer by name. As a man
who questions government, he seems to have
a strong aversion to being questioned himself.
All appeals by the Illinois Valley News to
Matthews for specifics about his background
have been met by stonewalling.
But for what should be of greater
concern to voters is Matthews’ financial
history. Matthews advertises himself as a
fiscal conservative who will save our county
from financial mismanagement. Yet the
Illinois Valley News has uncovered a history
of unpaid judgments and liens against him
totaling $94,992. (No, that’s not a misplaced
comma.) According to Montgomery County
Maryland, and Josephine County Circuit
Court documents, Dale Matthews owes almost
$100,000 in unpaid credit cards, student debt
and income taxes.
Of that debt, he incurred $78,138 while
residing in Maryland in the 1990s. That total
represents unpaid Maryland income tax,
unpaid federal income tax to the tune of more
than $57,000 and an amount owed to American
University. Since Matthew claims he has never
had a student loan, this may represent unpaid
tuition. In 2005, American University was
able to track Matthews down to Oregon and
filed a garnishment against his wages at his
employment at the time, with the Albertsons
grocery chain. Matthews has yet to satisfy
even a portion of the American University
judgment, which suggests he left his
Albertsons’ job shortly after the garnishment
was put in place.
Once in Oregon, Matthews’ personal
money mismanagement did not end. In 2009
Capital One won a $9,092 judgment against
him, and in 2009 a collection agency won a
$7,763 judgment against him for credit card
debt owed to U.S.Bank.
Matthews is known locally for his
videotaping of county commissioner meetings,
and his nightly YouTube broadcasts, in which
he excoriates the county “establishment.”
But it is not known how he supports himself
financially. Since 2005, Matthews has not
been a salaried employee anywhere, to the
best of our knowledge. Matthews’ father, now
deceased, patented a new mining method,
and we surmise that the son is living off the
invention royalties. However that remains a
question mark.
Matthews has stated publicly that, should
he win election as a commissioner, he will
only take $30,000 of his commissioner’s salary
of more than $70,000 and donate the rest to
charity. More likely, once he starts receiving a
wage, his debtors will swiftly move to garnish
it. Matthews will be lucky if he is left with
the $30,000. And the “charities” to which he
donates will be credit card companies, Uncle
Sam, the state of Maryland and, perhaps
finally, American University.
To sum it up, the Illinois Valley News
has serious concerns with a man that runs
on a no new taxes, fiscal conservative and
transparency platform when in his personal
life he is neither fiscally conservative or
transparent. But to give him credit, when he
says no to taxes, he means it.
Illinois Valley News
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
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made as fact are strictly those
of the letter writers.)
Reader questions
Trump
We are writing about the
alarming popularity of Donald
Trump. Those impressed with
his riches should be aware
that he has been bailed out
financially by his father more
than once. Those impressed
with his arrogant self-
assurance should consider
that it only benefits those who
happen to be on his side at the
time. He feels entitled to do
anything he wants, including
offering to pay the legal costs
of thugs beating up protesters
at his rallies. Ask a history
teacher if this rings a bell.
Hitler used this tactic with the
paramilitary wing of the Nazi
party, the Sturmabteilung, to
eliminate open discussion and
freedom of speech. Research
“tactics used by Hitler in his
rise to power.”
With Trump’s “we”
versus “they” policy,
remember Hitler started with
Gypsies and homosexuals (to
use the terminology of his
day) before going after the
Jews. (Think “immigrants,”
“transsexuals,” “Muslims”
- and anyone else currently
perceived as a threat.) The
list of threats and priorities is
a moving target, as Trump’s
alliances and priorities change
with the weather, as do his
fiscal priorities.
We may be blind to the
fascist parallel, but we do
not have the long collective
memory of countries plagued
by war. There were few if
any families in Europe who
were not impacted by World
War II. Stories told by parents
and grandparents who lived
through extremely difficult
times, and lived to tell what
happened on their doorsteps,
would be burned into the
collective memory. For us, it
was half a world away. It is
easier to think that it couldn’t
happen to us.
Before deciding who to
vote for, let’s ask ourselves-
does Trump demonstrate a
great intellect? knowledge
of political structure or
constitutional powers or
division of powers? economic
characteristics of a good
economy? tax structure?
natural resources and their
limitations? international
law? international medical
issues? effects of climate
change? Does he have
the humility necessary to
employ intelligent advisors?
Trump’s willfulness and
lack of self-control borders
on childishness, and I don’t
want to think about WWIII
starting because Trump insults
Vladimir Putin’s manhood, or
vice versa.
It’s not just liberals
who don’t support Trump;
consider the arguments
of conservatives and
Libertarians who oppose him:
http://www.nationalreview.
com/article/430126/donald-
trump-conservatives-oppose-
nomination.
Does he have charisma?
Undoubtedly. But his loyalty
is not constant. Let’s not hand
ourselves into the power of an
unpredictable megalomaniac.
Susan Gustafson and
Melissa Gustafson
Cave Junction
Reader says Vote yes
on 17-69
We have an unusual
opportunity to help create real
living wage jobs right here
at home. Rouge Community
College has placed on the
ballot a funding measure to
build, remodel, update and
equip areas of the career and
technical training programs
at all four RCC locations
(Grants Pass, Medford, Table
Rock and Kerby). Not one
dime of this money will go
to faculty or staff salaries or
additional positions. All of it
will go towards creating new
facilities which will be in our
community for decades to
come to train generation after
generation in fields where
they can earn family wage
jobs, sometimes in as little as
9 months.
RCC has been carefully
monitoring the success
graduates from these career
and technical training
programs are having in the
work force, and the results
are very impressive to say the
least. In 2014, for example,
most graduates in nursing,
welding, automotive, diesel
and manufacturing technology
programs quickly found jobs
that pay an average of $25.86
per hour with nursing students
reporting average wages of
$35.79 per hour. Some earn
much more. Many, if not
most of those jobs are right
here at home.
And, to achieve this
high return on investment
the cost is only a nickel per
$1,000 assessed valuation.
That means a home with
an assessed valuation of
$200,000 will pay just $10
a year to achieve this return
in our community! So, your
investment in these new and
improved facilities will show
a direct return right back to
you continuing for year after
year.
For the sake of you, your
family members, your kids
and their kids to come, I urge
you to vote “YES” on RCC
bond measure 17-69.
Jerry Work
Kerby
Reader applauds
article
Great reporting by
Annette Rasch regarding the
explosion of fences around
the Valley in your May
4 edition. I did go to the
marijuana.oregon.gov website
mentioned in her story and
sent them my comments. I
also want to invite her, and
any others that are curious,
to see an unusual version of
fencing utilized in O’Brien.
Although probably not tall
enough, and it’s very limited
ability to withstand rain and
wind, the front fencing does
block much of the view of
one, particular residents’
property. However, the
property in on a bend of
road where Lone Mountain
Road splits with Naue Way,
so it’s easy to see as you
drive or walk by everything
behind the covered, front
fence. The bright blue tarps
that are further back on the
property, that are up and down
periodically, seem to work a
bit better against nature and
do a nice job hiding whatever
is being grown. I truly don’t
care about what they grow,
how much, or who it’s for, etc.
I hope the OLCC develops
some very specific fencing
rules requiring permanent
building materials to block
everything from the public’s
view. The bed sheets draped
on the wire fencing here
in O’Brien, over time, will
probably affect property
values, which is a lose-lose
situation for everyone.
Marilyn Arnold
O’Brien
Obituaries
Laura Ellena Wandel, 90, of
Cave Junction, passed away April 30, 2016.
Laura was born Aug. 31, 1925 in Atoka,
Okla. She lived in San Pedro, Calif. where
both she and her husband, Walter retired from
Harbor UCLA Medical Center in 1977. At that
time they moved to Cave Junction where they
built their home.
Laura belonged to the Seventh-day
Adventist Church and for many years
volunteered with Dorcas Food Bank.
She loved painting, sewing, and
crocheting.
She was preceded in death by her
husband of 49 years, Walter Wandel; and her
son, Larry Gayelon Sears.
Laura Ellena is survived by a daughter,
Laura Duhn of Cave Junction; a son, Johnny
Rambo of Garden Grove, Calif.; seven
grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two
great-great-grandchildren.
“We will miss this sweet gentle lady.”
No services are planned. Illinois
Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of
arrangements.
Michael Scott Giles, 52, of Cave
Junction, died Friday, April 22, 2016 at Asante
Rogue Regional Medical Center
Arrangements are pending with Illinois
Valley Funeral Directors.
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
May 11
Peanut Fair and Registration Picnic: May
11, 2016. 5-7 p.m. Free. Fun. Water games so
bring towels. Madrone Elementary, grades Pre-K
to 8. Come check us out! No RSVP necessary. All
community members welcome.
May 12
IVHS track varsity district regional’s: away
at St. Mary’s School
IVHS girls’ varsity softball senior night:
home vs. Rogue River High School at noon and
2 p.m.
IVHS boys’ varsity baseball senior night:
home vs. Rogue River High School at noon and
2 p.m.
IVHS equestrian varsity state: away at Jack-
son County Fairgrounds
May 13
IVHS equestrian varsity state: away at Jack-
son County Fairgrounds
May 14
IVHS equestrian varsity state: away at Jack-
son County Fairgrounds
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
May 14
Free Clean Clothes Give-away, Saturday,
May 14 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Takilma Bible
Church, 10343 Takilma Rd.
May 15
IVHS equestrian varsity state: away at Jack-
son County Fairgrounds
May 13 & 14
Continuing
We are looking for performers, directors,
writers, stagehands, and kitchen help for our next
Whirlwind Play Festival on May 13-14. 24 hours
to create 6 original shows on the theme “THIS IS
OUR MOMENT.” Doors & dinner at 6:30 p.m.,
show at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14. To participate
or for more info visit whirlwindfestival.word-
press.com/ or call (415) 637-9044.
Fire & Emergency Services Career Explor-
ing is open to young men and women from our lo-
cal schools with an interest in learning more about
careers in the field of fire or emergency services.
Fire & EMS Exploring is a hand-on program that
exposes young people to fire and emergency ser-
vices. The most popular career exploring includes
firefighter, EMT, paramedic and nursing. Career
exploring combines some classroom training with
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Illinois Valley News is published at
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hands-on lessons and you will learn first aid, fire
safety, emergency medicine, leadership methods,
teamwork and much more. You will develop emer-
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career readiness program.
*The C.J. Substation is now open as fol-
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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.