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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 24, 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’ encour-
ages 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need not be published, but will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 com-
mentary, including statements
made as fact are strictly those
of the letter writers.)
Reader takes issue
I wish to take issue with
Dennis Hoke’s letter to the
editor published on August
17, 2016. In it Mr. Hoke
expresses his negative attitude
towards the cannabis industry
by including it in the same
category as “tweekers, yards
full of trash, and homeless
people on the street” and
compares our valley with the
bucolic beauty of the hops
farms and vineyards up in the
Willamette Valley where he
recently rode his bicycle.
Both hops and vineyard
grapes are major ingredients
in the familiar alcoholic
beverages of beer and wine.
People can get high on these
beverages as they can on pot,
and, yes Dennis, they are all
legal so get used to it. The
citizens of the United States
made beer and wine legal
in 1933 and the citizens of
Oregon legalized pot in 2014.
His statement that the “silent
majority” should take a stand
is totally incorrect unless he
and these illusionary people
didn’t vote on the measure.
This is a democracy and his
opinion was not the majority.
I agree that “no
law enforcement, drugs
[like meth], trash,
derelict properties and
squatters” should not be
the community’s future
but uninformed prejudiced
attitudes should not be either.
Is it the effects of marijuana
that Mr. Hoke is opposed to
or the people who use and
cultivate it? We can only
guess as to what “need to
take a stand before it’s too
late” means; is he advocating
for some new law and order
hysteria against cannabis
farmers? All too often in the
past law enforcement has
concentrated on harassment of
pot cultivation at the expense
of confronting real crimes
with real victims. Many of
us remember those days and
Mr. Hoke’s attitudes and, as
an expression coming from
an influential citizen, make us
think twice about voting for
a massive law enforcement
levy.
Robert C. Hirning
Takilma
What readers think:
How do you feel about a law enforcement levy?
Louise Hunter
Randy Kreifels
Daniel Dalegowski
Tom Pappas
David Longman
Mike Arnett
“I’m against a levy because
they have tried four years in
a row. Instead they should
use taxes that will be coming
forth from our numerous
marijuana growers.”
“It would be nice if they
passed it. We have a bad
reputation. My parents
don’t feel safe here.”
“I’m into a levy because it
appears it would maintain
basic services. Without it
the sheriff won’t be able
to do anything for us.”
“I’m going to vote for it,
but I feel it won’t pass be-
cause the same active group
keeps fighting it. What we
need is a county sales tax.”
“Yes, I think they should
do a levy, we need more
deputies here. The sheriff
needs help.”
“I am for the levy because
we need cops.”
Obituaries
Russel Kauffman, 54,
of Branchburg, NJ, passed away at
his home Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
A memorial service will be held
in Brachburg, NJ. 3 p.m. Aug. 27, Not
at his parents home in Takilma.
In lieu of flowers donations
may be made to the American Cancer
Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma
City, Okla. 73123 or at http://www.
cancer.org.
For more information or to send
condolences please visit http://www.
kearnsfuneralhome.com.
Mikel “Mike” Dugas,
July 17, 1956, to Aug. 17, 2016
Mike was born in Fremont
Nebraska July 17, 1956. His fam-
ily moved to San Diego California
when he was two months old. He
grew up in a home with two sisters
and one brother. Mike is the sec-
ond oldest child, and the oldest son
of Delma and Normand Dugas. He
grew up enjoying the beach, music,
baseball, football, camping, concerts,
motorcycles and anything that chal-
lenged him physically or mentally.
He moved to June Lake California
a couple of years after graduating
from Kearny High School. While at
June Lake, he met the love of his life
Theresa, or “Tink” as he called her.
They had their oldest son Jesse in
1980 and moved back to San Diego
in 1981. Mike was a gifted carpen-
ter, and developed into a very gifted
leader. Mike quickly rose through the
ranks and became one of the lead car-
penters. Mikel and Theresa had their
second son Jeremy in 1985. In 1992,
Mike and Theresa moved to Selma
where he continued his career as a
general contractor, owning his own
business Dugas Construction. They
continued to raise their family until
both boys were out of high school.
In the early 2000s, Mike and There-
sa started a German Shepherd Ken-
nel, and began showing dogs on the
show circuit. Mike Retired in 2008,
and Theresa and Mike moved into
Cave Junction. Mike spent the last
few years volunteering for the Jose-
phine County Sheriff’s Department
and coaching one of his grandsons
Little League Baseball teams. Mike
is survived by his wife of 35 years,
Theresa; his two children, Jesse and
Jeremy; his mother, Deanie Dugas;
his three siblings, Denise Mawson,
Daniel Dugas and Terri Dugas Zuc-
coni; grandchildren; and so many
more who have called him dad or
grandpa over the years. Mikel was a
mentor and hero to many. A potluck
Celebration of Life will be held at
Lake Selmac Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11
a.m. If you are interested in attending
or making a donation, please contact
Jesse at 541-761-5017.
Mikel “Mike” Dugas
in the United States Air Force and
the Air Force Reserves until 1963. In
1959 in Arizona he married Virginia
Sue Zulager. He moved to Luke Air
Force Base in Arizona and enjoyed
work as a cowboy on a ranch. He later
worked in construction, as a machin-
ist in Costa Mesa, Calif. and operated
his own business. In the mid-1990s
he retired and moved to Cave Junc-
tion.
Robert enjoyed spending time
with his friends.
Survivors include two sons, Ed-
ward S. Adams of Largo, Fla. and D.
Lawrence Adams of Laguna Niguel,
Calif.
No services are planned. Illinois
Valley Funeral Directors are in charge
of arrangements.
Please visit the obituary and
sign the tribute wall at www.since-
1928hull.com.
Former Cave Junction resident,
Robert E. Adams, 79 , Maciej Lesiecki, 96 , of Lea-
of O’Brien, died Thursday, Aug. 11,
2016 at his home.
Robert was born June 15, 1937
in Chicago, Ill. to Robert & Mildred
Adams. He was raised in Arlington,
Mass. From 1956 to 1960 he served
burg, Ore. died Aug. 1, 2016, at Sa-
cred Heart Medical Center – River-
Bend in Springfield.
He was born Dec. 5, 1919, in
Zawiercie, Poland. He was a World
War II veteran, fighting in the British
Eighth Army, Free Polish 11 Corps
at Monte Cassino under General An-
ders. On Jan. 16, 1950, in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada he married Patricia
Barry. They lived in Cave Junction for
37 years. He and his wife owned and
operated Illinois Valley Dry Cleaners
for years and House of Pendleton fab-
ric store for many more. Mr. and Mrs.
Lesiecki founded the Illinois Valley
Wild Blackberry Festival
Survivors include his children,
Konrad Lesiecki of Glendora, Ca-
lif., Maria Hawk of Idaho, Charles
Lesiecki of Ore., Noel Lesiecki and
Jeanette Montgomery both of Cave
Junction; a brother, Stanislaw Le-
siecki of Gdansk-Otomin, Poland;
eight grandchildren; and 18 great-
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his
wife, Patricia and a son, Mark.
A funeral mass was held at 10
a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at St.
Patrick of the Forest Catholic Church
with Father William Holtzinger offi-
ciating. Interment will follow at Deer
Creek Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral
Directors are in charge of arrange-
ments.
Please visit the obituary and
sign the tribute wall at www.since-
1928hull.com.
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Aug. 25
Thursday, Aug. 25 guitar-
ist Craig Chaquico will play inside
the Oregon Caves to celebrate the
centennial of the National Park Ser-
vice. The press is invited, but space
is limited. We can accommodate up
to 12 media staff on a first come,
first serve basis only. If you wish
to attend, RSVP with Park Ranger
George Herring by 5 p.m., Tuesday,
Aug. 23: (541) 592-2100 x 2225.
Aug. 27
IVHS
football
fundraiser
Touchdown Auction at the Siskiyou
Smokejumpers Base Museum.
Sept. 6
Lorna Byrne First Day of
School (5th Graders only)
6-8 new to LBMS come for ori-
entation and tour
Sept. 6
IVHS Open House from 5-7
p.m.
Sept. 6
IVHS freshman first day of
school 7:55 a.m.
Sept. 6
Sept. 3 - 5
Pressure canner testing at the
Illinois Valley Grange, Holland
Loop Rd, CJ, 8-11 a.m.,
I.V. Lions 44th annual Labor
Day Festival at Jubilee Park.
Sept. 7
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Sept. 7
Lorna Byrne First Day of
classes for 6-8
Sept. 7
Gatekeeper training at the I.V.
Family Coalition Sept. 7 at 10 a.m.,
River Room. The Gatekeeper pro-
gram is a new program of the Ag-
ing and Disabilities Resource Cen-
ter (ADRC) that teaches employees
at your business how to recognize
warning signs and red flags that in-
dicate an older adult or adult with
disabilities may need some help.
Contact Connie at 541-423-1383 to
schedule a training or presentation.
Continuing
Cave Junction Patrol, LLC is
looking for volunteers. CJ Patrol is
a private citizen volunteer organiza-
All IVHS students first day of
school 7:55 a.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
Since 1937 periodicals postage
paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Sept. 12
Workshop Scheduled for Cave
Junction~Living Well with Chronic
Conditions, Sept. 12 – Oct. 17. Meets
once a week on Mondays from 2:30
– 5 p.m.. Call for more information
and registration required. Learn new
ways to manage stress and improve
the ability to relax; fight fatigue and
frustration; eat better and exercise
safely; control pain and improve
activity; learn better ways to talk to
your doctor and family about your
health; solve problems and get the
support you need. Sign up Now: Call
Living Well Southern Oregon 541-
864-9611 or Pre-Register online at
www.sohealthyoregon.org.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year in Josephine
County - $35
One year in Jackson and
Douglas counties - $36
One year in all other
Oregon counties and
out-of-state - $43.00
Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
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
tion dedicated to effectively address-
ing heretofore-unchecked property
crime in our city and neighborhoods.
The primary mission of CJ Patrol is to
prevent, interrupt, report, and decrease
property crime in the city of Cave Junc-
tion. Contact: Phone: 541- 592-9665 /
Facebook: Cave Junction Patrol Pub-
lic / Website: cjpatrol.org / Monthly
CJP Meetings: first Thursday, 6 p.m.
– 8 p.m. at Wild River Pizza Deli, 249
Redwood Hwy.
Have some spare time? The Illi-
nois Valley Senior Thrift Store is look-
ing for volunteers. If sorting, cleaning,
staging is what you do, we could use
your skills. Earn a free breakfast and
a store gift card while you volunteer.
Join the crew, make new friends, need
not to be a member or a senior citizen
to volunteer. Call the store at 541-592-
6630 or visit us during store hours.
DEADLINES:
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Display Ads,
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Letters
4 P.M. FRIDAYS
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.