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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2016)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 5, 2016 Guest editorial: The (Medford) Mail Tribune, Sept. 22, on marijuana regulations: Comprehensive Plan and that it was unreasonable regulation and served no governmental purpose. LUBA rejected those arguments, noting that medical marijuana may be grown in exclusive farm use or forest zones. LUBA correctly noted that preventing conflicts between farming and residential uses is a reasonable goal. No one is suggesting, for instance, that pig farms should be allowed in residential zones. County officials also gave medical growers who have been operating since before 2014 in rural residential zones the option of applying to be grandfathered in, but relatively few have done so. When voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana in 2014, federal law enforcement officials made it clear that Oregon must put a stop to black-market exports of marijuana to other states, much of it grown under the cover of the medical marijuana program, or federal authorities would step in. Lawmakers’ attempts to regulate what had been a largely unregulated industry inevitably led to conflict with growers. Oregon’s foray into legalizing recreational marijuana has been a learning experience for everyone involved, not least for the state’s many growers of medical marijuana, who had the luxury of operating with little oversight for years under Oregon’s 18-year-old medical marijuana law. Those days are over. That reality has been brought home once again after the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) upheld Jackson County’s rules barring medical marijuana growing on land zoned rural residential. Growing for the recreational market was already off-limits in rural residential zones. State law says medical marijuana may be grown on land outside cities. The problem is that Jackson County land-use rules prohibit agricultural operations on rural residential land. And by any definition, growing marijuana, whether for the medical or the recreational market, is agriculture. A growers group called Right to Grow USA challenged the county rule, arguing that it jeopardized patients’ access to medical marijuana, that it conflicted with the county’s Certainly, there are medical growers who are not diverting their harvests to the black market, and who have no interest in growing for the recreational market. But they will have to learn to live with the new regulations, which are designed to make the new system work for everyone. If existing growers in rural residential zones want to continue, they should apply to be grandfathered in. The fee for that application does seem steep at $1,563, but county planning department fees have gone up across the board in response to tight budgets. The new rules also require much more thorough record keeping and reporting, in an effort to account for the marijuana being produced in the state. Medical growers are understandably reluctant to submit to increased regulation, but they have little choice in the matter. If they want to continue to produce medical marijuana, they will have to get used to complying with reasonable regulations just as any other business does. 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.) Rock’N Soil responds I would first like to thank our supporters of RONNIE FUSON ROCK’N SOIL LLC. Our family, friends, acquaintances, and customers keep us going through life. We support this community and appreciate the nice words and wonderful smiles we encounter every day! The “Thank you for being here, Thank you for supporting us” and “We support you” from all of you mean the world to us and keep us moving forward in creating a business that can keep helping you all. We have done our due diligence in purchasing this property. Please look over the Josephine County Goals and Policies and the Zoning Purposes if you have any concerns. We have been accepted by the Planning Department to legally do everything we do here. We never wanted to move our business onto a property that would bother anyone, and we certainly have never endangered anyone. Please look over the industrial properties that are available or for purchase in this valley; there are very few, if any. We were forced from Kerby and luckily we were able to purchase and close on this property in time. We have cleaned up the property and spent money on making this a better and more valuable piece of land for this area. Please understand that this county, even more this city, have very little jobs and we have created several from nothing. As of today, we have been so fortunate to supply jobs not only for ourselves but a few employees. I am proud of this accomplishment! We help to stabilize the economy by bringing revenue to this city. Where do the customers and truck drivers stop for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and fuel when they visit us from afar? If anything positive for the community comes out of this, I would hope that the county would look over Old Stage Road and finally fix the road that is not only used by us, but many people, including my children. It truly saddens me that this fight has not been about ‘not wanting ROCK’N SOIL in Cave Junction’ but about damaging our characters as people and business owners. There is slander, vindictiveness, lies and even trespassing involved. I have said this before and I will say it again, if you have concerns or questions please come talk to us, we would love to talk to you. I want to thank the many that came into the office the first time I suggested that. I believe all were answered and all were finished with a smile and handshake, as well as a thank you from both parties. Please go talk to residents that lived in Cave Junction while the concrete batch plant and rock crushing plant were operating. They tell me the impact was far worse than anything we can touch. If you have moved onto Old Stage recently, if you did your due diligence, you know you were purchasing property next to an established industrial yard. I am sorry you might not like it. I am sorry that it is what it is, but we have not changed any zoning. The last point I want to make: This business is our name. This business is connected to a family of four. This business puts clothes and shoes on our bodies. This business puts food on our table. It is in my opinion that we should be encouraging positive change and growth for this community and not trying to create negative problems, including petty digs on Facebook. Thank you for reading this. Alicia Fuson Owner Operator RONNIE FUSON ROCK’N SOIL LLC When parents were parents What a great turn-out for the open house evening at Evergreen. Many parents and grandparents came to visit their children’s teachers and classrooms. We gathered in front of the gym for cookies and conversation and then went into the gym for a short greeting and presentation on Title 1. The listening performance of the audience went from OK to atrocious in the time frame of 15-20 minutes. It wasn’t just a few crying babies or a lot of whispering children; it was also many “We Don’t Care,” parents who weren’t interested and wouldn’t try to quiet their disruptive children. The most disturbing aspect to all this is... I expected this behavior. I’ve seen this response many times with my daughter’s and now with my gandsons’ generations. I realize the acoustics are bad, it’s hot, and the seating isn’t enough, but can’t we all practice for 15-20 minutes to be “Respectful, Responsible and Kind” to the people who are trying to teach our children? I can’t help thinking that this behavior is related to why we are a Title 1 school. Rebelliousness/poor test scores, poor attitude/ joblessness. I hope and pray that we would strive to live the school motto, “Respectful, Responsible and Kind” to one another, and teach our children by example. Bernadine Pinard Kerby Just to set the record straight In the Sept. 28 issue of the Illinois Valley News you reported that mayoral candidate, Don Moore, claimed to have helped coordinate the formation of the Kerby Water District. The Kerby Water District was formed Aug. 25, 2003 by Josephine County Commissioner’s Order No. 2003-067. This was the culmination of years of work by the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization and the original Kerby Water District Board of Directors, Gail Lebowitz, John Plute, Sharon Miller, Geraldine McLean and Shirley Fredrickson. The Kerby Water District signed a water purchase contract with the city of Cave Junction May 23, 2005. The contract was signed by Cave Junction Mayor Tony Paulson and KDW Board Chairman John Plute. Just to set the record straight Don Moore was appointed to the Cave Junction City Council in 2007. John Plute KWD Board Chairman What readers think: Do you think the city should change the code so that CJ Patrol will start up again? Carol Dickson “I applaud CJ Patrol for making a difference . . . if the liability is all on them, then the code should be changed to accommodate them.” Tarry Frank Nathan Pierce “I would like to commend those who volunteer . . . but the codes need to be considered carefully to protect the citizens and the city.” “They need to get it changed because it really helps when they’re out there.” Cheryl Capelle “I think the city should enable CJ Patrol to continue to help our community in any way they possibly can.” Cindy Godina “The city should change the code so CJ Patrol, good citizens, can help us out.” Keith Heck “Because of the lack of law enforcement in the county I don’t know why anybody would slow down the protection needed in the city.” I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Save the date events/178989649200029. Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 15 9th annual ACORN FESTIVAL Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 at the Selma Community Center on Hwy 199 in Selma 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. This Indoor/Outdoor Free event includes: Hands- On workshops on acorns and their processing • Yurok acorn cooking basket demonstration, Lena Hurd • Historic photos of traditional acorn processing • IRVAC free nature crafts ta- ble for all ages • Fun and educational activities all day long • Vendors and oak related displays • Scarecrow contest with $100 prize. 5 p.m. Potluck includes traditional dishes as well as innovative new recipes made with acorns. Bring a side dish, all are welcome. Rain or shine! Come enjoy the food and festivities as we celebrate the nutritious and delicious acorn! For more information contact Suzanne Vautier 541-291-8860. Brought to you by the Cultural & Ecolog- ical Enhancement Network (CEEN). 10th annual Empty Bowls Project which will be held at Parkway Christian Center on Monday, Oct. 10 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Harvest Moon Hoedown—an Old-Time Mountain Square Dance Saturday, October 15, Selma Community Center. Doors open 6:30 p.m., dance at 7 p.m. Admission $8-10 sliding scale, 12 and under free with an adult. Spon- sored by the Illinois River Valley Arts Council (IRVAC) Live music will be provided by the Three Rivers All-Stars: Selma’s own 17-year-old fiddle whiz Ari Dwyer, with Jack Dwyer on mandolin, Eric “Swampy” Webb on banjo, Kent Fisher on guitar, and Sue Rutherford on stand-up bass. Coffee, tea and water will be provided, with homemade desserts available for pur- chase. All sales will support IRVAC’s Learning Through Art program in local public schools. Donations are appreciated! For information email valentine@cavenet. com or call 541-597-2839. You can visit the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/ Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher Oct, 14, 15, & 16 Valley Girls Quilt Show at I.V. Senior Center, 520 E. River St., CJ, Friday, Oct. 14, 10, a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oct. 14 This Place: Cannabis and Community Conversation. By exploring how the canna- bis industry is shaping and reshaping our val- ley, local residents can begin to think together about how to engage meaningfully with our places and communities going forward. When: Friday, Oct. 14, 4-5:30 p.m. Where: Healthy U: 535 E. River St., CJ. This program is free and open to all. To learn more, contact Healthy U at 541- 592-4888 or www.healthyucenter.org. 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 - $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 Continuing Have some spare time? The Illinois Valley Senior Thrift Store is looking 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, you do not need to be a member or a senior citizen to volunteer. Call the store at 541-592-6630 or visit us during store hours. *The C.J. Substation hours are changed. We are now open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (closed Wednesdays) from 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 Substation. DEADLINES: News, Classified and Display Ads, Announcement and 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.
