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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
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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.
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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.