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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 26, 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need not be published, but will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.)
Missing Facts
Regarding Sheriff’s
Budget – Part I
As we approach Election
Day we are seeing the annual
barrage of articles designed
to coerce or scare the public
into consenting to raising
their property tax rate by
245% with the approval of
this year’s levy. Newspaper
articles that paint a hopeless
future for Josephine County
should we once again turn
down another enormous
property tax increase. The
information given by the
County for the consumption
of the public lacks honesty.
Our elected and appointed
officials mismanage funds
and neglect to operate in the
best interest of the public with
regards to the budget and their
reluctance to improve public
safety funding when given
the opportunity. Following,
is information that has not
shown up in news reports or
newspaper articles.
The Secure Rural
Schools and Community
Self Determination act (SRS)
provides critical funding
to more than 775 rural
counties and 4,400 schools
impacting 9 million students
in 41 states. This is equal
to roughly 25% of all of the
counties in the U.S. Our
local “leaders” would like
for you to believe that SRS is
something designed to assist
only a handful of western
U.S. forest counties. We
have had Commissioners
complain directly to Federal
Representatives that the
timing of the renewals or
extensions of SRS have
made it difficult to pass a
property tax levy. Bipartisan
requested legislation has been
introduced this year, both in
the House and the Senate,
the latest in September 2016
stating, “Accordingly, it is
critical that a retroactive
extension of this important
program be included in an
appropriate legislative vehicle
likely to be signed into law
before the end of the year”.
This program has broad
bipartisan support across
many states because it affects
many states. This makes it
more likely than not to be
extended.
The Josephine County
Budget Committee consists
of 6 people, our 3 County
Commissioners and 3 Lay
Members. Budgeting for
Outcomes has been Josephine
Counties’ official budget
policy for the past ten years.
This type of budget gives
the ability to shift funds
departmentally to ensure
the people’s priorities are
funded first. This year our
Budget Policy was changed,
silently, without public
notification or the opportunity
for public input. The new
policy states that a “Status
Quo Budget is required
unless change is supported
by a change in revenue.” A
Status Quo Budget basically
renews the funding to each
department while not allowing
management (Commissioners)
to reallocate any of these
funds to other departments
based on need, requirements
or the priorities of the
employer (Citizens). During
the budget hearings this year,
Margaret Goodwin was the
only Committee member that
advocated for a Budgeting
for Outcomes budget. Why,
during the proclaimed state
of “fiscal emergency” and
the ever impending “fiscal
cliff” did our Commissioners
and Finance Director, Arthur
O’Hare, remove the one
tool in the budget toolbox
designed to deal with limited
resources? This is not in the
best interest of the public
and opposite of what should
be done in order to make the
most efficient use of a limited
budget.
Ray Snith
Cave Junction
No on 17-74
As owners of three
properties here in the Illinois
Valley, my wife and I are
concerned about the large
tax increase proposal 17-74.
We own our home and two
rental houses of good quality
and charge affordable rent for
two young families. These
properties represent our life
savings and our retirement
income.
If measure 17-74 passes,
we will be forced to either
raise the rent amounts or
sell the rental properties as
I would expect most other
landlords would also. We
just received our current tax
bills this week to find that we
already have an increase in
our assessments and a raise in
tax charge of $257 due to the
cannabis land rush. This new
“public safety” measure will
increase our total tax amount
by $811 for a total of over
$6,500 per year. I have seen in
print more than once, claims
that our tax rate is 0.56 cents
per thousand assessed. With
simple calculation I find that
my rate and everyone else’s
in this county is really 0.96
cents. With this additional
$1.42 our property tax will
soar to $2.38 per thousand.
Now we could abide
these increases if we knew
everyone was paying their
share of tax and permit fees
on the 96 percent of the
cannabis grown here and
hauled out to the black market
and a sales tax implemented
to involve non-property
owners, renters, tourists,
travelers, etc. It seems very
unfair for the property owners
to pay everyone’s way when
they are the least likely to be
the cause of the need for the
services.
There is also the other
side of this issue of baiting the
questionable characters of our
society into our community
and the legal enforcement
system of revolving doors
and reluctance to respond
when there is a financial
agenda involved. No amount
of funding will solve this
societal problem.
I am happy to say that
in my eight years here in
this valley I have had no
problem with threat, theft,
vandalism or loitering and
if I did, dependable help is
only seconds away, day or
night. We will make by far
the greatest improvement by
looking after ourselves and
our neighbors.
Ray Brown,
Cave Junction
Less is more
This letter is written
with regard to the mildly
entertaining literary
altercation between Cave
Junction Mayoral Candidate
Don Moore and Cave Junction
Resident Michael Sitton that
was printed in the Oct. 19,
2016 edition of the I.V. News.
Having previously
inquired with I.V. News
management regarding the
cost of purchasing half a page
of print in their publication to
share my own personal rant,
I know that Mr Moore paid
a hefty sum for his chance to
speak his truth. I was quoted
a price of $472 for a half page
of print and you get color for
free! Granted, in speculation,
this fee could have perhaps
been waived in part or full
if the political views shared
by Mr. Moore and the
management of the I.V. News
happened to be in alliance.
In light of the content of
Mr Moore’s literary piece,
however, I have no reason to
believe that Mr. Moore would
be in need of a financial favor
from our local media source.
Political, perhaps, but not
financial.
All things considered,
I tend to hold our public
officials (or candidates for
office) to higher standards
of integrity than do I hold
the common constituent to
whom the public officials
are sworn to serve. In my
opinion, it goes a long way
during election time for a
candidate to let the mud
lie at their feet rather than
to pick it up and throw it
back while “intelligent
constituents” are looking on.
The final paragraph of Mr.
Moore’s rebuttal regarding
the comparison between his
and Mr. Sitton’s net worth
was completely unnecessary
and illuminates the type of
arrogance that our floundering
city could move forward
without.
It is a noble campaign that
presents the truth in contrast
to unfounded speculations,
but a campaign that returns
the mud slinging in an attempt
to “Trump” them that would
besmirch acts as a beacon of
light shining on the electoral
choices before us.
Sunrise Ocean
Cave Junction
Publisher’s note: All
political ads must be paid
in advance at the open rate.
All candidates are treated
equally .
Obituaries
Greg Putney , 65, of
Selma (resident since age
18), died Saturday morning,
Oct. 15, 2016, of natural
causes. Greg was educated
in forestry, an Internationally
Certified Arborist, and a
fearless tree climber. He
worked for Eric’s Tree
Service in Grants Pass until
retirement, and over the
years volunteered countless
hours to keep homes safe
from tree fall and fire. A well
spoken, loving, and generous
individual with an exuberant
laugh, Greg is already missed
by friends and family. He
is survived by his sister,
Cindy; stepmother, Alicia
Putney; niece, Waukanita
A-Nita Carillo; friends, Jack
Torrence, Windy Smith,
Kimbo Fujita, Kimberly
Fujita, Chris Fujita, Leslie
Dockwiller, Josh Kniffen;
and his many “hand-picked”
grandchildren, Monica
Rivera, Nikko Fujita, Kimiko
Fujita, Kaichi Fujita, Alexis
Skidmore, Emily Mikels,
Alyssa Norris, Gregory
Gunnar Fujita, Josh Kniffen,
Jessica Kniffen, Robert
Kniffen, and Jay Kniffen.
There will be a
memorial location and time
to be announced.
Duane Lee Quall Jr ,
51, of Kerby, died Saturday,
October 15, 2016 at his home.
Duane was born June
19, 1965 in Los Angeles,
California to Duane Quall &
Annetta Wilson. He attended
school in Hemet, Calif. At
age 17 he moved with his
family to Cave Junction and
worked with his parents on
their mining claim. Duane
married Linda and they later
divorced. Over the years,
Duane owned and operated
Quall Automotive in Cave
Junction; worked at Roe
Motors in Grants Pass and
after a move to Fla. worked
for Skip Barber Racing
School in Sebring, Fla. as
a mechanic. After moving
from Fla. back to the Illinois
Valley, he married Joy Doney
in 2010.
Duane was a member
of the Illinois Valley Lion’s
Club. He volunteered to put
on the Go-Cart Racing as
part of the community events
following the Labor Day
parade in Cave Junction.
He had a passion for
motor sports. He was a great
father and loving husband.
Survivors include his
wife, Joy Doney-Quall of
Kerby; a son, Christopher
Quall of Fort Smith, Arkansas;
four daughters, Laura Ware
of Kerby, Shelaine Quall
and Rhiannon Headley both
of Central Point, and Piper
Quall of Kerby; former wife,
Linda Quall of Cave Junction;
sister, Jeannette Beam of
Canyonville; brother Erm
Parks of Spokane, Wash.; and
10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents and a
sister, Zada Parks.
A celebration of Life
will be at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct.
28, 2016 at Illinois Valley
Funeral Directors.
Please visit the obituary
and sign Duane’s tribute wall
at www.since1928hull.com.
Darrell Calkins, 84 ,
of Grants Pass died Sunday,
Oct. 16, 2016 after a short
illness at Rogue Valley
Medical Center in Medford.
He spent his boyhood in
Wisconsin and graduated
from high school in Spokane,
Wash. He served his country
overseas as a Marine during
the Korean Conflict and later
was a prominent restauranteur
in the Bay Area. After leaving
the restaurant business in
1978, he moved to Southern
Oregon where he and his wife
enjoyed raising sheep, selling
their produce at the Growers’
Market, fishing, camping, and
spending time with family.
He is survived by six children:
Eve, Cynthia, Darrell Jr.,
Kelly, Tracy, and Aspen, as
well as nine grandchildren
and five great-grandchildren.
Many thanks for the love and
support from his family and
friends.
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Oct. 26
Come and enjoy an evening of fun! Oct.
26 at Evergreen Elementary School.
Chili feed from 5-5:45 p.m. in the cafete-
ria, then into the gym for Zing, Zoom, Zaniac
Show~
Seattle’s Funniest Prop Comic, Alex
Zerbe, also known as “The Zaniac” has per-
formed over 1,500 school assembly programs
in 44 states. He’s appeared on both America’s
Got Talent and Last Comic Standing as well
as national television in China and France. A
natural born motivator and two-time Guinness
World Record Holder, Alex knows how to in-
spire and connect with students of all ages.
Nov. 3
CJ Patrol monthly meeting, Thursday,
Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at Wild River Pizza, 249 Red-
wood Hwy.
Nov. 5
Indoor Sale - Nov. 5, Saturday, 9 a.m.
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
– 3 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
E. River St. and Lewis Ct. (across from High
School)
Nov. 5
Saturday, Nov. 5, the Cave Junction Li-
ons will hold its 14th annual Turkey Bingo at
the I.V. Senior Center. Doors open at 5 p.m.
and games start at 6 p.m. Game cards are only
0.50 cents each. Come win a free turkey or
win a free turkey dinner. There will be great
raffle items to bid on and great food.
slice also. You can socialize with family and
friends while eating your slice of pie, and en-
joy music from local musicians and singers.
Continuing
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store is under
NEW MANAGEMENT and is looking for
new volunteers. Join the crew and make new
friends. You don’t need to be a senior citizen
to join the store. Call us at 541-592-6630.
Open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*Cave Junction Patrol, LLC is looking
for volunteers. CJ Patrol is a private citizen
volunteer ornaization dedicated to effectively
addressing heretofore-unchecked property
crime in our city and neighborhoods. The pri-
mary mission of CJ Patrol is to prevent, in-
terrupt, report and decrease property crime
in the city of Cave Junction. Call 541-592-
9665, cjpatrol.org. Monthly meetings are first
Thursday at 6 p.m. at Wild River Pizza, 249
Redwood Hwy.
Nov. 12
Pie Auction Fundraiser Nov. 12, 1-4 p.m.
Bridgeview Community Church, 5181 Hol-
land Loop.
You are invited to join us for our 4th an-
nual Pie & Praise Fundraiser Event at Brid-
geview Community Church. Our pies are
made by local residents and are auctioned to
help support the Pregnancy Center of the Il-
linois Valley. There are pies available by the
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
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One year in Jackson and
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One year in all other
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Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
*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; applica-
tions to become a volunteer can be picked up
at the Substation.
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
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office@illinois-valley-news.com
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*The Senior Health Insurance Benefits
Assistance (SHIBA) program will be offering
free assistance with Medicare Open Enroll-
ment at the Illinois Valley Family Coalition
every Monday from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5. You can
add, drop or change how you receive your
Medicare benefits. Call 541-956-4472. Be
sure to specify that you are calling for an ap-
pointment in Cave Junction.
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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.