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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2016)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Page A-3 Work at Caves does not stop for off-season Jason McMillen IVN Contributing Writer The Oregon Caves were discovered in 1874 when Elijah Davidson was out hunting with his dog Bruno. However, it took 10 years before a team of dedicated men explored the cave in its entirety with the intent to create a tourist attraction that remains a defining feature of the area. Vicki Snitzler, superintendent, gives the latest as to what’s going on at the park. The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is heading towards its winter season so their temporary and seasonal employees are finishing up and they will soon be down to using only their permanent employees population research initiative which is attempting to get solid numbers on the different species of bats hibernating in the cave and what their numbers may be. The reports have not be assessed yet as this sort of work is generally a winter time activity. The conclusion will be released later this year, probably in late January. Furthermore, Snitzler also stated that there’s going to be a construction project over the winter that will redo the water distribution lines that run from the water storage tanks to the various structures around the park. The piping is quite old and some could still be the original which would make it up to 70 years old. In a closing statement Snitzler reminded the public that, “The snow hasn’t fallen up here yet people visited the park this year for its various attractions with a smaller subset of that likely to have taken the cave tour. When asked about problems facing the bats, which reside in the cave throughout the winter, Snitzler stated that there is a fungus spreading through bat populations all across North America which was accidentally introduced from abroad. “As far as we know white nose syndrome has not reached the Oregon Caves. The closest place is up in the state of Washington and we still do a lot of monitoring and screening and evaluating of anybody who goes into the cave in the hopes of preventing the spread to this cave.” Continuing on the topic she also mentioned that they’re in the second year of a bat which number around 10 and include administration, resource, maintenance and interpretive specialists. Seasonal workers work as cave guides and pick up any other duties that must be done when the park becomes a tourist hotspot. Half of the seasonal workers come from the local area while the other half are college students willing to relocate and work there over the summer. According to Snitzler the cave tour schedule will likely remain the same next year which means opening in March and running to the start of November. “We’re not anticipating any changes at this time. As we all know there’s going to be a transition between administrations so depending on budgets things could change,” Snitzler said, regarding the future. Around 85-90 thousand so it’s still okay to come up and take a hike and see the view down the Valley.” AP Election Coverage Josephine County voters soundly reject public safety levy GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — For the fifth time since 2012, voters in Josephine County have rejected a tax increase to restore cuts in law enforcement made when the federal government slashed timber subsidies. The Grants Pass Daily Courier (https:// is.gd/ZFoYC9 ) reports 60 percent of voters opposed the levy. It was the worst defeat of proposed levy since 2008, when 66 percent of voters rejected the idea of an independent law enforcement district. The measure would have raised property taxes $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed value. That’s on top of the permanent rate of 59 cents, the lowest in Oregon for county government. Retired TV producer Bill Hunker campaigned heavily against the measure. He said he felt “proud as a peacock” after Tuesday’s vote. Republican takes Oregon’s 2nd-highest office Andrew Selsky, Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Republican won the first statewide election in Oregon since 2002, with a victory in the race for the state’s second-highest office. In the state treasurer’s race, Democrat Art’s Red Garter Pool Tourney Tuesdays @ 6:30 Tobias Read narrowly defeated Republican Jeff Gudman. Richardson will be first in line to succeed the governor and is the auditor of public accounts, the chief elections officer, and the administrator of public records. In a recent telephone interview with The Associated Press, Richardson said he would not let his conservative values play a role in his duties if he won. Richardson said being chief auditor of the state would be the most important task. Richardson said there should have been audits of state projects that misspent taxpayer money, like the Columbia River Crossing to build a new bridge. Almost $200 million was spent before it was abandoned without even a “shovelful of dirt dug,” he said. It was the first GOP win in a statewide race since then-U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith was re-elected in 2002. The GOP hasn’t won the governor’s office since 1982. The last Republican secretary of state was Norma Paulus, who held the position in the 1980s. In the most closely watched statewide ballot measure, Oregonians rejected a measure that would have taxed companies’ sales of more than $25 million, with many voters worrying that it would hit their own wallets. Brown’s victory keeps her in the governor’s job for another two years. She will be finishing the last two years of the term of Gov. John Kitzhaber, who quit in February 2015 because of an influence-peddling scandal swirling around him and his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. Here’s a look at the top races: Governor Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who got the job in February 2015 after the resignation M i ke B ro n s F r i d a y, N o v. 1 8 5:30 PM KARAOKE from Wednesdays @ 9 p.m. Taylor’s Country Store of John Kitzhaber, handily won her race against Republican political newcomer Bud Pierce. Pierce got into trouble by suggesting during a debate with Brown that successful women aren’t susceptible to domestic abuse and sexual violence. He later apologized. Brown will finish the remainder of Kitzhaber’s term. There will be another gubernatorial election in 2018. Secretary Of State GOP candidate Dennis Richardson became the first Republican to win a statewide race in 14 years with his victory over Democrat Brad Avakian in the race for secretary of state, the second-highest elected position in Oregon. It’s a big political comeback for Richardson, who ran for governor against incumbent John Kitzhaber in 2014 and lost. The last Republican to win a statewide race was when then-U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith was re-elected in 2002. The last Republican secretary of state was Norma Paulus, who held the position in the 1980s. Treasurer Democrat Tobias Read narrowly won the race to replace Portland Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler as Oregon treasurer. With most of the vote counted, Read led Republican Jeff Gudman by 2 percentage points. Independent Chris Telfer was a distant third, but collected nearly 10 percent of the vote. Attorney General Democrat Ellen Rosenblum won re- election as state attorney general, defeating Republican Daniel Zene Crowe. Rosenblum has been Oregon’s top legal officer since 2012, when she was appointed attorney general following the resignation of her predecessor, John Kroger. She was elected to the position that November. She is Oregon’s first female attorney general. U.S. Congressional Races U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden handily defeated Republican challenger Mark Callahan to retain his seat. Oregon’s sole Republican in Congress, Greg Walden, beat Democratic challenger Jim Crary in his district. Democratic U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader were also keeping their seats in Congress. Measure 97 Campaigns calling Measure 97 a sales tax in disguise, among other attacks, had an effect. Voters resoundingly shot down the measure, which would have required corporations with at least $25 million in Oregon sales to pay more in tax to help fund education and other services. Opponents and supporters of Measure 97 battled bitterly during the campaign, with more than $43 million spent by both sides. It was the most expensive ballot measure fight in Oregon history. State Legislative Races Democrats maintained their control of the state Legislature, but three races on Wednesday were still too close to call — two in the Senate and one in the House. State Representative Carl Wilson and State Senator Herman Baertschiger were both re-elected. Marijuana Ordinances Grants Pass voted yes to allow on pot sales and Josephine County residents approved a 3-percent tax on the sale of recreational marijuana. The KARAOKE G SPOT w/ Steve - OH TIM MITCHELL Friday, Nov. 18 @ 9 p.m. Jammer’s Hump Day Karaoke Saturday Pool Tourney @ 7 8 p.m.-midnight Sundays - Free pool games OPEN MIC Saturday night @ 6 Every Wednesday Open MIC Night 6 - 8 p.m. J Barley Fridays @ 6 p.m with B Thursdays 7-10 P.M. Sportsman Tavern with Lisa Sherier She’s back! Wednesdays $5 Drop-in 6:15-7:15 pM at Healthy U 535 E river St. 541-761-4342 Hornwagglers Brass Band Friday, Nov. 18 8-11 PM Eight Dollar Mountain Friday, Nov. 18, 8 PM , $5 Eat @ McG re w’s!
