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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Letters to the
editor
I live in Josephine Co,
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need not be published, but will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
remembers
Sorry to learn of the
death of David L. “Dave”
Raymond (Illinois Valley
News/Jan. 25). He was a
gentleman and a fine deputy
with the Josephine County
Sheriff’s Office, and it was
my pleasure and privilege to
be associated with him dur-
ing my time in the Valley.
Recalling him brought
many memories of some
other outstanding deputies
including Fred Layman and
Bob Marshall, as well as
others, who worked hard for
the Valley. Of course that
was Way Back When. At the
time, the substation was in
the county building with a
sergeant and several depu-
ties. My, how times have
changed.
Bob Rodriguez
Clark, Wyo.
To the editor
Watching Fox News
Jan. 26, it was reported that
the State of Oregon has 36
counties, and 28 counties
are sanctuary counties.
Please correct me, if I
am wrong? I never saw, on
my voters ballot the block
where we had the choice to
vote, for our county to be
sanctuary.
which is according to the
state; we are one of those
sanctuary counties. My
question is, who determines
that my county is a sanctu-
ary county? The commis-
sioners, or do we the voters?
If so, Please let me know
how they voted.
The population of
Oregon is 3.97 million, and
according to Pewhispanic.
org. There is roughly
130,000-170,000 in
Oregon. According to
the budget on Oregon’s
website, the state spends
up to $1 billion a year
to provide services and
benefits, for those who
are here illegally. I don’t
have a problem with legal
immigrants, I wish them
well. I can’t understand 28
out of 36 counties voted
to have sanctuary, without
letting the voters know. In
Springfield, Oregon the
police department declared
themselves a sanctuary
department. I’d like to
know: If I am a citizen of
the state, can I claim our
city police department a
citizen department?
With over three quarters
of the state in a sanctuary
state, can we vote to have
the whole state sanctuary?
God knows I can use some
extra benefits. Just think
of it, we would only need
one to run the state. Wow,
we could save all the
money we pay senators,
representatives, governors,
county commissioners and
mayors. Hey! Maybe we
would all get free drivers
licenses.
In summary I would
like to be notified, of such
an important vote, where it
involves me as a citizen of
this state.
Wayne “Spank” De
Selma
Reader has ideas
After passage of the
state recreational marijuana
amendment, local
governments are charged
with evolving ways and
means of regulation
and control to prevent
adversely affecting existing
residents.
Future public hearings
regarding recreational
and medicinal marijuana
regulations and controls
within residential county
zones pose challenges
and need for preservation
of rights and property of
current residents, who have
pre-existing standing and
interest over others.
Those whom own
property near new
and existing proposed
marijuana enterprises
pay taxes, a proof that
they have prior standing,
maintaining first rights
over others, particularly if
the value of their property
is adversely affected or
their rights are infringed.
Actions by others which
negatively affect any
aspect of property must be
subordinate to protections
of pre-existing persons and
property without need to
defend their values.
Current residents
are subject to zoning
and development codes,
pay taxes, must abide
by laws which protect
them and their neighbors
from unforeseen or
unintended consequences,
or, suffer criminal or civil
penalties. Residential
codes are intended to
provide a baseline for
self-control, consistency
in societal peace, and,
legal consequences when
violated.
Some important issues
concerning maintenance
and assuring personal
rights of current and future
property owners, renters
and businesses, include:
• Reduced real
property market values and
county tax revenues
• Negative affects of
organized gang and cartel
intervention
• Negative visual
property security fence
and gate “compound”
appearance
• Increased crime,
home invasions, need for
additional law enforcement
• Increase in
incarceration infrastructure
due to “gateway” drug use
• Increased need
for zoning enforcement
manpower and court
actions
• Tax increases as a
consequence of licensing
and enforcement
• Increases in
personal and property
insurance premiums and
exclusions
• Increased road
noise, surface street wear,
tear and maintenance
• Ground water
pollution from increased
pesticides, nitrates & plant
residue
• Lower ground
water table, need for
more wells, negative arid
surroundings
• Increased wildfire
threats resulting from
water-starved forests &
wildlands
• Negative odor
pollution and need for
environmental protection
enforcement
• Stress on electric
power grid infrastructure,
with higher private power
costs
• Marijuana users
may suffer schizophrenia,
psychosis and depression,
according to a recent
National Academy of
Sciences report several
suggested ways and means
of marijuana controls
needed to protect property
and rights of people are:
• Maintain and
protect people’s current
property zoning, land
value and health with
pre-approval of existing
property owners before
implementation
• Require new and
existing marijuana sites
be licensed, bonded and
insured
• Require initial
and follow-on air and land
environmental impact
statements
• Predetermine
probable negative affects
on property values, roads
and water
• Require
individual registered
plant RFID chip ID and
dissemination history to
assure compliance with
codes, rules and regulation
limitations
• Require that closed
indoor structures manage
marijuana odor, light and
activities so as not to
interfere with preexisting
quiet & safe environment
of neighbors
• Establish or define
current rural industrial or
commercial zones away
from private property as
preferred grow, processing,
warehousing and
distribution sites
• Require
environmentally sound
ways and means to dispose
of marijuana waste and
post processing residual
products
• Limit ground water
use and encourage rain
capture and storage as an
alternative source of water
supply
• Use marijuana
taxes as an offset to prevent
property tax increases.
It is the people’s
duty and responsibility to
protect their preexisting
rights and standing in
light of the new marijuana
law. Please contact the
JoCo Commissioners to
remind them to respect and
maintain the people’s rights
and property when dealing
with this issue.
Robert Thomas
Cave Junction
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Feb. 9
The Cave Junction Lions are
meeting at River Valley Restaurant
in Downtown Cave Junction Feb. 9,
5 p.m. We’ll be talking about future
fund raising events and sight and
hearing applications. For more info
please call Harry Johnson at 541-
596-2104.
Feb. 11
Child Care Business Class-
a FREE introductory class Feb. 11
from 10 a.m. - noon
Illinois Valley Library: 209
Palmer St., Cave Junction, call to
register: 541-956-7400. Become a
paid child care provider. Learn the
legal rules, listen to successful care
providers, get business skills and
low interest loans. This introductory
class is free. Some of the next-step
classes such as infant CPR, have
fees. Help with costs is available.
Feb. 13
A Community and Neighbor-
hood Watch Support Meeting will
be held: Monday, Feb., 13, 5 – 6 p.m
at Wild Rivers Pizza, 249 Redwood
Hwy., in Cave Junction.This meet-
ing is part of a Support Campaign
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
effort with all Neighborhood Watch
Groups, their leadership, and for
anyone that wishes to get help with
outreach, in your area, to organize
a watch effort. We will have sup-
port training on; communications,
radios and networking. We share
information and resources between
all groups with a website and social
media. We are also in the process of
staging a public assembly, with all
Watch representatives, to address
crime and Public Safety with our
I.V. community. Regular weekly
meetings will continue on Mondays
at 5 p.m. located at Wild Rivers Piz-
za, when possible or at another an-
nounced location. Contact Guenter
- 541-415-1929 for details.
Feb. 14, 21, 28,
March 7, 14 and 21
Tuesdays 5 -7 p.m. Parenting
tools, Learning Fun Nights at Ev-
ergreen Elementary School, 520 w.
River St. CJ For sign-up call Erica
at 541-592-3136
Feb. 16
Rogue Valley Food Systems
Network (RVFSV). The new date is
Thursday, February 16, from 9:30-
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
noon at the Kerby Belt Building,
with additional optional network-
ing from 12-12:30. Lunch will be
served, so your RSVP is appreci-
ated, 787-KATE.
This meeting will bring to-
gether food farmers, food produc-
ers, food access workers, and local
providers of services which include
meals (such as Head Start and Three
Rivers School District.) We will
learn what RVFSN has to offer our
local food system, hear about recent
comprehensive surveys of our farm
sector, and share our needs and con-
cerns. Farmers will learn how other
regional farmers are using USDA
programs to get their local food into
school meals, and discuss how to
get more access to local foods for
local families.
Utilizing the regional knowl-
edge and power of the Rogue Valley
Food Systems Network, the orga-
nizational strength of the IVCDO,
and the framework of the IV 20/20
Strategic Plan, we will create our
own innovative solutions to our own
challenges. Please join us.
Feb. 18
Spaghetti Dinner at the I.V.
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.
Grange, 3763 Holland Loop Road,
Cave Junction, 541-295-7579, $6,
Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1 – 4 p.m.
March 1 – April 5
Workshop Scheduled for Cave
Junction~Living Well with Chron-
ic Pain, March 1 – April 5. Meets
once a week on Wednesdays from 2
– 4:30 p.m. Call for more informa-
tion and registration required. Learn
new ways to control pain and im-
prove 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 on-
line at www.sohealthyoregon.org.
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 orgnaniza-
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 de-
crease 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 Riv-
er Pizza, 249 Redwood Hwy.
* Committee Meeting STATE
OF JEFFERSON Josephine Coun-
ty 1st Thursday of each month at
5:30 p.m. Black Forest Restaurant,
Grants Pass and 3rd Thursday of
each month at 6 p.m., Wild River
Pizza in Cave Junction.
*The C.J. Substation hours are
changed. We are now open on Mon-
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 - Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Advertising / Composition -
Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Mailroom - Millie Watkins
days, 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 look-
ing 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.