Page A-8
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 8, 2017
PATROL . . .
Continued from A-7
*There was a non-injury accident at 3:32 p.m.
when a brown 1994 Ford Ranger and a silver-
colored 1999 Toyota Corolla collided at W. River
Street and N. Redwood Hwy.
*A caretaker went on a rampage at 3:58 p.m.
when he received his eviction notice from the
24000 block of Redwood Hwy. He retrieved his cat,
and left in a Buick.
*SOS reported a hit on a key pad panic alarm at
4:48 p.m. in the 100 block of Warren Road. When
law enforcement phoned, a somewhat uncoopera-
tive chap claimed to be the grandson, but refused to
give his name or date of birth. He couldn’t believe
that the alarm was activated since he had the key
fob.
Outside the Valley
*Thirteen listings.
Saturday, Feb. 4
*Neighbors were concerned about squatters in
the 13000 block of Lakeshore Drive at 11:59 a.m.
because a stolen vehicle had recently been recov-
ered from the property. Even worse, they suspected
that the location might be a crime scene when they
saw mattresses outside that appeared to be covered
in blood. A needle was found and disposed of, but
the red substance appeared to be transmission fluid.
A power meter was removed from the property, and
the landlord did not want to be held liable for the
bill.
*An ex-wife in the 25100 block of Redwood
Hwy. claimed that she was the victim of harassing
and threatening incidents between Nov. 19 - Feb.
3. One time she was home and saw her front door
knob turn, and then she received a series of prank
phone calls. Her mailbox was broken into, and her
Facebook photo was used as a link to a You Tube
site. She figured it was probably her ex-husband,
since it was nearly time to renew the restraining
order.
*At 12:47 p.m. a motorist on Redwood Hwy.
at Draper Valley Road was warned for
improper display, defective tail lights,
and other vehicle issues.
*From 11 p.m. on Feb. 2 until 12:30
a.m. on Feb. 3, loud bass from the 9300
block of Takilma Road drowned out the
sound of rain and kept neighbors awake.
*It was a case of dueling firearms
at 3:58 p.m. in the 900 block of Caves
Hwy. Six or seven shots could be heard
from two different caliber guns coming
from separate directions.
Outside the Valley
*Nine items.
Sunday, Feb. 5
*Everything was hunky-dory at Jubi-
lee Park at 10:58 a.m.
*A deputy assisted an outside agency
at Western Plaza at 11:05 a.m.
*Spoil sports cut a lock at the Illinois
Valley High School baseball equip-
ment shack at 625 E. River Street. The
chumps removed baseball bats, helmets,
and other miscellaneous items without
permission. A report was filed for sec-
ond-degree theft and criminal mischief.
*Lurline Lane passed inspection at
1:59 p.m.
*At 2:08 p.m. a motorist on S. Red-
wood Hwy. at Caves Hwy. was warned
for failure to maintain lane and failure to
carry an operator’s license.
*Two people reported an alarm from
Evergreen Elementary School at 2:34
p.m. A new teacher accidentally acti-
vated the alarm, and quickly learned the
correct code.
*Law enforcement located someone
with a warrant at 25904 Redwood Hwy.
at 2:51 p.m. The trouble-maker was
cited and released for failure to appear
for burglary, theft and mischief.
Outside the Valley
*Thirteen items.
dregs steal county snowplow
By Dan Mancuso
IVN Staff Writer
An Oregon State Police Trooper
happened to be passing Josephine County’s
public works garage in Kerby near 1:30 a.m.
and noticed the lights were on.
“I got a call asking if there was a reason
why the lights were on,” said Rob Brandes,
Josephine County Public Works Director.
It turns out there wasn’t a reason. Once
an investigation got underway it was found
that one truck used to plow snow was missing,
along with assorted smaller tools. Brandes
noted the truck was scheduled to be surplused
later this year so the value was minimal;
however, “The cost of the plow, smaller tools
and fixing the gate look to be in the range of
$5,000.”
The truck didn’t make it very far, after
ditching the snowplow somewhere the truck
was used as a battering ram making two
large holes in the Watkins side of a building
formally used as storage for the old feed store
in the building now occupied by Wright’s
World Emporium.
According to CJ Patrol spokesman
Jimmy Evans, criminal activity in Cave
Junction seems to have increased in recent
weeks. “Our patrols have seen a definite
increase in nighttime suspicious traffic,
and with many new faces in town, but
what’s equally maddening is the shameless
confidence of both known and unknown.”
Evans feels offenders are embolden due to
the limited ability to prevent, much less hold
these people accountable for their crimes. One
such example was after the county’s truck
was used to punch two holes in the feed store
building Evans noticed a man crawling into
the building. “When I asked what the hell he
was doing going in there, he simply replied,
‘I wanted to see what was inside’ and walked
off.”
Evans believes drugs are the driving force
in much of the local tomfoolery. “Bottom line
for me … our drug-driven crime is for the most
part committed by addicted, self-destructive
individuals who are a danger to themselves,
others and property, but until we ourselves
detox from shirking our responsibility
to properly fund law enforcement, our
community will continue to share in both the
reputation and consequences. It’s our choice to
put up with it or not,” Evans said.
Evans is not the only one noticing the
recent increase in activity. Cave Junction City
Councilor Mark Dillinger has noticed a recent
influx of graffiti in the business corridor of
Hwy. 199, “I think it’s a sad state of affairs, it’s
sad to watch the deterioration of our fine city,”
Dillinger said.
Currently, Cave Junction has one deputy
on contract for 40 hours a week and Sheriff
Daniel subsidizes a second patrol during the
same hours to assist in backup situations.
Anyone with information about the
snowplow crime is encouraged to contact the
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-
5123.
(Photo courtesy of Tabitha Siemer for the Illinois Valley News)
Mr. Polen (left) congratulates Alyvia Miller at Lorna Byrne Middle School for
her participation in the district’s eighth grade math competition.
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