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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 29, 2017
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 libel-
ous or scurrilous. All letters must be signed,
including name, address and telephone num-
ber. The latter need not be published, but will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, in-
cluding statements made as fact are strictly
those of the letter writers.)
Reader says we need
IVFD
I note Raymond Smith’s
letter in the March 22 edition
with interest. I must agree with
him about the need for trust.
Personally, I have yet to make a
decision on the law enforcement
levy.
However, I have made
a decision concerning a very
important levy that will be on
I.V. voter’s ballots in the May
16 election. I am referring to
the Illinois Valley Fire District
Levy. I have attended many of the
District’s Board Meetings and I
have observed a group that is very
frugal with the taxpayer’s money. I
have seen the District successfully
seek and receive grants of funds,
and when the opportunity arises,
acquire used equipment and
refurbish it for use in the course of
dealing with emergencies. These
are the people who are rescuing
us from house fires, wildland fires
and auto accidents. We really,
really need I.V. Fire, both its
paid staff and its volunteers. The
District needs additional staff and
volunteers with good equipment
and specialized training to save us
and our properties. Last year the
District responded to 1374 calls.
Through innovative
and creative work, I.V. Fire
has managed to improve the
effectiveness of its fire protection;
such that the fire insurance
industry recognized the improved
effectiveness and reduced fire
insurance rates for most of the
homes and business in the Valley.
In most instances the savings from
the reduced fire insurance cost will
more than pay a home owners cost
of the levy.
In order to insure that this
effectiveness is maintained and
the insurance industry continues
the lower insurance costs, I.V. Fire
needs the ability to add four new
firefighter/emergency medical
technicians. This will allow I.V.
Fire to respond to your emergency
situation more quickly if you have
a fire or medical emergency in the
middle of the night. These four
firefighters/emergency medical
technicians will allow manning
the station 24-hours a day, thus
providing an immediate response
rather than having to wait for staff
and/or volunteers to come from
their homes in the middle of the
night before starting out to your
emergency.
The levy is for 0.50 cents,
which in reality is only a .25 cent
increase because the -.25 cent levy
passed five years ago is expiring
this year. That levy was for fire
equipment and that is exactly
where the District spent the
money. This is money that will be
spent only for your benefit since
the I.V. Fire District is totally
separate from Josephine County
and its Board of Commissioners.
The I.V. Fire District is one
governmental organization we can
trust. Therefore, please support the
I.V. Fire levy when you are filling
out your ballot.
Sincerely,
Bob Schmidt
Cave Junction
The way I see it
Since the seventies there
has been discussion regarding the
need for an overhaul of healthcare.
After no concrete evidence of
anything moving forward towards
this goal a president came along
and handed Congress a new
plan giving that governing body
a chance to fix any perceived
errors. With the president being a
democrat or someone else to hate
for some reason, the GOP arm of
Congress went about fighting it
altogether. Now for seven years
they have had the opportunity to
reach out to the other side of the
aisle and work together to forge it
into what everyone can support. In
those seven years they did nothing
to improve the president’s bill
nor work on a replacement. The
opportunity was there to use bi-
partisanship to improve and make
strong changes while strengthening
compromise between parties.
Suddenly they found themselves
in a position to repeal the law, still
not having a viable alternate plan
in hand. Scrambling to defeat the
ACA while empty handed they
have found themselves again in the
same position they were in seven
years ago; to cross the aisle and
work for a mutually agreed upon
alternative if needed. Let’s not
blow it this time. If it ain’t broke
don’t fix it. If it is broke repair it.
On another note it seems
a little strange to me that
congressional republicans are
blaming the Dems for refusing
to back the GOP agenda when
they have been doing the same
to the Dems for the past eight
years. Where do they think it was
learned?
Mark Dillinger
Cave Junction
Reader says gives thanks
The IVSWCD would like to
thank the community for coming
out and supporting the 2017
Riparian Plant Sale! We had a
successful day putting over 2000
plants into our Watershed!! We
would like to thank Greg and
Barbara from Althouse Nursery
who not only provided the plants
for our event but went above and
beyond by staying the entire day
and making sure the inventory
stayed stocked! Thank you to all of
our Board Members and volunteers
who worked so hard bringing this
event to our community. To Shop
Smart thank you for providing the
paper bags. To Plant Oregon thank
you for the last minute assistance!
It is always a great day when
you see your community come out
to support you! Thank you!
Amy Britt
Office Manager
Illinois Valley Soil & Water
Conservation District
Illinois Valley Watershed
Council
Obituaries
Mary “Mollie”
Gillyatt, 89, of O’Brien,
died March 18, 2017 at
homes.
Services are pending.
Illinois Valley Funeral
Directors are in charge of
arrangements.
William R. “Dickie”
Davis Jr, 56 , of Kerby,
died Friday, March 17, 2017
at Royale Gardens Health &
Rehabilitation Center.
He was born Nov. 1,
1960 in Grants Pass. He
lived in the Illinois Valley
all his life where he grew up
and attended schools. Over
and Debra Burdette both of
O’Brien; a brother, Randy
Davis of Cave Junction; ten
grandchildren; and several
aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A funeral services
were Friday, March 24,
2017 at Hull & Hull Chapel.
Interment followed at Deer
Creek Cemetery in Selma.
Please visit the obituary
and sign the family guest
book at www.since1928hull.
com.
the years, he worked for
Chevron, Martin’s Dairy,
and Q Bar X, but helping
others as a mechanic was his
passion.
His hobbies included
working on cars, riding and
working on dirt bikes, wood
cutting, shooting guns, and
hunting.
Survivors include his
companion, Johnna Lynn
LaRue of Kerby; three sons,
William Davis III, Kenneth
Davis and Robbert Davis
all of Kerby; a daughter,
Kathrin Davis of Selma; three
sisters, Cindy Davis of Grants
Pass and Patricia Patterson
Marjorie L. Layton
Sept. 12, 1929 - March 18,
2017
Marjorie died peacefully
new places. In the mid-60s
they settled in Grants Pass.
Mike died in 1981
during a long-awaited
vacation.
Marjorie married her
second husband, John G.
Layton, in 1994 in Reno. He
was a long-haul truck driver,
and Marge not only rode with
him, but then became a truck
driver herself. After they
retired, John died in 2008.
Marjorie was
independent and enjoyed
helping others, and camping,
hunting and fishing. She will
be missed greatly by all of
her friends at the Josephine
on March 18, at her home at
the age of 87.
She was born in
Medford, and lived in the
little Applegate and Prospect
areas as a young girl.
She married Michael
McBriety I in 1947. Soon
after that, Michael became
a surveyor/road builder
for the Bureau of Public
Roads, which took them and
the family to the states of
Washington, Idaho, Montana,
California, and all over
Oregon.
Marge was a very
adventurous woman who
enjoyed traveling and seeing
County Senior Meal Site
in Merlin, her sister and
brother-in-law, Lloyd and
Bonnie Mann, and her three
children, Michael D McBriety
I I , Li n d a McBr i e t y
Engelhorn, and Shannon D.
McBriety Wright, as well
as other friends and relative
tthroughout the Rogue and
Illinois Valleys.
A service was held at
the Hillcrest Mausoleum at
Hillcrest Memorial Park, 945
NE Hillcrest Drive, Grants
Pass, OR on March 24, 2017
at 10 a.m.
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
March 29
The Grants Pass Vet Center
will be participating in a national
celebration to welcome home Viet-
nam Veterans. The event will be
held at the same venue as last year.
Riverside Park Trevillian Pavillian
304 SE Park Street, Grants Pass,
OR 97527. The event will start at
10 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m.
A BBQ lunch, service providers
and guest speakers will be at the
event. Please come and show your
support. All are welcome!
March 31 & April 1
IVHS 2017 All night safe and
sober graduation party fundraising
event: Bagging Groceries at Shop
Smart from 4-7 p.m. Friday, March
31 and from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Satur-
day, April 1
April 1
Holland Hills BLM Road and
Woods Spring Cleanup. Saturday,
April 1 at 10 a.m. Meet at bottom
of Trefethen Road. Work day to re-
move trash from a major dumpsite
and an abandoned squatter’s camp.
BBQ to follow at 5 p.m. Local beef
and veggie burgers. Side dishes
welcome. If you can bring a pick-
up or trailer for a dump-run please
call. Donations for dump fees and
food very welcome. Spearheaded
by Talking Woods Family Wood-
land. Can Jo’el at 541-592-9254 to
RSVP or for more information.
April 1
30th Anniversary Celebration
Banquet Saturday, April 1, 2017
Illinois Valley High School, Cave
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Junction. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.,
Dinner served at 6 p.m. Price: $30
each, includes one raffle ticket Ca-
tered by Paisano’s Italian Kitchen
Limited seating, get your tickets
early. For tickets call 541-761-0063
or 541-415-0770, or you can stop
by the Pregnancy Center at 319
S. Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction
(across from Shop Smart).
Lots of raffle items available.
Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $12.
You could win a car, dinners,
Family Photo Shoot, New Tires,
gift certificates...many items.
All proceeds will go to sup-
port the Pregnancy Center of the Il-
linois Valley.
April 1 & 2
Josephine County Fairgrounds
and Event Center Home and Rec-
reation Show for 2017. Spring is
here, and that means two things…
Home Improvements and Outdoor
Recreation! The Home and Recre-
ation Show at the Josephine County
Fairgrounds and Event Center in
Grants Pass has something for ev-
eryone! Products and services for
your home, inside and out, plus
RVs, boats and more to help you
enjoy the great outdoors. Admis-
sion is FREE, so bring the whole
family and enjoy all the demonstra-
tions. Gates open Saturday, April 1,
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 2,
10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Special demonstra-
tions daily Saturday and Sunday by
the Southern Oregon Fly Tiers and
other vendors.
April 3
Anxiety and Depression Pro-
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
gram in Fellowship Hall at Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church, 265
Old Stage Rd. in Cave Junction,
Mondays at 6 p.m. Call Kathy for
more information at 541-291-7016.
its. Enjoy a fun community event
that benefits our Josephine County
Fairgrounds. For vendor informa-
tion, call Event Coordinator Sherry
Young 541-778-5186. Admission
is free!
April 8
Ready-Set-Go! O’Brien. Be
prepared for an emergency by at-
tending one of these free public
meetings. O’Brien Fire Station,
Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m., 1 p.m.,
and 3 p.m. Learn what to have in
your “go-bag”; shelter in-place or
leave - necessary home supplies;
evacuation assembly locations;
and more. Meetings conducted by
IVFD Community Emergency Re-
sponse Team (CERT) members.
April 15
I.V. Emergency Prepare Fair,
Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
at I.V. High School. Let the experts
teach you how to prepare for a di-
saster. Booths, presentations, plan-
ning tools, kids’ activities, con-
cession stand open and. First 300
families get a free tote bag full of
emergency supplies. Sponsored by
I.V. Fire District, IVCDO & CERT.
Call 541-294-1598, email IVPre-
pareFair@yahoo.com or visit Face-
book page at IVPrepareFair.
April 29 & 30
The 2017 Spring Fling Art and
Garden Show will be held on April
29 & 30 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at
the Josephine County Fairgrounds.
Featured are a variety of vendors
with plants, art, crafts and food
in addition to educational exhib-
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.
April 29
IVHS Safe and Sober Gradu-
ation Party Fundraising event: Sat-
urday, April 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fun
Run/Walk/Bike To a New Adven-
ture at Lake Selmac
May 6
Illinois Valley Children’s Fair
& Pet Parade Saturday, May 6 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. Jubilee Park Free ac-
tivities, resources, hot dogs, snacks,
drinks and prizes.
Pet Parade registration starts
at 10 a.m. Parade starts at 11:30
a.m.
May 12
IVHS Safe and Sober Gradu-
ation Party Fundraising event: Fri-
day, May 12, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
“Show your Spirit; paint the night
Red and White” Dinner and Silent
and Live Auction at the Selma Cen-
ter.
May 21
IVHS Safe and Sober Gradua-
tion Party Fundraising event: Sun-
day, May 21 at 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cave Junction Car wash.
Continuing
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store:
Join the crew and make new friends.
You don’t need to be a senior citi-
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
zen to volunteer at the store. Call
us at 541-592-6630. Open Monday
– Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*The C.J. Substation hours
are changed. Open hours are now
Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. The phone number for the
substation is 541-592-5151.
Volunteers are needed to ex-
pand support service hours to the
public. Applications are avail-
able at the substation or on-line
at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/
Files/Volunteer%20Application.
Mar%202014.pdf.”
*Cave Junction Patrol, LLC
is looking for volunteers. CJ Pa-
trol is a private citizen volunteer
orgnanization dedicated to effec-
tively addressing heretofore-un-
checked property crime in our city
and neighborhoods. The primary
mission of CJ Patrol is to prevent,
interrupt, report and decrease prop-
erty crime in the city of Cave Junc-
tion. Call 541-592-9665, cjpatrol.
org. Monthly meetings are first
Thursday at 6 p.m. at Wild River
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.
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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.