Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2017)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 2, 2017 Life in the Valley of Riches By DAN MANCUSO, Publisher The culture at the Grants Pass Daily Courier has been the same long before I moved here; in order to “earn your bones” you have to trash your neighbors. “Will levy funds help stem the tide of brazen crimes in Cave Junction” was the title of the column from new Courier editor Scott Stoddard in the July 20, edition. My first thought was, “Why is the Grants Pass paper focusing on Cave Junction when Grants Pass has one of the highest crime rates in the state?” But I read it anyway to see where he would go with it. Well I must say the new leader of the newsroom did not disappoint. In typical Courier fashion Mr. Stoddard ignored the fact that every corner in Grants Pass has bums panhandling. He ignored that many stores in the city have bars on the windows, just like the buildings around the housing projects in Chicago. He also ignored the fact that many Grants Pass banks have been robbed in recent years. No, he made a special trip to CJ to write a hit piece to please the powers that be, in hopes that the bone he brought back pleases the master. People from the other side of Hayes Hill like to put down all of their neighbors. Often areas including Wolf Creek, Murphy, Williams and Cave Junction are the brunt of many jokes in Grants Pass. The sad part is what the Grants Pass elite don’t understand; they live in the middle of it. I doubt it’s good for real-estate in the city when you say every area around your town is full of crime. Why would anyone want to live next to a cesspool? Writing inflammatory articles must distract the elitists from real news about the high crime rate in the city of Grants Pass. Yes, we have crime, and we report it on a weekly basis. Were we to report on Grants Pass crime we could fill 12 pages a week alone, but we don’t. We don’t because it really is not that important to put down our neighbors for sport. One of the first rules of journalism is “do no harm.” What that means to me is don’t do a story unless you are going to inform, educate or better your community, not destroy an individual or in this case a community. Yes, there are times when the person that is the topic of a story feels like we are picking on them, and I respect their feelings. But I must say I have never written an opinion piece just for the sake of trashing a town or person, and that’s exactly what Stoddard did. What he could have done is actually assess the levy topic, will it have an effect? The answer to me is clear. Since the levy passed the deputies seem to have a renewed interest in doing their jobs, knowing you will have a job for five years makes one feel a tad more secure. They know the community voted by a 58-percent margin to back them and now they are working hard to prove us right. As far as the brazen crime, I fail to see what he is referring to. Two shootings in many months does not make the area unsafe. Yes, Dairy Queen and CJ Coffee have had their share of break-ins. But overall, I feel safe. I am concerned for the future of our community, but I have hope. I see many good things happening and when the whole cannabis issue gets hammered out, I believe things will get even better. Thank you for picking up this week’s paper. ~ djm 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 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 commentary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers.) Reader asks folks to slow down Please slow down on your neighbors’ gravel dusty roads. Huge walls of dust float higher than the tree tops behind you. Some people have medical issues already like COPD, asthma or cancer. It cost me $145 to take my dog to the vet to find out it was bronchitis from the road dust. Thank you Margaret Lyons O’Brien Reader says the s is silent For the five years I’ve lived in the Illinois Valley, I have heard many more people say “Illinoys” instead of “Illinoy.” I thought for a while that maybe the joke was on me, so I did some research and discovered residents from the State of Illinois immigrated to Oregon during the 1855-56 gold rush, and besides killing and carting off the Takelma Native Americans, they named Sucker Creek after the “Sucker State,” the 19th century nickname for the state of Illinois. There is also this link on Josephine County History https://www.orgenweb.org/josephine/ history/hist2.htm that refers to the Illinois River: “This stream takes its name from the state of Illinois, whence some early miners came and applied that name patriotically.” (A. G. Walling,1884) So the Valley is named after the state of Illinois, and the correct pronunciation is “Illinoy.” I appreciate of the way etymology changes through time, and how distinct regions have their dialects and accents, but this is neither. Thanks, Chris Hall Cave Junction Publisher’s note: As an Illinois native, I thank you. It drives me crazy when people mispronounce the area named after my home state. Reader calls for fire board members resignation In your July 19, 2017, paper you had an article about problems in the I.V. Fire District Board. Near the end of that article my name was mentioned as a possible replacement for the position left with Mr. Butler’s resignation. To be honest, I have attended most of the District’s Board Meetings, and I have served on the District’s Budget Committee with the intent of learning about the I.V. Fire District and eventually gaining a position on the board of directors. I was prepared to run for Carol Dickson’s vacant position when she decided not to seek reelection. At the close of one of the board meetings Ron Humphres said “he had gotten a friend to run for Carol’s position, and they did not want to lose their public.” Meaning I should not run, as I was “their public”; since, on many occasions, I have been the only “outside public” attending the board meetings. I took this as a pretty big slap in the face; and I have decided that I would still like to serve on the district board, but only if Ron Humphres resigns. I note David Mac Kechnie’s letter to the editor in the July 26, 2017, issue of the paper lauding Ron Humphres. Having attended district meetings for the past five years, I can say that I think Ron has done some good things for the fire district. However, I personally believe that Ron’s seeking to discipline or fire Chief Hoke is totally inappropriate and an extremely gross disservice to the community. It is my observation that the community has greatly benefitted from the leadership, management, and entrepreneurial spirit of the Chief Hoke. Chief Hoke has obtained new equipment for the district, and improved emergency response times, which has resulted in reduced fire insurance rates for the community. Most recently Chief Hoke promoted the passage of the recent fire district levy, which will further improve the district’s response to fire and medical emergencies, and ensure that the reduced fire insurance rates remain. I strongly support Carol Dickson’s returning to the fire district board in Mr. Butler’s now vacant position. She has the background and experience to best serve the citizens in the fire district. In summary, I believe Ron Humphres’ recent actions, as a member of the I V Fire District Board are not in the best interests of the community or the District. I think Carol Dickson should be put in the current vacant position on the board. I would very much like to be considered for a position on the board in the future, but only if Ron Humphres were to resign from the board Robert Schmidt Cave Junction ~ Celebrations ~ Celebration of life for Hank Warner who passed on December 13, 2016. It will be held in the Mallard Loop at Lake Selmac on August 12, 1 p.m.. Bbq potluck. The family of longtime Selma residents Richard and Nancy Dueker would like to invite all who knew them to a memorial service at the Cave Junction Immanuel United Methodist Church Friday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m., followed by a potluck. Pictures and stories are welcome at the service. A private burial will take place at the National Veteran’s Cemetery in Eagle Point, Oregon. I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Save the date Aug. 3 Kelly Thibodeaux & Etouffee – rhythm and blues and Southern rock; will play the Concerts in the Park. FREE ADMISSION! Sponsored by the I,V, Chamber of Commerce. 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday Evening at Jubilee Park, CJ. 592-4778. I.V. Branch, Josephine Community Libraries, 209 W Palmer St, C.J. Concerts in the Park - Summer 2017 FREE ADMISSION! Spon- sored by the I.V. Chamber of Com- merce 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday Evenings at Jubilee Park, CJ: Aug. 3 I.V. by Candlelight Walk after Concerts in the Park , meet at the stage at 8 p.m. Bring your candles and show community support for public safety. Aug 10, Fire Your Boss – post- Apocalyptic folk core. Please bring your own seating. Nachos, Hot Dogs and more avail- able at Softball Concession Stand. Continuing *Illinois Valley Community Watch Meeting every Monday from 5 - 6 p.m. at Wild River Pizza, 249 Redwood Hwy. – Cave Junction. A Public Safety Outreach Campaign effort with all I.V. Neighborhood Watch Groups – representatives, in- cluding businesses and churches, and support for anyone wishing to start a Summer Reading Program sign ups are still happening at the Illinois Valley Library! Our free program runs through Saturday, Aug. 5. Join us on Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for crafts sponsored by Illinois River Valley Arts Council. For more infor- mation contact Roberta Lee at 541- Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher 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 neighborhood watch. Includes a 2- way hand held radio program briefing from 4:20 - 4:50 p.m. Contact Guent- er - 541-415-1929 / ivwatch541@ gmail.com. *The I.V. Senior Thrift Store: Join the crew and make new friends. You don’t need to be a senior citizen to volunteer at the store. Call us at 541-592-6630. Open Monday – Sat- urday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. *The C.J. Substation hours are changed. Open hours are now Mon- day and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number for the substation is 541-592-5151. Volunteers are needed in the Cave Junction Substation to provide support service hours to the pub- lic. Applications are available at the Merlin Substation, 100 Acorn Street, Merlin, 541-474-5135, and on-line at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/ 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. Files/Volunteer%20Application. Mar%202014.pdf. *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 or visit cjpatrol.org. *Committee Meeting STATE OF JEFFERSON Josephine County 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. *Come join the Cave Junction Lions Club at River Valley Restaur- 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 rant, at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. We are a co-ed club and are always looking for community minded people that are dedicated, hard working, whether physically limited or not and most of all, like to have fun. We host the Classic Car Show in late June and Turkey Bingo in ear- ly November. So if you like to have fun and like to help make great things happen, to provide glasses, hearing aids, scholarships and support for our community and so much more. Come by and see what we do or give us a call, 541-592-9243 Nina Horsley, president. *Second and fourth Mondays of the month, 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 222 W. Lister Street, Cave Junction, Oregon, the Common Council of the City of Cave Junction will meet in a regular ses- sion. 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.
