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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.
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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.