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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2017)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, September 6, 2017 Life in the Valley of Riches By DAN MANCUSO, Publisher Beating up your local paper has been a contact sport played in cities of all sizes since the invention of the Gutenberg press. In the industry we joke about how “people love to hate their local paper.” But for every person who does not like the paper there is one that does and in the end, they both pick it up. The haters do so they can hate, and our fans pick it up because they are fans. What they both get is a paper that informs them on the general goings on of their community. Some weeks we do a great job, others not so much. As a mom-and-pop paper, overall, I think we do a good job. What has been wearing on me is the new sport of calling anything you don’t like, “Fake News.” To be quite honest, I find it child- ish at best. Since I am being brutally honest here, I site Facebook as a leading cause of “Fake News.” The so called “Citizen Journal- ists” and bloggers, can post anything and we have no idea if it’s even true, heck, it’s often untrue. There is no vetting process in citizen journalism. I was told by a reader that most people don’t even read it with the expectation that it’s true; “You have to weed through the crap,” she said. But, with real journalism our readers DO have an expec- tation that what we print is true. As a newspaper man, I live by a few rules. One is never print anything that in our hearts we believe to be false. Unsourced and unvetted information is just that, nothing. Two, “we” never say anything; every word is attributed to someone or a firsthand account. We do not say anything; we print what he/she said. And lastly, you don’t have to be first, be right. Getting news out fast and being first is something broadcast journalists/entertainers live by. In print, we don’t have that need or ability. As a weekly newspaper, it’s a rare occasion when we are even close. Now there are times we misunderstand someone, or the ultimate failure, misspell someone’s name. We did just that in the July 23 edition where we called Richard Milner - Richard Miller. Yes, I know better, but your brain tells you what the words say. I know it’s Milner and when I saw Richard Miller, my brain read Milner because I know he is with the I.V. Lions Club. The main recipient of Fake News is the cable entertain- ment news shows. They are not news, they are commentary, also known as entertainment. So when you say Fox is Fake News, what you need to say is “that guy JOE on Fox last night said something that was not true.” It’s not fake, you just don’t believe it. There is a big difference. What prompted this rant is last week we had a subscriber call in to say they didn’t want to renew as they get their news from Facebook. Yeah, they seriously said that. Thank you dear reader, regardless of why you picked up this paper, I appreciate you and your civic mindedness, enjoy! ~ 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.) First Student reminds us about buss safety Dear Editor, It’s back-to-school time, which means yellow buses are back on the roads. School buses are the safest way for students to get to and from school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are 70 times safer than passenger cars and 10 times safer than walking. There I an entire ecosystem of safety around school buses. This includes road signs, traffic laws, the size, weight and construction of the bus, and the skill of the driver. It also includes you. Did you know that passing a stopped school bus while its lights are flashing is illegal in Oregon and all 50 states? It’s estimated more than 78,000 drivers break this law every school day in the U.S., causing close calls and injuries to children. It is crucial that we all stay alert as students prepare to board or exit the bus. School buses use yellow flashing lights to indicate they are preparing to stop. Bus drivers use red flashing lights and an extended stop sign to signal that the bus is stopped and that children are getting on or off. You are required by law to stop on both sides of a street or undivided highway. Everyone in our community plays a crucial role in ensuring students get to school safely. Be aware, be alert and be safe this school year. Tanya Kerr First Student Medford Reader questions letter writer’s facts I would like to take this opportunity to clarify what, in my opinion, is a misstatement in Gunter Ambron’s letter about “Public Safety” printed in the Aug. 30 edition of the paper. Mr. Ambron, again my opinion, took the shot gun approach aimed at solving what he believes are public safety problems. He stated…”Gilbertson’s efforts here significantly contributed to his popularity in the Illinois Valley during the 2014 election where he received a majority…” A look at the County Clerk’s website the document titled “Summary Report - Josephine County, Oregon – General Election -November 4, 2014” shows Dave R. Daniel received 18,282 votes, for 55.72% of the total. Gil Gilbertson received 14,385 votes, for 43.84% of the total. Sheriff Daniel received a majority. Next year, 2018, the Office of Sheriff is up for election. It remains to be seen if Sheriff Daniel will run for reelection. Should he decide to run, he will continue to receive my support and the support of my wife and many others who appreciate the job and performance of the current sheriff. William T. (Tim) Campbell Cave Junction Letters continued on A-8 Guest opinion: by Christine Perala Gardiner Ph.D. Josephine County Rural Area Planning Commission - Comments on proposed Ordinance 2017- 034 following public testimony: The public hearing testimony provided Monday, Aug. 28 heard 53 people commenting. This public input is the basis for my comments. I counted 11speakers and one letter in favor of the proposed ordinance. I counted 38 speakers against it, with three letters against, and three undecided. Let’s do the math: There were 38 plus three, equaling 41 “voters” against. There were 11 plus one, equaling 12 “voters” in favor. Forty-one plus 12 equals 53 total “votes from the public.” That means that 77 percent of voters are against the proposed ordinance. I am pointing out that 12 out of 53 equals 22 percent in favor, not 62 percent as claimed by the County. It’s good to have some hard, public record data to work with. My comments present five criteria for my vote: 1) the claim of a voter mandate, 2) the claim that producers on RR (rural residential) lands are the cause of “the” problem; 3) the County role in Economic Development; 4) more changes coming from state level, and 5) the lack of citizen input into this huge subject. 1. The basis for claim to need this ordinance is the “Voter Mandate” of ballot measure 17-81. The Voter’s Pamphlet stated: “Land use systems seek to minimize conflicts between neighbors,” implying to voters that there were complaints against OLCC farms located on RR lands, which simply was not true. Of the 46 percent of the electorate who voted, half (23 percent) lived in the city of Grants Pass or did not live on RR lands. The 62 percent of ballots cast in favor from RR constitute about 15 percent of the County electorate, closer to the 22 percent in favor on Monday, Aug. 28. 2. Why is County Planning now asking us to consider rapid, large-scale changes to county cannabis production? I find no evidence that the County has attempted to consult with any of the 2,800 plus farms that will be affected with this “Regulation by Code Enforcement”. The County has yet to convene the first meeting of the new “Cannabis Advisory Committee”. We need proof, not assertion, that producers on RR lands constitute a problem. 3. At a BCC (Board of County Commissioners) discussion Aug. 15, Commissioners Hare and Morgan discussed the County Economic Development planning processes. They suggested that very large RR landowners should be allowed to “grow a few crops in order to pay for their proposed development”. At this meeting, Hare stated that County has yet to conduct one study with economic analysis of the existing cannabis industry. This industry has been here for more than 20 years. 4. State policy makers are soon to release new guidance for local jurisdictions regarding “Marijuana policy”. It would be unwise to take any decisive action now. However, we know that the State requires the fences. It’s now up to the county commissioners to work with the state to remove the fence requirement. Why are these fences required at all? What other crop has this requirement? 5. Our county population is over 80,000 people. Even 1,000 complaints would represent only 1 percent of the population. This hardly forms any legitimate basis for changing the rules of land use. Many people were turned away from the public hearing for lack of building capacity, and many could not hear because no provision was made for a public sound system outside Basker Auditorium chamber. A significant opportunity was missed for county government to educate the public, and to be inclusive of the views of those people who pay staff salaries and bother to show up. It is well known that the majority of and the worst complaints are over illegal grow sites on resource lands, not RR zoned lands. Why target RR lands, when the vast majority of these are good neighbors and family farms? There are many legitimate concerns over marijuana industry adverse impacts. Let’s identify some solutions. • County could easily eliminate greenhouse light pollution. Such a policy would also benefit our growing tourism economy. County could encourage solar powered farm operations, an affordable option with multiple benefits to the economy. • Agricultural soils are irreplaceable assets. County could proactively protect all soils from paving and impervious surface, for the benefit of present and future generations of food production here. • County can limit the size of greenhouses to 1,000 sq. ft., still a very large space to raise plants. • To “protect the rural character” of communities and neighborhoods, County could enact protections of existing large native trees and plant communities, wetlands, floodplains and streams. This would also enhance our profile in the burgeoning tourism market. • Mediation is a proven, successful way to resolve disputes among neighbors. Why not avoid legal means and use mediation as the first tool for dispute resolution? I voted No on proposed ordinance 2017-034. I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Save the date Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Boys soccer will plat at Pa- cific / Bandon starting at 4 p.m. AWANA starts Sept. 13 for children PK – Sixth grade at Com- munity Bible Church, 113 S. Caves Ave. CJ, Wednesdays at 6:15 – 8 p.m. Registration will be the 13th so come a little bit early! Children must be registered by their parents or legal guardians. There will be stories, music, games and often light snacks. AWANA will meet ev- ery Wednesday night unless there is no school. This is a church spon- sored program regardless of their religious affiliation. At the same time there will be a free parenting class for all parents, grandparents & guardians. Sept. 7 IVHS Volleyball team will be at Lost River starting at 6 p.m. IVHS Girls Soccer will play at Coquille / Myrtle Point starting at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 IVHS Football will play at home starting at 7 p.m. against San- tiam Christian Sept. 9 Boys soccer will be at home against St. Mary’s, Medford starting at 10 a.m. Sept.11 IVHS Volleyball team will be at New Hope Christian starting at 6:15 p.m. Illinois Valley News Published weekly by W.H. Alltheway, LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher Sept. 16 & 17 A Freakin’ Fabulous Fall Fer- mentation Festival September 16 (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. September 17 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 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 Learn how to make your own naturally fermented foods, bever- ages and fertilizers during this fun weekend at Frog Farm! Resister for one day or the whole weekend, and attend up to a dozen classes, dis- cussions and tastings. This event is a FUNdraiser to support Spiral Liv- ing Center’s programs and projects promoting community sustainabil- ity. Find the schedule on our Face- book Page, https://www.facebook. com/spiralcenter website at www. spiralLiving.org or call 541-592- 3642 for more information. Sept. 22 Last Day for judging the Guild’s Up-cycle Contest will be Friday, Sept. 22 at the last CJ Farm- ers’ Market at Jubilee Park Continuing *Illinois Valley Community Watch Meeting every Monday from 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. 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, including businesses and churches, and support for anyone wishing to start a neighborhood watch. In- cludes a 2-way hand held radio pro- gram briefing from 4:20 - 4:50 p.m. Contact Guenter - 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. *Volunteers are needed in the Cave Junction Substation to provide support service hours to the public. Applications are available at the Merlin Substation, 100 Acorn Street, 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 Merlin, 541-474-5135, and on-line at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/ 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 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. 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.
