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:
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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.