Page A-2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Life in the
Valley
of Riches
By DAN MANCUSO,
Publisher
My daughter Abby
begged me for years to
have a cell phone. After she
turned 16, I broke down and
purchased her first cell phone.
She had started to drive so I
felt it was important she have
a phone in case she broke
down.
She promised not to text
or talk while driving. My heart
told me not to trust her, my
head said I had to cut the cord
and like her, prove she could
be responsiable.
She had her phone less
than a week before hitting a
garbage dumpster with her car
while on her phone.
Last week the Corvallis
Gazette-Times, ran an
editorial about Oregon’s new
distracted-driving law, I am
going to share it with you.
“Nationally, the number
of fatal car wrecks is on
the rise, and that trend also
is true in Oregon. No one
knows for sure the reasons
for the increase, but everyone
has a pretty good guess: It’s
because we’re distracted as
never before when we buckle
ourselves into the driver’s seat.
So the timing seems
just right for Oregon’s new
distracted-driving law, which
went into effect on Sunday.
(Oct. 1)
Under the new law,
it’s illegal to hold phones or
other electronic devices while
driving. That means no texting
and no phone calls unless
your vehicle has a hands-free
system in place.
The new law, House Bill
2597, also closes loopholes in
the current law by addressing
all types of electronic devices,
not just cellular phones.
Rep. Andy Olson of
Albany was the chief sponsor
of the legislation. Olson, a
former Oregon State Police
officer, knows firsthand
about the damage caused by
distracted drivers — damage
that simply doesn’t have to
happen if drivers stay focused
on their first responsibility.
“Nationally, one in four
vehicle accidents involve
distracted driving,” Olson
said last week in a news story
about the new law. “It’s a
major concern.”
“The law doesn’t say
you can’t use them, you just
can’t have them in your hand,”
Olson said. “You can still
swipe something on or off. We
just don’t want you holding the
device. That’s the key.”
So, for example, you can
still use your smartphone as a
navigation device, but be sure
to type in the address before
you start your vehicle. While
you’re on the road, it’s strictly
hands-off.
It has been illegal to text
or use a cellphone without
a hands-free device while
driving in Oregon since 2009.
(Drivers under the age of 18
cannot use any cellular device
while driving, even if it is
hands-free.) The new law adds
some teeth to all that.
Which is why area law-
enforcement officers say they
aren’t interested in giving
drivers the benefit of a grace
period in enforcing the law:
They’re ready to write tickets
when they catch that tell-tale
glow emanating from inside
your vehicle.
Linn County Sheriff
Bruce Riley likely was
speaking for many mid-valley
law officers when he said:
“We are done warning folks.
Done educating folks about
this. We are going to enforce
this law.”
First-time offenders are
looking at a fine of $160. Why,
that might cover a month or
two of data charges on your
smartphone, and that’s the
point: The fine is designed to
catch your attention and to
leave a bit of a mark on your
pocketbook.
A third offense committed
within a 10-year span could
end up costing you $2,500 and
could include up to six months
in jail.
The idea is to make
people think twice about
driving with one eye on the
road and one eye on their
smartphones. That driving
technique is a recipe for
disaster. It’s best just to set
the device aside while you’re
driving; in fact, some phones
now have “do not disturb
while driving” features that
drivers may want to consider
activating.
Just a second or two
of inattentive driving can be
enough to trigger a wreck:
Lt. Brad Liles of the Albany
Police Department said
distracted driving is a common
culprit in rear-end accidents.
“It’s especially noticeable at
stoplights, when they don’t see
brake lights for a second or
two,” he said.
It’s not as if we don’t
have enough distractions
while driving even without
our devices: Just last week,
for example, news stories
reported about new electronic
billboards that will be able to
send personalized messages
as vehicles approach them.
We are not convinced that this
constitutes a major advance
for civilization.
But may we suggest
a message for those new
billboards? How about this:
“Eyes on the road, partner.
Hands on the wheel.”
Junction in the Ken Rose area
is one case in point. We uti-
lized our emergency phone
tree and the street captains de-
ployed personal fire fighting
resources to the approaching
fire. Also, we assisted each
other with evacuation.
I used to give praise and
admire my friends who were
firefighting volunteers, and
now I am a member of the I.V.
Fire District C.E.R.T. team.
Chief Dennis Hoke car-
ried the watch work to his
neighborhood by utilizing the
“Watch Packet” and now the
neighborhoods, adjacently lo-
cated, Idlewild and Ken Rose,
have collaborated most effec-
tively for mutual support. We
now have good watch leader-
ship, meetings, an emergency
phone tree, cameras, two way
radios, an immediate alert no-
tification system and citizen’s
patrols.
I wish to extend a special
thanks here to Chief Hoke for
his consistent leadership sup-
port, to our CERT members,
and to Jimmy Evans with CJ
Patrol.
We have now spanned
two sheriff’s administrations.
In 2014 Sheriff Gilbertson
helped to launch a Josephine
County wide program called
“Community Watch.” This pi-
lot program was to organize a
cadre of professional first re-
sponder, law enforcement, fire
and emergency preparedness
“personnel” to assist training
local leadership, build Neigh-
borhood Watch Groups, and
network them. The citation list
of supporters was long. This
was then conveyed to Sheriff
Dave Daniel’s administration
in 2015. This is the plan we
adopted for the Illinois Val-
ley and now we have created
a service committee to carry
out the work. This plan also
includes the business commu-
nity, churches and fellowships.
It is unfolding. Thanks to those
who have joined.
On Oct. 25 at I.V. Fire
Station 1, 681 Cave Hwy. from
6 to 8 p.m. we will convene a
Town Hall to show case our
work and to help our communi-
ty organize for their safety. We
have scheduled Sheriff Dave
Daniel and Chief Dennis Hoke
to give us an update report on
their department’s upgrades
from the Levy Funds they are
receiving. Our newly formed
I.V. Community Watch Service
Committee, 10 members in all,
will host the Town Hall along
with participation from local
Neighborhood Watch Groups
and CJ Patrol. Thanks to our
CJ City Council and IVCDO
for their follow along with our
Community Watch efforts, in-
cluding: John Gardiner, Jean
Ann Miles, Mayor Dalegows-
ki, and many others.
A bright spot light of
conscientious cannabis grow-
ing businesses are organizing
themselves and have joined
our Service Committee look-
ing to support Neighborhood
Watch and community gener-
ated solutions.
“Know thy Neighbor”,
and “When anyone reaches out
for help I want the hand of our
community to be there, and for
that I Am Responsible” are our
two mottos. Thanks again to
our wonderful service commu-
nity, our dedicated people in
the private and public sector,
putting the welfare of others
first. You, the reader, are ever
so welcome to meet with us
and join our productive forums
and effort as we travel the road
to a happy destiny, together. It
takes a community, UNITED.
The Illinois Valley has
more than its share of auto
collisions. With the onset of
winter we are going to have
less light and rain soaked
roads.
We all need to be
conscious about distracted
driving, that includes me too.
Thank you for picking
up this week’s paper, 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’ encour-
ages 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 com-
mentary, including statements
made as fact are strictly those
of the letter writers.)
Greetings to all
our neighbors
and neighboring
communities,
It is of special concern to
me and others who have joined
the Neighborhood Watch effort
to expand upon the subject of
crime watch and Public Safety
throughout all of our neighbor-
hoods and community in the
Illinois Valley.
We continue to experi-
ence the real solutions that
come when neighbors pull to-
gether, get to know each other
and creatively address their
problems. Each of us with our
skill sets and abilities have
been able to contribute ‘what
we are able’ to make our neigh-
borhoods a more crime free
place. And these benefits have
spilled over into helping each
other in so many other ways.
I could fill a book of my own,
just in the last 4 years, with
tales leading to connectedness
and personal enrichment.
The August 2015 Krauss
Fire incident affecting over
120 residences south of Cave
Guenter Ambron
Cave Junction
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
Vistas” & burgers and desserts too!
Oct. 11
IVHS boys’ varsity soccer
game at home vs. Cascade Christian
at 6 p.m.
Oct. 12
IVHS girls’ JV volleyball game
at St. Mary’s High School at 5 p.m.
IVHS girls’ varsity volleyball
game at St. Mary’s High School at
6:15 p.m.
Oct. 13
IVHS boys’ varsity football
game at home for Homecoming
Week vs. St. Mary’s at 7 p.m.
Oct. 14
IVHS boys’ varsity soccer game
at home vs. Rogue River at 10 a.m.
Oct. 25
Town Hall Meeting: 6 to 8 p.m.,
Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Senior Cen-
ter - 520 E.River St. Dessert Potluck,
free Coffee & Tea. Topic/presenta-
tions on: Current Crime, CJ Patrol,
Public Safety, Neighborhood Watch,
Emergency Preparedness, also in-
cludes Neighborhood Watch startup
packets. Meet leaders of local Watch
groups and I.V. Fire Community
Emergency Response Team mem-
bers as we organize and network for
mutual support. To RSVP or get an
Agenda Packet - email: ivwatch541@
gmail.com or call 541-415-1929. For
a Youtube intro and May 4 presen-
tation by Chief Dennis Hoke, visit
www.ivwatchsite.wordpress.com
Oct. 20 – 22
9th annual Valley Girls Quilt
Show will be Oct. 20 – 21, Friday &
Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday,
10 a.m. – 3 p.m., I.V. Senior Center,
520 E. River St. Cave Junction, $3
entrance fee, All proceeds donated
to I.V. Baseball Team, Boys & Girls
Club and Evergreen Elementary
School Life Skills; 100 never shown
before quilts on display, Country
Store, games and door prizes, 2017
Opportunity Quilt “Mountain Valley
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
W.H. Alltheway, LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
Nov. 5
Democracy at Risk: A Nonpar-
tisan Community Dialogue Sunday,
November 5, 4 - 6 p.m.in the Illinois
Valley High School Commons
Is America’s Election System
working as it should? Are our First
Amendment freedoms at risk from
abuses of power? Is political polar-
ization tearing our democracy apart?
What are some positive solutions that
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
we, as citizens, can propose to main-
tain our core democratic values?
The event is free and open to all
concerned citizens, and will include
music and light refreshments. Partic-
ipants are encouraged to bring finger
foods to share. We hope you will join
in the discussion of these important
issues and work with us to find com-
mon ground.
For more information call 541-
727-8312 or email qlcoach2@yahoo.
com.
Continuing
Your public library has ac-
tivities happening every week! New
Storytime reader, Melanie, has crafts
and stories for kids of all ages Sat-
urdays at 12 noon. Families at Play
baby-parent group is for pre-walk-
ing babies Wednesdays from 1-2pm.
Early literacy skills are taught within
a thirty-minute storytime of songs,
bounces, and reading, followed by a
half-hour of play and chat time. For
more information contact Roberta
Lee at 541-592-4770. IV Branch, Jo-
sephine Community Libraries, 209
W Palmer St, CJ
*Illinois Valley Community
Watch Meeting every Monday from
5 - 6 p.m. at Wild River Pizza, 249
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.
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
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 Sheriff’s Office Substa-
tion in Cave Junction is now open
on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..
Volunteers are still needed to staff
additional days. Applications are
available 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 Patrol is
a private citizen volunteer organiza-
tion dedicated to effectively address-
ing heretofore-unchecked property
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
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-
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.
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.