YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1937
Illinois Valley News
Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 1 Section, Volume LXXX No. 32
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Published weekly for the residents of the Illinois Valley
Municipal Minions
Pot farm
rules take
effect
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Rebecca Patton (left), Lisa Richardson, Vampire Minion and Deanna Rodriguez made Halloween
a little more playful at Cave Junction City Hall Tuesday, Oct. 31.
2017 grape harvest
had its challenges
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
The grape harvest has drawn
to a close with both Bridgeview and
Foris vineyards reporting that fruit
quality, which is essentially based
on the ratio of sugars to acids, and
total tonnage were satisfactory. Rene
Eichmann, owner of Bridgeview
Vineyards, reported that they scored
a silver medal on both their regular
and sweet rieslings in San Francisco
and that the wine will soon make its
way to the market. Unfortunately,
Foris Vineyard’s Owner Ted
Gerber said that he can’t yet release
details regarding their awards
until December because of a non-
disclosure agreement.
Bridgeview faced extreme
erosion damage from Sucker Creek
during last winter’s torrential
downpour and, in total, set them
back an estimated $100,000 in grape
vines and infrastructure. The estimate
doesn’t includethe value of the land
that was washed away—about an
acre. Although temporary measures
were taken under the Emergency
Authority Program to curb the
stream’s appetite in April it wasn’t
until August that a permanent and
ecologically friendly solution was
installed by the Illinois Valley Soil
and Water Conservation District.
Another problem Bridgeview
faced this year, Eichmann said,
was that their harvest machine
broke down. Its lengthy repair time
made them fall precariously behind
schedule. “It’s an older machine,”
Eichmann said, “I don’t know if
we’re going to invest a whole lot
of money into the old dinosaur
anymore.” A new machine, if
bought outright, is about a quarter
of a million dollars, according to
Eichmann.
Gerber said that the most
chronic and costly problem his
vineyards face, varmints, was less of
an issue than in years past because
of the lack of a rainstorm up north.
Usually, Gerber held, a rainstorm
tends to drive grape eating animals
like bear, deer, foxes and birds, down
into Southern Oregon. “Even if you
have a fence they’ll find a way to
bust in,” Gerber said.
Foris harvested a total of
around 700 tons of grapes from
the sum of their locations. About
half of that number was pinot noir
because it grows well in the Illinois
Valley’s climate. Foris also focuses
on pinot gris, pinot blanc, riesling,
gewürztraminer and muscat. “Those
are the varieties we feel do best over
here,” Gerber concluded.
Grapes that are known to not
grow satisfactorily in the Illinois
Valley are sourced from Applegate. In
total, Foris bought 75 tons of grapes
to complete their selection of wines.
Although Foris used to buy a
considerable amount of grapes from
local vineyards to keep up with
demand, Gerber reported that they’ve
been stepping away from the practice
by expanding their total acreage.
Last year, Foris planted an additional
seven acres and this year they planted
yet another seven. “That’s probably
our last planting,” Gerber said,
“We’re just about there.”
Not one to leave their former
suppliers out in the cold, Gerber said
that Foris is always sure to find them
another buyer before backing away
from the deal.
Learn about what our neighbors over the hill in Happy Camp are up to.
Read about it on A-8
Ordinance No. 2017-001, which aims to eliminate
unsightly, disruptive or potentially dangerous practices
regarding fencing, lighting, buildings and erosion, went into
effect Oct. 30. The ordinance has been in the works since
October 2016 and was approved by the commissioners Aug. 2
of this year.
Letters will be sent out this week to all known growers,
regardless of zone, informing them that they have 30 days to
comply. Should growers fail to comply, the county will take
legal action against them.
Sight obscuring fences henceforth cannot be constructed
out of temporary or unorthodox materials including, but not
limited to, root balls, hay bales, junk, appliances, inoperable
vehicles or equipment, plastic sheeting or tarps. Vegetative
screens may be an option for some growers, provided that such
a screen meets all state and county requirements. The screen
may take no longer than three years from the day it’s planted to
properly conceal a cannabis production site.
Shade cloth used to shade plants cannot be used for a
period longer than three consecutive months and must be
removed at the end of the growing season.
Indoor lighting used for an indoor cannabis growing area,
or indoor cannabis processing facility, can no longer be visible
from dwellings or adjacent properties and cannot cast light
upward into the night sky between dusk and dawn. Exterior
lighting needs to be shielded so that the light they emit is cast
downwards. This is to ensure, like the new indoor lighting
rules, that no light is cast onto adjacent properties or into the
night sky.
Furthermore, Rural Residential properties which have
less than 2.5 acres of land cannot exceed 50 percent of the
property’s total area with the footprint of buildings.
No. 2017-001 requires any location where fill is brought
to or stockpiled in quantity’s greater than 10 cubic yards to
take measures toward controlling runoff. The ordinance simply
asks that these sites use “best management practices” but also
suggests that straw bales or erosion control fabric are good
options.
Grading slopes in excess of 15 percent now requires a
Storm Water Management Plan signed by a registered engineer.
Such a plan outlines the measures taken to prevent or mitigate
runoff onto adjacent properties.
Finally, berms must now be set back from property lines
at a minimum distance equal to or greater than the required
setback for a structure. Berms made out of earth need to be
stabilized with ground cover.
Calling all veterans,
Kerbyville wants your
military photos
Judy Hoyle
IVN Contributing Writer
Veterans Day marks the
beginning of a new display
project at Kerbyville Museum
and History Center.
A “Wall of Honor”
exhibit is planned for the
2018 tourism season, and the
museum board is inviting
the community to participate
by submitting photocopies
of their family members in
uniform.
“It’s something we’ve
thought about doing for a
long time,” said Linda Butler,
board president, “We just
decided to proceed with the
project because we’re losing
our older veterans and we
want to honor all those who
have served or are currently
serving.”
Butler stated that a
special space in the museum’s
Military Room has been
selected for the exhibit. She
hopes to expand the display
over time, possibly including
emergency first responders in
future years.
In addition, museum
curator Dennis Strayer stated
that the project is open to all
current or previous residents
of the Illinois Valley.
“Photocopies, 4
inches by 6 inches, with the
individual in uniform are
preferred,” Strayer said. “We
don’t want original photos,
since we won’t be returning
them. We’re asking that the
full name, rank, branch of
service and dates of service
also be included with the
photocopy, along with their
original hometown.”
Photos should be sent to
the museum at P.O. Box 3003,
Kerby, Oregon, 97631. The
deadline to submit photos is
Dec. 15.
For further information,
participants are asked to call
the museum at 541-592-5252
and leave their name, phone
number and question on the
answer machine.
SEE WALL ON A-10