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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2018)
Page A-2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Letters to the editor ics, Helicopter and Air Tank- 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 The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity.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.) Former forest fire fighter has some solutions Some of you might know me as the retired Illinois Val- ley/Oregon Caves Visitor Cen- ter Manager (1996-2005) or the Kerbyville Museum Histo- rian and Curator (unpaid vol- unteer) full-time since 2006 when I retired after working for over 35 years. I am writing this letter as a private individual who still pays taxes and deals with the “Summers of Smoke” that some say is the “New Nor- mal”. God I hope not! I first want to give a personal “Big Thank You” to all the women and men Fire Fighters, Sheriff’s/Law En- forcement Personnel, Med- er Pilots and support crews and contractors who have come from across the U.S., Canada and other countries, once again, to our rescue and fought to keep the Klondike and Taylor’s Creek Fires from consuming our nearby towns and communities that we call home. Your efforts are great fully appreciated!!! I fought several forest fires in the early 1980s and never did forest fires in the past burn more than 20-30,000 acres if that, never did one last 4-5 months and never was one single house ever lost! It is tough physical danger- ous work. Sadly, we have lost friends or neighbors who have died fighting forest fires. Here are a few of my suggestions that have worked in the past: (1) Congress needs to give the Forest Service fund- ing to hire Brush Disposal Crews! Back in the 1970s and 1980s, each Ranger District hired its own Brush Disposal (BD) Crew in the early Spring and their sole job was to go out to designated areas and pile up all the forest brush and then burn it. This greatly reduced the fuel load on the forest floor. It worked in the 1970s and 1980s and it could work now! (2) Bring back the For- est Service Smokejumpers - Now! When I arrived here on the old Siskiyou National For- est in March 1986, the Sis- kiyou Smoke Jumper Base in Cave Junction had been closed for several years. They were highly trained women and men charged to do one thing: Be flown by plane and parachute into a forest fire area and put it out! It worked and was cost effective. Then for some unknown reason, Congress decided to abolish the entire program (it was too expensive?) and closed all the Smoke Jumper Bases! And so, even today, we as tax payers are still paying for this misguided decision. -I don’t know about you but I’m writing my Congress people today to let them know they made a huge mistake and they need to re-instate the Smokejumper Program now!! (3). Establish a Manda- tory (for All Young Men and Women ages 18 to 25) on a 3 Year Contract Civilian Con- servation Corps (CCC)! The CCCs was started in the early 1930s. It trained unemployed young men, aged 18 to 25 years to do physical work like building trails, fight- ing forest fires, brush removal, construct campgrounds, etc. It gave these young un- employed men basic job skills that they could use to obtain jobs later on. This was one of most successful work pro- grams ever and over 2 Mil- lion young men learned life long skills that they soon put to use in fighting World War II (1941-1945). It really is sad to see so many young people today with no self motivation, no job skills or self respect. I believe having a CCC-type program today could benefit everyone. I’m 72 years old and re- ally tired of all the smoke and living in fear that fire will de- stroy the place where I live and enjoy my life. I’m sure that others also have equally good ideas to provide on these topics. Collectively, we can make a difference here and elsewhere. In closing, my late Moth- er always used to say “An ounce of Prevention is worth a Ton of Cure.” Susie, are especially saddened by his passing, as it means di- minished access to what was until recently, a daily piece of toast and jam. In addition to his dogs, Ron is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lynn Parker; a son, Geoff Parker (Meagan Parker) of McMin- nville, Ore.; a daughter Jacque- line Parker (John Notis); and a granddaughter, Brooke Notis, of Charlottesville, Va. and nu- merous woodland creatures he inadvertently befriended via improper outdoor storage of the cat food. Mr. Parker was a mem- ber of the Granite County Historical Society (Montana), the National Association of Rail Passengers and the Kappa Sigma Fraternal Organization. No service is planned but do- nations may be made to Jose- phine County Animal Shelter. Dennis Strayer Cave Junction A Call for Solidarity This a call out to all our children and grandchildren. Our forests that provide us with the water we need to grow our food and our prime farmland is being destroyed. By your parents and grandpar- ents. They have the sickness of more! They consume ev- erything in site because the TV and social media told them to. With a total disregard of the evidence before their eyes. They are killing our planet. All for a paycheck. An illusionary tool meant to keep the masses under control. Once those forests are gone, you won’t be able to buy a glass of water or grow food. But they don’t care. They are blinded by greed and inten- tionally ignorant. Use your imagination, look for the adults that are working hard to protect what’s left, for guidance. Do not take “No” for an answer. All life on this planet depends on your ac- tions. Do whatever it takes to stop them. But do not use vio- lence and oppression as they have. Fighting fire with fire, only burns everything up. It is time to work together to do the right thing. You know deep in- side you, what the right thing is. We need you, now is the time to take action. May you see and know the power you are and please use it wisely and compassionately. Nina Horsley Cave Junction Reporter responds I am moved to add to Publisher Dan Mancuso’s de- fense of the integrity of the news media. As a reporter for the Illinois Valley News I con- sider it virtually my sacred duty to seek out and transmit to my readers a range of perspec- tives on an issue. This is par- ticularly essential since much of my reporting is “issue-re- lated,” as opposed to report- ing on straight-forward news items. In fact, one of the percs of my guiding rule is that often I will end up having an enjoy- able conversation with some- one who’s views are opposed to mine. I may not or may not have my mind changed, but that does permit me to under- stand, and even sympathize on some level, with the other’s point of view. It can be a re- warding experience. And then there are the other times, let’s face it, when my personal response to an in- terviewee’s opinion is, “OMG, that’s nuts!” But that’s when journalistic professionalism comes into play. I absolutely cannot allow my readers to sense that reaction. It’s worth mentioning that my backup in this goal is Dan Mancuso. It doesn’t happen a lot, but there have been a few times when he has changed a line in one of my stories because he felt I had inappropriately interjected my own opinion. To be clear, having my own, informed points of view as I head into an interview on some hot button issue is a plus. It helps me generate good questions, and press the point if I feel the other person is not fully or fairly responding. But the goal is always to bring out the other person’s point of view so that my readers can get the full and unvarnished story. Anita Savio Cave Junction Obituaries Butter shares fell sharply on news that Ronald C. Parker of Cave Junction, died July 2 in Grants Pass fol- lowing a brief illness. Born Jan. 22, 1936 in Newark, N.J. to Sophia and George Parker, he was raised in Glen Ridge, N.J. An only child, he spent much of his free time aboard the local regional rail lines, a childhood pastime that resulted in a lifelong love of trains, rail travel and trans- portation collectibles. Upon graduating in from Lafayette College in 1952, he went on to pursue gradu- ate studies in geology at the University of Montana in Mis- soula, Mont. ultimately culmi- nating in a decade-spanning geological career that sent him all over and under the Pacific Northwest. Ron’s dogs, Bailey and Celebration of Life Paula Ann Springhart May 5, 1950 – July 13, 2018, Come help us celebrate her life together, Sept. 9, noon – 2 p.m., Potluck – bring your fa- vorite dish, Forks State Park, Cave Junction, For informa- tion contact Teal at 503-866- 4955. I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors www.since1928Hull.com 541-592-4110 Save the date Aug. 21 – Sept. 30 Native Plant Sale: Online Pre-orders Aug. 21– Sept. 30, 2018, Wildflowers – Shrubs – Trees – Bulbs Order Online: Rogue Native Plants.org. Plant Pickups: Oct 6, 2018, Cave Junction & Medford, Rogue Native Plant Partnership & Illinois Valley Conservation District Sept. 5 – Oct. 24 Grandparenting Free Classes, Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – noon, Sept. 5 – Oct. 24 Grow your parenting skills, Gain skills for all ages of children. Register Online at www.surveymonkey.ocm/r/GSDL5L2, I.V. Family Resource Cent, River room, 535 E. Rivers St. Contact information-Kitty Waud, 541-592-4278, kwaud@frontier.com sponsored by I.V. Wellness Resources, Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative and The Family Connection. Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 Join the American Legion Post # 70 Auxiliary for BINGO at the I.V. Lions Day Labor Day Festival in Jubilee Sat. Aug. 31 – Monday, Sept. 2 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sept. 6 KXCJ Concert: Freddy and Francine! Thursday, Sept. 6, 6 – 10 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m. Concert 7:30 p.m. Catch the Nashville- based duo Freddy and Francine as they swing through town on their way to the Sisters Folk Festival. Not quite folk, not quite pop or Americana or vaudeville –and yet a mix of all these things –the word “authenticity” Illinois Valley News Published weekly by I.V. News LLC Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher is probably the best way to describe Freddy and Francine. But wait, there’s more! It’s outdoors! Mediterranean dinner will be served! Adult beverages, desserts, and more! Did we mention it’s a benefit for KXCJ-LP 105.7, our local community radio station? All ages welcome. Costumes encouraged (because ... why not?). http://kxcj.org/, info@kxcj.org 541-592-4112 https://www.freddyandfrancine. com/ Takilma Community Building, 9367 Takilma Road, CJ Sept. 11 – Nov. 3 Land Steward Short Course, Fall 2018 for Josephine County, Learn how to manage your property’s natural resources more effectively with this new course blending online and field instruction. Brought to you by Oregon State University (OSU) and OSU Extension. Questions? Contact: Max Bennett, Forestry & Natural Resources, OSU Extension,541-776-7371, max.bennett@ oregonstate.edu. Class details: Classroom: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 6-9 p.m., OSU Extension, 215, Ringuette Street, Grants Pass; Weekly online lessons (self-paced) beginning Sept. 17; First field session: Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m -4 p.m.; and Second field session: Saturday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Course Fee -Early bird registration by Aug. 17: $125; By Sept. 7 registration deadline: $150; Scholarships and payment plans available by arrangement; and for online registration visit: https://pace. oregonstate.edu/catalog/land-steward-short- course. p.m., (Ends at 8 p.m.); Place: Community Bible Church, 113 S. Caves Ave. Cave Junction, OR 97523, 541-592-3896. Come and have fun! There will be stories, music, games and (often) light snacks. Registration will be the 12th, so come a little bit early! Children must be registered by their parents or legal guardians. A.W.A.N.A. will meet every Wednesday night unless otherwise notified. Generally, if there’s no school, then there’s no A.W.A.N.A., i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas vacation, Spring Break, etc. A.W.A.N.A. provides a local church sponsored program for boys and girls, regardless of their religious affiliation. Sept. 22 New program developed by cohorts of the Ford Family Foundation: Food Security Free Trading Post, 9 a.m. at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction to trade food such as fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden. All gardeners who have extra fruit and vegetables, please join us and share your crop with your neighbors in Cave Junction. Any leftovers will be donated to a local church and the food bank. Please call Kim at 541-415-1125 for any questions. All are welcome to receive the blessings of our harvest. There are also Food Security Free Trading Post scheduled for Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. Sept. 22 IVHS football fundraiser changed to Sept. 22 due to smoke. See ad on page 5. Sept. 12 AWANA Starts Sept. 12; Who: Children, Grades PK-sixth; Time: Wednesdays at 6:15 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 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. Sept. 28 *You could win $500, $300 or $200 editor -Laura Mancuso laura@illinois-valley-news.com copy editor - C.J. Schatza classified ads - Laura Mancuso laura@illinois-valley-news.com circulation - Laura Mancuso laura@illinois-valley-news.com for creative recycling of “junk.” Spend your summer making a piece of furniture out of junk to enter in the third annual Upcycle Furniture contest sponsored by the Southern Oregon Guild. Judging will be Friday, Sept. 28, 3:30 p.m. at the CJ Farmer’ Market at Jubilee Park. Your work will be judged on CREATIVITY!!! So have fun making it! For more information pick up a flyer at the community booth at the CJ Farmers’ Market Friday afternoons 4-7 p.m. Sept. 30 “Making Your Vote Count,” the third event in IV Indivisible’s Democracy at Risk series, will take place on Sunday, Sept. 30, 3-5 p.m. at Wild River Pizza. Short presentations interspersed with video and theater will illuminate the many reasons voting is more crucial than ever, despite increased threats to our election system on several fronts. We’ll also hear about those threats and possible ways to remedy them, as well as numerous other voting-related topics. Community dialogue will follow. Admission is free. For more information or to help, call 541-761- 4746, or email dwyer@cavenet.com. Oct. 19 MEDICARE 101 Learn the basics of Medicare and what you need to consider before making your health care choices. Attend a free, educational Medicare workshop. Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.; Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.; and Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Illinois Valley Family Coalition, 535 E. River Street, Cave Junction, OR 97523 DEADLINES: News, Classified and Display Ads, Announcement and Letters 4 P.M. FRIDAYS advertising / composition - Dan Mancuso dan@illinois-valley-news.com mailroom - Millie Watkins 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.
