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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2022)
Dec. 28 and Jan. 4 will be co-published issues. Illinois Valley News Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 1 Section, Volume LXXXV No. 50 $1.00 Published Weekly for the residents of the Illinois Valley I.V. Fire’s Community Connect program discussed at city Gwen Barringer IVN contributing writer The Cave Junction City Council held their monthly meeting at City Hall Dec. 12. Although many familiar faces were missing due to illness-related absences, the meeting ran smoothly and was very productive. Mayor Martell and council members Ethan Lane, Tina Casey Jones and Jean Ann Miles were in attendance, as was city recorder Rebecca Patton, with council member Jesse Dugas being excused due to illness. There was no public works update, because Public Works Director Alex Ponder was also out sick. The same could be said for Teresa Stover, whose library renovation update was missed. Council liaison updates were brief but informative. Ethan Lane attended the Illinois Valley Fire District board meeting, and in the process learned about the new Community Connect program, an app designed to give first responders pertinent information about a residence or business before they’ve even arrived. This information includes but is not limited to, gate codes, how many people are inside, if there are any animals present, and where entry points are located. The IVFD is encouraging residents to download the Community Connect app so that they can be better served by first responders in the event of an emergency. Jean Ann Miles attended a Zoom meeting focused on the mental and behavioral health needs of Josephine and Jackson counties, and once again cited a distinct need for more ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training within the community to increase empathy and understanding toward residents of the Valley who may be struggling with their mental health. On the public comment side of things, Monique Allen spoke on behalf of IV Yea! to discuss the program’s mission to give Christmas gifts to local youths. When the Chamber of Commerce realized that Oregon’s research forest will be North America’s largest proud that current and future generations of Oregonians Oregon Public Broadcasting will benefit from this valuable natural resource.” Read was joined Oregon is on its way by Gov. Kate Brown and to creating North America’s Secretary of State Shemia largest research forest, Fagan in approving the final following this week’s decision by top state officials plan. The use of natural to separate the Elliott State resources to pay for Forest in southwest Oregon education in Oregon dates from its obligation to fund back to statehood in 1859. schools and designate the Revenues from logging land as a place for scientific on certain state lands have discovery. historically gone to the The State Land Board Common School Fund. voted unanimously to create After the land board’s vote the 80,000-acre Elliott State to remove the Elliott State Research Forest, signaling Forest acreage, there are an end to a years-long about 41,500 acres of land debate over how to manage left in the fund. While the forest that was failing to state income tax and local generate revenue for public property tax now serve as education. major funding sources for The board advanced education, the requirement the transition of the Elliott to make up for the loss in from a traditional state revenue from timber harvest forest to a research site by on the Elliott is significant. decoupling the forest from Before the plan to turn the Common School Fund, the Elliott into a research which relies on revenue forest, the land was no from the sale of timber on longer generating enough state forests, among other revenue to cover the costs resources, to help pay for of managing it. The state public education in Oregon. considered selling much of The Elliott forest will it, but the sale never went remain in public ownership in collaboration with Oregon through. The vote was enabled State University. by legislative action that The Elliott provides transferred $221 million habitat to dwindling into the Common School wildlife populations, Fund to replace revenue that including salmon, the northern spotted owl and the logging on the Elliott might otherwise have generated. marbled murrelet. Oregon Bob Sallinger, political leaders have been conservation director for struggling for decades to the Portland Audubon find a way for the forest Society, was a member to comply with wildlife of an advisory committee protection requirements that helped pave the way while continuing to meet a to converting the Elliott legal obligation to generate into a research forest. He revenue for public schools. is also on a new board of State officials said directors created by the land the Elliott will continue to board Tuesday to oversee contribute to conservation, the research forest going recreation, education, local forward. economies and more as a “From a conservation publicly owned, working perspective, it’s exciting research forest. because much more of the “The Elliott will forest will be protected than provide a better approach was historically,” he told for working forest Oregon Public Broadcasting. management, improve “The Elliott State Forest was conservation protections used to fund schools, and it and, significantly, keep the was intensively logged for forest in public hands,” decades in violation of the Treasurer Tobias Read said Endangered Species Act.” in a statement. “We can be their toy drive Dec. 7 wouldn’t meet the needs of the community, IV Yea! generously donated the toys that they had spent time collecting for their own event. This left the organization depleted of what had once been an abundant supply of gifts, and now they are working on gathering more new and unwrapped toys for the over 130 children on their list. Council member Jean Ann Miles was given approval to join the Parks and Recreation Commission, a move made mostly because the low attendance rate has led to the commission being unable to hold a proper quorum for quite a while. The first of two readings was also held regarding an amendment to the commission requirements that would, along with removing term limits, add the city recorder as a voting member to the commission. The council also discussed Resolution 964, officially declaring 539 Schumacher Street a nuisance as the property owners have failed to comply with city fencing codes. Although the council clearly did not enjoy doing this, with Jean Ann Miles even pointing out that she loved the look of the fence but hated that it was against city code, the resolution passed unanimously. The meeting wrapped up within the hour, and Ethan Lane’s final comment, “Stay well, eat soup,” seemed to resonate with all in attendance. Win with a pin David Steves & Cassandra Profita SEE ACT ON A-9 (Photo by Lindsay Martinho for the Illinois Valley News) Varsity wrestler Talen Schaffer pins his way to victory during the Wednesday, Dec 14. home wrestling match. IVHS’ heartfelt tribute to long-time coach Jay Miller included a slideshow and poem before the match. Pawsitive K9 Solutions animal abuse back in the courthouse Gwen Barringer IVN contributing writer A hearing was held at the Josephine County Courthouse Dec. 14 regarding Pawsitive K9 Solutions co-owner Danielle R. Brown-LaRue and her forfeiture of the abused and neglected animals found at the LaRue business and residence in September. While Brown- LaRue has not reappeared in Josephine County and an active warrant for her arrest has been issued by the authorities, her appearance wasn’t necessary in order for this hearing to continue. Although it was a simple proceeding in the scheme of things, there was a brief instance of confusion surrounding the active warrant. While an initial warrant had been active and subsequently rescinded in order to add more charges to the list, the re-issued warrant appeared nowhere in the court’s documentation. Judge Matthew Galli was assured by the state that the warrant still existed, and he firmly chided the state, demanding that the warrant be documented accordingly before the next proceeding. Laura Jansen, a supervisor for the Josephine County Animal Shelter who also handles finances, went on record to explain to the court that the cost of keeping the animals in the shelter’s care was approximately $840 a day, $25,000 a month, and was $72,059 in total at the time of the proceedings. Because probable cause that Brown-LaRue had committed the offenses had been found in the indictment via her failure to appear before the court, the state ordered that the bond for the animals’ release be set at $122,059. It was also ordered that the animals be immediately forfeited into the care of the state unless the defendant posted the bond amount within the next 72 hours. Although Danielle Brown-LaRue has remained on the run from the law, her partner Joseph LaRue, who is also facing a laundry list of animal abuse, neglect, and marijuana-related charges, has another hearing set for Jan. 5, 2023. This will not be the final legal proceeding regarding this case, as the case is set to go to trial in approximately two months.
