Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated November 14, 2007
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Aiken’s positive article garners ‘A’ response
From Nancy Schwickrath
Cave Junction
I really enjoyed the article by Wally Aiken, “He Knows We’ve Got Warts…” (Illinois Valley News, Oct. 31.)
It was a pleasure to read a positive article about Cave Junction. It gets very disheartening to hear about the meth problems, police shortfalls, library closures, etc.; all the things that make the Illinois Valley seem like a dreadful place to live. I know these problems exist and they need to be addressed, but Aiken’s article reminded me of why I live here in the first place.
We have amazing artists in this valley including musicians, painters, furniture-makers, and writers and crafters. We also have a number of art/furniture galleries, the Kerbyville Museum, live music at Taylor’s Country Store on Friday and Saturday nights, open mic Thursday nights at Nacho Mama’s and live music on Saturdays.
We have Art Walks in CJ and Kerby, the seasonal farmers market in Selma, year-round courses about the region at Siskiyou Field Institute, and events at Spiral Living Center.
Plus we have a national landmark at Oregon Caves National Monument, miles of hiking trails, beautiful scenery, free summer concerts at Jubilee Park provided by Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, and many worthy nonprofit organizations that bring resources into the community.
There are plenty of other events and community expertise and resources that I haven’t mentioned. How many other small communities can boast of such abundance?
More citizens of Illinois Valley might be inclined to deal with the hard problems facing this valley if they participated in even a fraction of the positive things that make this a worthwhile place to live.
Fuel dispute ends on happy note
From Bob McCarver
O’Brien
Well, God bless America. Me, the guy in the van and a wheelchair, got the $22.50 I believe I was owed from the Oregon Caves Chevron owner. I’m glad we still have freedom of speech in our country.
He’s calling project ‘Open Pit Junction’
From Larry Herman
Cave Junction
It’s strange to wake up to an unfamiliar sound, in a place you’ve been living in for more than 17 years. In a little while you realize that there is a full-blown mining operation going on at the old Martin Dairy bordered by Martin and Rockydale roads.
What look like overloaded dump trucks begin to travel down Rockydale with regularity, depositing part of their contents on the road and obstructing the center line between the mining site (Little Elm Ranch) on Rockydale and Barlow Rock, 1.5 miles down the road. The part of Rockydale above Crest Drive is an extremely dangerous blind curve, and anyone entering the road below this point needs to be vigilant of traffic coming out of the void.
It is as if we were invaded by an alien presence, viral or human; it’s hard to distinguish the difference. It’s as if terrorists set up shop in our neighborhood.
So Copeland Sand & Gravel/Barlow Rock, and Little Elm Ranch (formerly Martin Dairy), team to get the agricultural zoning changed, to create a wetland. The plan calls for the removal of gravel and rock to a depth of 19 feet, which undermines the ancient riverbed, and is below the present Illinois River.
The hole will be 700 feet long, 33 feet wide, and 19 feet deep. This intrusion went unnoticed; and the residents of the area were given only one-month notice to provide written opinion, by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Dept. of State Lands. I phoned the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Eugene; it is the agency to OK the project’s safety as a wetland.
I asked if it were legal to profit from a wetland? The engineer assured me that there are ways to circumvent the law. I also asked, in the event our wells were compromised, who would be liable: the U.S. Corp of Engineers, the state of Oregon, Little Elm Ranch or Copeland? He told me to send a letter. I did -- and have never received a response.
The U.S. Government doesn’t care if a covert activity that is subverting people’s lives without recourse is taking place in my neighborhood. The Josephine County Planning Commission is hearing a petition from Copeland/Barlow, to change zoning on Holland Loop on a 55-acre piece, from agriculture to aggregate, in order to open pit mine 11.5 acres, that will also be trucked to Barlow Rock on Rockydale.
How many more places in this area will be violated, for greedy purposes with total disregard for inhabitants? Both the Rockydale mine and the Holland Loop mine projects are across the river from each other and approximately 2 miles above the Cave Junction water treatment plant.
How much longer will outside interests be allowed to destroy the environment?
There will be a planning commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 26 in Grants Pass at 7 p.m. This meeting should be rightfully held in Cave Junction, where a large crowd in opposition to the mining would assemble. But it is not in the best interest of Copeland and its hired lawyers and assorted experts to play on a level field.
Only concerned citizens can prevent waking up with a mine in their back yards.
Stem cell ruling stirs ‘respect for life’ wish
From Chris Matthews
Cave Junction
I recently read about our president vetoing money for stem cell research due to his concern that these cells have the potential for life. I wish he had more respect and concern for the actual innocent lives being lost on a daily basis.
We have 3,800 dead Americans and thousands more wounded, with tens of thousands of innocent dead Iraqis, with no end to the killings in sight. Too bad George doesn’t hold actual lives more important than potential lives.
Plus, stem cell research offers a potential cure for thousands of people around the globe from horrible, debilitating diseases. Too bad George didn’t spend $500 billion on helping people, furthering medical research instead of padding corporate America profit margins.
Maybe he would be more inclined to fund stem cell research if he or one of his family or rich friends comes down with dementia or Alzheimer’s or a host of other diseases stem cell research may cure.
JoCo board endorsement of timber plan cited
From Ananda Floyd & Daniel Dalegoski
O’Brien
On Monday, Oct. 15 the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to endorse BLM’s WOPR Alternative 2. This is the “highest-cutting” alternative BLM is considering.
Jim Raffenburg and Dwight Ellis are in favor; Dave Toler is not.
This type of forest management would dramatically affect the quality of life, water, and air we all enjoy. The “Timber or Taxes” rhetoric is political pandering meant to distract us from the more immediate need to address the budget crisis.
We’re writing our commissioners at bcc@co.josephine.or.us to let them know that we want a solution to our problems, not the destruction of Oregon’s heritage forests.
The public was not adequately informed prior to the meeting during which the commissioners voted on this issue. We understand that the agenda for the Oct. 15 meeting was published in the Grants Pass Courier without mention of the WOPR, but instead under the heading of a Natural Resources Subcommittee Recommendation. We have been unable to confirm or deny this via the Courier archives.
It is, however, our understanding that the public was not aware of this vote in time to voice opinions to our commissioners. They should be advised that the public is upset by the unclear announcement of this important meeting. We understand that there were less than five members of the public at this meeting, a woeful representation of the county.
Further, given that the public comment period for the WOPR has been extended yet again, and that other counties in Oregon are taking a “wait-and-see” approach before deciding to endorse the WOPR or not, it was inappropriate for our county commissioners to vote to endorse the WOPR at this time.
We and others are offended by the 2-1 vote to endorse Alternative 2 without adequate time to review the public testimony given during recent funding-crisis meetings around the county. We should not tolerate their disregarding our testimony.
Timber receipts will not arrive for several years, if ever. They will therefore not provide a stable, long-term, or immediate solution to our county’s budget crisis. Our commissioners should redirect their efforts to finding a real solution to our budget woes so we that can continue to have the services needed for a safe and educated community.
And those who support one of the funding options being discussed in the county, such as property taxes (bonus if you are a property owner willing to pay) or sales taxes, should let our commissioners know.
The commissioners should focus on educating the population of the county about the necessity of adequate taxation; advocate for the liberalization of Oregon’s tax legislation to allow for intelligent taxation, particularly in funding crisis situations; and seek alternatives to timber for funding, economic growth, and energy security.
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