Archive for August, 2008

On the other hand …

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

we could be in Denver…

Though November seems a long way off, ballot time will be here before we know it. Voters in Josephine County will have the opprtunity to vote on two county service districts to fund sheriff’s office operations. If the funding passes, the sheriff’s office believes it could be operational to year-2000 (that’s supposed to mean something like 24/7 patrol) staffing levels within six years.  If this doesn’t pass this election cycle, it’s a guarantee that a levy will be put before voters (those of us who haven’t pulled up stakes and fled) come May. Thereafter it’s anyone’s guess but the prospects for rebuilding increasingly grow slim.

A fairly straightforward graphical presentation of the fiscal situation facing Josephine County in FY2009 is available here. The presentation, by Brian Bailey, who served as chairman of the county budget committee, is worth consideration when trying to conceive of why the situation for law enforcment is so dire right now. Bailey will be in Cave Junction Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in the County building.

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment »

This is what I call a paper!

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

This week’s edition is packed full of fun info.

As election season rolls around…we again will see measures on the ballot to fund all those things that were funded by that federal welfare that has left us (read b-bye O&C.) Again, the knee-jerk reaction will probably be, “stop taxing us!” Please take a moment to check out our graphic demonstrating how much it’d cost the average homeowner. I’m not betting that enough folks will choose to educate themselves enough to vote for this thing but ya can’t blame Gil for trying. Be sure to pick up a print edition of the I.V. News to read more about the dire straights we’re going to be in when Uncle Sam stops the handouts.
Did the folks at the Courier touch a nerve with their stories about “Living on the Edge: CJ’s fight with crime.” What you don’t subscribe to the Courier? Neither do I but I have friends who steal it from their neighbors. Anyway, all this talk about out-of-control crime got us thinking, what is the crime rate here compared to say…Grants Pass? Check out the results here Who’s living on the edge now?
A couple of great stories of how the community has come together for the firefighters and their families affected by the helicopter crash and how the folks in Takilma knocked down a fire in their neighborhood. In this time of extreme fire hazard we all are front line in the fire-prevention area.

AAA is predicting less travel this holiday weekend (buy the paper to learn more) but the folks at the Spiral Living Center in Takilma–you know the folks who put out their own fires–held a bike repair clinic. Check the photos of happy faces fixing bikes.

Last but not least are the I.V. Lions Club Labor Day festivities. Be sure to scroll down to get the full schedule of events.

THAT’S what I call a paper!

Posted in I.V. News, Local politics | No Comments »

The fire issue

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

‘Tis the season.

From the fallen heroes memorial to the new round of fires there is no question that we are in the ‘heat’ of fire season. A good time to review your fire safety plan, whether that means trimming the brush around your house or what you and your family would do in cause of a fire.

That’s all I got…

Posted in I.V. News | No Comments »

Spiffy new comments thingy

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

First, my apologies about the missing pages earlier this week. Somebody in the office mentioned blackberry margaritas and my mind went blank. Oddly, enough the rest of the evening is a bit blurry as well. But enough about me…

Our super hero friend at Oregon Newspapers worked up some code to list the current comments on our index page. Now if you have a comment on a story and you wonder if anyone is complimenting you on your brilliant prose, you can quickly see if there are more comments right on the front page.

Just another helpful tool to make your online viewing more pleasurable.

Speaking of decadent digital delights, don’t miss this week’s two-count ‘em TWO-image galleries. This weekend was event filled with Art Walk kicking off the 27th annual Blackberry festival. Cruising the photos, you get a sense of the art and culture that we offer in this little burg. If we’re not careful, this might turn into a place people will want to live.

As always, we want to hear from you! Keep those comments and letters coming.

Posted in I.V. News | No Comments »

Lets hear it for guns

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

So you gotta check out the quick blurb about State Senator Jason Atkinson getting shot by his friend. You can call me a wacko communist but if one looks at the number of people hurt and killed by guns “not-doing-what-you-intended-when-you-bough-it” you might notice that they really are not a great saver of pain. Just sayin’

Holger Sommer is happy, I am sure, to know that we do have law enforcement in the valley. Our fine sheriff deputes, “are watching you very closely”…doing 70 mph in a 45 zone. Keep it up and we won’t need that O&C money afterall.

Good news in Kerby as the 10 year grind to get a Business Enterprise Center built has finally broken ground. The original grant was a Clinton Era program that is just now getting built. Persistence can pay off. Here’s looking forward to some life put into the Kerby belt building for art, business and education.

That’s all for now…keep it cool

Posted in I.V. News, Philosophy | No Comments »