Established
in 1937
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Letters to the Editor
(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
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Typed, double-spaced letters written solely to this newspaper and/or Website are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered.
Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.
* * *Oh handy, dandy person, wherefore art thou?
From Katy Morrison
KerbyWhat I wouldn’t give for someone to work for me. To bring their own tools, and do A and B and C.
This person would show up on time, and not a minute late. They know that I am busy too, and really hate to wait.
This person would have some knowledge of the tasks I have in mind. This wonderful person would finish them all, and not leave me in a bind.
If I ever were to find this person, I would treat them just like gold. I would shower them with money, and bring cocoa when they’re cold.
But, alas it goes that there are a few, but they are very dear. The rest I fear will just do enough to pay for daily beer.
And so it goes because I’ve tried a few who said that they would work. It always ends with unfinished jobs -- and my money to a jerk.
About that banner the mayor pulled
From Mark Berry
Cave Junction(Editor’s Note: The following letter to Cave Junction Mayor Tony Paulson was submitted for this column.)
I have just received your letter dated Feb. 28. I have never met you personally, but have heard good things about you, and I am happy that we share a common faith.
My hope is to meet you in April at the prayer breakfast being organized for you by Pastor Les Knapp, of Valley Evangelical Free Church, and other leaders in the community. May we all be edified, and may God be glorified.
I am grieved at the situation that some misunderstood my intention. I assure you that I am in no way trying to cause division in this community. Quite the contrary, as the text of the banner concerns displaying “all-church congregational gathering.”
I have complied with all the requirements on the banner instruction, and if I had been made aware of any infractions, I would have altered the text.
I pray that we continue to all be blessed with insight as to how to handle future banners.
Who are these people, and why are they here?
From William Schneider
Cave JunctionThere can be no clearer evidence of the mentality that the world is dealing with in what has become the hijacked religion of Islam and its absolutely intolerable acts of self-righteousness as to include murder en mass.
Speaking only for myself, it is difficult to find sympathy for any hurt feelings of any Muslim who has not stood up and spoken out against the indiscriminate slaughter of their brothers and sisters throughout the world by suicide bombers.
Or who through silence condone the murder of their women by stoning; or who condone gang rape as punishment for adultery, a punishment handed down by some oh so wise tribal elder.
No, instead, it appears that many have, in their self-absorbed ignorance, directed their rage toward cartoons, finding them far more offensive than the scattered body parts of women and children splattered on walls and in the streets. To all who would condone murder in the name of Islam, I say shame on them times 10.
I am tired of soft peddling for murderers. I am sick and tired of stupid, demented men threatening the world with violence, like the president of Iran, ayatollahs who preach and teach a death cult; Saddam Hussiens; and half the sheiks of Araby. Who in the name of sanity are these people and why are they still here?
It tries the soul to truly feel peace in one’s heart these days, but I have always thought honesty was far more in that direction than pious postulations. The lack of peace in my heart for any oppressive religion and or government speaks for itself.
And, be as it may, the Mideast will be dragged out of the Dark Ages, kicking and screaming or otherwise.
Two commissioners tax-bound, he feels
From Tony Corriea
Grants PassThe citizens of Josephine County are beginning to see what Commissioners Riddle and Ellis, along with their supporters, are focused on with their misguided efforts to bring the property owners to their knees, with taxes.
These two commissioners will polarize the county. Voters have lost all faith in them and in their ability to lead this county, to protect us and our homes and land.
The two commissioners, with their illegal actions, are examples of what great harm can be caused to property owners. It is a betrayal and an outrage against the voters for them to continue in the direction they are going.
The facts are painfully clear. If Riddle and Ellis get their way with more taxes the property owners will be drained dry, virtually wiped out; leaving the county at risk of financial disaster.
This is real and it is happening right now. And unless the voters, all of us, do something about it, our land and homes will be going down the drain. These are our homes and land we have worked and paid for during all our working years.
Clearly two of the commissioners now in office, are not working in the best interests of the people, voters and citizens of Josephine County. They are playing fast and loose with our funds, and they are hoping that no one is paying attention to what is going on.
Good example, some of us uncovered many back-room maneuvers, and then exposed their activities. Citizens are urged to learn the facts and be ready to vote come election time.
BLM, USFS anti-logging summer protests noted
From Justin Rohde
SelmaI recently have visited all five Illinois logging sales covering 28,000 acres combined, called the Althouse-Sucker, East Illinois, West Fork, South Deer, and Tennessee Lime logging sale.
I am saddened that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would turn a recreational and ecological paradise into a wasteland by commercially logging too much in old-growth and riparian habitats.
BLM has ignored the community in its fast track to log so much of the stunningly beautiful Illinois Valley. In past treatments such as Deer Mom, many of the pine trees BLM said it was helping are dead now, and fire risk has greatly increased.
Cooperative community alternatives have been ignored. Hundreds of community members have written letters and testified during recent public meetings in opposition to these massive old-growth logging sales that ignore recreation dollars flowing through our community and waste taxpayer money.
More than $40 million goes through our valley every year because of Redwood Hwy., and the people visiting the area who come to see the spectacular natural values of the area threatened by bad BLM and U.S. Forest Service management. The economies of Illinois Valley are now more dependent on tourism than ever before, which begs the question: Why sacrifice our future for a quick couple of bucks?
The forest service is moving to clear-cut hundreds of acres of old-growth reserves from Oregon’s largest and third-largest roadless area. Wait until the forest service and BLM hears from the public this summer, as more protests are being planned.
Pregnancy Center getting out word
From Mary Lefner, executive director
Cave JunctionOne of the outstanding characteristics of the Pregnancy Center of Illinois Valley is that we fit hand-in-glove with the mission of the Illinois Valley churches.
Our mission is to reach women and families facing crisis pregnancies while sharing the love of Jesus Christ. For those who are open, our desire is that they become active in a church.
And others can play an important role as a liaison between the Pregnancy Center and their church. We need members of valley churches to be active in this ministry in all types of ways.
For starters, we need liaisons in each church -- people who keep their own congregations up to speed on what is happening here at the center.
When we put out a call for volunteers, it helps to have someone share the necessary information.
And when special events come up, we work with our church liaisons to get the word out.
You may be wondering how much time this will involve; you’re pressed for time, and we understand that.
Our church liaisons, like our other volunteers, are not going to be overburdened.
We will stay in touch, make sure they have all the tools they need to make things go smoothly, and keep their time commitment to a minimum.
Those interested in being our contact in their fellowship can phone the Pregnancy Center at 592-6058, or send an e-mail to PregnancyCenter@cavenet.com and we will set up a time to share more information.
Now is the time to phone: Our church liaison network is growing, and added participation will make us even stronger.
Logging Takilma’s‘backyard’ decried
From Vicki Woods
Cave JunctionBLM’s plan to log in the Takilma area would be like the Takilma residents going to town and cutting down all the trees in everybody’s backyards for firewood and building material.
Well, let’s not stop at the trees. Toss all those fire-hazard shrubs into slash piles as well. Don’t worry if there are no back alleys at your place either, as we’d be glad to put in some roads, at your expense, to make our job easier.
And the noise and dust will end when we’re done. Don’t worry about the yards being destroyed in the process. Mud dries and grass grows back. Just plant some more grass.
While you’re at it, plant some more trees so we can came again in a few years and log it again. We like that about renewable resources, don’t you?
Craziness, wouldn’t you agree?
That is what it is too, when BLM wants to come, literally, to our backyards and log our well-kept trails and our beloved forest homes.
According to Siskiyou Project, BLM plans to put five major timber sales in Illinois Valley up for auction, including the East Illinois, which encompasses the last remaining old-growth in the Takilma area.
BLM already is marking trees and laying out logging areas, before even accepting public comment or finishing its environmental assessment, which is a watered-down version of an environmental impact statement.
In this area, many residents hike, hunt, mountain-bike and bird-watch, and the area is home to bear, cougar and much other wildlife. More than 90 percent of residents are not only opposed to logging the public forests here, but also support having these forests protected as a Nature preserve. BLM will find itself up against public opposition as strong as it did when it tried the same thing 10 years ago.
As a resident of the East Illinois area, I am strongly opposed to BLM’s timber sale in my backyard. As a person who loves my forest home and habitat, I for one will let my representatives know that I am against logging here and will do everything in my power to stop it.
Wouldn’t you, if it were in your backyard?
Our private war: dealing with ALS
From Glenda Graham
Cave JunctionWith all the chaos in Iraq, war is very much on everyone’s minds these days. Yet, few people know that in our home town of Cave Junction, there is another courageous solider quietly fighting a similar battle every hour every day.
The soldier is my mother, Ardith Graham, and the enemy is a cruel disease: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The tragedies in Iraq seem too far away to concern us as a family, as we struggle to contain and control the progression of the debilitating ALS nightmare ALS.
Iraq’s daily conflicts are the least of our family worries.
My mom, Ardith, was born in Ross, Calif. in April 1943. She is a Yurok Indian from her father, and is half-sister to the Head Matron of the Navajo Clan in Arizona. Ardith married Glenn Graham, after graduating high school in 1961.
After living most of their lives on the northern coast of California, they retired and moved to Oregon in 1999, settling here in Cave Junction so they could be close to their family. They currently have two daughters, one son-in-law, one granddaughter, and one grandson.
Seeking challenging employment because of retirement boredom, Ardith accepted a position at I.V. Head Start in 2001, where she proceeded to create delicious, nutritious, and child-friendly meals for the next 2 1/2 years She loved the position and its daily contact with the program’s young children.
Unfortunately, she began having trouble with a degenerative hip, causing her constant pain and frequent falls. So, in December 2003, on the advice of her doctor, Ardith underwent the major operation of hip-replacement surgery. Her doctor assured her that once completely healed from her operation, she would quickly regain her physical strength and balance, allowing her to return to a normal active life, including her position at Head Start.
It was May 2004, after months of excruciating pain, slow healing, and unbelievable boredom for mom, that our family realized something was terribly wrong. Ardith’s strength still hadn’t returned, and she began to fall again.
Glenn realized that Ardith’s speech was very slow and was beginning to sound distorted. Months later, after many tests and guesswork the diagnosis was given, Ardith has ALS, a terminal disease with no known cause, treatment, or cure.
What is ALS? It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that usually attacks upper and lower motor neurons and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord. Common first symptoms include painless weakness in a hand, arm, foot, or leg which affect a person’s balance, causing walking difficulties and frequent falls.
Later symptoms include declining speech, all-over body weakness, overwhelming fatigue from daily living activities, sudden laughing or crying outbursts, swallowing problems, and breathing difficulties, which result in feeding tubs and respirators.
Ardith fights a losing battle every day. After using considerable strength on a simple chore like getting out of bed, she must then face many things within her own home that she can no longer do for herself. Due to paralyzed muscles in the throat, Ardith struggles with her speech.
The effort it takes to get in and out of the car exhausts her small store of strength completely. The trials of being confined to a wheelchair are unbelievable. Overwhelmed and frustrated, Ardith rarely leaves her home now, due to these and many other difficult challenges.
As bad as it must be for my mom to have to face ALS; helplessly watching her lose to this disease rips the heart out of the rest of us in our family. There is no talk of plans for next Christmas, or what will be planted in the rose garden my parents began last summer.
There is only talk of the doctor appointments for each week, and what was discovered on the Internet by one of us while researching for information of the next step soon to be faced in this slippery slide to the bottom of our nightmare.
Yes, my mom still has her wicked sense of humor, which springs out at the most unexpected times
-- her gift to us, when we all need to laugh, usually during an intense moment. The amazing aspect is that we as a family have become so much more aware of each other’s special uniqueness.Our family doesn’t bicker like we once did; instead we say much more meaningful things at the moment we experience them. As a family, we never neglect to tell each other how we feel, just in case.
My purpose for writing is not to seek something from this community that my family and I are a part of, but to encourage everyone who reads this to immediately find their friends and loved ones so they may tell them just how important they are.
And, finally, to insist that everyone no longer delay doing the important things. There may never be a “right” time, but there sure can be a lifetime of regrets and “if only’s.”
I want to end this letter by sharing a glimpse of the love my parents have that has carried them all through their lives together:
During a recent sunny day, my dad wheeled my mom out to sit among her flowers and enjoy the warmth of the sun. As they sat together among the perfume of mom’s roses, mom began to cry.
Wrapping his arms around her, my dad seemed to know exactly what she was mourning. He held her tightly, silently communicating his love and understanding.
I felt blessed to witness this private moment shared by two people who have been through so many things together in life, as they realize there will never be the much anticipated “golden years” of hunting and traveling together. Kissed by twilight, they are simply two people in love who no longer look forward to each sunrise.
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