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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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* * *Motorhome at IVFD questioned by resident
From Bill Baker
Cave JunctionSometimes when we voters approved a bond for a special project, I believe that those monies should be used for that specific project.
During the past year or so, three buildings have been built for Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD), which were voted-approved, and the taxes were added to our existing list. That is fine, and the new buildings look quite nice.
What I don’t undersand is why there was private motor home parked in the new Selma Station for some time, and now I see the same motor home parked in the O’Brien Station.
I can’t remember any motor home responding to any fire I’ve seen in the past 30 years I’ve lived in the valley. Could this nice motor home belong to a special person with IVFD, or is it used in the line of duty?
If these places are for private storage, then I have a motorcycle I would like to keep dry and warm during our damp months. I know that the buildings are big enough for that.
Maybe lots of other taxpayers also could put their nice possessions in some of these places. Wouldn’t that be sweet? In the meantime, why can’t the tax-dollar buildings be used only for tax-dollar equipment for which they were built?
Sometimes the people in charge forget just who they work for.
(Editor’s Note: IVFD Chief Harry Rich responds that the motor home is his, and that he has made it available for the exclusive use of the district as a command post during major incidents. It was used as such during the Deer Creek Conflagration, and is constantly available for command communications, as it is equipped with a full line of satellite/Internet apparatus.
The chief added that anyone who will donate their possessions for exclusive use by IVFD could store them at a station.)They support Toler for his solutions
From Harry & Joyce Abrams
Cave JunctionJosephine County government hasn’t worked for many years, no matter whom we’ve elected to the county commission.
And now, despite years of knowing a fiscal crisis is looming -- which should have been time to prepare -- we are being threatened with the reduction, even elimination, of services that are crucial to our ability to maintain a safe, healthy and well-informed citizenry and to attract the talent that will help our economy grow.
When something’s broken, it needs fixing, but the repairs have to be done by people who understand what’s wrong. We voters finally have a chance to elect as a new commissioner Dave Toler, who understands why Josephine County government is not working -- and why we won’t trust county government with our money.
Key to Toler’s successful track record are his abilities to work with people of all political persuasions, his commitment to determine what his constituents’ real needs are, and his skill in identifying the methods and resources needed to get specific work done.
Perhaps just as important is his recognition of what elected political leaders are not. Elected politicians are not managers. Yet three elected politicians (a committee) manage Josephine County government. Our county has three full-time paid “managers” minding the store; three commissioners who are not trained career managers.
Toler’s solution? Change the commissioners’ positions to half time, and with the savings hire a full-time career person to manage the county budget and its agencies. The commissioners could then spend their time in the field, learning their constituents’ needs and locating the resources to help fulfill them.
This change can be made by the commissioners themselves by a majority vote. A landslide victory for Toler would send a clear message that we want this change. We plan to vote for Dave Toler for county commissioner.
Re: Sheriff -- ‘Show me the money’
From Mark Dickson
Cave JunctionI retired after 25 years with the Josephine Country Sheriff’s Office, and during that time sheriffs came and sheriffs went, usually every four years.
Each candidate said that he or she could do more with less, promising to cure all that ails the office. Once elected, reality set in; then in four years it all started over again.
Do not be misled by a candidate who promises to answer all calls for service, keep 24-hour patrols, fill the jail, or implement proactive programs. All these require many more deputies than the county’s current financial situation will allow.
The funding problem is not, on its own, going to get any better, and probably much worse. This sheriff’s race should be about one issue: Show me the money.
How will the candidate secure stable funding to hire and retain a sufficient number of deputies to do the job the community expects? Grants and volunteers are worthwhile, but will not come anywhere close to making up for the loss of O&C funds.
While voters are at it, they should keep in mind the rest of the criminal justice system. A well-staffed sheriff’s office isn’t very efficient without prosecutors, probation and juvenile officers.
A story regarding abortion situation
From Wally Hardie
SelmaShe would have turned 13 in January. A tall, slender girl, that most would consider skinny.
As a girl with great imagination and an unusual compassion for children, she was active in projects that provided help for handicapped children.
Six months before her 13th birthday, she learned that she was pregnant. An uncle, who on occasion took care of her when her parents were away, raped her. The girl tried several times to tell her mother, but failed, knowing that she would blame her for getting pregnant.
She also knew that they would force her to have the child. She could not endure the thought of becoming a mother. She confided in her brother, swearing him to secrecy.
When she committed suicide that year, she was the 208th in the state to do so, because of being pregnant without a choice. Abortion was still one year away from becoming legal.
There are those who work diligently to take us back to those good old days. The good old days where one, with money, could go to a back-alley abortionist, who couldn’t spell abortion, and take their chances.
Chances that left many women unable to ever have a child, or in many cases they died. Died and no one was accountable. Died and many times left a family back home, but just could not afford another child.
Died just because they did not want a child at that time in their life. Died for a multitude of reasons.
I knew of two women who had terminal cancer. One woman with lung cancer and the other with breast cancer. Both had legal abortions before they died. They did not want to go through the trauma of pregnancy, and perhaps die and take the fetus with them: their choice. The way it should be.
Interestingly enough, there were many U.S. doctors who had practices on weekends just south of the border. Their prices were more than most could afford, so those who could not afford them were left with those who lacked training in the procedure, and were never accountable when anything went wrong. The really good old days.
There are those who live in religious moral hypocrisy without the slightest understanding of compassion, and want all abortions illegal and to put the doctors in prisons as well.
The mother of the girl I’m talking about said at the funeral, “Well, she and her baby are in a better place now, with the Lord.”
Power of prayer needed now
From Derwyn D. Cugley
Cave JunctionFaith, courage, and prayer birthed our great nation and guided the United States of America through more than 200 years of wars, natural disasters and national crises.
Prayer is a freedom guaranteed us by our Constitution, and a God-given right to all humanity. The opportunity to pray is a privilege, honor and sacred duty to all Christians.
History has proved that forces will wage war against our freedom. Terrorism has shed blood on U.S. soil. Violent crime has invaded U.S. homes and schools. Drugs and alcohol abuse rage against the innocence of our youth.
Forces of darkness threaten our morality, integrity and faith. Prayer for our nation is our defense.
Now is the time to be resolute in our defiance against the forces of destruction -- to unite as a nation and not give in to fear. Americans must stand strong and demonstrate boldness of faith, courage and prayers.
I want Christians of Illinois Valley to know that the nation needs their prayers: The president, his advisers, Congress, all other national leaders and all our local leaders need their prayers. The military, firefighters and law enforcement personnel need their prayers. Our families, schools and churches need their prayers.
Anyone can join with us at Valley Evangelical Free Church, 498 Laurel Road in Cave Junction, to pray together for our nation and our community. We will observe the 55th annual National Day of Prayer on May 4, with two prayer services at noon and 5 p.m.
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