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.
* * *I.V. Lions lauded for gallant gesture
From Lew Levison
Cave JunctionThe spirit that makes the Illinois Valley such a great place to live was demonstrated recently in connection with a near disaster.
A smokejumper reunion was planned for Illinois Valley Airport on June 17. Josephine County, which owns and manages the airport, was notified nearly two years ago of the reunion.
Former smokejumpers from all over the country had made plans to attend. However the Illinois Valley Lions Club, which has its den at the airport, was planning a fund-raising crab feed for the same day and had already started advertising.
Somehow the scheduling conflict wasn’t recognized until about a week before the event. This had the potential to develop into a major feud, and in many other places would have ended in lawsuits or perhaps genocide. Alerted to the problem, the I.V. Lions showed that they truly are lionhearted, not by roaring loudly, but by voluntarily changing their plans at the last minute, averting disaster.
The smokejumper reunion was a success, and a tribute to those brave firefighters who figure so prominently in the valley’s history. I hope that the Lions are strongly supported not only for this gallant gesture, but for all the other great things they do.
Bridge worker wants return of his watch
From Danny Doyle
Cave JunctionRegarding the June 14 letter by Glenda Graham, “Hazardous debris noted in river at R&R bridge,” I am one of the workers on the bridges.
I dropped my watch and my tape measure in the water by accident. I waited until last weekend for the water to drop enough to retrieve them, went down on Sunday, but could not find them.
Now I know why. There are other workers here who would like their tools back as well.
I’ll leave my phone number with the editor if Graham would like to return the “missing” goods.
Giving away county property outrageous
From Jim Raffenburg,vice chairman,
Josephine County Board of CommissionersOn April 27 and again on June 15, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 to give away capital property owned by Josephine County, valued at more than $1 million, to Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD), based in Jackson County.
The 2-0 votes are significant in that on both occasions, I was either ill or scheduled out for a doctor’s appointment. I could not and did not participate in any discussion or vote on this issue.
The April 27 vote, to the best of my knowledge, and based upon the official record, occurred with little to no discussion of this subject by the board.
The decision to give this property away raises serious concerns.
First, why was there such a rush to decide to give away a potential multimillion property without allowing for adequate discussion by all three commissioners?
Second, why give the property away at all when SOESD had already notified the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, in writing, that it would be satisfied with a long-term lease?
Third, and perhaps most importantly, is my concern that the board of commissioners does not have the authority under County Charter Section 15.5 to give this (or any other capital) property away. I believe the charter means exactly what it says, and what Charter Section 15.5 says is that this type of action requires a positive vote of the people. This section is short on words, but broad in scope.
In 1994 the board of commissioners put Measures 17-2 through 17-12 on the ballot in an effort to clarify the scope of Section 15.5. Measure 17-4 addressed the sale, trade or transfer of county land and was specific in listing types of actions this measure included. It was short on words and very narrow in scope.
It asked voters to pre-approve specific blanket approval for certain listed types of property actions. Giving property away was not a listed action for blanket voter approval.
County legal counsel has interpreted Measure 17-4 as being broader than the actual language it contains. The other measures that shared that same ballot were likewise narrow in scope and very specific. The commissioners at that time had every opportunity to say exactly what they meant.
To reinterpret what Measure 17-4 actually says, so as “to find” new authority, after voters approved the specifically worded and limited authority, is to me, at the very least, a betrayal of the voters’ decision.
At worst, to officially act on this reinterpretation of the measure is a direct violation of the limited authority held by a Josephine County commissioner.
I want it to be very clear to everyone that I have had no part in these two decisions and have worked behind the scenes to stop this give-away.
The property in question is located at 1017 and 1021 Highland Ave., Grants Pass. This property is owned free and clear by Josephine County, meaning it is paid for and free from all the financial strings that usually are attached to special-purpose funding.
The fact of the matter is that this building could have been sold and the revenue placed into the general fund. If the properties were only sold for $1,000,000 (they are worth more), that money would have fully funded five more deputy sheriff positions for two to three years.
Josephine County is in a financial crisis. To give this property away so needlessly is simply outrageous.
Earlier this year, as part of my comments in opposition to the 2-1 vote by the board that settled an employees strike, I said that the county has not done everything it could to reduce its operating costs and to reassure citizens that the county was a good steward of the money it already receives.
This is just one more example of why I said what I did. This decision delivers another serious blow to the county’s creditability with citizens regarding the sincerity of those cost-control efforts.
The loss of nearly $15,000,000 in federal money next year will only accelerate the current cries for more taxes from the various special interests groups that make up modern society. The needs will be quite real in some cases, most obviously regarding public safety, but in other cases the need will only be real to those special interests.
In general, but especially during the next two years, I urge the people of Josephine County to be very discriminating with any “yes” votes they decide to cast in any election where they are asked for more money.
They should do their best to look past the emotional appeals that are sure to come. Always ask questions and demand the facts behind any assertions of need.
Lots of I-5 work set for summer
From Matt Garrett, director,
Oregon Dept. of Transportation
SalemThis summer, your Dept. of Transportation is ramping up bridge and highway construction on Interstate 5. You’ve probably already noticed the work zones in the Salem area, near Eugene, and throughout Southwestern Oregon.
Many of these projects are being funded by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act (OTIA). The intent of the OTIA program is to make improvements that will keep people, goods and services moving safely and effectively by modernizing
our most important transportation corridors.As part of OTIA, we are repairing and replacing bridges, widening lanes and performing essential maintenance throughout the state.
The I-5 corridor is Oregon's central transportation artery. Serving commerce, commuters, tourists and our economy, a smooth functioning I-5 is critical to our collective quality of life. Since it was built in the 1950s, I-5’s freight volume has increased, the dimensions and weights of roads have grown, and an overall greater volume of traffic puts more pressure on the system every day. Our work will strengthen this vital roadway and help maintain unrestricted routes for trucks, tourists and travelers.
Simply put, making improvements to I-5 is not only an investment in Oregon’s transportation infrastructure, it is an investment in the economic health of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
ODOT’s mobility engineers have created unique approaches to help keep traffic moving during these upgrades. By estimating possible delays in work zones and coordinating timelines for multiple projects, we are working to keep delays to a minimum. Whenever possible, construction will be scheduled for off-peak or night hours to further maintain traffic flow.
The help of everyone is needed to make these efforts truly successful. Major road construction, even with state-of-the-art traffic planning, can cause delays. We are asking folks to be prepared for intermittent disruptions.
Most important, we urge slowing down in work zones and to be patient. Our motto is, “Better roads are ahead!”
To help plan trips and avoid delays, ODOT maintains two sources of up-to-date information: TripCheck.com and 5-1-1. TripCheck.com provides detailed information on construction projects, including anticipated delay times, as well as incident, weather and other conditions affecting your trip.
The same information is available by phoning 5-1-1.
Oregonians have always understood the importance of a strong transportation system in supporting a healthy economy. Oregon was the first state on the West Coast to complete I-5 construction from border to border, and we are now leading the way in improving this key 50-year-old highway.
It took the combined efforts of the people from public and private sectors to build our historic interstate -- now that same partnership is working together to rebuild it for a safer, stronger future.
‘Going out on a limb’ concerning Sugars
From J. ‘Kalvyn’ Evans
Cave JunctionLately we’ve heard many arguments opposing the new strip club in town. Larry Goynes, the owner, says he feels that there is a silent percentage that supports it.
In the interest of fairness, I’m going out on a limb to speak for those in favor.
Recently, Abiding in the Vine circulated an open letter to Goynes, urging him to not open the business, with more than 600 signatures. I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but two weeks ago I witnessed a young woman signing a multitude of fake names onto one of those letters. That is what spurred me to write this.
Perhaps there are more than 600 people who want to stop Sugars from opening, but I think most of them would disapprove of this deception, especially the owners of Abiding in the Vine.
I am tired of people trashing the Midnight Oasis as a “haunt of immorality, poisoning our community.” I see no signs of this poisoning, only happier couples. The fact that they are still open shows the public’s desire for the business.
Goynes is going out on a limb to open this club, and he seems to want to keep the business upscale and discreet, which I appreciate.
Exotic dancing as a form of art and communication dates to the Stone Age. It’s been independently developed by cultures from the Roman Empire to Hawaii. It has intrigued and captivated human imaginations for thousands of years, for good reason.
Our sexuality is inextricability tied up with almost every aspect of our humanity. Obviously, without it, none of us would be here. Over time, it has been expressed through many forms, but dance remains the perfect medium. The subtlety of its movements can communicate with crystal clarity a passion and desire that spoken words can only hint at.
It also has the power to take us out of ourselves, to quiet the crazy monkeys inside our heads. Some do this with art, music, and meditation, others through rock-climbing or skydiving. It is a state of losing the mind, and coming back to our senses. After all, to deny ourselves our most basic desires is to kill that which makes us truly human.
Opening Sugars is not a tragedy. A much greater tragedy is how we force our women to keep their breasts covered at all times while men run shirtless and free. Adding insult to injury, female nudity is considered acceptable in art, but forbidden in daily life.
Women are made to feel that their bodies are something dirty or evil. Breasts, after all, are not even sexual in nature, at least no more so than ears or feet. They are for feeding infants.
We only think of them as sexual because we have been conditioned to think so by a society run by men; insecure men, who are themselves confused and embarrassed by their own feelings.
If we threw away every movie with female nudity, we’d lose everything from “Titanic” to “Fantasia.” Exotic dancing is plastered across media, from Broadway to Hollywood. Sex is used to sell beer, food and cars, but as long as certain parts stay obscured, we tolerate it without a word.
Many have voiced concerns that opening a topless bar would bring an increase in crime and vandalism. If, so the only reason it would is because we associate the two together in our minds. This is called a self-fulfilling prophecy. The same thing occurs when we see “good guys” in movies shooting people to solve problems, and then hear about kids in school doing the same thing.
Many have spoken of trying to reopen the former theater, cleaning up the park, and getting the “derelicts” off the sidewalks. It seems that most people are just complaining about the state of things, waiting for “somebody else” to do something about it.
This city belongs to all of us, and its state is directly related to how much energy we are willing to put back into it.
Finally, I hear a lot of people speak of morals and family values, urging Larry to “consider the children.” First of all, children won’t be there. Grownups need playtime, too. Besides, kids don’t hang out at any of the other bars in town, either.
And secondly, we should consider the children. When our kids grow up, what kind of world do we want to leave for them?
Do we want to instill feelings of fear and shame of their bodies? Do we want them to be embarrassed and obsessed by sex, like we are? I don’t.
I’m tired of people imposing their own morals and views on me and my family. As adults, I want my kids to have the right to choose what they want, and express themselves, regardless of what I think. I want them to have the freedom to run their own lives, and pursue happiness in whatever manner they see fit.
After all, isn’t that what America is about? Isn’t that what we’ve been fighting for all along?
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