Letters to the Editor

(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
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.
* * *

Happy neighbors can solve problems
From T.A. Allan
Cave Junction

I would like to share an epiphany with you and your readers. I think I may have happened upon a plan to solve two valley problems.

According to friends in construction, contracting and real estate businesses the perceived need for “affordable housing” in Cave Junction was widely overestimated. While only a fraction of the hundreds of homes planned have been built, even they are not selling. Developers are bailing, and the banks are becoming home owners.

As banks are in the money business, not the real estate business, they will need to recover whatever funds they can as quickly as possible, which will undoubtedly result in these properties being sold at significant losses.

Among the anticipated problems with this, in addition to the losses of the individuals directly involved, is a major overall downturn in home and land values throughout the valley.

(This wouldn’t have been such a surprise to those involved had they paid attention to a study conducted by the University of Oregon, under contract from Options for Southern Oregon, which concluded that there was no market for the types of housing planned.)

So, here’s the idea: turn the various failing developments into centers for newly retired, or semiretired, gay men from California. Not only do they not have noisy children or grandchildren who might come visit, they landscape and decorate beautifully; are excellent and willing pet sitters; and will demand the availability of the quality dining so many of us crave.

Plus, of course, they’re gay; and happy neighbors are just plain more fun to be around.

So, to conclude, the ugly developments not only get sold, but also become attractive neighborhoods, and the valley demographics move toward the diversity we so woefully lack.

Thank you so much for you time and space.

Yard sale mementoes need to be returned
From Pramada (Priscilla) Kisiela
Cave Junction

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 14-16, my husband and I had a large yard sale on Simmons Cut. 

But I discovered that a box of things not for sale (or in the large “Free” pile) was taken by mistake. It contained a pewter (looking) kerosene lamp made into an electric one and several old family books, among other
items.

My father recently died, and that box had objects that were of great sentimental value to me. I remember that lamp from more than 50 years ago when I was a small child -- and the books were old family books.

Anyone who came by,
please check and see if that box came home with you by accident. I really want it (the memories it symbolizes) back. It can be dropped off or phone me at 592-6031 and I'll pick it up.

 

Leaders ‘blow smoke' on Iraq situation
From Wally Hardie
Selma

I listened intently to Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Casey telling the American people how well the situation is going in Iraq. Neither bothered to mention that the attacks by insurgents are killing more Americans every month.

Nor did they mention that at times the entire country is in lock-down, by curfew. The electricity is off more now than it was before we invaded. The water for drinking gets worse daily, and in many areas only wells supply.

Garbage collection is now almost nonexistent. There are more than 2,535 American dead; 18,000 wounded, and more than 8,000 will never again be the same.

Rumsfeld reiterated again that the insurgency is on its last legs. That is called blowing smoke. It’s a war that never had to be, without a plan to exit, and no possible way to win -- except to stay the course and have more die and more crippled for life.

Those who have a little time this weekend might take a drive to the Roseburg V.A. Medical Center. There is ample parking, and those inside will direct you to the ward with the multiple amputees and those who are disfigured. There you may see for yourself the benefits this war is reaping.

We have a Congress incapable of doing anything constructive; an administration filled with indictments, corruption, and gets worse by the day. It is impossible to comprehend how anyone really believes this war is going well and that the end is in sight.

President Bush when in the Air National Guard was accused of being AWOL (Absent Without Leave) This president is still AWOL when it comes to the office of commander-in-chief.

 

Reunion assistance noted by ‘86 Class
From Shanna Lee Rhoten-Kopko
Class of ‘86 Reunion coordinator
Sherwood, Ore.

The Illinois Valley High School Class of ‘86 had help from several businesses and people in making our 20th reunion a big success.

We had donations from Shop Smart Food Warehouse, Cave Junction DQ, Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co., “Illinois Valley News,” Carlos’ Restaurante, the alumni association and Natural Merchants (Ed Fields & Rich Wright).

We also were helped by McGrews Restaurant and Suzi Bleser-Culver; plus Erin Lodge and Bill & Sheree Quate.

We had a great time at both locations and truly enjoyed our 20th celebration. We would recommend both of these businesses for future reunions or other special occasions. The owners made the experience delightful and enjoyable.

And all of my class gave compliments to the staff and their businesses. Erin Lodge is beautiful and right on the river, and Bill & Sheree did far more than expected to make our day fun. We’ll be back in 2011.

World at peace vs. beans & BS
From Rick Meier
Cave Junction

I’ve heard the United Nations discuss global sustainability with respect to profit in the pocket motivated global markets -- profiteers -- but never global sustenance with respect to getting everyone fed, first and foremost.

How far behind what we now know today, are we, anyway? Having enacted almost every law, rule, regulation and statute imaginable, which, in my humble opinion has added as much as hatred itself to the armed and dangerous camp the world has become today, how is it that we haven’t been able to enact a law that would benefit all equally, a law that would even benefit the losers.

A law that went beyond the grasp of this selfish, self-willed pursuit for profit and power that plagues that world at large today.

My voting choice for the one global resolution would be to ban the manufacture of all military weapons. The tanks, the missiles, the AK-47s and the M-16s. The land mines, hand grenades, shoulder rockets, bunker busters and bioweapons: I could probably exhaust the alphabet.

Why won’t the U.N., a so-called diplomatic global agreement, get members to work together peacefully, amiably, with an eye to an equal share for everyone, and enact that resolution?

Why wouldn’t they? Why would they? I wonder how long it will take a socalled U.N., a global league of nations, honestly representing every single solitary soul, so to say, down here on the surface of this planet to be able to come together and enact such a resolution?

I wonder how long this world will go on, how long can it go on, without what we know today, what we already knew a million generations ago, actually coming into play across the board right now? A world at peace, and fed on manna, not a world at war, fed on BS and beans.

 

Anderson West comments noted
From Patricia Bloom
Selma

There is a low-elevation, low-difficulty, family oriented trail that winds through one of the last remaining patches of old-growth, has fantastic views of the river canyon and Eight Dollar Mt., and is only five minutes from Ray’s Food Place in Selma.

There are other trails in the valley, but none so close to town and none that illustrate the transition from late successional coniferous forest to serpentine canyon that make Illinois Valley so fascinating and different.

Three years ago the Bureau of Land Management tried to sell Anderson West three times. No one bid. After working with  BLM’s recreational dept., we were granted Title II money last year to enhance this old mining trail with benches and kiosks. Many of us were excited about that. Now BLM wants to allow it to be commercially harvested.

This area has such great potential for the valley. Hundreds of visitors, tourists and residents are
choosing Illinois Valley for its beautiful surroundings and outdoor lifestyles. Recent focus on development in Selma points to a new economic direction. Many new businesses have opened recently.

Preserving this as a resource to help bring people and revenues into the valley for years to come makes more sense than harvesting it once, and having revenues leave the area.

This land is adjacent to the new SFI Educational Center located at the former Deer Creek Ranch. This would be a great asset toward education and research. None of the people deciding the fate of this area live in the valley. It is up to us, the community, to advance our interests,  protect our homes and help our businesses flourish.

BLM needs to come up to date with its vision for  towns like Selma and Cave Junction, and allow us to present our unique and beautiful home to the tourist market for years to come. Let us not look back years from now and wish that we had done more to preserve places like this.

I hope people take the time to send comments to help protect this area in the Anderson West Landscape Management Project. The deadline is Monday, Aug.7 to send comments to Abbie Jossie, Field Manager Grants Pass Area, 2164 N.E. Spalding Ave.,
Grants Pass OR 97526.

Or use or110mb@or.blm.gov or Medford_Mail@BLM.gov.

Knowledge and assistance with HIV
From Kerry Basset, Harm Reduction Outreach worker
Cave Junction

As a resident of Cave Junction for the past year, I have noticed that your newspaper is one of the best ways to address community concerns. I hope you will publish my concern.

The Cave Junction Post Office is probably one of the most polite, friendly places I have had the pleasure of venturing into. It seems if you wait just long enough, you will encounter old friends and meet new ones.

Items of public interest and special interests are posted on the public bulletin board, whether it is an organization meeting or a lost or stolen dog. How lucky we are to have this service made available to each of us.

For the last four weeks, I have been posting notices for the HIV Resource Center’s Grants Pass office. There I do state-certified HIV testing and counseling. I use the Rapid Oraquick (oral, no blood draw) Advance Test which allows a person to walk away in 20 minutes with their confidential, accurate test results. Should they need further services, I am able to help them access those services.

The testing is free Mondays through Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary, but I can be reached at 471-7890 or 659-9020. We are located in Grants Pass, but sites can be arranged locally.

We also provide a legal, free and confidential needle exchange service. The reason the state of Oregon has encouraged our program and programs like ours statewide is because we can show a statistical reduction in transmission of the HIV and Hepatitis C viruses. 

We keep dirty syringes out of parks and gutters, keeping children safe from accidental pokes from dirty needles.

We can also show statistically that no one has ever been encouraged to start using IV drugs because they can get clean needles, but that those who do use them -- many of whom would never be recognizable as drug users, as they are working, going to school and functioning within our communities like anyone
else -- will use and dispose of needles safely, when they have knowledge of services like ours.

We also provide educational programs informing people about sexually transmitted diseases and infections and how to avoid  and not spread them. We provide condoms, and other materials to those who ask, at no cost.

Hepatitis C is a deadly virus spread by most often by the use of dirty needles. It is the fastest-spreading disease today.

So this is my question: If we can do so very much to help stop the spread of diseases; to detect HIV through testing, and to keep the parks and school yards free of dirty syringes, why is someone removing my flyers no sooner than I hang them up on the post office bulletin board? 

My guess is that it is a misunderstanding or simply ignorance of what we are all about. But now, there should be no excuse for ignorance as I am happy to take phone calls, answer questions, talk to groups, and provide local sites for testing.

We do not have cures for AIDS or Hepatitis C, but we do have prevention and protection. And early detection can prevent passing the diseases on to unborn children, and allow for long, productive lives.

• Bob's Corner
• Calendar
• Classifieds
  
• Main Page
  

Subscribe
to the Illinois Valley News
Click Here

© Copyright 2005-2006 Illinois Valley News, All rights reserved.