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Valley holiday help (now)
From Carol Ronan
I.V. Family Coalition
Cave Junction

The Holiday Basket and Toy Program have been Illinois Valley traditions for more than 13 years. Low-income families can count on the programs to provide a hearty holiday meal and Christmas gifts for their children.

Historically, we have been the distribution site for the Holiday Basket Program, and this year the Illinois Valley Family Coalition assumes the role of manager for the Toy Program. We are depending on the generous support of donors to help provide toys to more than 600 children this year.

We ask for donations of new, unwrapped toys or cash to purchase toys for this year’s program. All donations stay in the valley and are tax-deductible. We are seeking donations early so that we can take advantage of summer and fall toy sales, allowing our cash donations to go further.

Donations can be mailed, or checks or toys can be left at the coalition office on E. River Street next to I.V. High School and across from the Cave Junction pool.

To volunteer to help, or for more information, phone 592-6139, Ext. 303.

‘Losing control of JoCo’
From Guenter Ambron
Cave Junction

I haven’t done the full research on this, but the sources I’m finding reflect that for decades the Far Right has had significant influence
on Josephine County government. Much of the county’s charter is written by the Far Right. Currently, one county commissioner fully represents their voice.

This leads to the question: Should a political opinion that represents no more than 15 to 20 percent of county citizens have a majority of influence on our county
government?

Recent events indicate that the current board of commissioners is looking toward a future where there is a more balanced proportion. This move is causing a political earthquake. Commissioners Dave Toler and Dwight Ellis are providing an example of how people with different political beliefs can still work together.

The commissioners recently decided to stop participating in a KAJO Radio monthly talk show with Carl Wilson, Paul Walter, and Commissioner Jim Raffenburg being the leading voices. Walter runs Newswithviews.com. Paul Walter has
stated many times that he and KAJO have close ties and work on projects together.

Only KAJO and Newswithviews.com have come to the defense of Raffenburg
for fabricating official documents. In addition they have defended his call to take back a pay cut retroactively -- demanding $17,000 from the
county. Remember, he promised to take this pay cut in his election campaign and shamed county workers during the strike for not taking
their cut as he had.

Stacy Stumbo,  of the Grants Pass Daily Courier, reported on Raffenburg’s
falsification of documents. She deserves recognition for her courage to write this story, although the sources credited could have been better identified.

In contrast, quotes from Raffenburg on Newswithviews.com: “The casual reader might think my language regarding a fellow
commissioner (Toler) too strong. But these are not ‘normal’ times, for this county. Based upon my personal observation the very principles of our Republic are under a subversive assault from adherents of an alien
political philosophy. The assault has been gradual, but relentless.

“This (Toler’s) agenda is to convince you to ‘voluntarily’ abandon as
many freedoms as you can, in the name of the environment. They will then suppress whatever freedom is left, by removing your ability to
influence your own political future. Sound familiar? Now you know why I am so opposed to Commissioner Dave Toler’s agenda.”

Raffenburg is suing the Daily Courier, but Toler and Ellis have pledged not too reverberate.

Let’s do well in choosing our leaders, as they reflect our values.