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Election turning point
From Josephine County Commissioner Jim Raffenburg
Grants Pass

Congress soon will abandon its long-term, financial obligations to the People and counties of western Oregon. My four trips to Washington, D.C. have convinced me of that.

My experience as your commissioner also has convinced me that the existing, collective, elected county leadership is unwilling to address this revenue problem responsibly by doing everything possible to bring spending into line with revenues, before asking for more taxes.

This very important election season is truly a turning point in Josephine County history. Our future is at stake.

The two commissioners elected this year will determine if the People want small, low-cost county government or a bigger, intrusive government, with dramatically higher taxes.

My fellow commissioners are committed to the collective, elected leadership’s preferred solution: higher property taxes. They are unwilling to rein in spending. Instead, they seem to expect you to tighten your belt, so the county doesn’t have to tighten its belt.

That’s just plain wrong.

Those who support small, low-cost county government ought to consider voting for either Paul Walter (or Cliff Thomason) for Position 2; and Jack Brown, for Position 3.

Unlike most candidates who ask for your vote, these men are competent, plain-spoken, real people. Paul and Jack, by their own admissions, are not people pleasers. They tell it like it is. They also have the courage to stand up to the collective cabal that controls county government today.

In this election, competence and courage are the qualities most voters should consider when marking their ballots.

Raffenburg’s ethics
From Ken Stearn
Cave Junction

Any question I had about Commissioner Jim Raffenburg’s lack of ethics and needing to be removed from office disappeared during the Wednesday, April 30 I.V. Ranch hearing before the county commissioners.

Because after missing every previous hearing regarding whether to add the ranch into the county’s Significant Aggregate Inventory, at the request of Copeland reps, he attended the final meeting and cast the decisive vote (drum roll) in favor of Copeland. For him to act in such a biased fashion while fighting a recall effort is shameful to say the least.

At least we know where he can find work after he is recalled.

We need three honest men sitting on the board if we ever hope to see fair, impartial decisions made, and not preferential treatment for special interests. This county can do better, and “We the People” deserve better.

I am going to vote to recall Raffenburg, and want others to consider the same. We need to work together to dismantle the current “Good Old Boys” club that has run this county into the ground – before it’s too late.

CJ police protection
From John Bowler
Kerby

On Monday, April 28 the Cave Junction City Council considered the availability and adequacy of police protection. I had asked the council to do this when I spoke before it on Oct. 8, 2007 during a hearing to annex property to the city.

The council decided then that the law did not allow it to do this. It rejected the suggestion that it consult with its own attorney and decided that it was cheaper for the city to have me appeal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

I did so. I can only hope that this really did save the city money; it cost me money and much time. LUBA agreed with me that city law requires the city to consider the adequacy of police protection when annexing property.

On April 28 the council passed motions to include its conclusions about police protection in the findings supporting the annexation. The annexation decision was not changed -- that was possible, if police protection was inadequate, but certainly not something the appeal sought directly.

The motions the council adopted, all passed unanimously, make important statements about how the council views police protection in the city. Rather than attempt to rewrite them I’d like to offer the verbatim transcript from the proceedings. The city has a full audio recording should anyone doubt the accuracy of my transcript.

Councilor Margaret Miller: “I move that we deem that police protection is adequate and available to the city of Cave Junction and direct staff to put it into the findings.”

City Attorney Patrick Kelly: “Eh, I would make it based on the sheriff as currently provided and that it is adequate to meet the level of development, eh, that has been implied.”

Vote: All four councilors and the mayor approved.

The council then discussed additional protection offered by the state police and decided to modify the motion slightly.

Miller: “I modify that motion to also include references to the state police.”

This was approved unanimously, and the council went on to consider another part of my appeal. This resulted in a third motion.

Miller: “I make a motion that urban level services are adequately met by the previous testimony that is offered in the records, that the sheriff and state patrol provide this adequate level to the city of Cave Junction.”

This also was passed 5-0.

There is no doubt in my mind that the council is in the best position to determine whether or not the city has adequate police protection. It really is a matter for the city as a whole to decide how much or how little police protection it needs, and how to obtain that protection.

The council -- the representative of the people -- now has provided a clear statement. I happen to disagree with it, but since it is city business, and I am not a city resident, this is irrelevant.

An interesting counterpoint was provided by Sheriff Gil Gilbertson in the county building on Wednesday, April 30. At one point he stated that his main problem areas are Cave Junction and the area to the north of Grants Pass. I asked whether he was referring to problems within the city limits or in the area of Cave Junction in general. He answered, “Most of the problems I have are within the city.”

He likes a heavy Chevy
From Jim Lombardo
O’Brien

I’m often seeing a TV commercial where a red Mustang keeps burning rubber until he comes to a red light, where he sees a nice-looking woman in an older car alongside.

His alarm wakes him. When he goes back to sleep, she is riding with him.

The old car is not a Chevy. If it were, in the next scene he would be looking at her tailpipes. Why would anyone get a car like that to try to burn rubber? They have never made a Mustang that could keep up with a ‘57 Chevy or any year Chevy after that.

I still drive a ‘73 Chevy. I have watched many a Mustang driver shift with four-on-the-floor -- in my rear-view mirror at the drag strip.

My car is automatic. Mustangs can only spin their tires on gravel roads.

Cross Quest burglary
From Bryan Thompson
Cave Junction

A shattered window in the Cross Quest Expeditions Suburban and Hurricane Katrina-grade wreckage greeted my arrival home from being out-of-state.

Burglars took more than 12 sets of paintball equipment, a large cook stove and numerous other items. Cross Quest is Cave Junction’s own adventure and extreme sports ministry dedicated to boldly pursuing and proclaiming Jesus Christ. We take youth surfing, rock-climbing, paintballing, snowboarding, backcountry skiing and backpacking.

Cross Quest also hosts the I.V. Extreme Sports Festival at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction each summer. The event this year may be compromised due to the burglary.

I pray for those who took these items. If they sell them they shouldn’t take less than $3,500. And a “Thank You” card to the community would be nice. It’s our own youth and adults who invested their blood, sweat and tears into acquiring the equipment.

Community informants have narrowed the search for the burglars. These suspects are asked to please repent of their trespasses. Donations can be made to the Cross Quest account at Home Valley Bank.