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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.

Making a Declaration
From Christine Perala Gardiner
Cave Junction

Thanks to Illinois Valley News for publishing the Declaration of Independence on page 15 in this issue to help the community observe the July 4th event on Friday.

I’ve been wondering lately: What is it that makes us “Americans?” What is the Declaration of Independence, and why do we observe it on July 4th? Is it all about fireworks and hot dogs?

What is this “democracy” that our government works to promote around the world?

July 4, 2008, is a good time for us to review the basis for American “independence.” What did the founders of our country think about how we should govern ourselves as a nation? What responsibilities go along with our rights as Americans? How can we learn more about our own history?

I applaud I.V. News and the local businesses who have sponsored the publication of the original text of the Declaration of Independence in this issue. I hope that people will support these businesses, and that everyone will ask more questions about American governance.

There are many great ideas that led to the founding of our Republic -- ideas that could still make a difference in our time. Please be sure to vote.

Safety in the city
Deborah C. Wilson
Cave Junction

There has been a recent exchange of letters between Cave Junction Mayor Tony Paulson and Holger Sommers from Merlin on which I would like to comment.

This valley of Southern Oregon has closed its mind for many years to the graceful receiving of comments and suggestions from “out-of- towners.” Some of these suggestions and ideas are good, and many have suffered for not listening.

For anyone to compare the safety of citizens in our community with what is happening in big city areas is not showing demographic savvy. Even big city areas have residential and downtown areas where its citizens feel relatively safe from harm.

This is a small town with only one main downtown street and just a few streets of residential. The percentage of teen-agers is small, and a percentage of them have shown uncivilized and harmful behavior toward the citizens of Cave Junction.

In fact, a recent survey of police reports has shown that there have been 29 incidents involving teen-age illegal activity during the past three months. Compare that number with the 18 reports during an entire year’s time attributed to the Red Garter by the city council and Sheriff Gil Gilbertson, many of which turned out to be totally unrelated to the Red Garter.

And yet the city council voted to recommend the closure of that business. Is anything being done to protect the citizens of Cave Junction from these teen-agers by the city of Cave Junction? I want to stress that I do not want to hear that their parents have punished them.

These teens used fighting skills to cause bodily harm. Isn’t that against the law, whether minors or not? Isn’t being a drunk teen-ager behind the wheel against the law? Did the deputy who stopped that vehicle of teens do anything other then just suggest they go home after curfew? Isn’t being out at midnight or 2 a.m., if you are a minor, against the law? Isn’t forcing innocent people to barricade themselves in a building with gang behavior against the law?

As for claims made by Curt Bynum of the police advisory board that there was insufficient back-up protection, a video shows three uniformed representatives of law enforcement on the scene prior to the attack that night, and none did the job of protecting innocent citizens.

I did vote “yes” for the last tax levy, but I am questioning if it is wise for a new levy to pass as I don’t see them doing the job for which they are being paid even when it is proven there are adequate resources on hand.

As for the teens, the city of Cave Junction and its citizens need to take a stand demanding punishment for them. These teens who made a very bad decision need to be made examples, making it clear to our future teens that this is just absolutely unacceptable behavior.

Those who are citizens and those who want to enjoy what Cave Junction has to offer need to know from the civic leaders that they do not and will not be forced to endure this behavior from its minor or adult citizens.