Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated June 10, 2009
(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you” submissions are not accepted as letters.
Carrying torch for IVFD
From Ken LeGaux
Selma
We read and hear a lot of complaints about this area, but let me tell you of a very recent experience.
We got a call about 4 a.m. from Sue Fasching that they had just called 911 -- our oldest son’s home at 6375 Lakeshore Drive was on fire. I jumped out of bed, hooked up my water wagon and was met at the house by Josephine County Undersheriff Don Fasching and Maintenance Battalion Chief Chris Sherman of I.V. Fire District. They were amazing, on the radio and directing heavy equipment, firefighting men and women.
You would have seen poetry in motion. The firefighters performed like the U.S. Marine Corps. They responded very fast and did not stop for one minute. Just kept pumping from all sides, up and down, all around, and the professional crew was there with special life-saving gear, crawled into hell as we were not 100 percent sure that the whole family was not home.
The whole firefighting crew worked as one magnificent team. We thank God that the family was not home, but if they were in the house, I believe the firefighters would have been their only hope. The house was completely lost, but the firefighting team was able to save the adjoining buildings.
Folks need to remember something very important: the majority of the firefighters are volunteers, putting their very lives on the line for all of us without pay. We are so appreciative of this community, families, friends who also responded so fast with help and encouragement.
If you have any negative feelings about I.V. Fire District, I would say to go to a fire and stay there until they complete the job. You would definitely take on a better opinion of them if you were to stick around to the end and be thankful that you didn’t get the gut-wrenching feeling to find someone in there after the fire is out. I pray that it doesn’t happen to you. It’s an experience you never forget.
Law enforcement and firefighters should be the very first and foremost for our tax dollar support.
Wonderful I.V. firefighters
From Sue Ellen Fasching
Selma
On May 31, about 3:45 a.m. my neighbor’s house was engulfed in flames.
Within 10 minutes after the 911 call, the first Illinois Valley volunteer firefighters were on scene. Within 30 minutes there were more than seven fire trucks from the Illinois Valley, Rural/Metro Fire Dept. and Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety.
These men and women worked for more than four hours, risking their lives to save the property of others. I just wanted to say that I am proud to live in Illinois Valley knowing that these wonderful men and women are here taking care of us and our property.
Hard times — small towns
From Tom Ninow
Cave Junction
You all know what’s been going on with the economy lately -- businesses that were never supposed to fail are gone. As it stands now, hundreds of thousands of people are out of work.
But here in Cave Junction, where unemployment has been above average for years, we hardly see anything different. People still drive their shiny vehicles through town to the coast every Friday night and back again on Sunday afternoon.
The unemployed and the homeless still wander around town -- looking -- looking everywhere, perhaps for some treasure to enhance their lives. Businesses are still open, the parking lots are full, all is normal -- or is it?
News media report that the North Koreans now have that atomic bomb that they swore they were not building, and a missile delivery system to go with it. Our country is in debt to record levels, and going deeper each day. Our president is working hard to stabilize the economy, but despite his best efforts General Motors, the company whose president said some years ago, “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country,” has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Wow.
After a fine meal in one of our valley restaurants the other night, I talked with the owner who told me that “business is a little slow right now, but it should pick up.”
I wonder. I see some empty buildings along main street that just a few weeks ago were operating businesses. Some -- locally owned. Others operated by large entities located elsewhere. The larger ones decided to shut down some of their smaller “unprofitable” operations regardless of the local effect. So the problem is coming here. We are not immune.
We’re a small community, and most of us live here for that reason. We like the quality of life. Well, if we are going to continue living here it is important to support our local businesses. I know, you can save a few pennies, or even a couple bucks by shopping in the big town down the road. But when you consider time, transportation cost, miscellaneous money spent (dinners, etc.), what are you really saving?
And if our local businesses go under, who will you turn to in tough times? We need our local businesses as much as they need us. We need a well-rounded, balanced community that can continue functioning in these times.
Support your neighborhood businesses, shop in town.
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