Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated July 08, 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.
I.V. Fire District appreciated
From Mayor Don Moore
Cave Junction
On behalf of the city of Cave Junction, I would like to express appreciation for the efforts of the fire district staff and volunteers during the Wednesday, June 24 fires.
The response of the crews to the “arson” fires around the city and area was outstanding.
Their efforts prevented the series of fires from becoming a devastating event. With the wind on that day, the fires could easily have expanded and included many homes.
Right to drive
From Christopher Smith
Cave Junction
Recently, George McElroy, Raymond Karczewski and I traded letters to the editor regarding the topic of the “right to drive.” In my letter I asked that if driving was a god-given right for them to please prove it to me.
I was then presented by McElroy with an envelope of information of which he claims supports his belief that people have the right to drive. Included was a 21-page brief printed off the Internet. McElroy also included a note in which he expected to see me submit a retraction to my original letter. Here is my “retraction” —
I read all the documentation that McElroy provided. I found parts to be humorous and parts to be obscure. It included several sites from legal trials and rulings. I question if McElroy researched to see what those trials were. I wonder if some of the sites were actually taken out of context, and I question their relevance to the issue at hand.
I also question the accuracy of the Website from which it was printed. Just because it is on the Web does not make it true, right or accurate. The documentation basically did not sway my opinion toward agreement with theirs. Oddly enough, it seems that the majority of the fine folks in Cave Junction do not share the sentiment about people having a right to drive.
Since my letter was printed I have heard from several people who are in agreement with me. Not a single person has told me that I was wrong, except for McElroy and Karczewski.
McElroy did bring up the right to travel vs. the right to drive. I do not argue that people have a common right to travel. People have been traveling since the dawn of man. I could not care less if people want to walk, run, bike or whatever to get around.
I do care that people carry a plastic card called a drivers license showing that at one time during their life they were able to prove that they could competently operate a 2,000-pound plus piece of machinery called a car. A car can do some serious damage if the person behind the wheel does not know how to operate it.
After reading what McElroy provided me I understand that it is his belief that people have the right to operate a car no matter what age, experience or training. So is he then saying that it is OK for my 3-year-old son to drive my car? I wonder if McElroy would change his mind if my son, being an inexperienced driver and 3 years old, was to miss the corner where his store is and drove into the storefront.
That example is extreme, but if we follow the evidence that he provided it could happen. This could go for someone of any age behind the wheel of a car without training or experience.
My next point comes from Jan. 12, 1976. That is the date of my sister’s birth and also the date that my grandmother died. She was driving on Redwood Hwy. toward Grants Pass to see my sister at a hospital. A drunk driver was headed toward Cave Junction on the wrong side of the road. He struck her and she died.
This occurred prior to my birth. That drunk driver who in the eyes of some had a right to drive took away my and my sister’s right to a grandmother and my father’s right to a mother. My sister and I never got to even meet a woman who was described to us as extraordinary by those who knew her.
If I am ignorant, as I was referred to by Karczewski, it is that I am ignorant in the love of a grandmother. I know that there are others in the world who are also ignorant in the love of a family member taken from them by someone who was driving, but really should have had no right to drive. Do McElroy or Karczewski fall into this category, or are they ignorant of the feeling of losing a loved one to an auto wreck?
My final note is that it is funny that McElroy has license plates on his autos. For someone who preaches that licensing restricts a right he isn’t following his own beliefs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he even has a current and valid Oregon driver’s license. The phrase “practice what you preach” comes to mind.
Continuing the vision
From Guenter Ambron
Kerby
It was a privilege to help assemble the team of people that gave their positive views (Illinois Valley News, July 1) for the future of our economy in Josephine County.
We are in the process of reaching out to community members and business here in Illinois Valley to stage a discussion on the matter during the next few months. If anyone has an interest in supporting such dialogue, they should contact Community Media & Education of the Illinois Valley at 23831 Redwood Hwy. in Kerby.
Among developments emerging from dialogues on the economy is that people are voicing their intention that the county consider a resolution to support three locally supported projects. They are:
1) Utilizing crops like hemp, canola and camelina on county land. 2) Consider adoption on county-owned land the “Natural Selection Alternative” presented by Selma resident Orville Camp. 3) The arts-and-crafts community, IVCDO, RCC and other educational entities are forming groups to invest in a regional arts project along the lines of Jerry Work’s presentation, Lessons From Appalachia.
The need for us to work together has never been more apparent.
More information is available by emailing jocoeco@frontier.com, phoning 592-4695, or visiting myplace.frontier.com/~jocoeco.
Blackberry Festival ideas
From Drake Pernicka
O’Brien
I have lived in the valley for 13 years and am a 2008 graduate. I recently returned to the valley from my first year of college at the University of Oregon.
After reading the article in the July 1 issue of Illinois Valley News, I decided to offer some advice from my perspective to help the Wild Blackberry Arts & Crafts Festival Committee with its dilemmas.
First thing on the list are the go-kart races. These are very important on the turnout and survival of the Blackberry Festival. When the races ended some years ago, the participation and attendance dropped significantly. The races bring in a wide variety of people, young and old, as well as tourists.
When the kart drivers aren’t driving and their crews aren’t working they will have nothing better to do than walk around the festival and participate in the activities that make up the festival, buying food, playing games, etc.
The pie-eating contest was good and should be brought back. There needs to be awards (ribbons, plaques) given to the winners and maybe a free pie or something of an incentive. The baking idea seems good, but I have an idea about it to throw your way. Maybe do a “Most Creative Blackberry Dish.”
If business owners that were not setting up booths of their own, a compensation for allowing a vendor to set up in front of their store might get a different tune out of them. The committee charges vendors to set up their booths in front of businesses, and keeping all the money angers the business owners. In this world you have to give a little to get a little.
The last and perhaps the most important piece of advice I have is advertisements. To get a great turn-out, pump it up. The festival needs to be advertised in newspapers, on the radio, flyers, etc. But most importantly it needs to be advertised widely, from the coast to Ashland to Eugene. Also, to get vendors the committee needs to tell them the plan and that it is going to be grand, and that local vendors will be a huge majority as well.
Tell everyone that we have go-kart races, pie-eating, cook-offs, tons of blackberry homemade goodies, carnival rides (if the committee can get them), etc. If well publicized, many people will be drawn to the beautiful Illinois Valley for our legendary Blackberry Festival. I wish the committee the best of luck.
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