Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated August 19, 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.
Roadside manners lacking
From Michelle Windust
O’Brien
I have lived in O’Brien for four years at the Nielson’s Almost Heaven Resort just 7/10 of a mile from the California border on U.S Hwy. 199, across the street from a former truck stop/weigh station.
The border is the gateway to our beautiful state. People stop at the former weigh station for numerous reasons: nausea from the curvy turns; they need to use the bathroom; throw away trash, etc. Either they missed the O’Brien Store going south or they missed the rest area going north.
They stop because they are not aware there is a store or rest area coming up. The consequences are environmentally devastating and present a public hazard. The stink of human waste and the sight are enough to make a U.S. Marine vomit. This is absolutely not “putting our best foot forward.”
I will clean this mess. But it does not stop there, it is just a Band-Aid on the real problem. The solution being one of two things: signs alerting people going north and south to the proximity of the O’Brien Store and the rest area which are located exactly 4 miles north and south, respectively; and/or locating portable toilets and a dumpster continuously maintained at taxpayer expense. I think we Oregonians would prefer the signs and a one-time fee.
Because 199 is a U.S. highway, a copy of this letter also is being sent to Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), of the 4th Congressional District.
I love Oregon, and I want the gateway to our beautiful state to be just as beautiful.
Town hall mumbo-jumbo
From Henry Meier
Cave Junction
With all due respect to our righteous ability to hold a town hall meeting in Cave Junction on Wednesday evening, Aug. 12, with Congressman DeFazio:
Unfortunately, due to the large turnout, I was unable to get a seat inside and found myself on the parking lot surround by a whole bunch of really expensive SUVs belonging to a whole bunch of people who came wanting more than they need, and blind to the understanding that that which they want isn’t even good for them in the first place.
As for what I heard: I heard a whole bunch of mumbo-jumbo that more than likely won’t amount to a bowl of beans for a beggar.
On golf course volunteers
From Marjorie Culbertson
Cave Junction
We appreciate all who worked so hard and spent so many hours keeping our golf course in such good condition. They are doing a wonderful job. We really appreciate it.
Proud of fellow townspeople
From John Roth
Cave Junction
I appreciate nearly everyone at the town meeting last Wednesday night in which Congressman Peter Defazio answered questions on draft bills which seek to reform health care.
I have never been prouder of my fellow townspeople. The audience “sshhhed” loudmouths so that most people could have their voices heard.
As noted in the Grants Pass daily newspaper, our meeting was nothing like the disrupted meeting in Grants Pass. Even extremists got their say, as in one comment that the government can never manage anything well. The war in Iraq is a good example of federal mismanagement; the best estimate is that it will cost us taxpayers more than $5 trillion, mostly in medical benefits to veterans.
However, Oregon Caves National Monument shows how well government and business can work together to build a National Historic Landmark (the Chateau) and National Historic District. The concession there is now part of the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization. Without such successful collusion, Cave Junction would likely be much smaller, like Kerby or O’Brien.
Health-care reform can also be such a successful collaboration. If you think government can’t manage anything well, then let’s do away with town hall meetings, national monuments, Medicare, Social Security, and benefits to veterans who so justly deserve them.
Likes the News online
From Daniel Dalegowski
Cave Junction
I just wanted to state my appreciation that the Illinois Valley News is an open, on-line source of information.
I use Google news to get a summary of the world and national headlines, and then I have a section customized for Cave Junction. More often than not this section is populated with articles from the I.V. News.
I think that because you do not hide your news stories behind a membership/password scheme, it is very easy for the search engine spiders to find your stories and index them. Contrast this to the Grants Pass Daily Courier that requires membership to access “premium” content, which Google web-bots cannot get past to index.
I may not always agree with the perspective of the I.V. News, but I really appreciate your open Website, ability to comment on stories, availability of PDFs, and indexable content. Thanks for being a source for information that is easy to access and open to everyone. That’s pretty democratic of the I.V. News.
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