Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated November 11, 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. News ‘biased’ vs. Toler
From Meadow Martell
Cave Junction
I noticed that in September the Illinois Valley News did an article on people filing to run against Illinois Valley resident Dave Toler for county commissioner. Then last week I learned from the Courier, TV and radio, not our local paper, that Toler has announced that he will run for a second term.
I am concerned because this bias against our only local commissioner, Toler, by the I.V. News has been going on for a long time.
As a Three Rivers School District board member, Toler worked to get us a beautiful new Lorna Byrne Middle School and significant upgrades at I.V. High and Evergreen. He secured funds for a new IVHS football field -- the only high school athletic facility in Three Rivers to be built with school bond dollars.
Out of the $24 million school bond, 40 percent was spent on I.V. schools. We got more than our fair share because Toler worked so hard for us.
Toler has done much for our community as a volunteer. He brought in funds to expand the I.V. Senior Center and The Dome School. He served on the Siskiyou Health Center Board, the former IVCRT, and many other community organizations. He brought in dollars to provide an after-school children’s program that was free to hundreds of kids in our community. He also worked hard on the campaign to get I.V. Fire District more funds.
Toler has worked with Sheriff Gil Gilbertson to get more deputies out here. Starting in January, Gilbertson will have more patrol coverage in Illinois Valley than we have seen in nearly 10 years. Finally, we will get better response when we need it. Toler is working to put a sheltered bus stop in Cave Junction, and we are going to see more bus runs to Grants Pass than ever.
So why does the I.V. News not support Toler despite all he has done for our community? Is it more important which party you belong to than what you do?
The I.V. News went out of its way to support disgraced Commissioner Jim Raffenburg and gave him space to bash Toler. I can’t think of anything Raffenburg ever did for Illinois Valley.
It is too bad that petty party politics get in the way of our local news supporting — or at least being objective about — our local county commissioner who has provided many resources that we all benefit from. Like many other I.V. residents, I know what Toler has actually accomplished for us.
We can only hope that one day the I.V. News will support our local interests in Illinois Valley instead of empty partisan politics.
She’s for Jack Brown
From Carla Bricker
Cave Junction
Did you know that Jack Brown has grown up and lived in this county for more than 60 years?
This must make him and others like him quite knowledgeable in what works and what doesn’t, and recognizing and understanding the communities’ needs — like our local economy, citizens young and old out of work, businesses still being stifled by land-use planning and regulatory burdens while government sits back.
Brown is committed to increasing prosperity the old-fashioned way: by acknowledging the right of every citizen to work for it, be it by home-based businesses, mining, logging, farming, construction or manufacturing.
This is just a part of what Brown stands for. As a Josephine County commissioner he has vowed to defend our rights, develop our resources, and conserve our tax dollars. I believe him, and that he really is the right choice for 2010.
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