Illinois Valley News

(Editor“s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)

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Golf Course a winner
From Gary Noleroth
Cave Junction

The Illinois Valley Golf Course and the volunteers, who have kept the course open by giving of their time, labor and money, appreciates the I.V. Chamber of Commerce for honoring us with its Business of the Year and its Citizens of the Year awards.

We work to keep the course open because we like to play golf, but also because we feel that the course is an asset to our community. Last weekend more than 60 players were out enjoying the nice weather.

The I.V. High School team practices here for free, and hosts tournaments with schools in the area. In the summer 50 to 60 kids participate in our youth golf program, learning to play the game and learning about sportsmanship.

Local organizations raise money by hosting tournaments. The Boys & Girls Club, the Rotary Club and I.V. High School alumni are among those taking advantage of our facilities.

Please support us in our effort to keep our course a viable asset. If you have a set of clubs gathering dust, clean them and come join us.

Wave “good-bye“ to jobs
From Gregory D. Anderson
Cave Junction

I haven“t talked to anyone who doesn“t agree Obama delivers his speeches with superb eloquence. But there seems to be some kind of disconnect in the process between the teleprompter and his oratory.

I say this because there is a huge difference between what the teleprompter tells him to say, and what he actually does.

Now I“m not saying that he is intentionally telling untruths, I“m just saying that what he reads to us and what he does are out of sync. Like the promise of open and transparent discussion of items like health-care reform, or that he wouldn“t have lobbyists in his administration (he has more than most presidents).

He said that his healthcare proposal wouldn“t cost “one thin dime.“ Well, technically that is true because his proposal will cost more “thin dimes“ than have been minted since the beginning of our republic.

I“m reminded of a friend I had years ago whose wife walked in on him when he had another women in bed. He yelled at her as she walked away: “What are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes““

Our governor is not near as eloquent, so not too many people listen to him talk. This is a mistake because the big spender could be warning us that he is presiding over a failing state. All the stimulus money went to raises for bureaucrats or hiring more bureaucrats.

The reason is because the unions like SEIU and the teachers pretty much own him. That is the reason he wanted the taxes from the measures recently passed. He wants to give more raises and hire more new union members.

To hell with the small businesses and the peons who work for them, they are only needed for their tax money.

The flaw in this strategy is that when taxes on the producers, (i.e., the “evil wealthy“) get to the confiscatory level, they simply take their businesses and jobs to states more friendly where the taxes they pay are appreciated.

In fact, a possible revenue source would be to paint lines every 18 inches on the overpasses for northbound and eastbound folks. Then charge them a few bucks for each space for a fixed amount of time. They then could wave to the U-Hauls and moving vans taking their jobs out of state.

Progressives/Liberals: ya“ gotta love “em. Abraham Lincoln said: “You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.“

Impressed by Simon Hare
From Mark Dickson
Cave Junction

I recently met Simon Hare, candidate for county commissioner. Simon is like a breath of fresh air with his common sense approach to county politics.

He does not denigrate the other candidates: He doesn“t have to, as he is by far the best choice to help lead Josephine County out of a financially troubled future. Please attend a function to personally meet him. I am confident that you will be as impressed with him as I am.

Toler a “doer“
From Aaron Howard
Takilma

I“m a farmer and I“ve recently moved to beautiful Southern Oregon. Knowing how politics sometimes clashes with farming, I started learning about county politics.

I attended a few county commission meetings, and the more I attended, the more I grew to appreciate and respect Commissioner Dave Toler.

Most of the candidates know the rhetoric to fool people. But only one person actually works daily to make county government work. And it seems to me that only one of them can actually do the work of a commissioner, (i.e., manage departments, balance the budget, ensure that essential services are delivered and represent our part of the state to the state government). Toler does all of this fairly and well.

No, the commissioners don“t get to solve the world“s problems. Their job is mundane but important to our lives.

Toler works many hours, represents our needs to Salem, helps run our local government as efficiently as possible and is creative in creating jobs. He is a doer, not an ideologue. I will vote for Dave.

Brown the better candidate
From Jack Brown himself
Grants Pass

Those who are trying to make up their minds about the coming county commissioners race can join 16,505* voters from all walks of life who already support Jack Brown for commissioner:

Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, farmers, fishermen, miners, and loggers, young people, old folks, and middle-aged people, Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Indians, the rich, the poor, and the middle class, and God-fearing people of many religious convictions. (*That is how many voted for me in 2008; the rest of the voters chose Dwight Ellis. To put this in perspective, Dave Toler won with 15,210 votes in 2006, with no opponent in the General Election ballot, after coming in second in the May 2006 Primary.)

Many people are ecstatic that I am running again. This is why I filed by petition all the way back on Sept. 14, gathering half again as many signatures as I needed in just one weekend. A lot of people want me to serve them as their commissioner.

Other candidates that have been coming out of the woodwork now need to think about why they are running. At least one admittedly is in it for the unreasonable salary and benefits, which exceed the county charter limits by more than three times, while I have pledged to observe the charter limitations.

Of course, Toler might want a PERS retirement that he won“t get if he doesn“t serve two terms. Some may actually think they might win if they give voters a choice somewhere in the middle of the road. Win or lose, I“ve stayed on the right side of the road politically all my life.

You might ask the other commissioner candidates how many votes they have gotten before. Tony Paulson won his Cave Junction mayoral race in 2006 by a landslide with 322 votes, but he had no opponent. (Two years later, Don Moore won his Cave Junction mayoral race by a larger landslide with 459 votes, also unopposed. Don“s race certainly brought out more enthusiastic voters.) There are more than 3,500 registered voters in Cave Junction, so I wonder where the rest of them were, and who they are most likely to elect.

So you might ask the “also-running“ candidates who they are running against, Jack Brown or Dave Toler“ Just remember, the choice is pretty clear, and it has been ever since mid September.

On the right you can vote for Jack Brown for lower taxes, less government, and (with God“s help) a better county. On the left you can vote for Dave Toler for higher taxes, more government, and (without any reliance on a Creator) a slowly evolving might-makes-right kind of new world order.

And of course you can vote for someone weaving down the middle line.

Toler good for valley
From Kate Dwyer
Takilma

I have worked with Dave Toler for many years on community projects. He is always energetic, patient, and clever at helping to solve problems. I have followed his career as Josephine County commissioner, and I“m relieved we finally have a good fiscal manager in Josephine County.

Since Dave took over the Economic Development liaison position in January 2009, the county has attracted $3.5 million in funds for area firms using a mere $85,000 in seed money. The result is projected to be 100 to 150 new jobs for our county by the end of 2010.

Recently, Dave and Commissioner Dwight Ellis approved a $20,000 economic development grant for a Kerby manufacturing firm, helping them back onto their feet after the recent widespread financial difficulties. Some 10 to 15 new family wage jobs are expected from this company, right here in Illinois Valley.

Before becoming a commissioner Dave volunteered on dozens of projects that benefited Illinois Valley. As a volunteer, his efforts are responsible for more than $12.5 million in capital improvements in the valley. This includes nearly $10 million for a new Lorna Byrne Middle School and a new football field at IVHS; $150,000 for the I.V. Senior Center expansion; and, as chairman of the I.V. Fire District campaign, $2.4 million for three new fire stations in Selma, O“Brien, and Cave Junction.

Toler has done such good work for the valley that I“m shocked that some very inexperienced folks are running against him. I guess they are just looking for a job. And, remember, this position is just that: a job, one for a serious, experienced fiscal manager.

Seriously, would you hire a car mechanic to manage a multimillion dollar budget“ We need experienced and professional administrators as commissioners in this county. We need leadership. We need Toler“s many years of management experience and his demonstrated perseverance and vision.

He“s voting for Toler
From Jack Walker
Selma

Having lived in Selma for the past decade or so I have gotten to watch the county commissioners in action. I attend board meetings as often as possible and have been amazed at the process.

Many of our candidates and elected commissioners during the years have no clue about what a commissioner does and why it is important. Many feel that their particular political rhetoric is more important than keeping our county operating smoothly and efficiently.

I am however, pleased by the efforts of Commissioner Dave Toler. My observations are that he is even-handed, fair minded and hard working. He is a great problem solver and he works for win-win solutions.

His good sense led to the use of $85,000 in seed money to attract $3.5 million in other funds for four area businesses which will result in 100 to 150 new jobs for our county by the end of 2010.

Toler has worked with the sheriff to increase patrol levels to their highest point in 10 years. This is what I mean about solving problems rather than rhetoric. I“m voting for Toler, and I can“t imagine why anyone who cares about having a smooth-running effective local government would vote for anyone else.

Josephine County needs proven leadership. Like many Republicans and Democrats, business and civic leaders, I“m voting for Toler“s demonstrated ability to manage our county and get things done.

The “Great Centralizer“
From W.A. Patrick
Grants Pass

Today our heritage is under assault as never before. The time has passed for “We The People“ to awake to the destruction coming down upon us.

A president who can fire a CEO, appoint unconstitutional czars, bypass Congress, a president who is working to centralize government, eliminate states“ rights and force servitude on all citizens.

Look at our government today, consolidated and absolute. Based on the unrestrained will of the majority, with force, threats and intimidation being the order.

Does President Obama have aspirations to become another Lincoln, “The Great Centralizer““

Days ago, with one phone call a TV personality was fired. Who“s next“ Will he call for other TV and radio talk-show hosts to be eliminated“ What about citizens who attend Town Hall or Tea Party meetings“

If you are older than 80, from a small country school or one of those who was schooled before “Social Studies“ became the norm, you probably received some true U.S. history.

Citizens brave enough to speak out against Lincoln were severely punished. He ordered the Union army to destroy newspaper offices and arrest editors. Those who went into hiding were hunted by Seward“s secret police. Fort Lafayette was filled with newspaper editors. Thousands of northern citizens were imprisoned without criminal charges filed.

Obama and Lincoln were not the only presidents to circumvent the Constitution. In 1944 President Roosevelt sent the U.S. Army to remove Montgomery Ward“s chairman, Sewell Avery, from office. Photos of this event appeared in newspapers nationwide.

Wake up America. Check the voting records of your elected before you check your ballot.

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