Illinois Valley News

Illinois Valley News welcomes Letters to the Editor. Please e-mail them to dan@illinois-valley-news.com.

POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ encourages letters to the editor provided they are legible and not libelous or scurrilous. All letters must be signed, including name, address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The “News’ reserves the right to edit letters. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher.

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

It“s a lack of demand
Donald Smith
Cave Junction

I would like to thank Ms. Phillippi for responding to my letter of last week, in which I make the case that a lack of demand for lumber, not a lack of supply and access to trees on publicly owned land, is impacting Southwest Oregon’s sawmills, leading the industry to downsize. Clearly, the capacity to produce exceeds the market demand for the product.

Ms. Phillippi, owner of the Rough and Ready mill, insists that the problem is a lack of available trees from publicly owned land. She goes so far as to say that there has been “almost no federal timber available beginning in the 1990s.” Yet, as recently as September 16, the Medford District BLM auctioned off four timber sales, which R & R chose not to buy. Nor did it bid on a fifth timber sale, here in the Valley, which did not sell.

In my letter I do not provide opinions, instead relying only on facts. I also cited the sources for the information. While Phillippi says my letter is “disturbingly inaccurate,” she does not challenge those facts, I suspect because they are indisputable. Instead she suggests that my thinking “shows an alarming naivete,” adding that what is “most distressing of all in Mr. Smith“s predictions of Rough & Ready“s demise is a tone that conveys a clear preference for that end.”

This is very odd, since I make no such prediction, nor could anything I wrote be construed as such. As it is, I said very little in the letter about R & R. Worse yet, having pulled this out of thin air, she then claims that I could care less if those who work at R & R lose their job.

It is simply irresponsible of her to make such reckless accusations.

The economic landscape has changed a lot over the last couple of decades. In the not too distant past we were told we had to choose between protecting the environment or protecting jobs. Local voices with the greatest influence in the past have lost much of their ability today to persuade others, and now rest their hopes on bringing back the jobs vs. environment debate. Others go so far as to stir up tensions by making false and ridiculous claims that efforts are underway to take private property and place it under government ownership. This could worsen as our nation“s economy declines further.

Instead of trying to instill more conflict, whats needed is a fruitful discussion, making a constructive case for how we can protect what makes the Valley such a wonderful place to live “ the forest, mountains, the river and abundant water “ in a way that compliments and co-exists with better paying jobs, like those at R & R. A healthy economy must produce goods and not be dependent solely on services and consumption.

While I see very little prospect of developing a leisure or tourist-based local economy, more can be done to encourage this. At the same time, there is clearly a place for logging and other resource uses in the Valley.

We are all better off if we don’t engage in making issues personal, or making off the cuff remarks that don“t promote understanding, and instead look for ways to get past conflict and find solutions.

Random Act of Kindness
Sharon Reasor
Selma

Friday, Oct. 1 around 4 p.m., our granddaughter chose a sandwich and soda at Ray“s Market in Selma. At the check-stand she discovered her debit card would not work. An unknown thoughtful woman paid for her. A random act of kindness which we appreciate and will “Pay Forward”. Thank you.

What an Improvement!
Ann Reser
Cave Junction

What a delight to receive the “I.V. News” and view all the improvements made by the new ownership. The coverage of the local sports events and teams is outstanding. The local students have not been acknowledged as they so deserve.

There are so many really good kids at IVHS who use their time and energies in positive ways that the valley residents rarely hear about.

I hope your coverage will not be limited to just athletics, but will cover other areas of their education like auto shop, wood shop, the agriculture classes, school clubs who spend their time productively.

For far too long Cave Junction has suffered from negative news about vandalism and drug users when there is really so much positive that is going on that needs to be highlighted. Thank you, I.V. News, you are a breath of fresh air.
How about an I.V. student intern program at the “News”“

Tour of Cave Junction
Ken LeGaux
Selma

A lot to say — let me start with a little town called Cave Junction, Oregon.

Saying things like weeds growing out of control, folks going out of business, leaving vacant buildings behind and looking like a ghost town is simply disrespectful.

I“ve lived in Illinois Valley for quite some time and it has grown from there. Now if you don“t like it here, move.

The town mayor, Don Moore, along with suggestions from local business people like Jim Frick, Steve Lyons and others who DO care “too many to mention” have really cleaned up our streets and eradicated most of the street people. I can remember worse things in this valley when I was in law enforcement. Yep, that“s right, law enforcement and damn proud of it.

I met hundreds of good people here. Some have passed on. Most are still here, and I see them around town. They collectively built this valley and kept it going, and if it weren“t for these folks you wouldn“t have a town. You would have a jungle.

So quit bad-mouthing our town — if you don“t like it here, hit the road. We love this little town just the way it is. So go back to where you came from if you don“t like it here.

Now then, I am reluctant to make the next statement, because a number of some great friends may disapprove. But here goes:

Re: Marijuana — First of all, who put it here“ God, not man — used properly it“s okay with me. I don“t use it but when it“s sold and grown here, it brings plenty of revenue to our community. For example: Fuel, food, jobs, building new cars, trucks, homes, businesses, school taxes, state taxes, and the list goes on.

I personally can“t stand the stuff, but that doesn“t give me a reason to down it. But I believe it shouldn“t be given to minors. Abuse is still abuse. Liquor and marijuana, etc. Now I“m not here to befriend anyone, but it“s my opinion.

People need to make a living, and the lottery is not the answer. I“m damn tired of government promises, we“re better off making it on our own to make a clean, honest living. You“d be much happier and prouder too. And perhaps it will bring revenue to the sheriffs to help clean up the county of the meth and cartel. Then when they get convicted of serious crimes we can afford to keep them there. Ya think“ Now go vote and join the NRA and Tea Party.

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