*A poll commissioned by the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors and conducted by Nelson Research found that nearly half of Josephine County residents believed JoCo was headed on the wrong track. The poll, conducted by telephone Nov. 8-9, 2023 on 480 registered likely voters living in the county, had a margin of error of 4.5% and asked 12 questions related to the local economy and political leadership.
*Long-time Valley resident Pat Mersman began hosting a classical music show for local community radio station KXCJ. “Old Growth Classical” aired Sundays between 10 a.m. and noon. The show was also co-hosted by DJ Mama T.
*Mayor Meadow Martell’s State of the City address at CJ City Council’s first meeting of 2024 recapped city events of the previous year and looked forward to future accomplishments,such as the completion of the spray pad at Jubilee Park, plans to install a new ballfield, amphitheater, and bathrooms.
*The Cave Junction City Council held their first meeting of the year at City Hall Jan. 8. During the meeting the council passed a sign ordinance after the second reading of Ordinance No. 602. The ordinance serves to amend the city’s municipal code to include specific rules and regulations for portable business signage.
*The county commissioners sparked backlash from advocates of selling the Pipe Fork recreation area to a nature conservation organization after Commissioner Herman Baertschiger suggested they should “put some skin in the game” and contribute to the purchase. Despite signing a letter of intent to sell Pipe Fork in early 2023, the board later backtracked.
*Contractors made progress on the Rockydale Well Restoration Project to bring online a new water resource for Cave Junction. On the west side of the highway a waterline, hydrant, and future tie-in location for the Forks State Park were installed.
*Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrated Friday, Jan. 12 at Wild River Brewery and PIzza and awarded Bertha Miller with a Community Pillar Award.
*Heavy snow stranded the I.V. High School wrestling team in Bend, Ore. a day longer than expected after they traveled to compete in the Oregon Classics. The Cougars posted scores of 72-12 against Central Lynn, 72-12 against Crane High School, 69-11 against Camas Valley, 28-52 against Enterprise High School and 30-0 against Culver High School.
*On Jan. 17, the Board of Josephine County Commissioners voted to reverse a moratorium they had placed on annexations into the Josephine Community Library District Dec. 20. The moratorium was put in place while the county updated laws for annexing into or seceding from tax districts.
*Citizens for Responsible Government collected enough signatures to get Measure 17-116 on the May ballot, which sought to increase the number of county commissioners from three to five and install a county manager, among other changes.
*The county’s first supplemental budget of the year included $500K allotted to the Payroll Liability Reserve Fund, $694,400 payroll liability expenditures, and an $85,000 state grant for the Fairgrounds.
*On Jan. 23, JoCo Sheriff’s deputies pursued the drivers of two stolen vehicles on Fish Hatchery Rd. A deputy discharged their firearm at one of the cars to disable it after it reversed into the patrol vehicle, and a suspect was taken into custody thereafter.
*The Illinois Valley High School 2024 Safe and Sober Graduation Committee sought community donations for their annual Safe and Sober Graduation Night. The committee hoped to double their goal of $6000 in order to fund a trip to an amusement park that the graduates were deprived of leading up to their freshman year due to The COVID-19 pandemic.
I.V. Community Development Organization’s Cans for Kids program was robbed following a break-in at the site. Organizers encouraged the community to offer cash donations to recoup the losses.