IVN Year in Review: October 2024

*The grand opening of the Illinois Valley branch of Josephine Community Library was held Nov. 9. The renovations were carried out in partnership with Josephine Community Library District and Josephine Community Library Foundation, expanding the 4,264-square-foot library to 6,094 square feet, including a new 1,788-square-foot community meeting space with a demonstration kitchen, an early learning center, and an outdoor learning area.
*Illinois Valley High School senior Curtiss Heier won the 2A/1A Special District 4 Cross-Country meet at Lane Community College. Heier covered the 5000-meter (3.1 mile) course in 16:52.11, well in front of second place finisher Beckett Pahls of Bandon (17:13.68). Heier, who defended the district title that he also won in 2023, easily qualified for the state championship meet.
*Jesse Dugas was chosen by voters to become the next mayor of Cave Junction. Dugas received 55.31%, (453 total votes) while Jean Ann Miles recorded 43.47%, (356 total votes). Write-ins accounted for 10 votes (1.22%).
*Council position two pitted incumbent Tina Casey Jones against newcomer Steven Strauss. Jones received 76%, (416 total votes) while Strauss recorded 43.03%, (321 votes). There were nine write-ins totalling 1.21%. Jason Peters ran unopposed for position 4, which was left vacant by Jesse Dugas and received only 556 votes, nearly 300 less than the total mayoral vote, with 15 write-ins (2.63%).
*As of Nov. 7, the Josephine County Clerk’s office reported Smith as the commissioner-elect by 53.25% (22,108 votes) to 46.33% (19,235 votes) margin. There were 177 write-ins (0.43%). Chris Barnett, in his first campaign, found himself on the top side of the vote against Colene Martin by a vote of 54.88% to 44.60%, (22,997 to 18,688 votes). Vote totals also included 217 write-in votes (0.52%).
*Josephine County Treasurer Eve Arce lost to challenger Mark DeYoung. DeYoung, part of the Josephine County Republican slate of candidates, won with 21,356 votes (54.90%) to Arce’s 17,403 votes (44.74%). Write-in votes accounted for 142 (0.37%).
*Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District elected three positions.
Zone 1: Voters elected Kathrine Mechling with 2885 votes, (97.60%) with 71 write-ins.
Zone 4: Zachary W Robinson 2515 votes (63.02%) and topped Janice I. Denney’s 1448 votes (36.28%) There were 28 write-ins (0.70%).
At Large 1: Matthew Robinson 2425 votes (64.87%)and bested Marcy J. Sowa who had 1281 votes (34.27%) There were 32 write-in votes (0.86).
*On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Board of Josephine County Commissioners picked up where they left off on a public hearing to gather feedback on a proposed rural fire protection district. Chair John West announced early on in the Oct. 30 meeting that after discussion, the commissioners decided to leave the original boundary intact despite Applegate Fire District’s request for them to carve out seven miles around Murphy, and revisit the issue once Applegate has formally expanded.
*The county was awarded a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist residents of unincorporated Josephine County with housing repairs. Home projects could use up to $25,000 per home for things like home repairs, roof repairs, HVAC, health and safety, etcetera.
*A “Friends of Aggie” powwow dance was held at the Farmers’ Market Nov. 4. Across the street at the Southern Oregon Guild and Art Center there was a well-attended expressive storytelling event accompanied by music.
*Oregon Health Plan members with specific health conditions may qualify for new, first-in-the-nation benefits to keep their current housing and access other housing services. The housing benefits include rent assistance for up to six months, utility set-up and payments for up to six months, home modifications and upgrades for health or safety reasons (e.g., grab bars, ramp installation, pest control), and rental navigation services.
*The morning of Oct. 10, around 8 a.m. members of the JMET served a warrant across the road from a school bus that was loading children. The driver, following First Student policy, had the children on the floor of the bus for nearly 10 minutes as the raid played out. Parent Heather Murphy was outraged that the raid was allowed to go forward with children present, and reported that her daughter said students were “shook up and confused.”
*Several county department heads presented their proposals for fee increases during the Nov. 6 board meeting: Public Health Director Weber wanted a 25% increase in dog licensing; JoCo Surveyor Peter Allen said the additional sheet fee for property development applications should go from $25 to $50 per extra sheet; and Airports Director Steven Dobbs said that the fuel flow fee went from five cents to seven cents in 2011 and he would like to raise it to eight cents.
*Funds were transferred from ARPA Project 23 involving the self-serve field island at Illinois Valley Airport to Project 26 and 90, regarding the Grants Pass Airport Waterline and Grants Pass Airport Sewer Line, respectively. These funds totaled $1,070,000.