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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 10, 2005 Sheriff listens to Butte Falls’ crime concerns Rural residents voice their fears and their desires concerning crime and policing By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune BUTTE FALLS — Approximately 100 residents from outlying areas near Butte Falls assembled for a fact-finding meeting designed to address crime concerns Wednesday night. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters sat in the back of the Butte Falls Elementary School gymnasium as meeting organizer Lowell Nicolaus, 62, asked crowd members to answer a series of questions ranging from personal experiences as victims of assault, burglary and vandalism to the dollar amounts on their tax bills. "Twenty percent of your money goes into the general fund which helps pay for the sheriff’s department," said Nicolaus. Representatives from local lumber industries, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Butte Falls Police Department and the school district also attended the one-hour meeting. Jeff Seeger is a member of the Butte Falls Fire and Rescue Department. Seeger also works and lives at the Butte Falls Fish Hatchery. Advertisement Seeger says theft incidents are on the rise at the hatchery and Butte Falls police won’t respond to calls outside the city limits. Seeger says sheriff’s deputies have sometimes been delayed because officers unfamiliar with the area get lost. "We need a substation like they have in Prospect where the deputies come in and go out," he says. Cory Hamann says the area’s two unsolved murders still haunt her and her 24-year-old son. Hamann’s elderly neighbor, Blanche Campbell, was murdered in a home invasion robbery on May 8, 2001. Her home was set on fire after the attack. "My son Jake was the first one to show up. He called her Grandma Blanche," she said. "He’s still very upset about it." Oregon State Police are making progress on the case, according to Winters. "Over 20 people have been polygraphed in that investigation and over 100 people have been interviewed," Winters said. Nicolaus asked the crowd how many knew of someone who was particularly vulnerable. And how many would be willing to volunteer some time to help those who needed it. He said installing gates, locks, security lights and other protective measures would be a good first step for the community. "We’re not under any illusion we are going to be able to call out the National Guard. We need to find ways to protect ourselves and each other," said Nicolaus. Winters took notes as he listened to the crowd. Stepping to the microphone, Winters explained that his department was considered fully staffed at 32 patrol positions compared to Medford Police Department’s 91 sworn positions. And, he said, he’s currently missing a few officers. Stipulating that there was room for improvement, he asked the crowd by show of hands if they felt patrols had increased "on his watch." Most of the crowd raised their hands and gave Winters a round of applause. "We really are trying," said Winters. "We’re working very hard." Winters said he has personally worked more than 300 hours in administrative, patrol and on-call duties in the past 13 days. "That’s why I said most of what we need to do, we need to do for ourselves," said Nicolaus. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s