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CAVE JUNCTION Vandals trash Illinois Valley library It's the latest in a series of property crimes in the area Comment By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 25, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 25, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Vandals broke into the Illinois Valley library and trashed the place, the latest in a long string of vandalism and thievery to public facilities in the area. The library was hit sometime early Tuesday morning, leaving a huge mess, with toys thrown out on the lawn, phone and Internet wires cut, computers and electrical damaged and several windows broken, according to Kate Lasky, executive director of Josephine Community Libraries. A cash register, iPad and rock collection were stolen. "I'm pretty upset," Lasky said, her voice breaking as she told the Daily Courier about the incident. It will be "some time before we are up and running again," she said, adding however that regular hours and scheduled programs at the library will continue. "I am at a loss for words to describe my sadness and disappointment," she said. "I want our volunteers and donors to know that we will continue to work together to repair and rebuild our Illinois Valley branch. Our community deserves better." Lasky's frustration is understandable, given the community support in recent months for various fundraisers to help finance children's areas, as well as other needs of JCL, a private, nonprofit organization that operates four public libraries in Josephine County. The library is one of several businesses, schools and other community facilities hit in recent weeks by burglars and vandals in the Illinois Valley. "What can you expect?" said Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel, as he expressed a bit of frustration of his own concerning crime in the county. "We're having problems. Our deputies are on it the best we can," he said. "I don't like using the excuse that we don't have the resources, but it's kind of tough trying to patrol everywhere." Due to budget cuts, rural Josephine County, including the Illinois Valley, does not have 24-hour sheriff's patrol coverage. The city of Cave Junction, however, has a contract with the Sheriff's Office for 40 hours of patrols a week inside city limits. In recent weeks, Cave Junction residents have tried to fill in with citizen patrols, such as the CJ Patrols group, which has a Facebook page dedicated to combating crime in the area. But, despite preventing a few minor offenses, a number of larger crimes have occurred in recent weeks. Among other crimes, someone broke into the Cave Junction Dutch Bros. Feb. 15, and there was a break-in at a business on Redwood Highway last Friday. Add to that break-ins at Evergreen Elementary School Friday night and another at Illinois Valley High School Saturday night. That was the second break-in at the high school in as many weeks. The recent rash of crime has been going on for some time, and includes: • September 2015: Thieves badly vandalized the long-shuttered city pool and burglarized the neighboring Senior Center. • February 2015: Thieves vandalized several businesses, including Taylor's Sausage, then broke into storage sheds at Jubilee Park, stealing tools and equipment for Little League. • January 2015: Hooligans vandalized the city's wastewater treatment facility, opening valves and sending water from the irrigation ponds gushing into the Illinois River. • August 2014: Vandals trashed Jubilee Park on the eve of the annual Lions Labor Day Festival, smashing playground equipment and spray-painting profane graffiti. Daniel said he's glad community members are attempting to help watch the area. "Anything citizens can do to help is totally OK with me," he said. Frustration with criminal actions in the county also are felt by county officials, according to County Commissioner Keith Heck. Heck said Tuesday he's quite upset with the "wanton disregard of community efforts," such as with the break-in at the Cave Junction library. "This is most tragic — it's a community damage issue," he said. "The sad reality is (the criminals) have no fear of consequences of their actions and don't care at all about the people who have invested all kinds of money and energy." Reach reporter Ruth Longoria Kingsland at 541-474-3718 or [email protected] By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 25, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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