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JOSEPHINE COUNTY Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 @ 2:02 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 7:45 PM Jerry Reed, a former dean at Rogue Community College, speaks with protesters who are against armed volunteers guarding the Sugar Pine Mine. The protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Grants Pass on Friday. By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 @ 2:02 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 7:45 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Josephine County residents and supporters of the embattled Sugar Pine Mine exchanged words Friday morning at a demonstration in front of the Josephine County Courthouse, with protesters saying the mine's armed security volunteers are hurting the county's public image. The demonstration, organized by about a dozen residents calling themselves "concerned citizens," was intended to protest what the residents said was the exploitation of a local issue by outsiders with an anti-government agenda. Armed volunteers associated with the Oath Keepers, a national movement of people claiming to be former and current military law enforcement personnel sworn to disobey "unconstitutional" orders, have congregated at the mine outside of Merlin since last week at the request of the mine's owners, George Backes and Rick Barclay. Backes and Barclay have argued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is infringing on their rights by ordering them to file a plan of operations or remove their equipment from the claim. Grants Pass sporting-goods salesman Dave Strahan was one of several protesters who said the sudden appearance of dozens of armed outsiders was fostering a reputation many community members have worked hard to avoid. Since cutbacks in timber payments in 2012 forced the sheriff's office to lay off almost all of its patrol deputies and shut down its major crimes unit, responsibility for battling what officials describe as crisis levels of crime has fallen increasingly on Oregon State Police troopers from the agency's stations in Grants Pass and Central Point. According to OSP statistics, Josephine County calls for its Criminal Division detectives, who now handle almost all homicides and serious assaults in most of the largely rural county, increased 850 percent between 2011 and 2013. "Over the last few years, I've gotten more and more questions from my customers about the safety of coming to Josephine County to recreate," Strahan said, explaining that he traveled throughout the region for work. Now, he said, the presence of "nutty, tough-acting, gun-toting thugs" is reinforcing the perception that Josephine County is a dangerous place. Jerry Reed, a former dean at Rogue Community College, said he was worried the Oath Keepers' presence was bad for the economy. If the mine's supporters really care about the community, he said, they'd leave the matter to the courts to resolve. When protesters offered themselves up for questions from the media, the first query didn't come from a reporter. "Has any of this group talked to the miners?" asked Oath Keepers local coordinator Joseph Rice, from behind the assembled news media, flanked by the group's public information officer. "If I understand correctly, you've never spoken to the miners?" "We're not here to answer your questions, Joseph," came a hostile retort from one protester. Many of the group retreated into the lobby of the courthouse as television cameras swiveled to face the mine supporters. While the Together for Josephine protesters took exception with the Oath Keepers actions, they, too came in for criticism. Grants Pass resident Allen Ehr lambasted the protesters, comparing them to outside environmental activists who ignored alleged wrongs committed by the federal government. Meanwhile, former Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson hung back quietly, watching and listening. Gilbertson, who lost the November election to Dave Daniel, said that while he doesn't miss the stress of the job, he wishes the miners had taken their stand while he was still in office. "If I were still sheriff, I would be right where the Oath Keepers are," Gilbertson said. Gilbertson said the protesters' retreat from the mine supporters was disrespectful, and that he believed the law was clearly on the side of the miners. "It's a constitutional issue," he said, adding that he talks to the Oath Keepers "all the time" and hadn't heard any talk of violence from the group. "I think both sides of the issue want a peaceful resolution to this." Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 @ 2:02 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 7:45 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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