RICE HILL, Oregon — Signs reading “Rice Hill, No Perverts Wanted, “Porn Poisons Hearts and Minds” and “Just Say No to Porn” could be seen when more than 20 area residents protested the opening of a new adult store.
“It’s just something we don’t need in our area,” said Pat Kremer. The Rice Hill resident expressed concern that the shop will lead to decreased property values. “They’re devaluating, not only our morals, but our pocketbooks.”
The Adult Shop is located off northbound Interstate 5, near the truck stop at Milepost 148. The 3,200-square-foot building is owned by Gary Goin of Veneta, and it sells adult literature and adult video rentals. It opened about a month ago, originally using the name Rice Hill Curio Shop.
Because of the misrepresentation, the store had to apply for new permits — one for the business and another for the large illuminated sign erected on its property. The Adult Shop is now complying with zoning and business standards, and according to officials with the Douglas County Planning Department, little can be done to shut it down.
But Kelly Kremer of Rice Hill, son of Pat Kremer, isn’t willing to accept that the shop is a permanent fixture in his community.
“This is disgusting,” he said. “It’s a despicable business that’s unwanted. No one wants it here, nobody.”
He said community residents should have the power to close adult shops, and to make his voice heard, he’s hosted two peaceful protests in the parking lot of the business. The first took place a week ago and was reportedly attended by about 70 people, while about 20 joined in Saturday’s rally as of 11 a.m.
Kelly Kremer said his work is far from complete.
“Decent citizens need to be protected from this kind of perversion in their neighborhood,” he said. “If I have to walk from Rice Hill to Salem to (visit) Gov. Kulongoski’s office, I will. When I get there, my question to him will be, ‘Can you hear me now?'”
Other protesters agree with the Kremers, saying adult stores are responsible for sexual deviancy and destroyed homes.
“This is not what we need in this day and age in our society, it just isn’t,” said George Hughes of Umpqua, who owns a business in Sutherlin. “This is too much, it’s too much perversion.”