vernonia’s
voice welcome
december
2008
03
VERNONIA’S
from the editor....
As we enter the holiday season this month, and the end of the year, Vernonia’s Voice would like to take this opportunity to send
out warm greetings to all our readers, supporters, friends and family, and especially to the community of Vernonia. May we all
have a safe, warm and DRY holiday this year, and, hopefully, get to spend it with those who are most important in our lives.
In this month’s issue, we take a look at the community of Vernonia one year after the Flood of December, 2007. Our December,
2008, issue is scheduled to to be distributed almost exactly one year after the December 3 flood, and so it seemed appropriate to
focus on where we are today. I started out talking with some residents who had been affected, and quickly realized that to truly
express in print what is happening in Vernonia in regards to flood recovery would take several issues and months to accurately
capture. So look in this issue and over the coming months for more about Vernonia-- One Year After The Flood.
One question became very apparent this past month: Is Vernonia ready for another flood this coming winter? In fact, Vernonia
went through an early scare in mid-November, when weather forecasters put us on alert that a severe storm was headed our way,
and to be prepared for high winds, heavy rains and possible flooding. The storm missed us this time (Washington State wasn’t so
lucky), and we didn’t get flooded by rivers and streams. What we did get flooded by were emotions-- fears that residents might
lose everything again, students acting out in unusual ways in school, elderly citizens afraid they would not be able to evacuate,
business owners afraid of being put out of business-- again. People became very scared, and now wonder if we will be as lucky
again, next time. It was apparent that we were not emotionally prepared to be flooded again.
The reality is that we are faced with a new paradigm when it comes to protecting ourselves against flooding in Vernonia. What-
ever you believe might be causing this-- global climate change, heavy logging and clear-cutting in the headwaters, normal cycles
of weather patterns, or just plain bad luck-- people in this community feel threatened and unsafe. Hopefully, Vernonia won’t get
flooded again anytime soon, maybe never again. Maybe, as each year passes with no disastrous events, those fears will recede,
and it will get easier when we receive reports of approaching bad weather. Maybe we will get systems in place that will allow
residents to feel safer, knowing they can be alerted to coming trouble. Maybe we will be able to secure and raise enough funds
to move or raise all the homes in the flood zone, and the schools, and our vital services, and not have to worry at all. We can
always hope for the best. In the meantime, we all need to work together; support one another; listen to our friends, families, and
neighbors; and know that the fears they are expressing are very real.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
News Editor
Scott Laird
(503) 367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.
com
Copy Editors
Tobie Finzel
Erika Paleck
Dennis Nicks
Alumni Editor
Tammy Vanderzanden
Contributors
Charlie Alnut
Esther Arce
Nancy Burch
Tobie Finzel
Sally Harrison
P.J. O’Leary
Heather Lewis
Erika Paleck
George Spaulding
Burt Tschache
Donna Webb
Art Director/
Graphic Design
Amy Shearer,
On Madison Studio
Photography
Scott Laird
Web Design/Mgmt
Amy Shearer,
On Madison Studio
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
I have recently had a couple of conversations with readers of Vernonia’s Voice about my “An Opinion” and “From the Editor”
columns. From these conversations, I have gathered that some readers may feel I have an agenda, and might be trying to influ-
ence thinking in our community. While it is true that I have strong opinions about certain subjects, my intention has not been,
and is not, to tell people how to think. Instead, my intention is to promote discussion and conversation about interesting ideas and
topics among members of our community.
I understand that not everyone may agree with my point of view. In fact, at times, some of you may find my viewpoints objection-
able. One reader told me he didn’t want to read opinions in the paper-- he just wanted to read the facts. I disagree-- I think there
is a place for an opinion in a local community paper, just as long as that opinion doesn’t start creeping into the news reporting.
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P.O. Box 55
Vernonia, Oregon 97064
503-367-0098
And, just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t work together, be neighbors, or even be friends. Certainly, I hope, we can
talk about our differences of opinion. In a small town, we are forced-- or given the opportunity, depend-
ing on how you see it-- to deal closely with people who have differing viewpoints about religion, politics,
sex, education, the environment, race, economics or a host of other issues. How we choose to deal with
those differences can set us apart-- do we try to ignore them and avoid those who see the world differ-
ently, are do we talk about them and embrace them, and work together to build a vibrant community?
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Tell me what you think. That way, we can get to know each other a little better.
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As always-- and maybe I haven’t stressed this enough in print-- I welcome letters to the editor, and en-
courage those that disagree with my comments and opinions to put them in print. Let me know you think
I’ve got it all wrong, and tell me why. My intention is that this newspaper be the voice of Vernonia-- the
voice of our community.
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Maybe I haven’t always been as thoughtful as is needed when writing my opinions? Maybe they have
come across as too strong? My hope is that I will get better at this, and reach, rather than alienate, read-
ers.
NAME
My hope, by addressing interesting subjects in a thoughtful way in my editorials, is that citizens in our
community will begin to discuss these subjects over a cup of coffee, at the laundromat, in line at Sentry,
or while talking in the street with your neighbor. Or that a teenaged son or daughter might come home
one evening and ask, “Mom, what do you think about election reform? Do you think we should get rid
of the Electoral College?” Lofty aspirations, I guess, but maybe I just don’t know any better.
Yes, sign me up for one year of Vernonia’s Voice!
A rule of thumb in many businesses is to never discuss politics, religion or sex with your customers. But
my business is all about discussing information, and I see controversial subjects as an opportunity to get
to know one another better, to build relationships, and to learn to work better with one another.
Vernonia’s Voice is a monthly publication distributed the first of each month.
Subscription rates are $25 for one year (twelve issues)
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