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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 2011)
8 letters to the editor july26 2011 Readers Lend Their Voices... break the party up and arrest or cite those who are breaking any number of laws. You have no idea of how much alcohol and or drugs are there, or if any of the participant are armed. You contact the property owner and are told to leave because it is private property. Unfortunately, you have no choice but to leave because you cannot enter the property legally. All you can do is hope than no one leaves the party impaired or that no one at the party is injured. Now the people who reported the activity think that the police and Sheriff’s Department are doing nothing, again. As a taxpayer you decide to vote against any appeal for funds to adequately respond. The result is a further deterioration of the ability to serve the residents of the county. Now the property owner who hosted the site of the party knows that they can get away with breaking the law. So the parties continue during the summer months. Is it the fault of Law Enforce- ment or the County Commissioners who have developed an ordinance continued from page 4 that cannot be enforced requiring a permitting process for events, but putting the attendance minimum for the requirement at 500 people. Can you imagine an officer standing outside the property counting the people entering so they can legally go and enforce the law? Or is it the property owner who is hosting the party? With property ownership comes responsibility – for those attending the function, for damages to neighboring property and ultimately for any loss of life caused by impairment they contributed to by allowing the service of alcohol or drugs. If they charged any admission to the event, they assume a lot of liability as well. Is it worth it to endanger not only those attending the event, but law enforcement, and also the drivers and their families who must share the roads with those who attended the event? The consequences and stakes are too high. If you are a property owner, think twice before agreeing to host such an event. The risks and costs are too high for everyone involved including you. If someone dies, it becomes your responsibility for that death because you provided the location for the party. Voters, you need to think about consequences as well. We can complain all we want, but we need to be part of the solution, by providing resources that will allow us to have adequate well trained law enforcement. Yes, it does increase your taxes, but for the cost of a latte a week, peace of mind becomes really low cost. We lost one good police chief earlier this year. Can we afford to lose more law enforcement personnel because we cannot afford adequate coverage due to budget cuts? I would hate to be the lone officer on call to respond to a large function of impaired citizens. Take responsibility, please. Do not host events with alcohol and other substances available. Do not furnish alcohol to underage youth. If you want to have a large party, hire trained security to monitor the event. It could very well prevent a senseless death or serious injury to someone you love. And next time a Law Enforcement Levy is on the ballot, vote yes so that we all are protected and served. Lynn Chiotti MADD Columbia County CAS St. Helens Editors Note-During the week of July 18, two men from Dream Big Enterprises were circulation through Vernonia looking for a location of at least 40 acres and offering property owners money to allow them to hold an “Arts Festival” during the weekend of July 29-31. When asked why they wanted to hold their event in the Vernonia area, they mentioned that Columbia County doesn’t have a noise ordinance. A view of the event on Facebook gave every indication that this festival, which already had 940 people indicate they were attending, was another rave type event. To the Editor As the lead pyrotechnician for the Vernonia Fireworks Crew I would like to say thank you to the following organizations and individuals who’s contributions allowed me to put on Vernonia’s 4Th of July fireworks show. Vernonia Prevention Coalition, Vernonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, Vernonia Mini Mart, Vernonia Lions Club, Vernonia Boosters, Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Association, Jack and Randal Harvey, Vernonia Hardware,Vernonia True Value, Randy Carlton, Tobie Fenzel, and all who put money in the buckets around town. Tom Ramsey Vernonia To the Editor July’s First Friday at the Scout Cabin featured a gorgeous summer evening of local crafts, original art works, and the magical Celtic music of Alexander Adams. Children painted stars and decorated cookies. Thank you to all the visitors who stopped by and to the Boy Scouts for a moving flag retirement ceremony. Thanks also go to Forest Wheeler for making balloon hats and cats for the kids, and to Sentry Market for donating cookies for decorating. First Friday supports Hand on Art in Vernonia and couldn’t happen without the generous efforts of all the volunteers who set up, kept things running smoothly and cleaned up afterwards. First Friday We’re Right Here, No Need to Speed to the Vernonia 55th Annual Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show August 5, 6, 7th, 2011 EVERYDAY EVENTS Information Booth Annual Vernonia Jamboree Softball Tournament Black Power Encampment Food and Craft Vendors FRIDAY EVENTS Isaak Walton League Kid’s Fishing Derby Friends of the Library Jamboree Book Sale First Friday Market SATURDAY EVENTS Jamboree Pancake Breakfast “New” Diesel Power – Fastest Diesel Semi Truck Friends of the Library Jamboree Book Sale Vernonia Friendship Jamboree Parade Lawnmower Races Nehalem Valley Speed and Beauty Car Show Open Air Market SUNDAY EVENTS Jamboree Pancake Breakfast Vernonia Ridge Riders Play Day Vernonia Friendship Jamboree Logging Show Have a safe and fun Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show Look for the Vernonia’s Voice Jamboree Guide available August 1st.
