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.
