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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2013)
august1 2013 VERNONIA’S volume7 issue15 www.vernoniasvoice.com reflecting the spirit of our community A Solution to the Feral Cat Problem In case you haven’t noticed, Verno- nia has a problem with feral cats. Take a walk around town early in the morning, or any time of day for that matter, and you will see an ex- cessive number of cats watching you pass by. There are probably many more that you don’t see, as well. Some of those cats are pets and belong to local families. But many of them are feral- wild cats that do not belong to anyone or have a home where they live. Some are the remnants of the 2007 Flood-cats, and their offspring, that were left behind when families moved out of this community. It is a growing problem, look- ing for a solution. Vernonia is not the only place with a fe- ral cat problem. But help is available. The Fe- ral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) is helping communities deal with this issue in a humane way. The mission of the FCCO is to... “im- prove the welfare and reduce the population of feral and stray cats in Oregon through spay/ neuter programs and education.” Services are specifically targeted for feral cats that have caregivers who are feeding them. The FCCO is a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program, mean- inside 7 8 10 11 15 columbia county fair living on a lake cheer squad the inkwell bear creek run free ing the caregivers trap the cats, bring them to a clinic, and return the cats to where they are being fed with a commitment to feed the cat(s) on a permanent basis. The goal of the program is to reduce suffering for existing feral cats and prevent the births and suffering of future gen- erations. Vernonia City Councilor Kim Tierney has already used the FCCO service numerous times and is hoping to spread the word to more Vernonians. “I got involved in re- sponse to the large number of cats that were reproduc- ing in our community,” says Tierney. “It’s a real prob- lem.” Tierney says the prob- lem was brought to her at- tention by Vernonian Angela Bettencourt. Together Tier- ney and Bettencourt trapped two cats and took them to FCCO. “The experience was so good it made me a believer,” says Tierney. According to Tierney the FCCO has live traps available for a $30 refund- able deposit and will provide spay and neuter services for free at their Portland clinic. Tier- ney, who says she transported 13 cats in the past month, has also volunteered to transport other cats to Portland, and back, to help solve this problem. You can reach her on Facebook at Kim Harris Tierney. To use the FCCO service you must fill out a caregiver application ahead of time and then schedule an appointment for surgery. In addition to being spayed or neutered, each cat receives an FVRCP (distemper) and rabies vac- cines, flea and ear mite treatment as needed, and treatment for other minor medical conditions. Each cat will have his or her right ear tipped for future identification. The FCCO does ask for a $30 donation to help cover the expense of surgery and other care, but that donation is not a requirement. Tierney is also encouraging local resi- dents to help address the cat problem in Vernonia by fostering and handling stray kit- tens, so they can be adopted. Trapping and handling kittens before the age of twelve weeks makes it much more likely that they can be socialized and adopted says Tierney. After that very short twelve week window it is unlikely that the kittens will ever be able to find homes and be kept as pets. Adopt- ing stray kittens and having them spayed or neutered would go a long way to helping the feral cat problem in the community. “It is really rough for outdoor cats,” says Tierney. “We really need to get them in and taken care of.” More information for anyone interested in using the FCCO services is available at www.feralcats.com. FCCO is a 501c3 organization sup- ported solely through donations. They do not receive any taxpayer support or other public funding. You can make a donation to their program and help end feral cat overpopula- tion in Oregon. Vernonia Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show August 2nd-4th Fundraiser Tournament “Fore Our Golf Team” The “Fore Our Golf Team Tournament 2013” will be held Saturday August 17, 2013 at the Vernonia Golf Club. The tournament is being organized by new Logger head golf coach, Laura Blacker; all proceeds from balls as well as some practice balls. “Once we get that equip- ment in place it should last a decade. We just need an invest- ment at the beginning. After that we won’t need as much money year after year.” The 2013 Vernonia golf team, wearing their new uniform shirts. the tournament will benefit the Vernonia High School golf team. “The golf team is a club sport which means they don’t get any funding from the school district,” explains Blacker. “So, we are trying to raise money for some basic equipment the team needs as well as help offset some of the costs for the kids.” The 18 hole tournament will be a four person scramble with an 8:30 AM start and in- cludes prizes and contests; balls, tees and one raffle ticket; lunch at the club; and, as the flyer for the events states, a “Warm fuzzy feeling for supporting our golf team.” Prizes will be awarded for: the longest drive, closest to the pin and a putting contest. Cost is $50 or $200 per team. For registration call Coach Blacker or Nick Zavales at the Vernonia Golf Club at 503-429- 6811. Sponsorship opportuni- ties are also still available for the tournament and is another way for businesses to support the VHS golf program. Blacker says she would also accept help with running the tournament, fundraising, or help with the team next spring if anyone is in- terested. Blacker says she would like to purchase hitting mats for her players to practice hitting from. “We’re out here in Febru- ary and March and the course is really, really wet,” says Blacker. She would also like to purchase some shag bags for collecting Blacker says golf is a very expensive sport for stu- dents to participate in. Families have to purchase clubs, shoes, uniform shirts, bags, tees, and balls. Then they still have to pay fees for their team to compete in their district, fees at their local club, plus greens fees at every tournament they play in, plus the expenses to get there. “If we could raise some money to help offset some of those costs I think I might be able to get some more kids to come out and play golf, which is the real goal.” says Blacker. “I’d like to build up the program here. We have such a beautiful golf course for the size of our community. I was re- ally surprised and pleased when I moved here to find there was such a nice golf course here.” Blacker did ask for and receive some assistance from the Vernonia Booster Club last season for the purchase of team shirts, which was a top priority according to her players. “When they go to tournaments they were the only team there that didn’t have uniforms,” says Blacker. “I think it made them feel more like a team, like a real sport.” Blacker is taking over the head coaching duties at VHS for the recently departed James Brookins after assisting Brookins with the team last sea- son. Blacker grew up in Burns, OR and played high school golf and attended Bowdoin College, a small school in Maine, where continued on page 9
