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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2014)
opinion february6 2014 Voices From the Crowd: Columbia County at a Crossroads By Randy Sanders There was a time in America when partisan politics had limits. Republican President Ronald Reagan lay motionless in his hospital bed after losing half the blood in his body from an assassination attempt that had pierced his lung, leaving the bullet lodged an inch from his heart. The first person the President received was Speaker of the House Tip O’Niell; a Democrat and staunch liberal. Taking the President’s withered hand, O’Neill knelt at the bedside and recited the twenty-third Pslam, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” as the President whispered the words along with him. Once finished, the Speaker kissed the President on his forehead and left the room; tears welling up in the big man’s eyes. It’s sad to admit this, but it’s unlikely such an encounter would happen today. Columbia County is at the crossroads of an issue swept under the rug for almost a decade; public safety. This is an issue that should unite both sides of our partisan divide. Voters have repeatedly denied the funding necessary to operate a safe and effective sheriff’s office, including the jail. Each time the levy has failed, no one who voted against it has stepped forward to provide solutions. I respect those arguments claiming money is already in the county coffers to pay for the jail; however, you must explain “where” and “how.” We all knew this preverbal can was being kicked down the road; now it’s reached the dead end. Our jail will close by early summer. What exacerbates the problem are the employees who currently work there, leaving, to seek stable employment. Having to refill those positions by removing patrol officers from the road makes us less safe and creates more issues. I believe any reasonable tax payer will agree we need a stable public safety program including a jail. I have created a group called Columbia County Works Together do put this issue directly into the hands of us, the citizens. Conservatives and liberals can leave all their personal issues behind and work together on only one problem: funding for the jail. It’s high-time we take ownership, and solve this. Get ready, because without a jail, we will be under a media assault that only advertises to every drug dealer and gang-banger that we are ripe for the taking. This will do nothing for our home values, employment/business opportunities, or our image. Rural communities all over Oregon are re-focusing their efforts after a devastating recession. It’s an exciting time for small tech, internet retail, organic farms, micro brews, wineries and more. Folks like the Carver family in Central Oregon have elevated their little sheep farm into a Ralph Lauren and Loggerbots Get Ready lot of help from their volunteer men- tors-community members who coach the team and help them figure out de- sign strategies. All the mentors from last year’s success have returned and the team has even recruited several new mentors this year, including school liai- son Eric Urban. The Loggerbot squad is made up of fourteen students, including a couple of Middle School students again this year, and meets weeknights and Satur- days to work on their project. According to Jeff Ely, a parent/ mentor, the team is way ahead in the electronics and computer programing aspects of their project, using their past knowledge to speed up that work this year. Ely says the team is still working out the design of how to launch and di- rect the ball towards their intended tar- gets. Ely says the team has been able to scavenge parts from their past two robots, which has allowed the team to Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Lady’s Night Wed 5-12 “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” Dates to Remember Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Susan Ely Steven Leskin Stacey Lynn P.J. O’Leary Jack Phillips Gayle Rich-Boxman Sarah Rossi Randy Sanders Michal Smith Sonia Spackman Grant Williams Photography Nikita McCord Gayle Rich-Boxman Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 You can contact Randy Sanders at ColumbiaCountyWorksTogether@ yahoo.com or read about the campaign at columbiacountyworkstogether.blog. com continued from front page “buy” a 3D printer with some of their credits. The 3D printer has been re- ally fun and interesting for the students to work with and learn about. “It’s all part of learning technology and science, which is what this program is all about,” says Ely. Ely says fundraising and spon- sorship has been very important this year. In past years the team has been required to raise $5,000 just to compete, plus additional funds for parts. This year the team needs $5,000 to go to the Dis- trict competitions and another $3,000 to go to the Regional competition, plus parts and other ancillary expenses. Aubrey Leach is a seventh grad- er, who has recruited her parents and a grandparent to help mentor the team. Leach has been learning to solder and has been working on the electrical compo- nents of the project. Leach says she ap- proached the company where her father works, Aamcon, who agreed to sponsor the team with a $2,000 donation. If the • Specialty hamburgers • Draft beer & mixed drinks • Pool tables & satelite TV • Special live music events • Free Wi-fi Team USA wool supplier. Meanwhile in Columbia County -- with our vast riverfront property and fertile farmland -- we cannot even fund a jail! Certainly any plans of luring business or seeding our current family businesses are out of the question. Giving free passes out to criminals wanting a place to sell drugs, steal or set up illegal operations is not a place successful entrepreneurs can operate. I am just one guy, one tax payer, one citizen who has seen enough. The recent 100-mph chase of the alleged Florida gang-related folks through the heart of our community are not the kind of customers I had in mind when I imagine bringing business to Columbia County. I can’t watch this sad story unfold without a fight. I am extending a hand, to liberals and conservatives alike to find a solution before it’s too late. One issue, one focus point, one goal. Leave issues that divide us at home, just bring your ideas for only this one issue. If you’re a liberal, you certainly don’t want hate crimes going unpunished. If you’re a conservative, you want citizens solving problems, not government; well, here’s where we can work together. 3 Sunday, Feb. 9 2:00 pm Lions Club Texas Hold Em Benefit for David Spackman Beer & Kegs to go Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 team qualifies for the Regional compe- tition, Leach says Aamcon has pledged www.VernoniasVoice.com another $2,000, and has told the team to come back for more funding if they the Christmas Lighted Parade and dem- advance to Nationals. onstrating their robots on several other Ely says the team has also been occasions. pretty active this past year, marching in Community Garden to Hold Plant Sale The Vernonia Community Garden (VCG) is currently planning its first fair and plant sale for May 10th. This will be an annual event providing fresh plants to Vernonia area gardeners. Vendors are currently being recruited to sell farm and garden merchandise. The VCG staff will have 1000 tomato plants for sale, all varieties are hand- picked to thrive in our less than ideal growing conditions. The Vernonia Community Garden is a non-profit group whose mission is to provide a gardening experience though education, mentoring and volunteer participation promoting a local source of organic fruits, vegetables and flowers for area residents of all ages, building upon the community’s heritage of self- sufficiency and sustainability. The plant sale will be held at the Vernonia Schools on May 10th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the commons area. Space is limited, interested vendors should contact Penny Costley at 503-429-0196 for more information. Cedar Side Inn Open Mic Night Saturday, February 22nd Karaoke Every Friday Night Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841
