opinion
march6
2014
An Opinion: How Do We Solve the Jail Issue?
By Randy Sanders
Columbia County’s current
jail problem is both controversial
and profound. There are those who
seemingly aren’t able to afford the
tax needed to support the levy, I get
that, these are tough times. But unless
you are weak on crime and/or have
a soft spot for criminals, then you
too agree we absolutely
need a functioning jail
like any other legitimate
community. If communities
didn’t need to incarcerate
their criminals, we would
see
prisoners
being
released, jails and prisons
all over America shutting
down daily to save money.
I tend to look
at issues like these
pragmatically and without
emotion.
First, we must
block out the name callers
and screamers who spend their days
parading around from meeting to
meeting aroused by the sound of their
own voice. You know who I mean. They
make no articulate points, they bring no
solutions to the table. This is exactly
what is making politics dysfunctional
and folks sick of the whole process.
Secondly, let’s include all
folks -- for or against the levy -- who
are willing to come forward and help
to solve the problem in a civil tone.
Conservative, moderate or liberal folks
are welcomed to have a seat at the table,
as long as they understand the debate
will remain respectful. In order to have
your ideas considered, you must listen
to others.
Thirdly, linking this issue to the
past, is irrelevant and does not solve
this problem. If we miss this one, it will
drive up our home owners insurance,
car insurance, endanger our children,
allow drunk drivers to own the streets,
and more. If you cast this warning off as
a “scare tactic,” then you aren’t paying
attention. I am a very open-minded
person and I will certainly entertain all
concepts that arrive at the solution; as
long as we do create a solution.
Calling people names is the
mark of a weak mind who cannot
articulate themselves effectively. Once
the frontal cortex begins to process
information, it is quickly overloaded
and like a garbage disposal that isn’t
functioning properly, it spews out a
continuous flow of putrid, lurid sewage.
Thank You and So Long!
By Brooke VanMeter
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
I’m pretty sure that those words
are meant for the parting of a love affair
of the heart and yet that is exactly what
we have for Vernonia. In our hearts we
will always love Vernonia, Oregon. I
will always be a proud fourth generation
Vernonian and of course Dave was
“grandfathered in”, when I married
him. Maybe it’s here that I express
thankfulness for “adopting Dave” as
a native Vernonian and especially not
holding it against him that he was from
New Jersey! Thank you also to all of you
that supported VanMeter Construction
and gave Dave the opportunity to
improve your property, it was and is
greatly appreciated.
There are so many special, and
yes, difficult times that have defined our
last eight years here, it’s really hard to
know where to begin. So, I will just
mention a few. Thank you to the school
district and parents who entrusted me
to coach the Lady Loggers Volleyball
team another four years. I coached a
total of nine seasons of volleyball and
two of basketball for Vernonia over the
years and these will always be amongst
my favorite memories. I never felt
as proud as when I stood alongside
your daughters on the gym floor and
represented Vernonia High School.
Probably one of Vernonia’s
finest characteristics is when hard
times come, the town rallies behind
you. When my brother Kris passed so
unexpectedly you showed up in spades.
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Lady’s Night Wed 5-12
“STILL BIKER FRIENDLY”
Live Music
• Specialty hamburgers
• Draft beer & mixed drinks
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Special live music events
• Free Wi-fi
Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
733 Bridge St, Vernonia
March 15
Third Member
April 12
Megan James
& the Intolerables
April 26
Dixie Wrecked
Beer & Kegs to go
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM
• 503-429-9999
Making articulate points and
arriving at solutions takes skill, but that’s
what this country was built on. Small,
rural communities of the pioneer-past
had many significant problems, but they
put their minds together to find those
pertinent solutions. Sure, they also had
the to deal with those who had nothing
constructive to contribute and festered
on the excitement of seeing their names
in print and hearing their
opinions over others, but
they were quickly cast aside
and concentrated on those
who were serious problem
solvers. This is what we
must do now.
Even if you are against
the current form of funding,
that’s fine, your opinion is
respected. If you don’t care
for the levy, but express
your concerns respectfully,
that is good because that is
where we start to negotiate.
These other noise-makers
and name-callers are of no help to the
process.
ALL smart and responsible
people certainly agree we need a jail
-- unless you are soft on crime and you
want to reward criminals -- so let’s only
focus on the constructive thinkers.
3
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Stacey Lynn
Gayle Rich-Boxman
Shannon Romtvedt
Sarah Rossi
Randy Sanders
Michal Smith
Sonia Spackman
Brooke VanMeter
Grant Williams
Brad Witt
Photography
Gayle Rich-Boxman
Want to advertise?
Have an article?
Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com
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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
Randy Sanders is a photographer and
blogger. He occasionally writes for
Vernonia’s Voice and can be reached by
email: Randy.Sanders@Live.com.
www.VernoniasVoice.com
THANK YOU! Watching this town
come together for the greater good of
its citizens... beautiful. Seeing you in
action when the going gets tough is
inspirational. Thank you for being “that
kind of town”.
Lastly, thank you for the support
you gave The Old Mill House Inn during
our seven years of doing business here.
Once again you entrusted me with your
family and friends and it was a pleasure
taking care of them at our Bed and
Breakfast.
So, as we go to live near our
daughters we will take you with us in
our hearts. We will miss you but we are
not going to say good bye. Because, if I
have learned nothing in this life it’s that
you never say never. So long Vernonia,
we will see you!
VERNONIA
E
C
I
V
R
E
S PAIR
E
R
&
Warranty on all parts and labor
Now offering
2 and 4 wheel
alignments
58605 NEHALEM HWY. S.
Next to Storage, Too
503/429/7972
Cedar Side Inn
St. Patrick’s Day
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Open Mic Night
Saturday, March 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
