4
letters to the editor/community bulletin board
august6
2015
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor,
We were very pleasantly
surprised when a nice man drove up our
driveway and handed out energy saving
devices for our household. He was from
WOEC and he gifted us with energy
efficient light bulbs and shower heads.
We were very appreciative, even more
than usual, because we had been having
trouble with the barn lights mysteriously
being turned on any and all hours of the
day and night. It seems that we had a
frisky calf who loved playing with the
light switch! Now problem solved
and even our barn is energy efficient!
Thanks again to WOEC. We appreciate
your caring.
Jim and Marie Krahn
Vernonia
Committee had looked into becoming
a Special District prior to Thelma
Bonar’s Depletion Fee Initiative. The
Transit Advisory Committee asked
Commissioner Fisher if a Special District
could/would be supported by these
businessmen. He asked the Committee
to put in writing why they would prefer
Special vs Service, and he would discuss
this with the commissioners. Here are
some of the points the Transit Advisory
Committee made: A Service District
would continue to operate under the
control of the county commissioners as
a department of the county. The county
would continue support services such as
fiscal and legal services, the same as it
does now, the charges are established by
the county. As a Special District, those
needs could be provided for by people/
services geared towards the needs of
transportation and the fees negotiated
accordingly.
A Special District is an
independent unit of government with
its own tax base and elected board of
directors (911 is a Special District).
The Special District Board of Directors
would be held responsible by the voters;
their one mission - transportation. A
support structure (administration) and
funding would have to be established.
CCRider is largely supported by
state and federal grants (matching
funds) and community contributions,
which will remain the same and is not
enough to provide the service needed
(since the commissioners’ support was
withdrawn). That would increase with
more established funding. At this time
fares only cover about 20 percent of
operation cost.
During the next meeting,
Commissioner Fisher told us the
commissioners wanted to run a survey
to see which of the local businesses
would be more likely to support Service
or Special.
I personally believe it is time for
a change and the public that actually uses
and depends on public transportation
needs to have a voice. A Special District
could make a difference. I see no value
in spending the time or money for more
of the same.
To the Editor,
In response to the article
regarding
the
Commissioner’s
Survey – Service District vs Special
District, that I read in the Spotlight. I
attended both public meetings with
Commissioner Earl Fisher and the
Columbia County Citizen’s Transit
Advisory Committe, plus all the group
discussions. Commissioner Henry
Heimuller did not attend any of these
meetings. Commissioner Fisher made
it clear that since the depletion measure
came so close to winning (within 375
votes) the commissioners realized how
important transportation is to Columbia
County. Commissioner Fisher pointed
out by establishing a Special District
the commissioners would be freed up to
focus on the wide variety of other issues
that are often a higher priority (time
sensitive) than transit. Commissioner
Heimuller indicated transportation has
always been the commissioners’ second
priority (after the jail), yet we lost 64%
of our service about 2 years ago due
to the commissioners’ decision to stop
their support, knowing CCRider would
then not have the local “match dollars”
to obtain grant funding available. This
announcement was made at a meeting
with all three commissioners and
ODOT.
Commissioner Fisher said
there are local businessmen willing to
financially support an initiative to create Sharon Evinger
a Service District. The Transit Advisory Scappoose, OR
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Aloha! I’m Argyle! I am a super sweet, 6
year old, Boxer mix. I was rescued from
Hawaii, where I had very little chance of
finding my forever home. Here in Oregon, I
know my family is coming for me; I’ll be
patiently waiting and storing up lots of love
and affection for you! My dream in life is to
be your loyal companion; sitting in a kennel
at the shelter is not my thing. I want to go
for walks, hikes, or just lounge around with
you watching movies. When we meet, I’ll
most likely jump up for a little kiss, but I
can quickly sit down and mind my manners
too! I just love people so much! Come take me home, you won’t regret it!
Web: www.columbiahumane.org
Phone: 503-397-4353
2084 Oregon Street
Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org
St. Helens, OR 97051
Upcoming Events
Vernonia Friendship Jamboree
Weekend - August 7, 8 & 9.
Friday: Concert on the Creek
3:00 pm. Saturday: Spencer Park
Grand Opening Ceremony 9:00
am; Parade 11:00 am; Pat Curl
Memorial Sports Benefit, featuring
Tony Pace 6:30 pm. Sunday:
Volunteer Fire & Rescue Golf
Benefit 7:00 am; Horse Gaming
8:00 am; Logging Show 12:00
pm.
Senior Center Picnic - Friday,
August 14, 12:00 at Anderson
Park. Hot dogs and hamburgers
will be provided. The band will
be there, too! Contact the Senior
Center for more details. 503-429-
3912
The Old Timers Picnic - Sunday,
August 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at
Anderson Park. Coffee provided.
Little Guy Football
Sign-ups and Camp
Sign-ups for Little Guy Football
will be held on August 10 at
Greenman Field from 4:30-6:30
pm. Sign-ups will take place
during the Vernonia Boosters
sponsored Football Camp with
new high school head coach
Thor Ware. Football Camp runs
from August 10-14 for Little Guy
Football and Middle School age
players.
HOW TO SEND LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests
your thoughts, opinions and ideas.
Please include your name, address and
phone number, limit your letters to 300
words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves
the right to edit, omit, respond or ask
for a response to letters submitted. We
will print letters space permitting. Dead-
line is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each
month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.
com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55,
Vernonia, OR 97064.
Hot dog lunch available or bring
your own.
Vernonia’s
2nd
Biggest
Reunion - Sunday, August 16,
10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Email:
vernoniareunion@hotmail.com or
find them on Facebook.
Bear Creek Run - Saturday,
August 22, at Anderson Park.
Contact:
kelliem@westoregon.
org or register online: http://www.
signmeup.com/108401
Community Wide Garage Sale
- Saturday, August 22, 9:00 am -
5:00 pm. To sign up contact Helen
Bateman at 503-429-6203.
West Oregon Electric Co-op
Annual Meeting - Saturday,
August 22, register 10:00 am;
meeting 11:00 am at the Cabin in
Vernonia, 901 Park Drive.
1st Cross Country practice
August 17th 9:00 am meet at
the Grandstands. Participants
are required to have had a
physical exam within the last two
years, provide proof of medical
insurance, running shoes, and
appropriate clothing for long
distance running.
WOEC Annual
Meeting
August 22nd
The West Oregon Electric
Cooperative Annual Meeting will
be held on Saturday, August 22nd,
at the Cabin in Vernonia (Scout
Cabin), 901 Park Drive. Registration
starts at 10:00 am; meeting begins at
11:00 am. BBQ lunch will follow the
meeting. District 1 (Elsie, Jewelll,
Necanicum area), District 4 (Vernonia
area), and District 6 (Scappoose,
Chapman area) are up for re-election.
Volleyball Skills Clinic
No experience required
For more info:
All incoming 6th-9th graders
call Head Coach
Mon-Thr, August 10th-13th
Teresa Williams
9:00AM-12:00PM
503-799-3424 or
at the VHS Gym
twilliams@vernonia.k12.or.us
$40 per player, free T-shirt.
Sign up early - T-shirts are limited
Need Help?
Call for meeting times and locations
Columbia Community
Mental Health
Call 503-397-5211 -or-
1-800-294-5211
For after hours Crisis call:
1-866-866-1426
http://ccmh1.com/crisis.html
Narcotics Anonymous
NW Region
503-345-9839
http://portlandna.com/
Alcohol Anonymous
NW Region
503-366-0667
http://www.pdxaa.com/
