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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2015)
community november19 2015 Fish and Wildlife Commission Delists Wolves Statewide as Endangered Also ask for increased penalties for unlawful taking of wolves and Oregon ESA change to allow partial delisting of species in future The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to delist wolves from the state Endangered Species Act throughout Oregon on November 9, 2015. The vote was split 4-2. The meeting began at 8:00 am and adjourned at 6:44 pm. Over 100 people testified and were limited to three minutes each. Commissioners thanked the public for coming to testify and asked that interests on both sides of the issue continue to work with each other. Chair Finley noted the many people, “some in cowboy hats and others in t-shirts supporting wolves,” came out to testify on opposite sides of the issue because they care about wolves. “The Wolf Plan has been working well and you are all responsible for that,” he told the public at the end of the day. “We will remember the merits of the Wolf Plan and the next one will be as good or better. You can all help that happen.” With the Commission’s decision made, the rule was filed with the Secretary of State on Noveber 10. The filing removes wolves from the state Endangered Species Act but has no other effect on wolf management at this time. The Wolf Plan continues to provide protection of wolves into the future. Any take of wolves is tightly regulated in all phases of the plan. Non-lethal preventive measures to prevent wolf-livestock conflict are the first choice of wildlife managers in all phases of wolf management. There is no general season sport hunting of wolves allowed in any phase of the Wolf Plan. Wolves in western Oregon will continue to be managed with ESA- like protections until they reach the conservation objective of four breeding pairs for three consecutive years. This is known as Phase 1 of wolf management. Additionally, west of Highways 395-78-95 wolves are also still listed under the federal Endangered Species Act and the Commission’s action has no effect on their federal status. Wolves in eastern Oregon moved to Phase 2 of management earlier this year. They will move to Phase 3 after ODFW documents seven breeding pairs for three consecutive years, which could occur as early as January 2017. In Phase 3 while wolves are delisted, controlled take of wolves in situations of chronic depredation or wolf-related declines of prey populations (deer and elk) is allowed with Commission approval. The vote was not unanimous. Commissioner Greg Wolley voted not to delist while Commissioner Laura Anderson supported delisting only in the eastern part of the state and voted against the motion. Other Commissioners also expressed support for delisting in eastern Oregon only. However, they noted that Oregon ESA law does not allow for delisting in only a portion of the state. Commissioners will be sending a note to the Oregon State Legislature asking that the law be changed so that listing and delisting would be allowed in only a portion of the state for other species in the future. Commissioners also asked that penalties for unlawfully taking a wolf be increased. Currently, the maximum penalty is a $6,250 fine and a year in jail and that penalty does not change with the delisting of wolves. The Commission is the policy- making body for fish and wildlife issues in Oregon. Its next meeting is December 4 in Portland. Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Chip Bubl Tobie Finzel Aaron Miller Robert Schattschneider Sonia Spackman Grant Williams Photography Scott Laird Kate Talbot 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 Seniors Citizens Change Meal Program With the mandatory demolition of the Senior Center in March, the Vernonia Senior Citizens Board has experimented with alternatives to continue providing home-delivered and congregate meals for seniors. The Vernonia Senior Citizens Board voted to change the way both home-delivered meals and regular senior meals are prepared. Beginning Nov 9, home- delivered lunches are being prepared by three local restaurants (Mariolino’s, Black Iron Grill and Vernonia Subway). These meals are then delivered by Senior Center volunteers Monday through Friday. This home-delivered meal service applies to those seniors who have been approved through Community Action Team’s senior services program. Requests may be made by calling Community Action Team senior services 503-366-6584 or toll free 866-432-0044. A second change will begin later this month for those seniors (aged sixty and above) who may wish to access dine- in meals. The same three restaurants agreed to design special senior menus which meet the Older American Act dietary guidelines regarding nutritional standards. When senior citizens order their meal from the special senior menu, certificates may be used to pay for the meal. Diners may choose whichever of the three restaurants they would like and may also choose whatever time they want to eat, during each establishment’s regular business hours. Seniors may use one certificate per day with a maximum of ten certificates per month. This new program replaces the current meals program being served at the American Legion Hall. Social activities will continue to be held at the American Legion Hall. Seniors wishing to participate must register with program director Wendy West in the Senior Office, 939 Bridge Street, beginning at 10 am, Monday, November 30. (This is the same site as the Seniors Bargains on Bridge Street store.) The registration is open every Monday from 10 am to 3 pm. During the application process, a booklet containing ten meal certificates will be given. Donations are requested and are anonymous and confidential. The Senior Board hopes that seniors will donate as generously as they can to sustain this new program. A limited number of certificate packs will be available. The certificates are not transferable and have no expiration date. If there are more requests than the initial planned amount, a waiting list will be created. The organization will also support this pilot meal program through fund raisers and will gladly accept tax- deductible donations from the public to help provide healthy meals for our senior citizen population. Donations may be mailed to Vernonia Senior Citizens, 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064. Please designate “meals” on the check memo line. The Vernonia Senior Citizens organization looks forward to this new www.VernoniasVoice.com Where do you read the Voice? Show us where you have traveled. Submit your photo by email to: scott@vernoniasvoice.com approach for nutritious meals for seniors. They are very grateful to Mariolino’s, Black Iron Grill and Vernonia Subway for their willingness and support of this new program. Questions may be directed to program director Wendy West during regular business hours by calling 503- 405-0187. Cedar Side Inn FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Red Carpet Birthday Bash Saturday, November 21 EVENTS Karaoke Every 2nd & Last Friday Sun, Dec. 6th - 2:00pm Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ladies’ Night every Thursday 6pm-close • Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841 3 Texas Hold ‘Em • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Sat, Dec. 12th - 8:30pm Tavern Storytime “SantaLand Diaries” “BIKER FRIENDLY” Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999
