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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2016)
in other words february18 2016 Salem Update: Dealing with Poaching By Representative Brad Witt As the Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, I am always interested in finding out what is going on in the other forty-nine states, what problems they have and what successes they have experienced when it comes to dealing with rural issues. Recently, I attended the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders (SARL) Summit in Denver, Colorado, an organization expressly designed to provide all fifty states and some Canadian Provinces with the opportunity to share experiences and troubleshoot ideas. The SARL was formed in 2002, and it is managed by an elected board of nine, and I’m proud to say that I was elected as a director at our most recent meeting based upon a proposed agenda that addresses many of the members’ mutual concerns. They are as follows: 1. The necessity for long term water storage, particularly in these times of lengthy drought. 2. Comprehensive predator management policies. 3. Sustainable approaches to habitat protection/enhancement that place environmental, social, and economic considerations on equal footing. 4. The provision of sound science and messaging about key issues important to the Ag community and rural America. SARL’s mission is to promote and foster cooperation, leadership and educational opportunities among state and provincial legislators. I look forward to a mutually enriching involvement with my fellow elected officials and I hope to bring the products of experience and innovation back to Oregon. happy to say that we completed our agenda of House bills and we now await the influx from the Senate. One of the bills passed out of committee, I believe, will hold special interest for District 31. HB 4046, deals with increased damages for the unlawful taking or killing of wildlife (poaching). Hunting and fishing are part of the fabric of most rural communities and we are no exception, however we have to acknowledge that there are at times a few bad actors that spoil it for everyone. We have read, all too often, about persons who kill black bears for their paws and/or organs, take sturgeon for their eggs, kill elk or deer for their antlers, and leave the animals and fish to waste. It is the antithesis of everything that we consider to be humane and sportsmanlike. Activities that are considered poaching include killing an animal out of season, without a license, with a prohibited weapon, or in a prohibited manner. Killing a protected species, exceeding one’s bag limit or killing an animal while trespassing may also be considered poaching. HB 4046 increases penalties significantly for the unlawful taking or killing of certain wildlife and it prohibits the removal or utilization of certain animal parts. It also adds the gray wolf, black bear, cougar, and sage grouse to the list of animals for which penalties may be assessed. The vast majority of hunters and fishers would never consider wasting their catch…this bill is for those who won’t play by the rules. is embarking on an aggressive three- pronged approach that involves minimizing the risk of continued introduction, increasing surveillance of high-risk areas, and treatment of infected areas. Although the Department has held informational hearings and sent letters to area residents, if you have any questions about the process please feel free to contact my office for more information. On another topic, Mark McMullen, the state economist, presented legislators with the revenue forecast for the state, projected through June of 2017. In a nut shell, our state is still showing strong growth, in fact the best in the nation, but McMullen warns us that stock market volatility may affect both corporate and personal income tax revenues going forward and that his office is being very cautious about future revenue. Our reserves are also strong, with $800 million in the bank, but it would not be enough to carry us through another recession. Both the Governor’s Office and our Legislative Revenue Office will continue to monitor the economic landscape closely for any signs of impending recession. 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 www.VernoniasVoice.com LIVE MUSIC Sat, Feb. 27th Triple Edge Band • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go “BIKER FRIENDLY” Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia St. Patrick’s Day Corned beef & cabbage special Thursday, March 17th Karaoke Every 2nd & Last Friday Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Banks Log Cabin 13480 NW Main St Banks, OR 97106 Space is limited please RSVP to Terra Kemper, Park Ranger 503-324-0606 x223 Photography Jessika Goodman Karen Kain Scott Laird Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Cedar Side Inn February 25, 2016 7-9 pm Contributors Chip Bubl Katie Cook Tobie Finzel Karen Kain Karen Miller Shannon Romtvedt Robert Schattschneider Fire Chief Dean Smith Sonia Spackman Grant Williams Representative Brad Witt FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! February 11th marked an important deadline in our session timeline as it is the date that most bills were required to move out of their assigned policy committees. Some move on to either Revenue, Ways and Means or Rules for further consideration, but many head directly to the House or Senate floor for a vote, and then the bills move to the other chamber for another round of hearings. The level of activity to accomplish this has been furious over the last two weeks since our time Although the population of insects is here is limited. In my own Agriculture still small at this time, each female can and Natural Resources Committee, I’m lay up to 300 eggs so the Department Friends of Stub Stewart State Park and Banks-Vernonia State Trail Monthly Meeting Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Where do you read the Voice? Show us where you have traveled. Submit your photo by email to: scott@vernoniasvoice.com My Ag Committee held informational hearings last week on another little poacher called the Asian gypsy moth, which is set to do major harm to some parts of District 31. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has discovered 6 Asian gypsy moths in the Forest Park area near Linnton. This invasive species is a devastating defoliator that feeds on a long list of deciduous and coniferous trees. In the last 30 years, the Asian gypsy moth has been detected in Oregon three times and successfully eradicated each time. This latest infestation in Portland is likely linked to a Russian cargo vessel carrying steel plates. 3 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 Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Meeting 6:30 pm on Thursday February 25, 2016 at the UNWC office 1201 Texas Ave. Suite A Entrance is around the back of the School District building For more info call (503) 429-0869 or email maggie@nehalem.org
