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community bulletin board
february18
2016
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor,
If you are tired of the same old failures
and business as usual, it is time to replace County
Commissioner Tony Hyde with Alex Tardif, a
graduate of the University of Portland with a degree
in accounting. Mr. Tardif is a candidate who will bring
enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the county including a
plan to incorporate all communities in discussions
which will result in a better overall county - a candidate
who demands transparency, financial responsibility and
sustainability through well managed growth.
We have the chance to make a positive change
for Columbia County. Please consider voting for Alex
Tardif for county commissioner position 3 this May.
Here are a few reasons why I will be casting
my vote for Alex Tardif for County Commissioner
position 3.
County Commissioner Tony Hyde has been
part of and orchestrated some very inept economic
decisions in the last 20 years which have been a
detriment to the financial stability of the county and to
its taxpayers.
Commissioner Hyde must shoulder his
responsibility for his part of these failures which have
cost the taxpayers in the county millions.
Do we want to continue down the same path
of failures, poor decision making when the results are
county debt of approximately $70+ million-a 20%
loss of non-farm related jobs? Do we want to continue
supplementing corporations who either do not need tax
abatements or are not financially sound to begin with.
Several companies have come and gone at the Port
Westward money pit under the leadership of the last 20
years.
Also, under the same leadership, a jail was
built too large for our needs but was built on the “Field
of Dreams” theme (build it and they will come) this jail
was going to be enlarged to 500 beds if Commissioner
Hyde had his way. Thankfully, the money lender
disagreed with Hyde’s poorly thought out proposal or
we would be deeper in financial straits than we already
are. Our current jail obligations are losing money at
this time.
I could continue on with the history of poor
decision making by Tony Hyde but space is limited.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to move in a positive
direction. Vote Alex Tardif for County Commissioner
position 3.
Tammy Maygra
Deer Island, OR
To the Editor,
VHS leadership would like to thank all who
helped make the 2016 Winter Formal so successful. A
special thanks to Cedar Ridge for the beautiful venue
and to the chaperones; Todd and Tami Sullivan, Teri
Willard, Terry Baska, Karen Roberts, Betsy Miller,
Glenda Delemos, Rachel Wilcoxen, Gordon Jarman
and Kelly Clifton. Also a big thanks to Tera, Dezi,
and Brittanie Roberts, as well as Robin Smith for the
delicious food and the All In Pub for donating tables.
Last but not least, thanks to Patrick and TaBetha
Groshong for the music and photography. We couldn’t
have done it without all of you!
Upcoming Events
The Cat in the Hat…Is Back! - Tuesday,
March 1, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at the Vernonia
Library. Dr. Seuss story read by the Cat in
the Hat. Birthday cake, scavenger hunt,
and craft. Sponsored by the Friends of the
Vernonia Library in honor of Read Across
America Day (Dr. Seuss’ Birthday).
Columbia County Small Woodlands Assoc.
Tree Sale - Saturday, March 12, 8:30 am -
1:30 pm at the Lawrence Oil parking lot, 845
N. Columbia River Hwy, St. Helens.
Gardening Talk: Soil Amendment - Tuesday,
March 15, 7:00 pm at the Vernonia Library.
Chip Bubl, OSU Extension Faculty and
Master Gardener™, offers tips on improving
and enriching soil for your gardens. Free and
open to the public.
Writing to Create Ourselves - Sunday, April
10 at the Vernonia Library. Workshop and
reading with Oregon Poet Laureate Emerita
Paulann Petersen. Workshop 12:30-4:30
pm. Reading 6:00-7:30 pm.
First, the more qualified candidate. Alex Tardif
earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration
with a degree in accounting from the University of
Portland. He later became a tax professional and
worked as a tax auditor for the State of Oregon. When
he left the public sector, he began working as a tax
consultant – specializing in departmental cleanup and
organization in the private sector. Translation: this guy
knows math.
VHS Leadership Class
During Commissioner Hyde’s tenure, the
Depletion Fee Ordinance was approved by the voters
To the Editor,
Tony Hyde is, presumably, running for in 1990 to compensate the citizens of Columbia County
another term as County Commissioner. for the loss of a nonrenewable resource and for road
And he is being challenged by someone repair. It was never enforced. Voters were ignored and
the commissioners, including Mr. Hyde and the gravel
much more qualified.
companies got it their way. As if we didn’t need the
money.
Now the Commissioners, including
Commissioner Hyde, want to establish a “Special
District” to be funded by property taxes in order to
fund the CCRider. This will be on the May ballot.
DATE HIGH
LOW PRECIP
Another property tax.
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Mr. Hyde was one of the main supporters of the
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new jail. It was built – but it soon became apparent
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that the county could not afford to staff and operate it.
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So property owners were asked to throw in additional
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property taxes, being fearful of the threat of increased
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crime. It was passed – and now three years later, they
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want more money. The jail houses federal prisoners.
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This was intended to be a money maker for the jail,
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but that doesn’t necessarily appear to be the case.
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Columbia County receives significantly less than
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continued on page 5
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Free installation of carbon monoxide
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detector in your home or RV while supplies last
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Proxided by Gadget’s Gadgets
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TO SCHEDULE YOUR INSTALLATION
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CONTACT GADGET: 503-429-0517
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To donate: Go to any Wauna FCU branch
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Account: Garret Abney in nemory of Daryl Tuttle
Wauna Vernonia Branch: 503-429-4433
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HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your
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thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include
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your name, address and phone number, limit
your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s
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Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond
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or ask for a response to letters submitted. We
will print letters space permitting. Deadline
Weather data is collected at the
is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
U.S. Weather station at the
Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to:
Vernonia Water Plant
Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064.
Vernonia Weather
January 2016
Daryl Tuttle nemorial
CO Detector Gixeaway
