4
letters to the editor/community bulletin board
april7
2016
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor,
I am somewhat dismayed that
the discourteous discourse that we see in
our national politics has seeped into our
little community of Columbia County
in letters that have recently appeared in
your paper.
It saddens me to see so many
angry women coming out against
Tony Hyde with such vitriol. I don’t
understand where it comes from. I have
lived in this community for almost 27
years and I can attest to the fact that
things have gotten much better than they
were 20 years ago – dramatically so.
Despite two major devastating floods
in our town, there are more jobs than
ever, incredible bike paths that bring
countless riders to our towns, restaurants
and stores. You couldn’t even imagine
these businesses being here 20 years
ago. I thank Tony Hyde for his help in
making our community a better place. I
believe he works tirelessly to make all of
Columbia County a better place to live
and work.
These negative letters are about
there being no jobs here. Every time I
go to St. Helens and Scappoose, I see a
new business that wasn’t there before. I
plead ignorance when it comes to the jail
and port that never materialized, but I
am sure it had more to do with the Great
Recession that plagued the entire country
not just Columbia County. If you are
going to criticize the current County
Commission on all of our County’s
problems, you must realize his successes
as well. Of which there are many.
I worry when I read this new
candidate Alex Tardif will change
everything for the better. That is what
angry people in the Tea Party said. And
we all know what happened there. We
have a lot of inexperienced members of
Congress who came in to change things
for the better and we have ended up with
the most ineffective Congress since the
Truman Administration.
I don’t want to go down the
negative road, but this young man, who
is going to transform Columbia County
into greatness, with five years of tax
preparation experience and a term on
the Scappoose School Board’s Budget
Committee, sounds like he is around 28,
maybe 29. There is no person I have ever
met at that age that could ever do the job
of meeting with Governors, Mayors,
U.S. and State Senators with the finesse,
intelligence, leadership qualities, and
Upcoming
Events
the ability to bring both sides together as
Tony Hyde.
Please don’t let our beautiful
and vibrant community be turned over
to an amateur and join me in voting for
Tony Hyde for County Commissioner
this May.
here, in Vernonia, and will be the
recipient of the funds raised by the levy.
That firefighter will buy power, water,
groceries, beer, food, and gas right here
in Vernonia.
Harlem
Crowns
Basketball
- Saturday, April 9, 6:00 pm
We benefit twice from passing
at the VHS gym. $10 at the
this levy. First, and most obviously, we
door. Fundraiser for VHS Girls
double our paid staff of firefighters and
Basketball program.
Rosemary Curtis
increase our capacity to recruit and train
Vernonia
volunteers. Second, the money stays in
Meet Alex Tardif, Candidate for
Vernonia, helping to boost the economy,
Columbia County Commissioner
To the Editor,
creating more jobs. I urge everyone to
Position #3 - Saturday, April 9,
I would like to encourage vote yes on the VRFPD levy this May.
10:00 am at Blue House Café.
people to think about the many services It’s the right thing to do.
Writing to Create Ourselves -
provided to the community by our fire
Sunday, April 10 at the Vernonia
department. They extinguish house Bill Langmaid
Library. Workshop and reading
fires, rescuing occupants. They attend Vernonia
with Oregon Poet Laureate
auto accidents to save lives and prevent
Emerita Paulann Petersen.
further damage. They protect our open To the Editor,
Workshop
12:30-4:30
pm.
spaces from wildfire. They help reduce
My name is Jim Kinkead and
Reading 6:00-7:30 pm.
our homeowners insurance bill. Yup, the I have had the pleasure of hosting the
VHS Alumni Basketball Games
presence of a staffed fire hall is one of Vernonia boys team at the 2A state
- Saturday, April 16, 6:00 pm at
the tools that insurance companies use to tourney a couple weeks ago. This was my
the VHS gym. No admission,
set our rates.
3rd year hosting this school at Pendleton.
donations accepted.
We currently spend a little less I am on the steering committee for
than one dollar per thousand dollars of the organization of the tournament in
Meet
Margaret
Magruder,
assessed value for the services of the Pendleton. I wanted to write a short note
Candidate for Columbia County
fire department. This buys us a building, about a few things about your coaching
Commissioner Position #1 -
a chief, an office manager, equipment staff, students, fans.
Saturday, April 23, 10:00 am at
maintenance, and training for a group of
Your coaching staff and team
the Black Iron Grill.
dedicated volunteers. The problem right were a pleasure to work with. The team
Meet the Candidates - Monday,
now is that volunteerism is dropping was fun to be around and well mannered.
April 25, 7:00 pm at the Cabin in
and there have been occasions when Your school should be proud of the way
Vernonia. A political forum with
the only person able to respond to a 911 everyone conducted themselves. They
candidates for Columbia County
call has been the fire chief. Aside from are, in my opinion, a class act.
Commissioner Positions #1 and
the safety issue, this means the chief
David and Matt are great guys
#3. Hosted by Vernonia’s Voice.
has been unable to spend much time on and when I showed up at the gym in
Spring Fair and Plant Sale -
training, recruitment, grant writing, and Vernonia earlier this year to watch the
May 7, 9:00 am-3:00 pm at
the myriad other tasks to which he must Knappa game David and Matt made it a
the Vernonia Schools. Vendor
attend.
point to visit with me and my daughter
booths and 800+ certified organic
Last year he came to the and grandson.
tomato plants. Presented by the
taxpayers with two levies. The first,
I did make an observation after
Vernonia Community Garden.
for a replacement fire apparatus, was the first game against Burns. When
thankfully funded, but the second, for a the game was over several players and
Second annual Spring Tea Party
second paid firefighter was not funded. students went up into the bleachers and
- Saturday, May 14, 1:00 pm at
Chief Smith is coming to us again for were helping the staff of the convention
the Cabin in Vernonia, 901 Park
Dr. Hosted by P.E.O.
help on this matter. I urge everyone to center clean up all the garbage left
consider a few things before deciding behind not only in their seating section
Pet Fair - Saturday, May 21,
Yes or No. Failing to pass the levy but the whole gym. Again after the
10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Creatures
will mean you keep $32 per $100,000 Championship game several players
Pet Shop parking lot, 998 Bridge
assessed value in your pocket, but you were up in the bleachers again picking
St. This is a fundraiser for
might see your insurance bill go up. up trash left behind.
Bailey’s Pantry. More information
Mine did recently by $100. Not sure
I’ve been working at the
to follow.
why, but some out of state company is a tournament for 20 years and I’ve
little wealthier now.
never seen this before, even after the
A passed levy means the fire
continued on page 6
department will have a staff person who
HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
is dedicated to recruiting and training
Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include
volunteers. A firefighter, obviously,
your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s
but also someone that creates new
Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We
will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email:
firefighters. This firefighter will live
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Hi! My name is Pretty Penny, and I
was a transfer from another shelter.
I am a black, white and brown
spayed female and weigh about 35
lbs. I am a really sweet girl. I love
to go out in the play groups and
make new friends. I'm a never
ending bundle of energy and need a
family that is going to be very active
with me. I am crate trained and I need to be left in my crate when no
one is home or I have a tendency to get into trouble. Stop in and meet
me today, I will be sure to make you smile.
Web: www.columbiahumane.org
Phone: 503-397-4353
2084 Oregon Street
Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org
St. Helens, OR 97051
scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064.
Upcoming Election Info
Oregon’s Presidential Primary: May 17
(including local and County elections)
You can find a voter registration card at
Vernonia City Hall, Vernonia Library or county
elections office. You can also ask the Columbia
Last day to register by mail: April 26
County elections office to mail you a card:
230 Strand St.,
To register to vote online or to update your voter St. Helens, OR 97051
registration go to: http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/ (503) 397-7214, (503) 397-7266 fax,
Pages/voteinor.aspx
Office Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (M-Th)
Non-discrimination Statement
West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc.
is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete
the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.
ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866)632-
9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the
information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter
by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202)690-
7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
