6
letters to the editor/community news
april5
2018
Readers Lend Their Voices...
my hope for Columbia County, our state,
our country, and our world.
Diane Dillard
St. Helens
To the Editor,
Columbia County has been dis-
covered by the globalists and they want
a piece of us. In the last 10 years there
has been an onslaught of rich foreign in-
vestors and East Coast limited liability
privately held corporations anxious to
exploit small towns along our rivers.
One doesn’t have to look farther
than the old Reynolds plant in Longview,
where pollutants have compromised
drinking water, or Hanford upriver with
its radioactive materials contaminating
workers, leaching poison toward the
Columbia, or the Harbor superfund site
along the Willamette in Portland to see a
history of corporations leaving polluted
messes in the wake of their investment,
pollution that we the people pay to clean
up, (if it ever gets cleaned up).
The Portland Harbor Superfund
site identified in 2000 has taken 17 years
to develop a base clean up plan to get rid
of “PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls),
Dioxin/furans, the pesticide DDT, and
PAHs (polynuclear aromatic hydrocar-
bons), generally associated with petro-
leum products.” Hanford will take thou-
sands of years of human supervision to
remain safe. Is that even possible?
Were the jobs those industries
provided worth the years of contamina-
tion, cancers, leukemia rates, river and
soil destruction that remain decades
after the jobs have been long gone?
I think not. Thinking about conse-
quences...probabilities, outcomes, risks.
We must elect people who have
the understanding that foreign investors
and limited liability corporations have
no interest in enriching our communities
but rather care only about their own prof-
its which they derive by exploiting and
destroying our natural resources. When
the goodies are gone, the profits or the
resources, the plants are shut down and
employees laid off. Where is the sus-
tainability for the local community? St.
Helens had a good ride with the veneer
plant, paper mill, and Armstrong, but the
goodies ran out. Now what?
Elected officials need to stop
pandering to industry that poisons our
air, water and soil, not for our ben-
efit, but for mindless corporations
that have no interest in the well being
What’s Happening
at the Vernonia Library
Columbia County Reads 2018:
Willy Vlautin
Friday, April 27, 7 pm
Author of Lean on Pete (movie in
theaters this month), and The Free.
Vlautin’s visit to Vernonia will focus
on his latest title, Don’t Skip Out
on Me. Q&A and book signing to
follow. Sponsored by the Friends of
the Vernonia Library.
Family Movie Night
Thursday, April 12, 6-7:30 pm
Featuring City of Ember (PG), 90 min.
Relax at the Library and enjoy a free
movie and popcorn. The movie is
based on a book read by the Kids
Book Group (meets Friday, April 13,
4:30 pm)
Animal Friends Storytime –
Lizards!
Friday, April 13, 10:30 am
Stories with a special animal visitor.
Karen Peters will be bringing in her
lizard friends to visit. Simple craft
to follow. For young children and
families.
Ongoing Programs
Kids Book Group
Friday, April 13, 4:30-5:30 pm.
Selection for April: City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau
For kids and families. Reading level
and grade level interest of titles will
vary, ranging from grades 3-6. If
interested in the book group and
would like to be on the contact list,
call or visit the library (503) 429-
1818 or email shannonr@vernonia-
or.gov
Knitting Group
Saturday, April 21, 10 am-Noon
continued from page 4
For knitters with all levels of
experience. You’re welcome
to bring your own materials or
project. If you need materials or
have questions, contact Caitlin at
boylandknitworks@gmail.com .
Writer’s Group
Thursday, April 19, 6-7:30 pm
3 rd Thursday of every month. For
writers with all levels of experience.
Meeting for March will be at the Fire
Department Meeting room.
Book Discussion Group
Monday, April 23, 5:30 pm
Discussion selection for April: The
Kalahari Typing School For Men by
Alexander McCall Smith
Storytimes
Baby and Toddler Time
Mondays, 10:30-11:15 am
Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and
bubbles! For ages 0-3. Older
siblings welcome.
of our small patch of the earth, or our
citizens. Our politicians need to stop
selling our publicly owned properties
and river front treasures as though we
were beggars desperate for a hand out.
We all can value the gifts of rich
and fertile Columbia County by building
toward a vision of healthy living, na-
ture, safety, education, and a sustainable
economy.
Forethought, planning skill, and
appreciation of our county resources,
is exactly what Paulette Lichatowich
brings to the Commissioner’s table.
With her 13 years of experience in Co-
lumbia County planning, she can work
with local folks to develop a comprehen-
sive vision for the county that faces up to
the challenges and opportunities of our
times while fitting in with the Oregon vi-
sion for our state.
Paulette’s knowledge and ex-
perience in science, working at OSU in
Agriculture and Economics, editing WJ
of Ag Economics, her experience in both
small business management and gov-
ernment give her exactly the mix of ex-
perience, wisdom, and skill required at
this critical time in our county’s history.
Why are those international and
East Coast investors after our county?
Not to help our land or people but to
enrich themselves.
We need Paulette Lichatowich
as our County Commissioner.
Mary Duvall
Clatskanie, OR
To the Editor,
As a near lifelong, fifth-gen-
eration resident of north Columbia
County, I am sick of the lies be-
ing perpetrated by the Columbia
Riverkeepers, their allies, dupes,
and candidates within our county.
The property at Port Westward
which the two wisest and courageous
members of our Columbia County
Board of Commissioners voted to ap-
prove for rezoning is NOT the prop-
erty proposed for the much-maligned
methanol plant. That site has long been
zoned industrial. Before the plant be-
comes a reality, however, it would
need to pass all of the State of Oregon’s
substantial environmental restrictions.
AND, despite the rants and raves we
have heard for years, if it were ap-
proved, the methanol plant would not
put the mint and blueberry farms out of
business. That’s hyperbolic nonsense!
The reality is that the River-
keepers and their local minions are try-
ing to prevent any family-wage job
growth in north Columbia County.
The property in question at Port West-
ward is attractive to environmentally-
friendly development which would
bring much needed jobs to the north
Columbia County area when and if the
rezoning is finally accomplished, and
which would be welcomed by its agri-
cultural neighbors in the Clatskanie area.
We are all for tourism-related
and art-focused economic develop-
ment, but they, alone, cannot sup-
port our schools, fire districts, librar-
ies, parks, and other amenities which
are so important to our quality of life.
Henry Heimuller understands
this. He has the courage, wisdom, expe-
rience, and dedication to lead Columbia
County as we tackle the problems of bal-
ancing our economy and our environment.
Deborah Hazen
Clatskanie, OR
To The Editor,
Paulette Lichatowich may be a
“newcomer,” having only lived in Co-
lumbia County for 18 years, but she has
a keen sense of our county. Her firm
commitment to our core values and de-
sire to see them lived in our community
is refreshing.
In her role as Port Commission-
er, Paulette worked to develop a new vi-
sion of our community. One that utilizes
resources to create opportunities for the
residents of Columbia County. Opportu-
nities that grow into a better future for all
of us.
She is able to answer difficult
questions with insight based on her ex-
perience and foresight based on her
commitment to making Columbia Coun-
ty thrive.
Paulette embodies the qualities
I value in a public official: community in-
volvement, transparency, a proven moral
compass, and a strong work ethic.
Her experience, strength, and
hope for our future make her the ideal
candidate for County Commissioner.
Joan Youngberg
St. Helens, OR
Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Look for our next issue on April 19.
Preschool Storytime
Fridays, 10:30-11:15 am
Stories, activity, and a craft. Planned
for children up through age 6.
Library Closure
The Library will be closed
Monday, April 30 – Saturday, May 5
for new carpet installation.
Library Hours & Contact
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10-5
Tuesday, Thursday: 1-7
Saturday: 10-4
Closed Sundays
• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry
• Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction
• Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements
Phone: (503) 429-1818
E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov
Jim Morrison, Jr.
General Contractor
CCB# 112057
Ph: (503) 429-0154
MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net
Vernonia, OR 97064
• Licensed • Bonded • Insured
