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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1982)
»■■n m *»* sS ì w i E ft S ing le Copy 25« Kulongoski defends plant closure bill by VON BRASCHLER G u b e rn a to ria l ca n d id a te Ted Kulongoski. D-Junction City, defend ed his plant closure bills before the Sandy Chamber of Commerce Tues day. predicting Oregon communities would suffer from wood products phase-out in another 10 to 20 years “ I won't back away from it,” the attorney said of his cleaned-up bill redraft “ There s no one in this state except Vic Atiyeh who doesn’t recognize there's a problem " He explained the legislation was designed to protect sm all com munities faced with sudden closure of its only industry and economic and social problems to follow “ I ’ve seen too many people here lose their jobs," he said "W hat can you do with a 55-year-old choker setter9 He's too young for Social Security, and you probably can’t retrain him for the electronics in dustry " The issue, said the state senator, is what Oregon communities do to sur vive. "W e all end up paying for it, because our taxes go up," with the tax burden shift from industry to the residents who remain “ What 1 CAN be criticized on,” Kulongoski said, "is that I didn't recognize the political sensitivity of the term , plant closure Perhaps I should have called it an early w arn ing system,” he said, referring to California’s sim ilar debate He c h id e d his o p p o n e n t, Republican Gov Victor Atiyeh, for early support of the president s economic recovery program and chided the president for his housing program—an issue big in Oregon’s boom-or-bust old timber economy. He referred to a post-war federal recovery program th at prim ed economic pumps in the Northwest with public work programs and low cost hom e loan subsidies "We no longer w ill enjoy that sub sidy." Kulongoski said of the presi d e n t’s housing subsidy veto in August “ It's no longer a priority pro g ram .” Lost federal housing subsidies, coupled with money m arket competi tion the government's created for declining passbook savings for banks to loan, paint a depressing picture, he said ■'That's why I believe the state will continue to be in an economic development program the next 10 to 20 years." Kulongoski said Oregon could recover from its economic reverses, he said, by diver sifying beyond timber and develot ing a s ta te -e n g in e e re d ex p o rt marketing plan Oregon is an ideal export site for Pacific rim nations, he said, men tioning ports of Coos Bay, Portland and Um atilla, among others “ We've got the resources Why don't we develop the m arket for finished logs in the Asian m arket9" he challenged Kulongoski advocated transition fro m O reg o n's wood products economic base to new technology, “ so every tim e the Federal Reserve Board adjusts its rates. Oregonians don't lose their jobs.” He criticized the governor's inabili ty to predict state revenue shortfall in special sessions and the governor's recent budget-balancing use of State Accident and Insurance Fung surplus money Kulongoski noted the S A IF funds were designed to pay legitimate claims, pay program adm inistrative costs and—lastly—reduce cost of Workmen's Compensation premiums of workers involved He criticized the state’s present Workmen's Compensation program as having the highest rates in the na tion. Staff photo State Sen. Ted Kulongoski, D-Junction City, told the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that the campaign issue in the gubernatorial campaign is what small cities, like Sandy, do to survive the economic slump. Kulongoski said he could live within the state's present budget, if elected, but would reserve the right to re v ie w e m e rg e n c y budget measure sunset taxes to expire by next June. He also said he favors a graduated corporate tax, “ not to raise more money, but to bring about a more equitable tax structure for smaller businesses .” Kulongoski said the m ajor d if ference in the gubernatorial race in his view is leadership He said the incumbent governor seems to be saying, ‘I t ’s always the federal government’s fault ’ “ There’s no single agency in this state that has as its priority the economic development of the state,” Kulongoski charged “That's a dam ning indictm ent.” Fire department takes aim at illegal burning by DAN DILLON The smoke of the fall burning season fills the air these days While most abide by guidelines established by the Department of En vironmental Quality, some cloud the air with an increasing problem for the Sandy F ire District—unauthoriz ed bums The illegal fires, however, are not lim ited to burning season They are a year-round problem that has con stituted 24.9 percent of the local district's fire calls in the past four years And that, according to Sandy Fire Marshal Jim Gallagher, is “ only the tip of the iceberg.” The statistic, he explained, covers just those fires that a fire engine responds to. Many times the fire chief or officer in charge w ill drive out to the site of an unauthorized bum , explain the rules and regula tions and ask that the fire be put out. "W e find many, many repeat burners,” Gallagher said But in the last three years, only two offenders have been cited into court. One was given public service work as a fine The other case was thrown out of court. “ The district attorney doesn't want to touch these,” the fire marshal said. “At least that's the indication we get. He’s got more pressing m at ters.” As a result, fire district officials are upgrading the record-keeping system so that no m atter who goes out to an unauthorized burn, they'll know someone’s been there before if it is a repeat offender. "The bottom line is state statute allows the fire department to charge to put the fire out,” Gallagher said The local fire district is studying that point and may resort to it as a deterrent in the future as a cost cutting measure " I f we could cut out almost 25 per cent of our responses, that’s a money-saver,” Gallagher said. That doesn’t mean the fire district would charge to put out illegal fires o v e rn ig h t. W ith the u pg raded records system, however, they’ll know who's been a culprit before. “ If we go into this, the first dav we’re not going to go out and charge somebody," Gallagher said. “ We ll give reasonable notice.” If the number of unauthorized burns were reduced, it would allow fire officials to spend tim e with other p re s s in g m a tte r s an d m a k e firefighters more readily available in the event of a real emergency, he said. The worst area for violations isn't in the ru ral areas of the district. It's inside Sandy’s city limits " I would think we could keep one man busy traveling the district polic ing unauthorized bum s,” Gallagher said. During the summer months, there are “ more than you’d care to stop at." But the district’s hands are tied. “ We can ignore the situation, which legally we cannot do We're charged with enforcing DEQ regula tions," Gallagher said “ So we’re in a Catch-22 situation W e’re damned if we do and damned if we don't.” D u r in g a u th o r iz e d b u rn in g seasons, the fire district is informed of bum days at 8 a m. Candidates square off on measures by DAN D ILLO N those cuts “ Davis and Starkovich also lined up There is no gray area between the solidly on opposite sides of the fence views of the two candidates vying for over Ballot Measure v the seat in Senate District 14 when it That measure wouiu elim inate the comes to property tax rollbacks or Land Conservation and Development land-use planning Commission and its statewide goals, Joe Davis, R-Silverton, and Steve and return land-use planning to the Starkovich. D-Canby, put up their local level political dukes Tuesday evening at “ I ’m going to vote for Measure 6,” Rippling River in Welches and outlin Davis said. " I believe in land-use ed their views at a forum sponsored planning, but I would say, let's return by the Hoodland Chamber of Com it to local control ” merce Starkovich said he opposes the The two left no middle ground on measure as “ too radical a step.” two ballot measures facing voters The property tax lim itation would Nov. 2 "cripple local government's ability “ On election day Joe Davis, to p ro v id e b a s ic s e r v ic e s ,” private citizen, will go into the elec Starkovich said "Ballot Measure 3 tion booth and I think I w ill vote for would be a signal to business that Measure 3," the Silverton newspaper Oregon isn't serious about jobs.” publisher told the sparse turnout Davis said the issue has been the Ballot Measure 3 would lim it pro most difficult for him in the year long perty tax increases to 15 percent an campaign, but if he got a written nually and rollback assessment guarantee that conservatives would levels to 1979 control the state Legislature after the “ I o pp o se i t , " c o u n te re d November election, he would vote Starkovich. a Canby warehouseman against it. “ As much waste, as much duplicity Beyond that, however, he said. “ The state of Oregon has one of the most chaotic l i x systems in the United States " He called the system a "detrim ent to growth" and chided Democrats, who have controlled the SECTION I Legislature for the past decade, for Keeping Posted .... 3 letting spending get out of hand Editorial. Opinion ........ ......« “ When are we going to stop talking I Senior Center News » about how we re going to tax Orego I Menus nians9" Davis asked "When are we • Obituaries ..................... going to start talking about how Sparta, Recreation ......... .11-13 much we re going to tax Orego nians9” 1 SECTION II He said he sees no alternative to ClaaatTied Ada Inaide Tab Measure 3. 1 T V Revue ......... Inaide Tab Starkovich outlined a plan he calls 1 J the "circuit breaker" as an alter Index Davis, citing his 28 years as a local newspaperman, said he’d rather walk across the street to talk to a local politician than drive to Salem to talk to "someone not elected by the people, but appointed." That, he said, applies to land-use planning There is more influence locally than going through the bureaucratic red-tape of the state's current process as there is, I don’t think we can stand Steve Starkovich Joe Davis native to Measure 3. "W e have a lot of overheated households right now because they a re over burdened by property taxes,” he said Under his plan, a limitation would be placed on the percentage of household income that could go towards property tax T a x payers would be reimbursed for payments above this percentage "Too many Oregonians spend their entire lives working to build equity in their farm or home,” Starkovich said, “only to be taxed out of it when they retire ” Questio s of the amount of revenue it would raise and type of corruption it would attract prevent both can didates from supporting a sales tax as an alternative A sales tax. Starkovich said, would never get out of the leg islature because of the restrictions placed by Measure 3, requiring two-thirds m a jority approval in both houses of the Legislature for any new tax Starko vich acknowledged that there are problems with current land-use planning methods at the statewide agency that controls the strings "There are problems with LCDC There are problems with the permit process There are problems with the appeals process." he said " I oppose Measure 8. not because I ’m an LCDC fan, but the concept of c o m p re h e n s iv e p la n n in g is a valuable one " Davis commented, “ Bureaucratic mandates created a system so com plex and inflexible that we have to start over " The candidates agreed that Oregon has done a poor job selling itself to business " I'm almost embarrassed to admit it ,” Davis said “ This state is run by am ateurs" when it comes to attrac ting industry." The absence of high-technology in dustry aids and abets the emigration of young Oregonians to other states “ What are these kids going to do in June when they graduate9” he ask ed "They're flocking out of the state by the thousands.” People are leaving because they don't have jobs, Starkovich concur red, and called for diversification of industry and education to keep peo ple in the state “ The state has above-average SAT scores," he said, although they’re go ing down Higher education, par ticularly at the community college level, can play an integral role in placing Oregonians in new jobs by p ro v id in g te c h n ic a l s k ills and retraining “ I think it's tim e for Oregon e d u c a to rs to stop e v a lu a tin g them selves,” Davis charged "I think Verne Duncan's viewpoint is w arp ed , he’s too close ” Outside evaluation, he said, might stop the "knee je rk " reaction of "every tim e we got a problem, throw more money at it .” Freshmen reading below ‘par’ It was confirmed for the Sandy Union High School Board of D ire c tors Monday night that not all students are entering the school with an equal education Dennis C ro w , vice p rin c ip a l, reported on the results of a Gate M a c G in itie read ing test, which shows that some freshmen are com prehending written m aterial at less than a seventh grade level. Students from the Boring, Bull Run, Sandy Elem entary, Cottrell and Welches school districts were all at the ninth grade level or better in vocabulary. The ninth graders’ com prehension of what they read is another story. F o rm e r Boring G rad e School students who are now freshmen were comprehending at only a 6.7 (less than seventh grade) level. Students from Welches and Sandy Elem entary fared a little better, be ing able to comprehend at the 7.9 (lower than eighth grade) level. Students from Cottrell comprehend ed reading m aterial at a 9.2 level Students from Bull Run had a vocabulary score of 11.7, and a com prehension average of 11.4, which Crow termed "splendid.” He cited a low teacher-student ratio as a factor to the Bull Run school district’s ad vantage. Crow said 182 freshmen w ere tested. That is out of a class of more than 300. When Superintendent Jack Peters said he would be making the results available to the superintendents of the feeder districts, Board m ember Bob Boring said, “ From the inform a tion I'v e seen, they’re asking for it.” Peters said Crow’s report was “ ex cellent,” and John McM ahan, prin cipal, said it was “ outstanding." Crow discussed a number of testing procedures the school goes through and said testing by individual depart ments in the school could be a reality soon. “ We re trying to become more accountable all the tim e ," Crow said. Vapor from butane stove claims camper The body of a 25-year-old Portland man who was apparently asphyx iated by a butane heater in his tent was found Sunday afternoon one quarter m ile south of M irro r Lake Sgt Dan E. Wolf, of the Oregon State Police, said the body of L a rry Eugene LaFreniere was discovered around noon by hikers He was in a makeshift plastic tent about 35 feet off the main tra il to M irro r Lake A prelim inary diagnosis by George Coleman of the medical exam iner's office indicates LaF ren iere died of carbon monoxide poisoning Wolf said LaFreniere was camped just off the tra il in a visquine tent When it began to rain, he apparently “ sealed the tarp to the ground with d irt to keep the rain out and then lit a butane heater” which asphyxiated him. The heater, when lit, released car bon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, gas LaFreniere, said Wolf, had been seen camped in the same spot for several days, but no one checked to see if he was having any trouble “ At this point we re presuming it to be an accidental death,” said Wolf, “ but we w ill continue the investiga tion until we are sure ” OSP detective K urt M cBride said, based on evidence found at the scene, he believes the death occurred Sept 19 or 20 M cBride said the medical ex am iner's office is perform ing tests to confirm the actual cause of death, but said it appears to be carbon monoxide poisoning The valve of LaF ren iere’» small, backpack heater was completely open and was empty of butane “ On the h eater,” said McBride, "w ere several warning labels to use only in a well-ventilated area " According to M cBride, LaFreniere reportedly took a Trailw ays Bus to Government Camp Sept 17 to do some hiking He was scheduled to return home five days later, but when he did not return his father con (acted police M cBride said this isn’t the first death caused by such heaters He «aid moat people are fooled hv the size and forget the stoves can give off a deadly gas if used in the worng areas
