3
The Sdntty Post
Editorial & Opinion
Von Braschler. Publisher
Caroline DuH, Office Monoger
Dan Dillon Editor
Scott Newton. News Editor
SANDY. OREGON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1982
Johnny really can’t read too well
Johnny can’t read, or so parents
f e a r . L o c a lly t h e r e ’s new
evidence their fears are real.
Sandy High recently tested
n in th -g ra d e rs on a G a te s -
MacGinitie Reading Test with
results shocking for some feeder
grade schools.
While the average freshman
who attended little Bull Run
School was rated at a middle
eleventh-grade reading level,
comprehensive and vocabulary
reading skills scored far lower for
others
Form er Boring Grade School
students now in the ninth grade at
Sandy High scored only at a 6.7
grade level in reading com
prehension and 9.0 grade level in
vocabulary on the average.
F o rm e r
W e lc h e s
School
students at Sandy High scored
almost as poorly, with 7.9 grade
level rating average in reading
comprehension and 9.3 grade
le v e l
r a tin g
in
re a d in g
vocabulary
F o rm e r Sandy E lem e n ta ry
Schools students now at SUHS
scored a sim ilar 7.9 grade level
average in reading comprehen
sion and sim ilar 9.3 grade level
average in vocabulary.
Cottrell students scored a better
9.2 grade level rating in reading
comprehension and 9.9 grade
level average in vocabulary.
Superintendents at area feeder
schools have been notified of the
reading test scores. In the case of
schools w ith poorer results,
perhaps the sub-standard scores
should be read very closely for
possible program deficiencies.
(V B )
Ask the superintendent:
Town meeting worthwhile
by DR. JOHN P E T E R S
Sandy High Superintendent
Q UESTIO N
How m ay I influence the
preparation of next year's budget7
ANSW ER: All citizens are invited to a t
tend budget committee meetings These
meetings are always announced, in ad
vance, by the Sandy Poat Patrons are en
couraged to comment at these work ses
sions and also participate in the formal
public hearing held at the conclusion of the
budget process
This school year we are holding a "town
h all" Monday, Oct 25. beginning at 7 30
p m in rooms 50-51 The purpose of this
special public meeting is to hear from our
district voters regarding their priorities
for our total high school program The
"town h all” is an ideal opportunity for
community residents to express their con
cerns and air their questions about Sandy
Union High School
Q U ESTIO N
Do you have advisory com
mittees7 If so, how m ay I participate7
ANSW ER
We have established several
advisory committees including those in ac
Dump Denny
c o u n tin g .
a g r ic u ltu r e ,
a t h le t ic s ,
electronics-computer, forestry, industrial
mechanics, library, marketing, metals,
work experience and curriculum
These committees meet several times a
year and make recommendations for im
provement of the programs If you are in
terested in becoming involved, contact us
at M8-MH1, extension 201
Salem scene:
Workmen’s Comp improves
by JACK Z IM M E R M A N
Associated Oregon Industries
Part of the coat of doing business in
Oregon is declining
This should be welcome news to those a t
tempting to attract new industry to bolster
and diversify our present economy
The cost reduction involved the amount
employers pay for workers compensation
in s u r a n c e g o v e r n m e n t m a n d a t e d
coverage for work related injury and II-
Inesa suffered by employes
Steadily rising in this state since ISM.
the cast of workers' compensation In
surance has been on a downward path
since IV77 Oregon once had the nation's
highest costs in this regard, but has declin
ed to a point where approximately 10 other
states rank above us from a cost stand
point
"And there's every reason to believe our
roots w ill continue downward," according
to Roy Green, director of the Oregon
Workers' Compensation Department
"Significant changes in our laws have
paved the way for reform , reorganizalon,
safety co n scio u sn ess and competition
They are am ong the key factors leading to
root reductions,” he said
The most graphic exam ple of the
workers' comp cost reduction Ilea perhaps
in total prem ium s paid by Oregon
employers In IM I that figure was 1551 •
million It dropped 23 percent la M22
million last year and is expected to
decrease even further to about »330 million
this year
Persistent unemployment particularly
in the forest products industry has con
tnbuted 1« the decline in total premiums
Hut the biggest contributors lately have
bean discounting and utilisation of what Mt
surance companies refer ta as a "file and
uaa system of determining premiums
E lla and use p e rm itte d by the
legislature in IM I -has been in effect only
since July of thia year Green said And
sinre then we have witnessed dramatic
Mi protmum rates as carriers
A former esecutive and founder of a ma
jar private maurance company. Green es
I that file and uno systems have long
in casualty and liabilily in
Its appHcausn la workers
c o m p e n s a tio n s im p ly m e sa s th a t
claims are par
I la purchase their irwurance el the
House race, tax reform spur letters
"N ot only la file and use reducing
employers' costs." he said. It is effectively
promoting safety in the workplace Seldom
before has any single developmenl produc
ed such tangible results for both workers
and their employers.”
How lug a factor la workers' compenaa
lion insurance to employers when figuring
their cost of doing business7
It depends on the labor mtenaiveneas of
any given business In other words, how
many workers on the payroll A rule of
thumb has been that payroll is 70 percent
of business overhead Using that formula,
workers comp costa can be significant. In
deed
• -»Kging for instance, has been a high
p r e m iu m
o c c u p a tio n r e q u ir in g
premiums of more than »30 per »100
Clerical clasaificaliona on the other hand
command rates of less by 50 cent» per
(I0O
Companies who employ logger» found
their coal of doing trusineas inflated by 30
percent of payroll under these conditions
Wood product manufacturers costa were
boosted almost 15 percent of payroll
trucking firms about the same amount
canneries more than 12 percent super
markets • percent machine shopa I per
cant and to on
Since the advent of file and use pro
cedurea competition among insurance
earn ers hat driven rates for loggers from
from »11 M per »100 to »17 «1. wood pro
ducts manufacturers to M M Trucking
firm s to M I I. canneries Is M U super
markets to »2 50 and machine shops to
(1 X per (100
A cro ss the b o a rd e s tim a te s show
prem ium costa down about SO percent this
year compared with rates charged in 117«
Groan cnee other factors that are reduc
mg workers comp costa as wall Perm s
neni total disability cases are down
sigmfKantiy from the 2W counted in
1*74-7» The figure was IM in 1*7» 110 in
im o and 141 last year
Permanent totals and fatalities are
among the moat expensive claims Green
explained
Your Sept 30 issue had a
full page ad in which Rep
Denny Smith advocated his
election to Congress from
our new 5th Congressional
District Rep Smith listed
only two objectives for
representing us in Con
gress
These w ere the
fa m ilia r Reagonomic cries
of “ Cut government” and
“ Cut spending ”
He has voted for cuts in
government spending hav
ing to do with people needs
He has voted for huge in
creases in m ilitary spen
ding and more subsidies to
nuclear power
R u th
M c F a r la n d ,
Smith’s Democratic oppo
nent. spoke at a chamber of
commerce luncheon last
Tuesday The contraat in
th in kin g and vision is
marked M cFarland sees
government as the right
arm and prim ary instru
ment for people to use in
solving their problems
I would submit that our
208-year h isto ry under
government at national to
township levels ha* helped
us prosper, show a steady
progresa in respect and
concern for each other and
become the envy of the
world Deapite our huge
and diverse population, we
go about our several affairs
in peace and considerable
harmony, because we have
government
Our government has tax
ed ua and spent much
money in building roads
bridges, water systems and
sewers We have invested
hearily in education of our
best capital asset, our
children rod youth
We
have protected the health
and safety of people We
have shown concern for the
weak, the aged, the disabl
ed and e s p e cially the
children
Reagan’s robot?
I couldn’t agree more
with "Oregon M agazine"
(Oct 1982), if I tried
"Denny Smith went to
Washington and was never
Letters to the editor
Rep Smith has voted for
cuts in these programs
M cFarland sees many of
these as investments that
have paid off big returns
an d o th e rs as m o ra l
responsibilities
Ruth M cFarland sees the
billions we are pouring into
mega-death machines as
irrational, immoral and a
desertion of human needs
and hopes for a future She
would use those billions to
r e -to o l o u r f a c t o r ie s ,
educate every child, pro
tect our environment to
seek peace with sincere
vigor.
Her first move toward
peace
w o u ld
be
to
c h allan g e our fa v o rite
e n e m y to a v e r if ib le
nuclear arms freeze, bring
ing to a halt the production,
deployment and testing of
further nuclear weapons
■ystemi Smith has voted
no on the freeze, despite
overwhelm ing m ajorities
of people favoring it
I suggest that a vote for
Ruth M cFarland ta the beat
choice, the rational one and
the one moat m o ra lly
defensible
W Pete Sulzbach
Sandy
heard from again," at least
as fa r as representing
Oregonians is concerned
S m ith has been the
"Reagan robot" that the
"W all Street Journal" se
ct -e s him of being The big
p ro b le m
is R e a g a n 's
economics is devastating to
Oregon.
As voters, we can't a f
ford to make the same
mistake twice Don't send
Denny back to Congress!!
We need the leadership,
experience and programs
that Ruth M cFarland can
offer
Vote Nov 2, and vote
M cFarland
Nita Brueggeman
Gresham
Dump LCDC
The wolf pack is out and
in full cry, and their victim
as always is the Oregon
property owner The people
of
O re g o n
put
tw o
measures on the ballot that
are designed to protect the
rights of property owners
«right* guaranteed by the
U S Constitition I
The wolves are using all
the dirty tricks they can
dream up to defeat these
two measures I am referr
ing to Measure 3 and 6
You hear no discussion of
Measures 1 and 2. These
two measures were put in
by our Salem people and
should be studied very
c a r e f u lly by p ro p e rty
owners and people who
hope t" someday own pro
perty You renters should
ask yourselves whether it
is in your best interst to
vote against the rights of
property owners, which is
taking away rights our
Constitution guarantees,
rights you w ill never enjoy,
if these rights are not pro
tected now
Now to the measures our
Salem people put on the
ballot As I understand it,
both measures are design
ed again to defeat the will
of the people I have not yet
seen these bills, but 1
understand Measure 1 has
to do with raising tax bases
without a vote of the peo
pie Do you want a tax base
forced on you. without you
being allowed to vote on it 7
Measure 2 (as I under*
land it) will affect our in
itia tiv e and referendum
process Many states are
fighting for the right of in
itiative and referendum, so
please do not allow the
powers that be to take
away this right
The volves who put these
two measures on the ballot
are out to get the property
owners' hide
Ann Lucas
Estacada
LCDC scary
Only in the state of
Oregon does an LCDC have
the power to condemn your
house, condemn your pro
perty and put a lien on what
you own, without due pro
cess of law
I ’ll give you a few ex
amples
A senior citizen sold her
home to her son, with per
mission to live there the
rest of her life The son ask
ed permission to move a
mobile home onto the pro
perty 1167 acres) for him to
live there He was refused
He did not fit into the LCDC
comprehensive plan
A c it iz e n
added a
fireplace to his home He
immediately was slapped
with a »50 fine per day until
LCDC was convinced it
didn't violate their com
prehensive plan
A store owner build a
roof over a walkway to the
entrance of his store to ac
comodate his customers
He was fined »100 per day
(added to his taxes) until
he tore it down
Vote LCDC out
Jean Roberts
Mehama
Tax myopia?
Who was the wise guy.
anyway, who decided to put
a tax-lim itation measure
on the ballot without a lte r
natives?
If we are ultim ately to
wind up with both tax
lim itation and a state sales
tax, doesn't it make more
sense to initiate the sales
tax first—or at least both at
the same time
Shirley Roth
Boring
Personally speaking:
Raceway way out for tax-poor town?
Okay, snookums So you think
w e're sort« down and out with the
way you think bucks should flow
more upstream hereabouts7 You
say you re scared to death w hat'll
happen to Sleepy Hollow town*
like Sandy and sandy places like
Sleepy Hollow when that proper
ty tax lim itation slices up the
small town pte7
Not to worry Prosperity w ill
roll, when we get our racetrack
built
I got this quiltwork strange
plan from those good ol boys
across the bridge Vancouver
way Seem* they were worried,
too. about the state going broke
and cutting back Then the idea
came to them gambling What a
notion! Would have worked
there too but everyone knows
your Washingtonian never knows
where he's going when in the
driver s seat
We’re smarter here We know
what the state deems necessary
is what we ail salute with our
hearts and our paycheck* State-
sponsored gambling then outta
by VON BRASCHLER
work especially if we don’t.
We got a built in market, too.
judging from the number of
gambling devices the police have
jerked out of local bars lately I
men. somebody must have the
bug Equip racetrack gambling
windowawith slot machines that
look like video games, and even
kids will save up quarters
Sandy City Council wrestled
with the demon dice and exorcis
ed him from town a while back,
i t ’s true But city fathers only
voted not to sanction card games
That leaves open the gate for
horses
betters beat a path to Sandy’s
track
The track, you see. will be the
highway We U run the steeds up
one side of town east and back
around the Y lieaded down the
homestretch west to the light
Thia is the u ltim a te non
polluting light industry city plan
ners have lusted after I t ’s the
beat kind of tourism, with people
who drop in for only a couple
hours to drop scads of loose bucks
and leave, scarcely needing a
toilet, phone or traffic light while
visiting
Gotta have flashy lights Those
lights will start the nags like
dragsters at the Eliminations
The big red light at the finish line
also will abut them down
Imagine the fun we could have
raising bucks for the city Since
we got a gal for mayor, she could
be our trophy girl and put the big
horseshoe of rose* around the
winner
T hey'll get the traffic lights,
though Oh, we ll make a great
case with the Oregon Highway
Division for traffic lights and
welcome signs You think the
state's been kinds scotch on
lights with Sandy * 11.000 daily
cars through town so fa r7 You
think it ’s cheap that Vic can blow
up state visitor siena in front of
Californians, but the state won't
let Sandy put up a decent
greeting at its border7 Thia w ill
change when the hoards of happy
So if you think that free chance
the Sandy Chamber gives you to
guess when snow h it* town and
win a free vacation's fun. w ait'll
the horses hit town "Catch the
Pioneer Spirit booster buttons
now showing up in town might be
reworded f n r the big tim e
Catch Spirit
Wasn’t that the name of Icahod
Crane’s nag. when he lost his
head in Sleepy Hollow7