Image provided by: Vernonia Public Library; Vernonia, OR
About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1980)
Page 2— Vernonia Freedom Thursday A ugust 21,1980 Public Forum Page Passion play at Oberammergau visited by locals Now Hear This by G.G. Connely The circus has left Madison Square Gardens, and will be playing in every town, city and hamlet across the United States until No. 4, when the accumulated results will be known positively by our votes at the polls. President Carter won the Democratic nomination as was expected, but in my opinion he has yet to prove to the American people that he is the man for the White House. He has sown his seed in very deep clay soil, and has a very hard row to hoe. Most of the promises he made in 1976 never materialized, can we expect the ones he made in New York, in his nomination acceptance speech to be any more credible than the ones he made in 1976? I have noticed many instances recently made in the news media that the BLM, Forestry Departm ents, and timber companies insist on going ahead with spraying of herbicides on forest land. Those of us who oppose the use of herbicide spraying any where, have reached the point of no return. By that I mean, we cannot turn back, nor can we compromise our position on the subject. We must present to our elected officials, county, state, and federal the facts, and the documented results that are evident, caused by the spraying of herbicides. We have found that public officials sometimes forget they are serving the public, and need to be reminded that government is paid for by taxpayers, and will beheld responsible for their actions in regards to herbicide spraying. Herbicides play a major part in a view of increased mechanization and decreased human labor. It translates into far fewer jobs. We should know what our local public health officials are doing about herbicide spraying, if anything. I would like to see our local public health officials go on public record about possible damages to people from herbicide spraying. The N orthw est Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) has an issue they will be working on next year to promote a stiff fine for chemical trespass convictions. I understand as it is now, if there is a spray program and drift occurs on property other than the target area, the users stand a slim chance of getting a $250fine if convicted. As of this writing, there have been very few fines levied. The< NCAP will be working for a $10,000 fine for the first offense, a $25,000 fine for the second offense, and suspension of spray permits for five years after the third offense. Everyone of us concerned citizens should adopt this issue as one of their top priorities, and continue it into our next legislative session at Salem in 1981. Now is the time to take action against herbicide spraying. The use of such practice is imminent. If the land around you is owned by BLM, Forestry Departments or timber companies, and you suspect that they are contemplating on using herbicide spraying techniques, contact the officials of the agencies and tell them that if your soil, water, blood, urine, and animals are contaminated by such spraying of harmful herbicides, that you will sue them for chemical trespass. Remember, we cannot afford to compromise our position on this issue, as we have now reached the point of no return. We must fight fire with fire against heavy odds to reach the goal that will protect our very lives and those that follow in our foot steps. The NCAP is an outstanding organization bringing to the citizens of the Northwest the real damages of herbicide spraying to our food, water supply, and animals. I would like to pass on to my readers, and to some who may be planning to assist in the tree planting program the hazards that they may encounter. From NCAP: Tree planters BEWARE of herbicide sprayed units. Inform yourself about spraying. Vegetation on units may be deformed, drying and smell of chemicals of diesel. Exposure may be a hazard to your health. You may notice nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, sores that won’t iheal, unusual bleeding, and irregular menstrual cycles (for women). If you need information or help contact N orthw est Forestry Workers Association. Now is the time for action. Strike while the iron is hot. Adventist youth prepared for the draft WASHINGTON, D.C. - According to a youth departmental official at the world office of Seventh-day Adventists, the government should have had no problems with the church’s 19- and 20-year olds who were expected to register for the draft during the past two weeks. Clark Smith, the denom ination’s N ational Service Organization consultant, said, "We are confident the greater majority of our young men have recognized their responsibility under the law and registered as required.” Smith, who has no idea how many Adventist men are of draft age, added, “It appears that 98 to 99 percent of those required to register did so in the past.” In a series of directives to all Adventist youth leaders in the U.S., Smith has explained the two types of conscientious objectors the government recognizes. The one opposes all forms of military service while the other is willing to be a member of the armed forces, but serves in a non- com batant capacity. Seventh-day Adventist young men are in the latter group. “Beliefs must be religious, moral or ethical in nature, as opposed to those based solely on politics, expedience, or self interest. The fundamental issue is the sincerity with which a person’s beliefs are held, and the depth of his conviction,” Smith says. V e rn o n ia F r e e d o m Published weekly in Vernonia Oregon, 97064, on Thursdays a t 715 Bridge S t Serving The Upper Nehalem Valley. Phone 429-8111. Subscriptions, $5 per year. Deadlines for copy and classified advertising: Monday at 5 pm for the following Thursday's paper. Deadline for display advertising: Friday for normal material and Monday for ’ after-weekend copy. D n ^ l^ A ClaSS Postage Paid a t Vernonia, OR 97064, Publication No. 474-690. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Vernonia Freedom, 715 Bridge S t Vernonia, OR 97064. Ned Mawhirter................................. . ; .............. .................... ................publisher-editor Emily Mawhirter.. . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........advertising Mary Cota..................................................................................................... ..............staff Special writers........ G.G. Connely, Rosalind Maycock, PaulSeamons, Jenelle Wiggins MEMBER 429-8111 I Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association by Mary Ann Clark Our first stop was beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark. A tour of the city included the palace and cathedral, the harbour with its famous little Mermaid statue, and Tivoli Gardens, which is an amusement park with boutiques and interesting restaurants, all gaily lighted at night. From there it was on to Vienna, where we heard Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and S trau ss’ “ D ie Flederm aus” performed by the Vienna State Symphony and Symphonic Choir. We also saw the famous Lippizan horses in a performance at the Imperial Palace. Our tours also included the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace. St. Stephens cathedral, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Belvedere Palace, where A ustria's neutrality follow ing WW II was established. “The Sound of Music” greeted us as we arrived in Salzberg, Australia, a beautiful and typical alpine city nestled in the Alps, with its white stucco homes beautifully decorated with porch boxes of geraniums and paintings often gracing the outside walls. During our stay there we visited many places used in the filming of “Sound of Music”, inducting the Captain’s home and the church where Maria was married, in nearby Mundsee. We also saw a m agnificent performance of Tchaikowsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” at the M arionette Theater (all done with puppets). It was from Salzberg we had our first view of the Alps as we went to Bertchesgarten and the Eagles Nest, one of Hitler’s hideaways during WW II. It is now used as a restaurantand gift shop and only accessible by tunnel and elevator as it sits perched on top of a huge rock formation. A s we arrived in Innsbruck, we had a glimpse of the Olympic Village, scene of the 1976 Olympic Games. Again we saw beautiful cathedrals and palaces, but to me the highlight of our stay was the evening spent at a folk festival - at program of national dances and songs, Swiss bells, yodeling, and of course, the alpine horn, performed by a group of young people in their colorful costumes. . What beauty of God’s creation awaited us as we crossed into northern Italy via the Brenner Pass into part of the Italian Alps known as the Dolemites - massive snow covered mountains which seemed so close you could literally reach out- and touch them, and then look down into the deep valleys below with picturesque villages dotted here and there. Our next stop was Zurich, beautiful for the Limatt River running through the main part of town, and who can forget the delicious meat fondue dinner especially prepared for us at our hotel. It was also in Zurich we .v isited the beautiful Grossmunster, the cathedral built in honor of John Swingley, a reformationist contemporary of Martin Luther’s. On our way to Zurich we passed through the delightful m iniature principalitv of Lichtenstein and its beautiful castle on a hill overlooking the little city of Vaduz. What excitement awaited us as we crossed the Furka Pass going to the foot of the Rhone Glacier. We wound our way up the narrow switchback road only to arrive at the summit in fog and a snowstorm! After coming down to the valley on the other side of the pass, plans called for going over a lesser pass into Lucerne. However, we learned, after stopping for lunch, our way was blocked by an avalanche. So, we retraced our steps over the Furka P ass back to the autobahn leading to Lucerne. However, we learned, after stopping- for lunch, our way was blocked by an avalanche. So, we retraced our steps over the Furka Pass back to the autobahn leading to Lucerne. We began to compare times, and figured we could possibly have been trapped in the avalanche, or on either side of it - how we thanked God for His protection. I think Lucerne was my favorite of all the places we visited. Our hotel was right on the edge of the beautiful blue Lake Lucerne. Our tours here included visits to the Lion Monument, carved out of a hillside of stone, and two beautiful covered foot bridges across the Reusse River with murals painted on their supporting crossbeams. On our way to Interlaken we stopped in the quaint village of Brienz to visit a woodcarving shop where we saw craftsmen plying their skillful trade. We had our first view of the mighty, majestic Jungfrau as we arrived in Interlaken. We drove on to Lauterbrunn and from there took a cogwheel train up to a point of 11,300 feet elevation on the Jungfrau. No storm of fog marred our view this time. A s we arrived back at our waiting bus, the rich mellow tones of the alpine horn could be heard in the still, clear mountain air - a perfect ending to such a spectacular trip. Oh yes, that day being the 4th of July-, and we being good, loyal Americans, we conducted a flag planting ceremony on top of the Jungfrau! One of the group had thoughtfully remembered to bring a little American Flag along, so it was placed in the snow to the strains of “God Bless America”! Then it was on to Heidelberg by way of quick tours of Basel and Bern the capital of Switzerland, with the Rhine and Aare Rivers running through them and their red tiled roofs dotting the landscape. No visit to Heidelberg is complete without a visit to Heidelberg Castle of “Student Prince” fame. From the castle grounds we could look down' on the Nekar River flowing through the city. ' Our next point of interest was a cruise down the Rhine River as far as Koblenz - about four hours. Again, God provided for us as the river had been closed due to flooding but had been re-opened the day before our trip. It was a lovely sight as we went along to see the steep hillsides planted in lush vinyards and around the next bend in the river would b ea beautiful old castle atop a hill like a sentinel keeping guard, as it had in centuries past. It was here we also passed the'famous Loreley Rock. From Koblenz we drove through the beautiful Black Forest on our way to Worms, where Martin Luther was called before the church Diet and refused to recant the stand he had taken for his faith. The spiritual highlight of our trip was to be had in lovely Oberammergau. Almost all the townspeople have some part in the P assion Play, or its production. The play lasts about 554 hours and depicts the last week of Christ’s life, from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to His ressurection on Easter. Coming away from the play I could only say, “Thank God I serve a Risen Saviour.” We arrived in Munich in time to hear the Glockenspeil, an animated “music box located in the tower of the City Hall.. We also visited the treasury, where crown jew els, various m edals, and other artifacts are housed, beautiful beyond description. We lunched atop the tower (a revolving restaurant) at the beautiful Olympic Village, which afforded an outstanding view of the city. We also saw the Hof Brau, where Hitler narrowly escaped assassination after making a speech there during WW II. Finally, we visited the beautiful Nym phenberg C astle and adjacent building which had an extensive display of ornate carriages and sleighs used by royalty. From Munich we flew back to Copenhagen and, all too soon, back to home, sweet home. r I Please renew my subscription to Vernonia Freedom I Please enroll me as a new subscriber to I Vernonia Freedom □ I I i I Name. I Address. I I Send to: Vernonia Freedom or Call 429-8111 I $5 _-______ - ___ ;
