Image provided by: Vernonia Public Library; Vernonia, OR
About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1981)
PUD vote still in doubt by Kristen Hillier The People Opposed to PUD Debt, a Columbia County citizens group, has filed suit to disallow the successful Public Utility District (PUD) vote. Claiming there was confusion concerning who was allowed to vote on the matter, and that the boundaries for the PUD districts were established forty years ago, the suit further charges that the PUD made false claims concerning the manner in which it intended to fund itself. A recount of the votes has indicated errors in the original tally. It has been discovered that 29 votes counted as ’No’ votes were actually ’Yes’ votes for the PUD. This brings the count to 3,533 in favor of PUD and 3,502 against. Richard Sahagian, chairman of the first district of the Columbia River PUD, for log cutting competition during last , All the best in 1 981 V ernonia 25 0 answered some of the charges. “There are a couple of things about that suit,” he pages two and three for related photos. said, “one thing in particular that bothers me is that they say we filed too late for the election committee to determine the exact boundaries of the PUD. We had an election just a few years ago. They figured out the boundaries of the PUD. We had an election just a few years ago. They figured out the boundaries fine, then,” he added. “It’s not like it never happened before,” he said. The suit also alleges that the PUD falsely claimed it would not levy property taxes to pay for bonds. “With Sahagian. “We’ll be using the same revenues PGE does,” he said. The cost of takeover may be high, however. Sahagian tends to blame PGE. “PGE won’t talk about leaving,” he said. “They say we’ll have to go to the courts to get them out. I don’t know what funds continued on page 2 See pages two and three for 1980 in Review Thursday, January 1,1981 INDEX 1980 in review........... Serving the Nehalem Valley 'F reedom Vol. 3 No. 8 the revenues PGE takes in the area, we won’t need to levy taxes for what we use,” said 13 Classified Ads......... Senior Schedule....... 6 Regular Meetings.... 6 Notes on Folks......... 6 Church Directory..... 6 Poetry Comer............ 6 Drinking and Driving. 8 Common sense can help avoid holiday driving accidents The beginning of a new year is a time of celebration. „Unfortunately, it is also a time when accident rates rise because of drunken drivers on the roads. “We normally don’t have a problem in Vernonia,” said Lt. J. Luttrell, spokesman for the Columbia County Sherriff’s office. “Last year the sherriff’s office recorded four or five accidents in the area,” he said. “Of course, that doesn’t include state and local statistics,” he added. Luttrell stated that the biggest problem area during the holiday season is on the Scappoose-Vernonia Highway. “A lot of people use the road then,” he said. “They go to other areas to party and the Scappoose-Vernonia Highway becomes a well-used area. We are going to patrol that area heavily during New Year’s,” he added. “Our responsibility is to make sure nobody has an accident and kills someone that night,” he continued. “We haven’t had much problem in our area in the past and I hope we have as little problems in the future,” he said. “My suggestion is that if people are going to New Year’s parties, have someone who drinks Coke drive home,” Luttrell said. Luttrell explained that it takes at least one hour for one ounce of liquor to dissapate in the bloodstream. The time factor depends on an individuals size and weight. “However, any amount of alcohol will show up in a breath test,” he pointed out. Sergeant Bracken of the State Highway Department gave warnings and advice for drivers on New Year’s eve. “Vernonia has figure weights or charts, just don’t drink,” he said; “If-you. are-driving, give everyone on the road plenty of room. Assume that around the next corner there could be a drunk driver in your lane,” he continued. “Don’t drive unless you absolutely have to. Remember to drive very defensively,” he added. Bracken pointed out that some drunk drivers are not always an obvious danger. “Don’t assume the gay in front of you is alright just because he’s driving a straight line. There may come a situation when he has to react quickly and he can’t because the alcohol has slowed his reactions,” he said. “Nearly any amount of alcohol in the blood will affect a continued on page 2 something of a reputation for people who do a lot of drinking at this time,” he said. “The state police will be out in force on New Year’s eve. The officers will be very, very strict with drivers this year. We’re not going to take anybody home, or pat them on the back, or call their relatives to take them home,” he stated. “Anyone suspected of drunken driving will be lodged in jail,” he said. “It’s very common for people who are under the influence of alcohol to think they’re perfectly fine. The officer may think differently and the officers will be very critical of anyone driving suspiciously New Year’s eve,” he added. Bracken advised anyone driving that night not to drink at all. “Don’t try to Economic woes beset food Co-op I'lie Vernonia Food Co-op is currently experiencing financial difficulties, and is no longer selling food in its store. According to Mary Deakin, Co-op board member since October, “The difficulties began after Brian Moore, who was manager of the co-op, left. You see, he was funded by CETA and after his year ran out, he had to find work,” she said. “After he left, the people who were trying to manage the Co-op ran into difficulties. You just can't blame them,” Deakin stressed. “I’m sure we’ve all been in a situation where we’re trying our best but we just don't have enough knowledge to work on,” she continued. “And when I read in the paper that the Co-op was going downhill, I wanted to get involved,” she added. The Co-op board has been reformed, and the senior citizens are becoming involved. “Right now the board consists of myself, three senior citizens and Patty Jensen,” she said. “Patty’s husband, Norman, works for Community Action. He got us involved in the Co-op Bank Workshop in Salem,” she said. The Co-op Bank Workshop is a seminar set up to assist co-ops in handling and v making guidelines for monetary matters. The Co-op Bank is a federal organization that can give loans and technical assistance. “Someone to come in and help up organize,” said Deakin. Beside the members of the board, the co-op itself is owned by the paid members. “The board is set up to be advised by the* paid members,” said Gurtie Schalock, continued on page 2 accident, on Bridge St. in June, 1980, did have. See related story on page 8.
