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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 1990)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, Mar. 29, 1990 t >< INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley Published monthly on the last Thursday ot each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd 1206 State Avenue. Vernonia OR 97064 as a tree newspaper All material protected under U S Copyright laws Editors and Publishers. Dirk and Noni Andersen. (503) 429 9410 O p in io n Volunteers created a successful month March has been a good month for a number of reasons that could easily be over-looked, but really should be recognized Area citizens have been doing their usual good work as volunteers, but they also turned out in larger than usual numbers to support the efforts of volunteer organizations The AFS Friendship Days Dinner, Ver nonia Area Chamber of Commerce banquet for Citi zens of the Year, and the luncheon/fashion show of the American Cancer Society-Vernoma unit were all extremely successful - even though they were all in the same week Good things happened elsewhere, too The Vernonia City Council dealt with a controver sial proposal in a sensible, non-hysterical fashion. When asked to consider changing the city's gambling ordinance to comply with less restrictive county regu lations, they responded by appointing a study com mittee that represented all sides of the issue The committee's unanimous recommendation was to leave the city ordinance unchanged, the recommen dation was accepted and a potentially explosive situ ation was defused without a single shot fired. Council members refrained from any personal comment on the proposal until after the committee made its report; that's a good way to avoid putting undue pressure on the people studying the isssue. It also demonstrates a maturity that has, for many years, been sorely lacking on the council Sensible action was also taken by another public board this month, this time in response to their own inappropnate behavior. Directors of the Vernonia Rural Fire District invited Mist-Birkenfield RFD directors to a joint planning ses sion - a good idea - but they closed the meeting to the public, an action that violated Oregon's open meeting regulations While discussions of public bod ies may be more candid without an audience, the pur pose of the open meetings law is to keep the decision making process in public view The VRFD directors were variously annoyed or embarassed when the violation was pointed out, but they did the right thing - they cancelled the meeting before it got underway and scheduled another, public, meeting. The VRFD directors, the Vernonia City Council and all the other volunteers made March a good month. I : By Nancy B urch V e rn o n ia C ity L ib ra ria n Many thanks to Pat Hall (or the following author re v ie w What do you think of when I say the name Roald Dahl9 Frobscottle9 Whizzpoppers? Well actually, probably nothing. But what if I mentioned "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"? (actual title; "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") You would probably by now have a picture in your mind of Mr. Dahl. Mr. Dahl's books appeal to ages 5 to adult. They deal with characters, attitudes and actions we can all relate to. Within the framework of the various stories you will come upon situations and responses that you have taken or wish you had taken yourself. Mr. Dahl's ability to portray humor a, any character level makes you feel at ease in the presence of Queens, Presidents, Common Folk and Gentry alike. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" you find young and old filled with greed and misbehavior. "Charlie and the Glass Elevator" raises childish behavior to adult level (so that adults can partake in it). Both books also deal with strength of character and reward for honest action. Mr. Dahl's most recent books, "Danny the Champion of the World" and "The BFG" (Big Friendly Giant) bring a change from his earlier works. "Danny the Champion of the World" is written in a "real world" England and creates an environment of trust between common people living everyday lives. This is all viewed through a father-son relationship as the son grows and learns about his father and his father's various acquaintances. In "The BFG," fantasy once again reigns, but.........beware the whizzpoppers! In any event, Roald Dahl is an author who can be enjoyed more than one time, by more than one age group. The Library Board would like to invite you to attend an Open House to be held in the library on W ednesday. A p ril 25. 1990 from 2 4 p.m. Cake, coffee and punch will be served and we encourage you to io in us as we share friendship, re freshment and support of the library. Library Hours: Monday and F riday 1-5 p m , Wednesday, 9 a m -5 p m , and Saturday. 10 a m.-2 p.m Preschool Story Time is every Wednesday from 10 30-11 a m L e tte rs to th e E d ito r Roberts capable? To the Editor: During this last period ot preparation to file the proper forms to become a precinct committeeperson for either the Democrat or Republican parties, the central commit tees were harassed with re quests for undo (sic) forms that were issued at the last possible moment by the Sec retary of State's office under the d irectio n of Barbara Roberts Many of these changes were mandated by the last session of the legislature in 1989 I believe that since that time there has been ade quate time to issue these changes to the County Clerk offices in the state However, a week before the filing dead line o, March 6, the clerk's of fice in St Helens received a fax at 8 11 p.m. February 27th, asking that persons wishing to file for the position of precinct person would have to file Forms 220 and 227, Statement of Orgamza tion and Appointment ot Polit ical Campaign Treasurer and A Certificate of Limited Con tributions and Expenditures Nowhere in my memory has there been any money ex pended in this county, espe cially, to file as a precinct per son I'm sure that Art Laubach and I would certainly welcome some competiton in filings as in recent years there has been little interest taken in this lackluster posi tion Whereupon on March 6th, the deadline for filing, another fax was received from Salem Register now for May 15 The primary election may seem like a long way off but if you want to express your opinion on the candi dates, the levies or tax bases, you have to register to vote by Apnl 24. Registration forms are available at the post office, city hall, the library and West Oregon Electric. You may also register at the Columbia County Courthouse. informing the Elections D ivi sion that the request for the two forms, 220 and 227 had been cancelled Much addi tional time and money had been spent by both parties and the Elections Division to comply with Salem's prior de mands My question is, if Barbara Roberts is elected as Gover nor of this fair state, would she be capable of running that office any better than the one she now occupies9 Joanne VanNatta, Chairwoman Columbia County Repub lican Central Committee Thanks for labels To the Editor: We'd like to express a big "Thank You" to everyone who saved Campbell's soup labels for Vernonia Preschool Now we are startin g to save for next year, and hope you will continue to help us Boxes for the labels are at Sentry Market and Sunnyside Service Board of Directors, Vernonia Preschool
