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The INDEPENDENT, Mar. 29, 1990
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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