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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1992)
Page 2 T lw INDEPENDENT, OcL 28,1992 The INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published m onthly on the last W ednesday of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 1206 State Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. All material protected under U.S. Copyright laws. Editors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen, (503) 429-9410. Scott Sword has earned re-election as mayor i »T T ï ■ ^ ,3 By Nancy Burch Vernonia City Librarian For those who love suspense, Joy Fielding's latest paperback, Run Jane Run, is for you. From the beginning, when Jane finds herself walking down a street, having no memory of who she is, wearing a blood-stained dress and a coat with $10,000 stuffed in the pockets, to the very last page, the reader will be completely absorbed. As soon as one situa tion seems to be resolved, another arises. This is a real thriller. Sidney Sheldon's newest novel, The Stars Shine Down, is set in the glamorous world of international business and features the startling shocks and amazing surprises that his readers have come to expect and love. Combining romance with cliff-hanging sus pense is Sheldon's trademark and this, his twelfth novel, meets these reader expecta tions. The title of Sheldon's latest book, The Stars Shine Down, is also an appropriate thought for us at this time at the library as we remember Darrold Proehl. Darrold used and supported the library as much or more than anyone in the community. He always said to be sure and let him know if the library was in need of something. Through his association with the Lions' Club, the library has a set of books for diabetics, new book shelves, donations throughout the years, and a very recent do nation to enhance the video collection. It was through his encouragement that the library's video collection was established. We thank you and miss you, Darrold. SB Library Hour»; Monday and Friday ! ^ p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m.-S p<m«, Saturday 10 a.m .-2 p.m . P resch oo l S tory Time: every Wednesday from 10:30-11 People filling the positions of Vernonia Mayor and Council spend long hours, without pay, trying to find ....—--------- ---- ------ ways to enhance the quality of this small town. Un like other volunteers, they must keep an under-fund Leonetti served on the council previously, with ed city solvent while coping with an extremely broad mixed results. He cares passionately about improv spectrum of problems and situations. ing Vernonia, but sometimes took inappropriate short These positions are important. Communication is a The only person whose name is on the ballot, Joe cuts in an attempt to achieve goals. If he tempers his part of good planning Batty, has said he will be moving away from Vernonia. enthusiasm with thoughtfulness, he will be a great as Dennis Davenport, a write-in candidate, says he went set for the City of Vernonia. To the Editor: We endorse Ed Buckner and Mario Leonetti for into the race only to provide a choice, and would pre fer that his supporters vote for Scott Sword, another Vernonia City Council. I have gone on the record as a supporter of the zoning write-in candidate. Sword is currently the mayor. change at the airport to light Wally Vaughn, a former mayor and councilor is also industrial. My gut feeling is a write-in candidate, as is Kathy Brekken, a volunteer that this project will benefit firefighter who is working on qualifying as an EMT. our community in ways that During Vaughn's and Batty's tenure, Vernonia cele Measure 1: Bond issue to fund state parks w e c a n n o t now im agine. W ith c a re fu l p la n n in g , we brated construction of the new water plant. The city Passage of this measure would authorize the state to issue may create a new way for our also lost law suits (and $$$) because of incidents that up to $250 million in general obligation bonds for a State Park com m unity to participate in would never have happened with appropriate leader and Recreation Fund for purchase and development of camping what many are calling "the ship and it failed to apply in time for designation as an and recreational facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas, new Global market." hiking trails, etc. The Legislature would have to approve any ex Enterprise Zone, which could have improved the eco penditures from the fund. The key word is planning. The planning of any such pro nomic situation. In the aftermath of Measure 5, funding for development of the ject should reflect the shared Brekken is an energetic go-getter with excellent Banks-Vernonia Linear Park has nearly disappeared, a situation vision of all of our citizens. credentials in all areas except one: She has looked that pertains throughout the state's park system because gener U nfo rtun ately in th is case, at the office only from a distance. A person with no al fund monies must go where the need is more urgent. The is some of our citizens feel that suance of bonds is a good way to fund park development and background in municipal operations should, at the the their concerns have not been economic development that accompanies parks. very least, attend council meetings to learn more addressed and therefore, it is Vote "Yes" on Measure 1. difficult for them to support about the situations that must be dealt with and what this project. That the archi limitations exist in reaching solutions. Measure 2: Fuel taxes for parks tects of the project had little Sword has spent four years working hard as a This measure would authorize a tax of two cents per gallon of time to involve these people councilor, then as mayor. He does his homework, motor vehicle fuel, every two years, for the purchase, develop is a fact, but it is not an ex ment and maintenance of state parks and recreation sites. It cuse. studying ordinances and statutes, seeking funding would not affect motor fuel taxes used for highway maintenance Successful economic de sources and trying to make improvements that will and construction, but would be in addition to that levy. v e lo p m e n t is no t a c c o m help Vernonia pull out of its long-standing economic While there is nothing "wrong" with this measure, it has a far plished by stampede, but by doldrums. He has also worked hard to eliminate the greater impact on people in rural areas than those in urban ar measured steps which allow "old boy network" that governed here for years and, eas. Rural residents must drive because they don't have the op each of us to consider the ef judging from the people he has angered, he must be tion of using inter-city buses. fects of such projects on our It appears that motor fuel taxes will be increasingly used for personal values, those of our doing a good job of it. Impatience is Sword's biggest many purposes. This one doesn't seem particularly necessary. neighbors and those of the problem; he needs to learn how to develop consen Vote "No" on Measure 2. greater community. sus, but he will not be apathetic about the city’s con While I feel that this project dition. Measure 3: Institute term limits is a good one, and one that When incumbent politicians are re-elected time after time, We urge you to write-in Scott Sword as mayor. will benefit our community in Important measures on General Election ballot Buckner, Leonetti for city council vacancies Ed Buckner, Mario Leonetti and Emil Rode are all candidates for two seats on the Vernonia City Coun cil. Rode, who often attends city council meetings, fre quently suggests "more time" as a problem solving method— a delay here and a delay there. Unfortu nately, that would only take the council back to where it used to be, postponing decisions, tabling needed changes and accomplishing nothing. Buckner is a newcomer to city government, but has been involved for many years with a family-owned business in Vernonia. He is thoughtful and consider ate, but intelligent enough to know that hard deci sions must be made, even when they are uncomfort able. some voters are lured into thinking term limits are needed — but mandatory term limits won't lead to better government. Incumbents are re-elected because the voters want them re turned to office or, at the very least, prefer them over the chal lengers. With mandatory term limits, inexperienced legislators would necessarily rely heavily on staff and lobbyists, who are not re sponsible to the voters, because there would be no experienced legislators. Additionally, a good legislator, doing the job his con stituents want done, would have to be replaced by someone who was not the voters’ first choice. Term limits are available any time voters want to use them, you simply vote for another candidate. Vote "No" on Measure 3. Measure 4: Ban triple trailers The rhetoric keeps traveling in circles around this measure. Some professional truck drivers say triple trailer combinations are dangerous, others say they're not. Opponents contend that more doubles would be worse than the triples; proponents say it would create more jobs for truckers. Some facts are not in doubt: Triples are difficult to pass un- PlMMM«pag«3 many ways, it is imperative that we communicate in order that this (and future) projects will reflect our shared vision. Bob Ragsdale Vernonia Objects to re-zoning To the Editor: As the chief petitioner in a drive to consolidate citizen in terest regarding airport rede velopment, I wish to person ally extend my heartfelt grati tude to the nearly 200 Ver nonia citizens who feel, very much as I do, that a moratori um on the city's effort to re zone the airport property was PlMMSMpag»16
