The independent., October 13, 1993, Page 9, Image 9

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The INDEPENDENT, O ct 13,1993
f
34
i
' Anniversary
We're celebrating our 34th year of
serving Columbia County with
fantastic STOREWIDE SAVINGS
and a special offer just for this
sale...During our Anniversary Sale,
select anything from our huge In­
stock Inventory of top Brand Name
Furniture, Bedding and Acces­
sories...then for the next 6 months...
No Down Payment*
No Monthly Payments
No Interest 'til
APRIL '94
This special offer is available on any purchase
of $399 including all Anniversary Sale Prices.
So shop early, we will not be able to extend this
special financing offer.
★
subject to credit
approval and
minimum
purchase o f $399
from
any in-stock
inventory.
From page 3
joy living in the county. We
want to protect the quality of
our air (nothing like a forest
for countering the effects of
Portland smog). And maybe
we'd like to be able to share
with our children something
of the character of Columbia
County as we have known it,
and which is dying as vast
acreages of ou r forest are
submitted to clearcut-and-run
operations.
Knowing that short-sight­
e d n e ss is a p ro b le m in a
democratically elected board
of commissioners, it is time
for us to fulfill our duty as re­
sponsible citizens and remind
them of our long-term goals.
Consider this alternative:
Let's keep Carcus Creek
Park—and turn it into a living
museum that both celebrates
our county's history as a log­
ging county and generates a
continuing flow of revenue for
the county.
There are talented fores­
te rs in our county who are
willing and able to create a
plan for sustained-yield log­
ging of Carcus Creek Park.
Furthermore, in our living
museum, we would be able to
introduce our children to a
forest and a way of life (log­
ging) that sustained our coun­
ty's families in years gone by.
We would all be able to en­
joy bearing w itness to the
magnificent process of forest
growth, harvest, and contin­
ued grow th.
Recently, I toured Carcus
Creek Park. In places, the
journey was a slog through
downed timber and deep un­
dergrowth. But on the many
overgrown old logging trails
and abandoned narrow -
gauge railway grades I began
to sense w hat a b e a u tifu l
park this could be, what a re­
source for our county, and a
source of pride for us all.
The forester who guided
me through the park pointed
ou t w hich tre e s m ight be
logged now for current rev­
enue, and he explained how
their removal would enhance
Page 9
the growth of younger neigh­
boring trees. Furthermore,
he reminded me that removal
of mature trees would open
up the forest to easier strol­
ling, allowing visitors to ap­
preciate individual groves and
other features of the forest—
such as a selection of young
giants which we could choose
to retain for their beauty and
our enjoyment. The thinning
and general clean-up process
would also open access to
the pretty creek and stunning
waterfall that pours down a
faceted rock face into a dark
pool at the farthest edge of
the property.
The forester pointed out
the remains of old logging op­
erations (log culverts, giant
stum p s w ith the m arks of
springboards 4 feet off the
ground, old skid roads) that
are part of local history and
our children's heritage.
There was all the refresh­
ing diversity of forest life to
enjoy—the trees themselves
(hemlock, fir, alder, and the
occasional cedar): the varied
un d e rsto ry of vin e m aple,
huckleberries, wild roses, and
ferns; ground cover of moss­
es, and wildflowers, with the
occasional tro ve of m ush­
rooms. Huge ravens soared
above the few open spaces.
Squirrel and bird chatter were
our con stan t com p an io ns.
We breathed the fre sh e st,
sweetest air on earth. (Old
timers say that loggers suffer­
ing from heart attack or ex­
haustion in the forest were
tucked up against one of the
big trees to partake of the
greater concentration of oxy­
gen beneath their boughs.)
Later we visited a section
of private land that had been
selectively (and pro fitab ly)
logged for scores of years. It
had sustained a fam ily fo r
generations. The most start­
ling thing about it was that it
looked like a park.
Think about that alterna­
tiv e , Mr. C o m m is s io n e rs .
Think about that, my friends.
Madelynne Diness Sheehan
Scappoose
(Sheehan is the author of
the book Fishing In Oregon)
Enter our Special
Anniversary Drawing
Hundreds of Dollars in
prizes to be given away
Ns pafihin nssBttir/ • E<ka blinb in ttor#
CONNIE.
8
THE FO OTW EAR
T O FALL F O R
FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY, INC.
Home Furnishings • Interiors • Accessories
Make the most of Fall
fashions with Connie’s
leatherfootwearfashions
T O N Y 'S S H O E S
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