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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1994)
■ r - . Page 2 ì ì V i » ! ■ ... a . lin . ' .Mb. «W i The INDEPENDENT, April 13,1994 ».INDEPENDENT YttE WAY IT IS ! » ■ Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 1206 S tate A venue, V ernonia, OR 97064, as a free new spaper. E ditors and P ublishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen, (503) 429-9410. ( \Co/vPh cTs ÿ o llf/C /4 ^ Are local educators really concerned? Considering education’s increasing economic prob lems, public employees’ potential loss of taxpayer fi nanced pensions and the instructional changes man dated for schools, it was reasonable to assume that school board members, school administrators, teach ers, classified personnel and students would turn out in large numbers to talk about those concerns with gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber when he was in Vernonia on March 31. Kitzhaber was asked about improved funding for education, but the question wasn’t asked by an edu cator or student, however, because none of them bothered to attend. The meeting was at 4:00 p.m. on a week day and didn’t interfere with either school or weekend activi ties. Posters were placed in two of the schools as re minders; Superintendent Ellis Mason was personally reminded of the meeting. Still, there were no repre sentatives from Vernonia schools...not even one. Attending the meeting and writing a report on it would have been a good extra-credit assignment for students, and should have been mandatory for poten tial journalism students, but none was there. Since the local educational establishment failed to utilize an easy and convenient opportunity to discuss th eir concerns with someone like Kitzhaber and, since their attendance at prior candidates’ forums is abysmal, it makes one wonder if their occasional ex pressions of distress are really about education, or if they simply reflect self-interest? In either case, when teachers, parents, school ad m inistrators and other acceptable role models for young people display no interest in government, we cannot be surprised at the ignorance future genera tions will necessarily display. As a matter of fact... W f g a U ly ( A c c e p -t i^ t t( T y Fofc A l y ' C \A 3 Po 5 f t 10 «A f 4 . • * ’■-Ï. Students, teachers did outstanding job To the Editor: Due to the hard work and enthusiasm of tw e lve o u t standing young citize n s of Vernonia, I felt it necessary to publicly thank them fo r re cently assisting the County Parks Department in planting tw o-thousand W estern red C e da r se e d lin g s at Cam p Wilkerson. Parents, teachers and n e ig h b o rs sho uld be proud of such a fine group of kids. I also feel it is necessary to thank an impressive group of teachers for their contribution to the project. It must be com forting fo r parents to know that their children have quali ty teachers. So, on behalf of the Colu mbia County Parks Depart ment and visito rs to Camp W ilkerson, I wish to thank and express my sincere ap p re cia tio n to the follow ing people: Kelly Baska, Brad Bricker, Brian Collins, Michael Gosnell, Erica Hobart, Kirsten Hyde, R achel M cA lvage, Denny Peters, Heather Sar gent, Stephen Serafin, Jere my Stevens and Colin Tier ney, as well as Mr. Howard, Mr. Richter, Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Waters. Sincerely, Charles J. “Chuck” Ashcroft Columbia County Parks Superintendent « • m i * UZHÛ CARESJ Letter« to the Editor W SBM I r - Vstked* 4 k e y re«cl(y F ro /H One of the most mind-boggling displays of taxpay ers shooting themselves in the foot occurred in the March election, when Columbia County voters over turned the Systems Development Charge, which re quired new developments to pay fees for future roads and parks. It’s hard to believe that so many county residents are really seeking the opportunity to pay for those im provem ents on behalf of the newcomers who will make the costly improvements necessary. But that’s what the vote did. Now the question is: How long will it take the same Preschool Casino people to start screaming about the taxes needed for Night successful im p ro v e m e n ts to a cco m m o d a te the p o p u la tio n growth? Not long. In addition, they’ll probably blame To the Editor: their elected officials for the situation. The Vernonia Preschool The INDEPENDENT will accept some responsibili Casino Night fundraiser was ty for not pointing out the situation to voters. It didn’t ve ry s u c c e s s fu l, ra isin g seem necessary to insult the intelligence of our read $1500 fo r Preschool while ers by spelling out the obvious when they could read providing lots of great prizes fo r the players, including a the measure for themselves. Oh well, wrong again. * ' y trip to Reno for two, a 19" re mote color television, Pioneer CD player, an overnight stay at Skamania Lodge and lots o f d in n e rs and g ift c e r tifi cates. We want to thank the fol lowing sponsors for their do n a tio n s : S & J C h e v ro le t, Mike Pihl Logging, Roberts C h ry s le r P lym outh, K & G Construction, Gwin Logging, Gratteri’s Tire & Wheel, Cas cade Concrete, Power Rents, Bassett Industrial, Doherty Ford and Miller & Sally Duns. Some of the funds raised have been used to buy need ed equipment and supplies. The remaining money will go tow ard kitchen rem odeling and in te rio r painting, a job m ade e a s ie r by V e rn on ia Hardware, which is supplying all of the paint at cost. We a ls o w ant to th a n k Randy and Kelly Ellson, who are building a swing set for the children. Lisa Hardwick Vernonia Preschool Ample evidence of misunderstanding To the Editor: After reading my letter in The INDEPENDENT 3/9/94, some people expressed opin ions that I am an atheist, ag nostic, anti-Christ and a few other unflattering names. To these folks, I suggest they return to whoever read the le tte r to them , have it read again, more slowly, and the n have it e xp la in e d to them. Even the good m in iste r missed the point. I did not at tack Christ, God, the Bible, true Christians or true Chris tianity, specifically or in gen eral. Any group, re lig io u s or secular, may have the most pristine intent at the time of their inception. However, if they survive and grow, with growth comes power, money, prestige and a prime directive that the continuation, protec tion and growth of the organi zation takes precedence over any and all of the original goals. W ith grow th also com e proportionate corruption and a blind complacency. If a person truly accepts Christ and the responsibilities and burdens that such a deci sion entails, they must truly believe and live that life. Those who do so, may be a cut ab ove ave rag e, but those who simply go through the motions and give lip ser vice, who interpret the Bible to suit their life-styles and atti tudes, are a cut below. They remind me of the old saying “And man created God in his own image.” Many people have a ten dency to transfer their trust, love, worship, etc., to a more tangible entity such as a min ister, priest, church, cult, etc., as a channel to C h rist. It would be better to worship a Golden Calf, it will probably serve them much better than worshipping any entity other than God. R. D. Stevens Vernonia Our town can show our spirit and pride To the Editor: Vernonia is “our town” for every man, woman and child who calls it home, and each of us has the opportunity to help make “our town” a better place to live. One w hose streets are clean and stores are occupied. One that offers Please see page 3 »» •/ V ’ } ’
