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The INDEPENDENT, April 13,1994
».INDEPENDENT
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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.
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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...
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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
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UZHÛ CARESJ
Letter« to the Editor
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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.
* '
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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
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