The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current, February 08, 1995, Page 13, Image 13

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    Vernonia—bursting with potential, the plant, that is
From page 1
i
Presents
CASINO HIGHT
March 4th, 1995 - 7-11 p.m.
Lew's Place
934 Bridge St., Vernonia
Ticket Inform ation:
429-9901 or 429-9919
$15 Single - $25 Couple
Proceeds will Benefit
Vernonia Preschool
24 Hour
Towing
Vernonia was discovered
in a search for unusual seed
oils for which new industrial
markets might be created, or
that might recapture markets
lost by agricultural products
to petrochem ical products.
Seed was screened fo r oil
content and those with sub­
s ta n tia l am o un ts (20% or
m ore) w ere e va lu a te d to
identify oils with unique fatty-
acid com position, distinctly
different from other domestic
crops, such as peanuts and
cotton seed.
Vernonia galamensis is a
rich source of vernolic acid, a
n a tu ra lly e p o xid ize d fa tty
a cid . The seeds co n ta in
about 40 percent o il, w ith
unique chemical (epoxy) and
physical (low viscosity) prop­
erties.
Potential use, for example,
could be a promising world­
wide market in the manufac-
Auto &
Truck
Gasoline Alley
Auto Wrecking
Tues-Frl
8 am-5 pm
Closed
Sun & Mon
54372 Nehalem Hwy. S., Vernonia
429-7581
324-2071
ture of oil based paints, pro­
ducing “reactive diluents” to
serve as solvents that be­
come a part of the paint’s sur­
face as it dries and does not
evaporate to pollute the at­
mosphere.
V o la tile o rg a n ic c o m ­
pounds from oil based paints
and other sources, react with
nitrogen to produce ozone, a
d e le te rio u s com ponent of
photochem ical smog. One
pint of vernonia oil could be
used in each of the 350 mil­
lion gallons of oil based paint
produced in the U.S., reduc­
ing emissions by at least 160
million pounds. It is estimated
that 350,000 acres of vernon­
ia plants would be required to
achieve that level of produc­
tion.
“Vernonia galamensis has
numerous other industrial ap­
plications,” says John Gra­
ham of the C o a tin g s R e­
search Institute at Eastern
Michigan University, “It could
eventually replace petroleum
as a component in the manu­
facture of plastics.”
Researchers in laborato­
ries world-wide are experi­
menting with epoxies, resin,
lubricants, additives, adhe­
sives, insecticides and repel-
lants; a growing list of new
p ro d u cts as in d u stry b e ­
comes aware of the proper­
ties, uses and availability of
vernonia oil.
R esearch and d e v e lo p ­
ment of agricultural methods
and of new varieties contin­
ues to improve yields. Yields
were doubled in two years
Vernonia Sentry
____
■ M A R K B T B R
Valentine Cards,
Candy & Gifts
l/1/é Love Your Business
Shop the latest "What’s In Store” Flyer
Available at check-out stands NOW!
We apologize for the inconvenience to our
customers during floor repairs, and invite you to ask
employees for any assistance you may need.
Botanist Robert E. Perdue Jr., left, and agronomist Chemist
T. Nyati examine a field of Vernonia galamensis in Chiredzi,
Zimbabwe.
thirty days a fte r they have
when it was dicovered that
topping the plants when they
matured, giving farmers time
were six inches tall, resulted
to postpone the harvest until
in numerous new branches
all the blooms have matured.
sprouting below the cut, dou­
U.S. agronomists are opti­
bling the number of blooms
mistically looking forward to
and, hence, seed.
the developm ent of a plant
Among the considerations
th a t w ill be s u c c e s s fu l in
in developing this plant as a
some farming communities in
new crop are the parameters
the southwestern states.
of clim ate within which the
It is a foregone conclusion
plants will flourish. A subtropi­
th a t v e rn o n ia w ill not be
cal climate within 20 degrees
growing in Vernonia. We can,
of the equator appears ideal,
however, subscribe to the title
along with seasonal rainfall of
of the article provided by Dr.
about 8 inches.
Richard Roseberg, assistant
The plant is exceptionally
professor in crop science at
hardy and is resistant to dis­
Southern Oregon Experimen­
ease, insects and drought. In
tal Station in Medford, from
addition , the “staying power”
which this colum n was ab­
of the seeds is a remarkable
s tra c te d :
VERNONIA —
30 days; i.e. the seeds re­
BURSTING WITH POTEN­
main on the plant as long a
TIAL.
Vernonia Police report
During the month of Jan­
uary 1995, the Vernonia Po­
lice Dept. investigated four
assa ults. Three of the a s­
s a u lts w ere dom estic v io ­
lence and arrests were made.
Three individuals were cit­
ed for possession of a con­
trolled substance and given
court dates to appear. One ju­
venile was charged with pos­
session of tobacco and re­
ferred to the Columbia Coun­
ty Juvenile Department.
Two individuals were a r­
reste d on susp icion of in-
Lulu's Antique
Refinishing
Repair & Caning
If your furniture isn't
becoming to you, you
should be coming to me.
Antiques Bought & Sold
4 2 9 -7 6 3 3 E ves.
volvement in the December,
1994, theft of two scales from
Vernonia High School. Infor­
mation was received in Jan­
uary regarding this case. An
investigation into this matter
resulted in the arrest of two
individuals. The investigation
is still ongoing.
During the month of Jan­
uary, the V e rnonia P o lice
Dept. served seven nuisance
abatement notices. One indi­
vidual has been issued a cita­
tion for failure to comply. The
others are still within the time
p e rio d to com ply w ith the
cleanup.
The above are some, but
not all cases handled by VPD
in January.
VERNONIA POLICE DEP’T
JANUARY, 1995
Calls for service
Cases
Cases cleared
Traffic citations
69
45
19
28
VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC
Happy Retirement, Gladys...Enjoy!
R A B IE S
Sentry 21 for Videos, Books on Tape and More!
H ay the Lottery: Scratch Off, Power Ball, Mega Bucks & Keno
Laminating Service • Western Union • Fax Service
“Vernonia Sentry, not just in the Community, but part of it. f t
Open 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Seven Days a Week
735 Jefferson Ave. • Vernonia • 429-3811
D o g s & C a ts
Feb. 9 & 23,1995
Next to Sunnyside Service, 58360 Nehalem Hwy. S „ Vernonia