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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1998)
The INDEPENDENT, January 21,1998 Batwasn the Bookends Letters to the Editor much appreciated and will be used to benefit the another problem and that is volunteers, we sure could use patrons of the library. It has been the custom for several years to some. The Vernonia Public Library has received a place a new book in the library in appreciation Allen Russell is delivering $300.00 grant to improve public library services for each library board member’s service to the meals on wheels, and we to children. The Ready to Read Grant program library. This has been done as they complete or would like a stand-by to fill in was established by the 1993 Oregon Legislature resign their terms on the board. The latter part of when he is not available. and is administered by the Oregon State Library. 1997 found two members, Art Parrow and Gin Respectfully, The 1997 Legislature unanimously approved a ger Johns, leaving the board. Library patrons will Larry Doppke 50% increase in the Grant program. Since 1993, now find a lovely book, Oregon on my Mind, the Ready to Read Grant has been used across containing the best of Oregon in words and pho Oregon to purchase children’s library materials, tographs, in recognition of Art Parrow’s having Four-legged duck hire staff to provide library programs, bring faithfully served on the library board since 1993. library services and materials to at-risk children (The only problem with this book is that it does hunting not planned and to provide computer equipment in libraries n’t have a thing about Dufur). I looked and To the Editor: for children. The Ready to Read Grant was looked trying to find a book that would be an apt The scene is set, the decoys established to assist local libraries in helping to recognition for Ginger Johns, who began serving are in place, the camo donned, achieve the Oregon Benchmarks for childhood on the board in 1991 and who served as chair face paint applied; my son and learning and development. State Librarian Jim person from 1994. Ginger, then, had a sugges I are tucked into the tall grass Scheppke noted that, over the years, many tion of her own for a book entitled, Don’t Sweat waiting for light and the legal libraries have used their Ready to Read Grant the Small Stuff. ..and it’s all small stuff. This book shooting hour to arrive. Beep, funds to reach out to those children who have shows you how to keep from letting the little beep. Beep, beep. “It’s shootin’ the greatest need for library materials and ser things in life drive you crazy and offers some time!” vices. “The 50% increase in funding to 75-cents wonderful advice such as “Spend a moment As if the birds live by my per child can bring even more quality library ser every day thinking of someone to thank, Prac watch, whoosh, they zip over vice to all the children in Oregon,” Scheppke tice ignoring your negative thoughts, and Live my dekes and I spring to my said. this day as if it were your last. It might be!” It may feet to show my young son how This year Vernonia’s grant is being used to not be a large book in size, but it is an enormous to properly bag a wild duck. purchase materials to supplement the local book in ideas-a proper tribute to a lady who, Two empty barrels later, I had kindergarten curriculum. In the past it has been though small in stature, has contributed some to break it to Eli and my dog used to purchase story/picture books for enormous ideas to me and to the library. Tilly, that every once in a while, preschool programs and for resources to aid in New acquisitions this month also include I miss. home school programs. This is one of the ways David Baldacci’s The Winner, and LaVyrle I began to teach Eli how to that your state taxes are used and the State Spencer’s Then Came Heaven. watch for ducks and explained Library suggests thanking our local legislator for Remember that the library is open until 7 p.m. how important it is to stay still his support of the increase in this grant money. on Wednesdays for your reading, check-out, when they begin coming into This year one hundred and twenty grants with a research, Internet access, etc. and keep read the decoys, when I got a sec total amount of $529,316.00 were made to eligi ing. ond chance. BOOM, SPLASH, ble libraries in Oregon. “Find the bird Tilly!” After show During the holiday season several individuals ing off my duck and praising chose to give to the library’s “giving tree.” We my mutt, once again we watch were pleased to receive a total of $85.00 to pur the ever-lightening sky. chase books and a contribution to pay for a BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, month of Internet service. These gifts are very BOOM, ETC. (Oh no, not me. Them there’s elk hunters!) It started about a half mile away, just outside of town. ia that use the Center to get rid the Center open. Without your Over the span of about 15-20 Senior Center needs generous contributions this of their trash. We have minutes, the BOOM, BOOMS, your assistance received a cardboard box with got louder and louder and clos would not be possible. In the “Senior Center News” broken glass, one shoe of a er and closer until I felt like I To the Editor: of this issue, I stated that the pair, unmatched socks, broken was at the season opener at The Vernonia Senior Center price of lunches would go from lamps, sofa with one or two Summer Lake. wishes to thank all those who $1.50 to $2.00. Here are some legs missing, televisions that Like thunder, the elk came give good recyclable articles to of the reasons (there are don’t work, computers that crashing through the brush and the Center. We sell such arti more). don’t work, beds with no rails. began jumping the fence off to cles to generate money to keep There are people in Vernon Now please tell me, how can our right. They made a quick we sell such articles? turn and started running right These articles have to be behind us. We were at the bot C O L U M B IA C O U N T Y E X T E N D S discarded in our trash dump tom of an embankment and ster. We pay on an average of could look up and see their A N I N V I T A T I O N to C IT IZ E N S $140-$147 per month. With the heads running by. trash mentioned above, our SWOOSH, BOOM, to P A R T IC IP A T E in its trash bills can be close to $200, SWOOSH, BOOM, BOOM and this, folks, hurts the Center BOOM, BOOM, (are you get financially. We try desperately ting the idea), BOOM, BOOM, to get a little money set aside ETC!!!!!! “Hit the deck!” Lucki for lean times, but it is almost ly, I had let my son watch some impossible. TV shows that his mother does A series of public meetings is being held to We have cut our budget to not allow, so he understood the the bone. All the monies col phrase. provide for public participation as the County lected for the rolled papers now While we were on our bel gathers information regarding things that can go to COLCO to help them out lies, the barrage continued. be done to eliminate or reduce the impacts of financially. Suddenly a hush fell upon the Money that we get from the pond. Finally, testosterone- future hazards. Government has been slashed filled voices mingled in the back. Now for COLCO, as I mist. “Hey boy, get away from M E E T IN G S C H E D U L E stated, not only have the that elk!” Day Date Time Location Senior Center funds been I slowly peek over the rise to reduced but COLCO’s funds see a dead elk 20 yards away. Thursday Jan. 15, 1998 7:30 p.m. Rainier City Hall have been reduced as well. A young teenager looks sur The question now is, how can prised to see me and Eli on our Tuesday Jan. 20, 1998 7:30 p.m. Mist Grade School COLCO raise money? bellies in full camo. I collected Thursday Jan. 22, 1998 7:30 p.m. St. Helens High Well, folks, COLCO is the my decoys and readied for School Commons only city transportation avail retreat. When we came over able, so why don’t more people the rise, this burly dude spots Tuesday Jan. 27, 1998 7:30 p.m. Scappoose High take advantage of it? my dog and yells, “Yer huntin’ School Cafeteria If you want to go to Portland, with dogs?” St. Helens, Beaverton or For Thursday Jan. 29, 1998 7:30 p.m. Vernonia Fire Dis “Uh yea, it kind of helps to est Grove, please check the get the ducks off the water,” I trict Fire Station Senior Center for times and said, as I proudly held up my Thursday Feb. 5, 1998 7:30 p.m. Clatskanie City prices. feathered friend. As he and his Council Chambers Now I would like to address By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING PROJECT Page 3 partner began dressing the elk, he looked at me and proudly announced, “When yer from Vernonia, you know where the elk are.” Maybe it was shell shock, or post traumatic syn drome, but I had none of my usual smart-butt remarks. I quickly made haste to my truck. Here’s the scoop: Last year I stopped by the Kunkel’s house, they’re the ones with the big white fence outside of town toward Mist, and asked if I could hunt ducks. Don thanked me for asking and said that it would be no problem. He just wanted me to call the night before I hunted. COOL! As usual, I called and checked in the night before hunting. That morning the elk were chased through fields and houses until they reached the pond. There, they jumped into Kunkel’s field and ran parallel to Hwy 47. There are horses tucked back by the pond and a house on the other side. When the elk entered the field they were caught in a cross fire. People were shooting from behind them and also from the road. The fellow who, “knows where the elk are”, stopped on the opposite side of 47, jumped out with his partner and unloaded, killing a spike. Nobody asked permission. Check the trespassing laws and you will find that property does not have to be posted for you to be required to ask per mission to hunt. These fellows have now inspired some people to make a safety zone around Vernonia. I want to inform people about the differences between safe hunting practices and those of the not-so safe. I use a shot gun. It shoots BBs and has a lethal range, at the very most, of 100 yards. The BBs quickly lose their energy and rain down a short distance away. High-power rifles, on the other hand, can send a bullet over my head, across the pond, through some brush, through a wall and land in someone’s liv ing room a mile away. Don’t let the abuse of others ruin the fun of those who are safe and courteous. Dan, The Duck Man R. Daniel Miller Vernonia Fire Board ignores request to read letter To the Editor: My wife, Gerri Faylor, (for mer Office Mgr. at Vernonia Fire Dept.) faxed a three page letter to the [Vernonia Rural Fire District] Board chairman to be read at the Jan. 13 Board meeting. It was full of informa tion stating as to how ineffi ciently the Dept. is being run at this time. The letter was not read aloud. I’m appalled that this was not dealt with in a proper manner. Wake up Ver nonia. Phil Faylor tax paying citizen Vernonia
