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