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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1998)
t Page 2 ihs The INDEPENDENT, August 19,1998 INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Sports Edi tor, Caren McGaugh. Phone/Fax: (503) 429-9410. Ordinance could be a negative difference The “Parental Responsibility” ordinance under con sideration by the Vernonia City Council is one of those straws that people grasp and cling to as though it had value. Well, it has, but only as much value as any fad. It is the current fad in our cultural rush to develop a new class of law breakers. (See ordinances on page 17.) Parents are already responsible for the actions of their minor children; that responsibility is both cultural and legal. Another ordinance isn’t going to be a panacea for vandalism, whether it is caused by juve niles or adults. If parents are neglectful or abusive, there are ways to help their children. But, if juveniles are out of control, if they will not obey parents who are trying desperately to do their job right, how will the situation be improved by hauling those parents into court. Does anybody really think the parents aren’t already at wit’s end? The legal mechanisms already exist to do what this ordinance purports to do. There is no reason for the city council to pass an ordinance that won’t fix any thing, but will create more law breakers. This ordinance and a curfew ordinance will be con sidered by the council on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the city library. What is good, effective law enforcement? A visitor was recently saying how much his children enjoyed Vernonia’s Rock Creek swimming pool, and reminiscing about his own visits here as a child. "I swam in that pool from the time I was 10 until I was 22,” he said. “And then I got kicked out.” Hq wasn’t complaining, in fact he was laughing at the memory because he had been caught drinking tequila and knew the scolding he got from Officer Sharon Ashcroft was deserved. “ If a kid did that today,” he added, “He’d be arrested and end up in jail.” otThis man is a college graduate, a productive person, a good family man, and a leader in his community. His story is an illustration of the best side of lenient law en forcement. The whole job of law enforcement would be a lot easier if only our officers were clairvoyant and knew when they could use that method; unfortunately, it just doesn’t work for everyone. It was a great Jamboree! The crowds came early and stayed late during Jam boree, and they had a wonderful time. No doubt the police presence kept a few people from becoming ob noxious but it was generally a happy and relaxed crowd. Chief Jim Walters said it best: “It was the quietest Jamboree I can remember.” \T’$ NOT OHLY FOR THF NIGHT-TIMF ANYMORE Parrow decides to file for mayor after all To The Editor The last issue of THE INDE PENDENT indicated that I had chosen not to become a candi date for election to the position of Mayor of Vernonia. This as sumption was understandable as I had often expressed reluc tance to seek another term. However, with the urging of some citizens, I have made the commitment to become a can didate. Two basic reasons have influenced me to do so. The City, under the present administration, has several ma jor projects underway. The con struction of a new city hall and library buildings is progressing. Renovation of the water distrib ution system is scheduled to begin next spring. Extension of the linear trail to Vernonia lake via a bridge over Rock Creek is planned. A “Streetscape” plan for revitalizing main street is also in the works as is a Master Plan for all of the city infra structure. We hope to continue the progress of making Ver nonia ready for the 21st Centu ry while continuing to keep it a most liveable community. I would like to continue to have a part in the completion of the major projects. The second reason for the decision io become a candi date is that, with three city po sitions open, at the time this letter was written, no one else has volunteered for election to fill any one of them. That is not in the best interest of the com munity. I would encourage and strongly urge any and all public spirited citizens to become candidates for all of the open positions—mayor and two council positions. The citizens of Vernonia deserve a choice. The pay for serving is just the satisfaction of serving the community and it offsets the criticism that comes to any de cision making body. Complete packets of infor mation on how to file for elec tion are available to all poten tial candidates at City Hall. HURRY--The filing deadline is August 24. Art Parrow Vernonia script was very good, and had I been able to complete the movie “as written", it would have been a good movie. How ever, I had two major produc tion problems which nearly pre vented the movie from being released at all. Problem num ber one was the fact that the film’s negative was developed after the entire movie had been shot, and due to a mechanical Advertised sleep aid breakdown at the processing lab, over one hour of footage didn’t work out well was ruined beyond use. The movie was pieced together To the Editor: with “leftover” footage, with I haven’t been sleeping too many scenes being modified or well lately and I received this eliminated completely. Second catalog from an outfit which ly, a problem with the audio promises, with each sale, free recorder rendered the sound gifts of merchandise and mil track completely unusable. lions of dollars. How could I Every voice, every gunshot, lose? every explosion, every piece of I spotted this bra that I can audio had to be artificially re sleep in — two for less than ten produced at a recording facility bucks. So I ordered a couple. in Los Angeles. (Where I was I put one on and crawled in living at the time.) There was to bed and didn’t sleep worth a no budget left to go back and damn! reshoot any scenes, nor was Not only that, next morning I there time or money to fly the looked in the mirror and what I original actors to California to saw terrified me so that I may re-record their own voices. I never sleep again. produced the film with my own Anyone out there want an money, and at that point all of it unused bra? I’ll even throw in was gone...some $325,000. the slightly used one. The fact is, nobody sets out FREE—but don’t blame me with the intention of making a if they don’t work! bad movie on purpose. Things Todd Bowerman sometimes happen that are to Portland tally beyond our control. Such was the case with my film. On the positive side, many, As written, Vernonia many people in Vernonia were Incident was good paid good money for acting, special effects, location rentals, To the Editor: catering, supplies, and vehi I am the producer of the cles...and nobody’s check movie The Vernonia Incident, bounced! We all had fun. I nev which was filmed in Vernonia in er worked so hard in my life, 1989. In your July 15th issue of working seven days a week for The INDEPENDENT you stat nearly two months. But most ed that my film was “fun to importantly, we finished the film watch being filmed but painful despite impossible odds, the to view when finished". Regret film was released worldwide on tably, that is true. The original Please see page 3 M r. • à*»
