The INDEPENDENT, March 1,2000
Between the Bookends
Page 3
Letters to the Editor
dying. Together they find the world of the late officers in the Vernonia Police legitimate complaints. I realize
19th century to be intensely complex. In Gap Department. They have been some mistakes have been
Creek, Morgan brilliantly chronicles their strug and will be dealt with appropri made and I have taken action
March winds have already blown in a flurry of gles with nature, work and the changing century. ately. I take full responsibility to to resolve these problems.
new books to the shelves of the Banks Public Li It is a powerful story.
see that officers receive proper Nothing is ever solved over
brary. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of
An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and poet, training and are properly super night. The Vernonia Police De
the Library, you’ll find a great assortment of mys Rita May Brown is also an immensely popular vised. Providing constant su partment will continually strive
teries, romance, western novels, and biogra novelist. In her latest work, Brown penetrates pervision can be extremely dif to better provide a quality ser
phies. Many of the new titles and authors you’ll the world of Virginia foxhunting, where hunters, ficult with a small staff and vice to the people of Vernonia.
recognize from the New York Times’ bestseller horses, hounds and foxes form a lively commu when you are trying to provide
I encourage you as citizens
lists.
nity. Outfoxed is a colorful foray into an intrigu 24 hour coverage, seven days to give me feedback. I am very
One new book is Steven King’s serial novel, ing world where the thrill of the chase and the in a week. The supervision issue easy to work with and know
The Green Mile. When King issued this best tricacies of human-animal relationships are ex will be a priority.
what it takes to be a small town
seller in monthly installments, millions of hooked perienced firsthand, and a stunning murder ex
I realize that some officers police officer.
readers anxiously awaited each cliff-hanging poses a proud southern community’s unsavory have been criticized for being
Jim Walters
episode. Now, for the first time, all six exciting secrets. Even the animals, who have uncanny overzealous and stopping too
Chief of Police
parts come together in one volume to let you en human counterparts, make their strong opinions many cars for minor traffic in
Vernonia Police Dept.
joy this masterpiece uninterrupted, from gripping known. This is a book that will surprise, delight fractions. I understand the con
opening to shattering climax. Those who love and enchant the happy reader.
cerns of people and that small Volkswalk Club slates
King will not want to miss this gem. Entertain
Remember that new books arrive almost dai communities need to be po
ment Weekly touted this work as “King’s best in ly at the Banks Library, so be sure to come in for liced slightly differently than a activities in Vernonia
years...a novel about prison that’s as haunting a great selection of bestsellers or to just browse large metro police department.
Dear Editor:
and touching as it is just plain haunted.”
the aisles until you find something interesting. But on the other hand we must
I am writing this letter on be
Another great book from an acclaimed best You’ll find copies of The Independent right near realize that we have the same
half of our walking club, The
selling author is Anita Shreve’s newest release, the front desk. The Library also reminds us that problems here as the larger
Cedar Milers. Our club has or
Fortune’s Rocks. Shreve, who teaches writing at it’s getting close to tax time, and new forms are cities, just on a smaller scale.
ganized a pair of 10-Kilometer
Amherst College, and also wrote The Pilot’s in. The Library is a convenient place to get your We have narcotics problems
(six mile) walks, and a longer
Wife and The Weight of Water, brings us this forms as well as the IRS book that contains that put police officers and citi
bike ride in Vernonia on Sat.
profound and moving story about unwise love every form in current use. You can copy forms zens at risk. Many times traffic
April 1, 2000. We anticipate
and the choices that transform a life. Fortune’s from the book at 10 cents per page.
stops reveal those transport that up to 300 people, (possibly
Rocks is a beautifully written, but jarring story
March 11 is Recycling Saturday in Banks. ing, using and delivering nar more) will attend these events.
about the erotic awakenings of a young woman Just in time for Spring cleaning, you may take all cotics in our city. We have
The purpose of this letter is
and the exploration of class prejudices at the your recyclable items to the SWATCO Service those who visit our local drink
to alert your readers. We hope
turn of the century. If you want to read an unfor Yard on Sellers Road. Volunteers and Friends of ing establishments, consume
that this will maximize accep
gettable love story, grab this book fast.
the Library will be there to assist you from 9:00 too much alcohol, leave and tance that participants experi
Gap Creek is an Oprah selection written by a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If your cleanup includes books drive off. I feel these individuals
ence on April 1.
Robert Morgan, an accomplished novelist and that you would like to donate to the Library, should be stopped and dealt
I was invited to speak at the
poet whose writings have earned him numerous please call first to verify donation criteria and to with appropriately.
Vernonia City Council meeting
prizes and awards. In this novel, Morgan brings schedule an appointment.
This does not mean that a on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and
to life one of the most memorable women in
person should be afraid to go spoke about the history of
modern American literature. Julie Harmon lives
Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street.
to a drinking establishment, Volkssporting, introduced our
in Gap Creek in the Appalachian high country.
Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.;
have a beer and drive home, club, and explained the bene
She is a most unusual woman, depended on by
Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
the law does not prohibit some fits that Vernonia could expect.
everyone in the community. Working as hard as
Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m.
one from drinking and driving The Cedar Milers are excited to
a man, Julie finds that people are weak and
Phone: (503 ) 324-1382
(unless you are under 21 years have the scenic surroundings
there is always much to do. Along with her hus
Internet: www.WILlnetwccls.Hb.or.us.
of age). It prohibits a person of your town for these events.
band, Hank, she slaughters hogs and nurses the
from drinking to the point they We hope to make Vernonia’s
are under the influence and dri residents as excited to have us
ving. Everyone is responsible there on April 1.
for their own actions.
Sincerely,
Thanks to musicians Bob Ragsdale for providing the Farm, Holce Logging, Mike
I encourage the reporting of
William R. Glessner
music of the Swingtones for the Pihl, Rising River Ranch, complaints as long as they are
Beaverton
for all their help
Valentine’s Day Dance fund Bridges Alternative Group, S &
L Logging, Jack and Lois
raiser.
To the Editor:
Thanks, also, to several mu Sweeney, Wilcox and Flegel,
The Friends of the Scout
Cabin owe a big thank you to sicians who donated their pay Country Kitchen, Western
back to the Cabin, including Auto, Metro West Ambulance,
Randy and Bonnie Holce of Northwest Natural Gas and the
anonymous donors.
Vernonia.
The committee works very
Those of you who did not at
From page 2
hard each year to help our
Oh boy, that water was cold! tend this event missed an op
community at what can be a
Wearing a wetsuit and a good portunity to hear some good
very stressful time for some Library appreciates publisher’s donations
paddle jacket, though, was the music of the 40s and 50s eras.
people. We put our hearts into
key to being able to continue in The people in attendance had
this project and care a lot for
relative comfort. With the river a good time dancing to the mu
our community. If it wasn’t for
temperature in the mid-forties, sic of the Swingtones.
the people who support this
a person must wear the right
Friends of the Scout Cabin
project, we would not have
equipment or run the risk of
one, so on behalf of the Toy
hypothermia. Matt has a lot of Thank you to all the
and Joy committee, I would like
experience at river kayaking,
Toy and Joy donors to say thank you so very much
and I learned a lot from him, in
for all your support.
cluding why I flipped where I To the Editor:
Sincerely,
did. Matt also showed me the
The Vernonia Volunteer Fire
Scott Swaner,
fine art of wave surfing and fighters Association and the
Toy and Joy Chairman
tucking in behind obstacles in Toy and Joy Committee would
the middle of rapids. It is like to thank the following peo
amazing to be able to sit in the ple and businesses for their Watters’ responds to
middle of a rapid and ride the generous contributions to the complaints
forward edge of a wave with 1999 Toy and Joy drive.
out having to paddle at all. So,
Rod Alexander, Napa Auto To the Editor:
JUDY HALL/THE INDEPENDENT
if you live by a river and hear Parts, Meyer’s Auto Body, Ver
This letter is in response to
somebody scream, “Oh that nonia Realty, Creative Impulse, several complaints from a few Vernonia Librarian Nancy Burch, left, is all smiles about be
water is cold!” It’s probably just Gwin Logging, Olympic Re citizens against the Vernonia ing on the receiving end of a book donation from national
me, taking a swim as I contin source Management, Laura Police Dept., at the Feb. 22 publisher R.R. Donnelly. Vernonia City Councilor Cindy Ball,
ue to learn the ways of the riv- Nichols, The Hair Parlor, Eve council meeting. I am Jim Wal right, is employed by the publishing company and arranged
er.
lyn Holce, the Holce Crew, ters, Chief of Police of the Ver to have the library receive a selection of books on a yearly
Tech Network, Econo Fab, Ver nonia Police Dept. This is a po basis for both adults and children. The series for children fo
Izaak Walton League
nonia
Sentry,
Mercedes sition I am very proud to hold cuses on multiculturalism. Adult readers are treated to vol
meetings are on the third
Proehl, Adhesive and Packag and always try to provide the umes from the history-oriented Lakeside Classics series, be
Thursday of each month,
ing Systems, Jerry and Glenda best possible service to the gun in 1903 by Thomas E. Donnelly. Each year R.R. Donnel
7:00 p.m. The public is
ly reprints and distributes one worthy book, often long out of
Raney, Bernice Frey, Robert people of this community.
welcome. For meeting loca
I do not take lightly le giti print and not easily obtainable. The series is characterized
and Lola Gregg, The Yard Doc
tion, call (503) 429-7193.
tor, Dhai Barr, Knotty Bear Tree mate complaints about me or by first-person narratives of American History.
By Cecelia Sadtler, Volunteer
Banks Public Library