Page 4
T h e INDEPENDENT, May 3, 2000
Businsss Notes
State listens, Food Stamp time limit is rescinded
I Hnt
— ---*•
'
■ '■ • ■
After years of pressure from
advocacy groups, and embar
rassing news that Oregon had
the highest rate of hunger in
the nation, state welfare offi
cials have sought and obtained
approval to end a harsh time
limit on receipt of food stamps
by unemployed and under-em
ployed adults. Revocation was
effective on Monday, May 1.
Since December, 1996, un
der and unemployed adults in
Oregon between the ages of
18 and 50 who had no depend
ents or disabilities, could get
food stamps for only three
months every three years. The
new policy rescinds this restric
tion, which was particularly
hard on seasonal workers such
as those who work in canner
ies, construction and agricul
ture.
“The three month limit helps
explain why Oregon had the
nation's highest hunger rate
over the last few years,” said
Kelley Weigel of the Rural Or
ganizing Project. A study re
leased last October by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
found that nearly six percent of
Oregon households were living
Always locate lines before you dig
Spring is almost here, and color-coded paint. The third
with it comes the busiest exca step is to respect the marks,
vation season of the year. and the final step is to dig with
Thousands of Oregonians will care.
The underground utility
dig into the ground with shov
els, post hole diggers, and complex includes electric, nat
rented power equipment such ural gas, oil, fiber-optic, tele
as trenchers and augers. phone, cable-television, water
Whether you’re landscaping and sewer lines. One wrong
your backyard, installing a new move can cause death or injury
mailbox post, setting up fenc due to an explosion. Hundreds
ing or putting in a sprinkler sys or thousands of residents
tem, there are four important might be cut off from heat,
steps to Dig Safely.
electricity, telephones, 9-1-1
The first step is to call the calls, and other vital services.
Oregon Utility Notification Cen
ter at least two business days
The Oregon Utility Notifica
before beginning your digging tion Center incorporates a
project. The toll-free number is comprehensive, statewide data
1 -800-332-2344. A representa base of underground utilities.
tive will notify the utility opera Calling before you dig not only
tors, who will then mark the prevents dangerous accidents
property to show where there - it is also the law! For more in
are underground utilities.
formation, call the Oregon Util
The second step is to wait ity Notification Center at (503)
for the lines to be marked with 232-1987.
in hunger, the highest rate in exemptions the federal govern
ment provides. Because the
the country.
“This is a major victory for state had used so few of these
the farmworker community," exemptions over previous
said Ramon Ramirez of Pineros years, a huge stockpile of ex
y Campesinos Unidos del emptions had accumulated.
Noroeste (PCUN). With food
Research by OCPP also
stamps limited to three months
showed that the time limits
every three years, seasonal
workers who face annual peri could be waived in 30 of Ore
ods of unemployment could not gon’s 36 counties because
rely on the program to help they met the standard of hav
ing insufficient jobs. Oregon
through the hard times.
had used the insufficient jobs
The policy change follows waiver from April 1997 through
research by the Oregon Center March 1998 in the 16 “labor
for Public Policy (OCPP)
demonstrating that the Oregon surplus” counties that qualified
Department of Human Re at that time. The Center report
sources could effectively re ed earlier this year that the
move the limits in Oregon by number of qualifying counties
had almost doubled.
piecing together waivers and
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The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge
507 Rose Ave., Vernonia
Meeting set on Hwy. 202 repairs
A public meeting to discuss
plans for replacing a failing cul
vert on the Nehalem Highway
(Oregon 202) between Jewell
and Birkenfeld, is set for
Wednesday, May 10, from 7:00
to 8:30 p.m., in the library of
the Jewell School.
habitat restrictions, the usual
work window in the streambed
is July 15 to August 31.
Most of the work is expected
to cause delays for motorists.
The project will require that one
lane of the highway be closed.
During working hours, one way
Oregon
Department of traffic will be controlled by flag
Transportation plans call for re gers. Outside of working hours,
placing the culvert at Squaw traffic through the work zone
Creek with a bridge. The site is will be controlled by a stop sign
located about four miles east of at either end of the single lane
Jewell at mile post 33.6. The section of highway.
project also includes fish habi
tat enhancement measures.
Area residents are urged to
ODOT officials anticipate attend the public meeting to
the project will require two learn about these scheduled
summer construction sessions repairs and how they will affect
to complete. Because of fish the community.
Cedar "Rjdge presents
J o h k v iA z L j
l î i m .I ûd
§
th e
U x g i/u x ts
Nearly forty years ago I stood with my aunt and watched as the MGM movie
crew burned her barn for the making of “Ring of Fire.” All eyes were fixed on the
Nehalem Valley and those memories will always be with me. I have spent a lifetime
in Columbia County and seen its triumphs and tragedies. I believe we can make it the
most livable county in the state. But first we must work together to bring industries
like MGM back by finally dealing with the services that will attract industry and
tourism. I ask for your vote for County Commissioner because I have the confidence
that things can happen, change and improve. It’s time all eyes were fixed on the Ne
halem Valley again. Our best resource is the people who
live here.
Saturday, August 5th 6:30 - 9.00 pm
• Great fundraising opportunity for
Nonprofit groups! W e are looking
for groups to help with ticket sales,
parking, clean-up, etc.
• Community members will be allowed
to sell Arts & Crafts with prior
approval.
C A LL (5 0 3 ) 2 5 9 -9 9 8 4 T O A P P LY
V is it u s a t w w w . v is it c e d a r r id g e . c q m
ELECT
JOE CORSIGLIA
Columbia, County Commissioner, Position j P I
JOE CORSIGLIA
COMMISSIONER #1
THIS TIM E YOUR VOTE W ill COUNT.
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOE CORSIGLIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER POSITION #1