Page 2
The INDEPENDENT, June 7, 2000
kii
M i, > *
i,ii hi
M am
still masa /' t
T o u c h m o uP A a / Y
b ^ lv iA /6
UAW s » I
What is important in
education of youth?
Just when those elements of education that help
create a habit of lifelong learning are becoming in
creasingly important, the Vernonia School District is
facing budgetary constraints that may reverse the
trend.
More money is needed for textbooks. New books
are of limited value when they are available only in the
classroom, and can’t be used at home. Good study
habits require being able to obtain the necessary re
sources.
Music, which study after study confirms is one of the
best exercises for increasing mathematical ability, is
being slowly starved at the same time more students
are attracted to it. It is also an element of learning that
provides value long after people are out of high
school.
Drama, easily the best way to instill confidence in
students as they learn to get up in front of an audience
and communicate, is already moribund. Again, this is
an element of learning that provides value long after
people are out of high school.
Cutbacks in science and technology will return our
students to the end of the line in test scores, just as
they are finally breaking out of that old mold.
Is there a bright picture here? Of course! The bud
get for extracurricular sports is increased!
Without sarcasm, it is obvious that a good sports
program is also important. The question here is one of
education.
If the district cannot afford materials for science and
technology; if the district cannot afford enough text
books; if musicians must provide their own expensive
instruments; how can the district afford to spend so
much money on extracurricular sports? Why aren’t
athletes required to buy their own uniforms? Or their
own equipment?
A group that wants to sponsor an equestrian team
for the high school is planning to do just that — pick up
the costs for the competition — because the program
would benefit students.
Others who feel that sports are important need to
consider ways to raise the funds for that activity.
If the district cannot afford textbooks, science and
technology materials, musical instruments or a drama
program, then the district cannot afford football and
basketball and volleyball and track and golf and base
ball and softball teams.
Forestry exhibit at library
Although “sustainable” forestry is defined in many
different ways,the worst thing we can do is close our
minds to possiblities. The timber industry has changed
so much over the last 80 years that we would be fool
ish to think we have all the answers now.
The Coast Range Association, which uses a very
conservative forestry model, is presenting an exhibit at
the Vernonia Public Library June 7th and 8th. This is
not an “in your face” exhibit, but a serious approach to
problems created by some forest practices. Take a
look at it; it’s interesting.
Zko Says. . .
By Dale Webb, member
Izaak Walton League, Nehalem Valley Chapter
Did you notice how nice and pretty the Ne
halem River looked at the first of June? It
seemed to shimmer with an almost fluorescent
green color...or was that something floating on
the surface?
The reality is that the pretty color and designs
on the surface of the water were made by pond
scum from Vernonia’s sewage treament facility.
Duckweed was being sucked off the surface of
the last effluent pond and into the discharge pipe
that empties into a submerged diffuser pipe
buried in the river bottom. It was an eerie sight
watching a green plume of duckweed emerging
from a softball-size spot in the river bottom and
spreading rapidly across the surface of the Ne
halem River. Within a hundred yards, the duck
weed had spread across the entire surface of
the river and was coating the banks and any sur
face that collected surface debris.
I first spotted something different about the
river while crossing the green steel bridge at
Riverview. After taking a closer look, I had a very
good idea where it was coming from and, with a
quick ride on my bike, found the source. I knew
that what I was seeing was not normal, and that
the authorities needed to be notified. The
agency in charge for this kind of oversight is the
state Department of Environmental Quality, and
with a quick phone call, the ball was rolling.
Some people seem offended by this action. I be
lieve they would like to keep these kinds of prob
lems “in house,” but I found out a long time ago
that playing that game usually results in repeat
occurrences and denials of wrongdoing once the
evidence is gone. Besides, I am not a cop, and
who is responsible for following up on this prob
lem once I report it?
Is this duckweed release a major problem?
Probably not, if it can be stopped. The duck
weed is part of the biological process in the
sewage lagoons, as it consumes the nutrients in
the water. Yet the duckweed needs to stay in the
ponds so it does not release its nutrients into the
river. The most serious threat from Duckweed
plume is that when the plants start to die, the de
composition of the organic material will absorb
oxygen from the river water and could lower the
oxygen level enough to kill fish. Potentially, Ver
nonia could be one of the first cities prosecuted
under the Endangered Species Act for a takings
of coho salmon in the new coastal listed area.
The aspect of this whole affair that has me
most worried is evidence of an obvious problem
with Vernonia’s sewage system. Under the orig
inal discharge permit, effluent flows are sup
posed to stop every year on May 1st, but the
flows have not been stopped due to a problem
with the system. I was under the impression that
our community had spent hundreds of thou
sands of dollars to solve this problem, yet it per
sists. The green duckweed was like dropping a
dye pack in the sewage pond and then watching
how much effect it has on the Nehalem River
system. The observation I made answered this
question with a dramatic “very much.”
I could not fathom letting my children play in
the river knowing that they were surrounded by
Duckweed that just hours before was in a
sewage pond. Yet many of us have probably
done so with water that had, only hours before,
been in the lagoon. The difference is, we can
see the duckweed but we cannot tell sewage
water from river water.
Most of the duckweed I observed was trapped
by eddies and instream debris by the time it
reached the East Fork of the Nehalem River. We
can only hope this problem will be solved and
that the negative effects on our natural re
sources and our quality of life will be short lived.
In a week or so it will be Father’s day. A few
weeks ago, my father and I took our annual trip
to Oxbow Reservoir on the Snake River. We had
a very good time fishing, eating, drinking and
sleeping. Life on the Snake was very simplistic,
the main goal being to catch a bucket of fish,
then returning to camp to fillet the fish and
recharge our batteries, then go catch another
bucket of fish. Crappies, bluegill, and catfish
were our main targets with a few bass making a
surprise showing when they smashed our crap
pie jigs. At one point, while catfishing, the action
was so hot that we had to race to bait a second
hook that we were swapping back and forth on
the main rigging before a fish would hit. Many
times Dad was caught with crappie guts all over
his fingers while his pole danced wildly in the
pole holder.
Making a trip to the Snake takes considerable
effort and it seems like my dad always gets bur
dened with the responsibility for gathering all of
the gear. Then, when we get home, he ends up
having to clean up most of the gear and the boat,
with dried fish slime and guts on its hull. Being a
working stiff, it is easy to justify my absence, yet
I do feel guilty for not carrying my share of the
load. Dad, do know that your efforts are deeply
appreciated and we have shared many great ad
Please see page 3