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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2000)
The INDEPENDENT, August 2, 2000 Letters to the Editor: Botwoon the Bookends By Sheila Davis, Volunteer Banks Public Library It doesn’t even seem like Summer, however, the days are already getting shorter. Banks Li brary has some great new books including Ernest Hemingway’s last unpublished work, True at First Light. It is a blend of autobiography and fiction about his last African safari. The newest novel of Michael Ondaatje, who wrote The English Patient, is Anil’s Ghost, a tale of Anil Tesslia, born in Sri Lanka and educated in England and America. She is brought to Sri Lan ka by a human rights group to help discover the source of organized campaigns of murder en gulfing the island. Anil must use her training as a forensic anthropologist to unhook the mysteries of the bodies and skeletons found on the island. In Le Marriage, Diane Johnson gives the reader a comedy of contemporary mores and manners that celebrates the paradoxes of mar riage, as it is perceived on both sides of the At lantic. Add a disappearing American, a wrongful arrest, murder and various susipicions, seduc tions and domestic crises, and you have a sexy, stylish delight of a novel. Robert B. Parker brings Spenser, a Boston P.l. to Georgia horse country in Hugger Mugger. Spenser is hired by Walter Cline to find out who is threatening his horse, Hugger Mugger, a two- ............ ..... Letters te tbe Editor Employees have done remarkable job To the Editor: I would like to draw to the at tention of Vernonia residents the remarkable efforts made by [Vernonia City Administrator] Michael Sykes and [Vernonia Director of Public Works] Robyn Bassett. Their success ful record of writing and pre senting grant proposals that benefit our city has resulted in approximately $480,000 for im provements to our parks during the last two months. Anderson Park will gain up graded RV and bathroom/ shower facilities. The linear trail continuation from Anderson Park to Lake Vernonia has been purchased and will be paved, creating a safe and pleasant path from the down town area to the lake. The Shay Park will have an infor mation kiosk, sharing with visi tors to Vernonia information and points of interest. Two year-old reported to be the next Secretariat. Spenser gets resentment from local law en forcement, as well as the security firm Cline had hired. The case takes a deadly turn when the at tacker claims a human victim, forcing Spenser to revise his opinions and to watch his own back. The “Flying Rhinocerous” will be at Banks Public Library on Aug. 3 to explore the world of cartooning, illustration and animation, through stories, rhino humor and giant cartoons. Children who met their goals in the Summer Reading Program need to turn in their reading records now so they can collect their award - another book to enjoy. Remember Recycle Saturday! This on-going effort, sponsored by the Friends of the Library and staffed by local volunteers, raises much- needed funds for our library. So take your recy- cleables to the SWATCO service yard on Sellers Road, Saturday, Aug. 12, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; F it and Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m. Phone: (503 ) 324-1382 internet: www.WIUnet.wccls.lib.or.us. ' W floating docks will be built that enable less mobile citizens the pleasure of fishing in Lake Ver nonia. As these projects are devel oping and completed in the next few months, please re member to drop your own per sonal “Thank You” to Michael and Robyn. Sincerely, Cindy Ball, Councilor Vernonia Now proud to say we’re from Vernonia To the Editor: Don and I recently returned from a trip to Central Oregon and upon entering Vernonia we both said at the same time, “Doesn’t Vernonia look nice!” The hanging baskets and new garbage containers with flowers really add to the im provements already made on our main street. We’d also like to compliment partially thrown from the pickup and was lying on the road with his legs still in the cab. Jawors ki moved him to safety then went to the passenger side, where Busch was trapped in the burning vehicle. The door was jammed and Jaworski couldn’t open it, so he ran to get tools. In the mean time, Berg grabbed the door, ignoring the flames that were lapping at his hands and arms, and with superhuman force moved it enough to reach Busch. He pulled Busch out of the pickup before it was con sumed by fire. Berg’s arms were scorched during his ef forts, though not seriously. Poetter was transported by Life Flight to Oregon Health Sciences University in Port land, with a broken femur and assorted cuts and bruises. Thanks for a life saving hero A Letter of Thanks: On Sunday, July 23, my son and one of his friends were in a very serious car accident on Highway 202. Thanks to Dar ren Berg, both boys had basi cally minor injuries compared to what could have happened to them. When they rear-ended Darren’s bale wagon, the hay burst into flames. Darren risked his own life to save that of my son. I would like to give Darren a huge thank you, and to let him know publicly that he will forever be my hero! It takes someone very special to risk their own life to save that of someone else. Thank you again, Darren Berg, for all you did that day. I am forever eter nally grateful! C.L. Kisic (Busch) So. Carolina Lions’ community projects help many ■' Glen and Chrissie Purvee on the improvements they’ve made to their recently pur chased buildings. They look great! Twelve years ago, I wrote a different letter to the paper. In that one, I stated that after making a trip to Alaska and South Dakota, Vernonia was one of the most unkempt towns we’d seen. As that old slogan says, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” and Vernonia, you really have. Thanks to Robyn Bassett and Michael Sykes, Vernonia has received over $400,000 in grants in the last two months, so there are many more good projects in the works. It’s truly been an Exciting last couple of years to live in Vernonia, and to be proud to say you live here instead of apologizing for it. Don and De De Webb Vernonia Heroic efforts save two from death Joe Poetter of Vernonia and Jared Busch of Mist were pulled from the burning wreck age of Poetter’s pickup after rear-ending a motorized hay wagon on Hwy. 202 at Natal, July 23. Both vehicles were heading west at 8:15 p.m., when the two 18-year-olds were blinded by the setting sun. They didn’t see the slow- moving vehicle in front of them and Poetter drove into the back of Daren Berg’s hay wagon, shoving the pickup’s engine back and shearing off the top of the carbuetor. The pickup, hay and wagon all caught fire im mediately. Bill Jaworski, an emergency medical technician with the Mist-Birkenfeld Fire District, ran to the wreck from his near by home. Poetter had been Page 3 Busch was taken by Mist- Birkenfeld Fire District ambu lance to St. John’s Hospital in Longview. He also had a bro ken femur, cuts and bruises. Both are recovering at home following surgery to repair their legs. The hay, hay wagon and pickup were all totally de stroyed. From page 2 to the Nehalem Falls. We smelled the dairy cattle above Nehalem and shared a beer with a new friend, but most of all, we have gained a new re spect for a river that runs through it, our home. Troy and I have already set our goal for next year—the whole 100 miles in one four- day trip. Oh, by the way Helen, To the Editor: The Vernonia Lions Club will begin their 54th year of service to the community with their fa mous barbecued sandwich booth during the Jamboree. This is our major fundraiser to support a variety of civic pro jects and sight and hearing programs. We are looking for some more service-minded men and women who are willing to do nate time and energy to com munity projects. If you would like to join a million-and-a-half Lions in 185 nations in the largest service club in the world, stop by our booth near the Credit Union building dur ing Jamboree and contact any of the Lions. The Vernonia Lions have contributed well over $120,000 to community projects during the last 54 years, including $1,500 in annual scholarships, Scout and youth activities, eyeglasses and support of a myriad of community projects. Our motto is “We Serve.” You do not need to be a new volunteer member to enjoy the best food served during the Jamboree. Be sure to come by the Lions’ booth and get a great barbecued sandwich. Your support makes our service to the community possible. Every cent raised is used for worthy projects and help for those in need. Art Parrow Publicity Chairman Vernonia Lions Dog owners should obey regulations To whom it may concern: Dog owners— If you’re going to have animals, you should be aware of dog regulations in the state of Oregon. All dogs must be on leashes at all times. My husband and I are tired of re porting these animals to the police. Please consider dealing with this situation. Please take an interest in being responsible for your ani mals or dogs. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Bantrager Vernonia Correction A letter by L.W. Denison in the July 19, 2000, issue of The INDEPENDENT should have read: “In June alone, ODF auc tioned off 750 acres of public forest to be clearcut, closing campgrounds and destroying horse trails largely in slide prone areas sensitive to threat ened coho." We regret the error and are pleased to set the record straight. Applicants needed for 47J board The resignation of School District 47J Director Susann Ragsdale has created a vacan cy that must be filled by ap pointment. Ragsdale, whose resignation was accepted at the July board meeting, has moved out of the district. School district residents who think they may be interested in filling out the two years remain ing of Ragsdale’s term, may ei ther pick up an application form at the district office, or write a letter explaining their interests Troy will probably need that new Sea Kayak for the trip. It will be after Christmas before we go. Hint! Hint! Izaak Walton League meetings are on the third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome. For meeting loca tion, call (503) 429*7193. can bring to the district. The school board also: Gave Superintendent Larry McClellan a salary increase of 3.7 percent, the same as the district’s other administrators; Denied a request from the Council on International Edu cational Exchange to place a foreign student at VHS be cause the quota of six students has already been filled. Athletic fees... From page 1 ule is based on an average par ticipation of 70-80 students in each sports season, with an average annual total of 220 student participations. At VHS, the average student athlete participates in two sports and about 30 percent of students meet Federal requirements for free/reduced meals. While details of the policy are being completed, questions should be directed to Athletic Director Jane McClellan, at 429-3521.
