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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2000)
The INDEPENDENT, October 18, 2000 From page 3 to build up a County Parks p a ir and m aintain the fa ir System . H udson Park, Big grounds plus allow the Fair Eddy, Scappoose Airport, Lau Board to complete a compre rel Beach, Camp Wilkerson, JJ , hensive study. The purpose of Collins Marine Park, Beaver this study is to determine the Board Ramp, Prescott Beach best utilization of the grounds and Scaponia are all part of and to create economic oppor our County System. No County General Funds tunities for the goal of self-suf ficiency and less dependency support our parks. In the past, on our local taxpayers. I am money has been generated by urging the voters of Columbia user fees and by revenues County to vote Yes on Mea from timber thinned from our Carkus Creek property. No tim sure 5-66. Donald W. Noldge ber w ill be harvested from St. Helens Carkus Creek for at least sev en more years. There is no County parks w ill money in our County General Fund for Parks. close without funds Our parks are maintained by youth corps, summer part To the Editor: I know that it sounds like a time help and other volunteers. scare tactic, but please believe Park staff consists of a host. me. What I am saying is, to the These “Hosts” are not paid a best of my knowledge, true. If salary, only provided with a Ballot measure 5-67 does not place to live and utilities. B allot M easure 5-67 w ill pass, we w ill have to sta rt clo sin g C olum bia C ounty give Columbia County Resi dents an opportunity to help Parks. It took us a number of years save our parks. It is a “bare- bones” measure, and the mon ey will only be used to main tain what we now have. Parks provide us all with a multitude of benefits, social, economic, ed ucational, environm ental and personal. They make our county a much more livable place and provide us with ac tivities for youth and families. Please don’t let them close our parks. Vote yes on Ballot Measure 5-67. Bill Eagle St. Helens Hyde, Pulliam work for health care needs To the Editor: Lack of he alth care in Columbia County is a compli cated issue that involves large health systems, health insur ance options, transportation and, to some sm all extent, Public Health. I have been involved in en couraging physicians and oth- er health care providers to com e to C olum bia C ounty since the hospital closed in 1990. I don’t pretend to have s o lu tio n s to our countv’s health care needs, but I applaud Paul Pulliam and Tony Hyde, two candidates for county commis sioner, fo r helping win ap proval for study of health care options. The Critical Access Hospital grant was approved by the Northwest Oregon Economic A lliance, and w ill allow the Columbia Health District and O re g o n ’s O ffice of Rural Health to combine efforts to look for solutions, possibly a hospital, but maybe other rec om m endations. It is a long term project, but that is the only way to make real changes. I urge you to vote for Paul and Tony for Columbia County Commissioner, Position 1 and 3. Gary Heide St. Helens Page 11 asked important questions on spending issues to make sure the city is ge tting the best bang for it’s buck. His leader ship was instrumental in bring ing together a bitterly divided council and focusing on the core issues that faced Scap poose. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need for our county. Scott Burge is the obvi ous choice for County Com missioner, a strong leader that gets results. I’m voting for him and urge all c itize n s of Colum bia County to do the same. Mike Powell Rainier Challenges veracity of police officers To the Editor: A few months ago, I pre sented myself before the citi zens of this community in a Burge provides real pu blic forum . D uring the course of this forum, I made leadership charges and/or accusations di rected at those who are re sponsible to maintain law and coln Grade School, with 27 stu To the Editor: As a member of the Scap order in this community. At the dents in each of the morning poose C ity C ouncil, S cott time, I had been accused of and afternoon sessions. Additionally, two fifth grade Burge made building roads a wrongdoing and was extreme and two sixth grade class priority and this past summer ly upset at the way the situa rooms at Washington Grade they took the first step towards tion was handled. My trial was School each have more than rebuilding the c ity ’s roads, concluded in July of this year, 30 students. The fifth grade thanks to Scott’s leadership on and I was convicted based upon my “no contest” plea. A level is a particular concern, the issue. Scott recognized that Scap no contest plea is not an ad Nice explained, because the fifth grade is the second CIM poose had no real city parks to mission of guilt. It states that benchmark and this is the sec speak of and he provided the the evidence presented out ond year that this particular leadership to change that on weighs the evidence I can pro group of students has been in the city council, pushing for the duce to prove my innocence. I citie s firs t com m unity park, still believe I am innocent and large classes. which is being built this year. hope to prove this during the The VEA asked for consider He has been a person who Please see page 14 ation of a third kindergarten class and, if nothing else is possible, classroom aides on Saturday, Oct. 21, is the bound students from the Mist- the 5-6 level. date, 6:00 p.m. is the time, and Birkenfeld area. the Mist School gym is the place for the annual Fai! Festi val sponsored by the Mist- Birkenfeld Helping Circle. There are no longer two The festive evening will in separate volunteer organiza clude local entertainment, raf tions in the Mist-Birkenfeld fles of a quilt and a hand-cro emergency response services. cheted afghan, plus an auction The M-BRFPD Firefighters As that ranges from the simplicity sociation and the M-B Ambu of home-grown vegetables to lance Association combined the complexity of a “Valentine this past summer to form a sin Feast for Four,” prepared and gle entity - the Mist-Birkenfeld Volunteers Association. served by Barbara Way. Elected to lead the organiza There will also be sandwich tion were Chairman Tim Rom- es and pies for sale. This is the bach, Vice-chairman Gerald annual fundraiser for the M-B Kenyon, Treasurer Bill De- Helping Circle, which provides Jager, Secretary Dee Bailey assistance to many people and Historian Michael Duce. throughout the year, and also The organization is open to all funds scholarships for college residents of the area. Vernonia School Board picks O’Leary for vacancy The October 6 death of Ver nonia School District Director Debbie Johnston, who had been battling breast cancer, left the remaining board members both saddened and sobered. When they convened for their October 12 meeting, the quib bling and lack of cooperative effort that had marked the prior meeting was nowhere in evi dence. In September, there were two vacancies on the board, but the board could not reach agreement on replacements. Last week, they unanimously selected Leslie O’Leary for the seat vacated by Susann Rags dale. Now, because of John- stori’s death, there are again two vacancies (the other seat was held by April Whitworth). The board agreed to select two people at the November meeting, which will be on Thursday, Nov. 2. Applicants who have already filed papers need not do so again, but there is time for additional appli cants. Anyone interested may pick up a form at the school district office and return it no later than Friday, Oct. 27. On behalf of the Vernonia Education Association, teacher Marguerite Nice reported that large classes are a concern in three grades. There are 54 kindergarten students at Lin- You Can Save The Fairgrounds Yes on 5-66 Columbia County Fairgrounds is in Trouble By voting YES on Measure 5-66, you can help save the Fairgrounds. Measure 5-66 would pro vide funding for needed improvements and repairs. By voting Yes, the Fair Board w ill be able to make the fairgrounds become self-sufficient w ith greater usability for the citizens of Columbia County. .................. In Oregon! j|? Last year’s Fair was rated Best for being cleanest and friendliest. Approval of 5-66 w ill insure the continuation of the gairgronnds* community activities for citi zens and the youth of Columbia County. Paid fo r b y Friends fo r th e F a ir M-B Fall Festival guarantees fun M-B volunteers combine groups
