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