The INDEPENDENT, December 6, 2000
Page 3
Letters to the Editor
Mayor-elect thanks
people of Vernonia
To the Editor:
I want to take a moment to
thank the people of Vernonia
for their support in the recent
election. It will be a privilege to
serve as Mayor. One of my top
priorities is to continue to try
and improve the delivery of
services to our citizens. Cus
tomer service is really the
City’s primary business. Al
though we do a pretty fair job
already, I think we will have
room for improvement.
I think, for the most part, I
am very pleased with the direc
tion the City is moving and I
hope to work with my fellow
councilors and City staff and
the community to continue to
make Vernonia a better com
munity to live in. We still have
much work ahead of us. To
gether, we will make a differ
ence.
Mario P. Leonetti
Vernonia
Ball offers thanks
and congratulations
Government has helped me
understand several important
things:
• City officials work within a
highly structured environment
that makes decision-making
very complex.
• Some of the problems that
seem simple have many solu
tions.
• Many solutions are right,
the trick is choosing the BEST
right solution.
• Working with a committee
can be difficult, but is very re
warding when good decisions
are made.
I encourage each of you to
attend the occasional city
council meeting. Come share
your opinions, meet the coun
cilors and learn how you can
become a part of the dynamic
system that is city government.
After all, it is all our community.
Sincerely,
Cindy Ball
Judge professional
in actions to writer
To the Editor:
In the November 15 issue of
The Independent (Vernonia
Council decides to monitor
court for now), it states “Coun
cil members and many com
munity members have ex
pressed dissatisfaction with
Justice of the Peace Rod
McLean, who was unopposed
for re-election to a second
term.”
This seems a strange way to
show opposition, in my opinion.
It also states the council is
concerned that McLean makes
inadequate drug and alcohol
referrals to Columbia Commu
nity Mental Health (CCMH). I
ashamedly will say I am
presently involved with a DUII
and at no time was any refer
ence to CCMH made or refer
ence thereof “improper”. I was
informed that any issues with
CCMH be handled by CCMH
supervisors and staff. I was is
sued an evaluator, Mr. Duane
Sentgeorge, and he, alone, re
ferred me to CCMH. I was also
handed a business card of
Donna Tewksbury for any and
all comments or complaints re
garding CCMH and its pro
gram. I was advised any refer
ence to or issues not be report
ed to the court system, but
solely to CCMH.
I truly feel, in my case, the
most professional and courte
ous manner has been present
ed, and any and all advice un
biased. Mr. McLean follows
guidelines and recommenda
tions of the evaluator and
counselors and should not be
blamed or used as a scapegoat
by anyone.
I would also like to say the
transfer of the “well-liked coun
selor” is a community loss, for
his knowledge of programs and
drug and alcohol issues clearly
exceeded program require
ments. His transfer is an ex
treme loss and should be re
considered and amended.
With deep apology to com
munity members for my bad
judgement in my offense.
Mrs. Cynthia Shirley
Vernonia
To the Editor,
First, I would like to offer my
Scouts appreciate
congratulations to Mario Leo
generous donation
netti for his success in the may-
oral race. I know he is working
To the Editor:
for the best interests of Vernon
Boy Scout Troop 201, would
ia.
like to thank Randy Parrow and
I would like to thank those
Vernonia Sentry for their gen
citizens of Vernonia who voted
erous
donation of cans and
for me for their “Vote of Confi
bottles during our fundraiser. It
dence.” The last three years
was very much appreciated.
have been invaluable to me;
great fun (mostly) and an enor
J. Howley for
mous learning experience (def
Boy Scout Troop 201
initely).
My commitment to the com
Annual CARES food
munity has not ended. I am
continuing to work on the pro
drive was wonderful
jects that I started during my
term on City Council. I will be
To the Editor:
looking for other citizens to par
Wow, another food drive is
ticipate in all of them.
here and gone. Our efforts
Being involved with City
have paid off again, and the
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From page 2
of each other’s presence. Unfortunately, there
after elk on Thanksgiving day. It had finally are groups of hunters who are regularly involved
rained, and fresh tracks began to materialize. in this sort of activity. There is one group, in par
My job was chief scout and tracker, which meant ticular, in the Mist area, that has taken this activ
sending Mike on fresh tracks, while I looked for ity to a new high (or low), using a radio scanner
more tracks or observed the progress of his hunt to home in on hunters in pursuit of elk. They are
with radio communications. Sometimes I would also using intimidation to try and displace other
track elk while Mike followed behind me looking hunters from what they feel is “their” hunting
ahead. My concentration was on the ground im area. Numerous hunters have complained of
mediately before me. A frustrating aspect for me near-miss incidents from the speeding vehicles
during this hunt, was that I was always bumping of this group and one has stated that next time
into elk while scouting for new sign and Mike he will not swerve out of the way of the multi-ve
was having tough luck following fresh tracks on hicle caravans of fast moving vehicles. Other
his own. Neither one of us saw a legal bull, but hunters are talking about illegal acts to slow
we did have some exciting moments when we down this gang.
While some of these ideas may sound inter
bounced some herds with spikes in them.
The down side to this year’s elk season was esting, we do not want to lower ourselves to this
some of the hunters. There seemed to be a gen level and risk criminal prosecution. Hunters in
eral attitude of indifference to other hunters and this area are going to have to let this group know
their hunts. The term for this is corking. Corking that this behavior will no longer be tolerated.
is a logging term that stems from one logger This group causes a risk to our hunting heritage
stepping on another logger’s boots. Since and they need to know that. Timberland owners,
caulked (“corked** in logger slang) boots have while not regulating this type of activity, will be
small spikes on the bottom, this is not a desir quick to close their land to access if armed con
able behavior. Corking during elk hunting means flicts start to occur, so wise up, guys, before
essentially the same thing...crowding into some someone gets hurt or we loose our hunting area.
one else’s hunt with the hopes of using their
movements to chase elk in to you. This is a tac
tic used by low life hunters and those with poor
hunting skills. Sometimes corking happens acci
dentally, when two hunting parties are not aware
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wonderful generosity of our
community has brought in food
items this year totaling 5239
pounds and still counting. We
had a large number of helpers
making the 2000 food drive an
other successful year. Cash
donations totalled $3,665.00.
This cash will purchase every
thing necessary to make
Christmas dinners for our
needy and homeless families.
$1,600 was use to purchase
100 turkeys. We were so excit
ed to have the burden lifted!
Not only a financial gift was giv
en in the turkey drive, but the
precious time of our own Ruth
Burkett, who canvassed for our
Christmas dinners.
Thanks to Ruth Burkett and
West Wind Arts, Metro West
Ambulance; Fuiten, Rose &
Hoyt Funeral Home; Dr. and
Mrs. Thiringer, NAPA Auto
Parts, Vernonia Sentry Market,
Gwin Logging, Shaw Supply,
Vernonia Realty, Pihl Logging
and West Oregon Electric for
their cash donations to pur
chase turkeys.
To those who helped with
the food drive putting out flyers,
picking up (in the pouring rain),
sorting and boxing, making
phone calls, organizing their
groups and anything else that
was done to help, we thank
you, sincerely!
Suzie Armstrong, for taking
on a huge responsibility, joined
by Cub Scout Pack 201, Boy
Scout Troop 201, Girl Scout
Troop 559, Carolyn Keasey,
Master Tesdal and his Tae
Kwon Do group, Youth Transi
tion Program at VHS (Beth
Kintz and Mrs. Dickenson, Bri
an Collins, Raechel and Trisha
Lee, Jere Haverland) L.E.A.P.
(Heidi Herb and hard working
group of kids), Deanna Brown,
Derek and Ruby McClure, Judy
Gwin, Angie Taylor and kids,
Lee’s U-Catch, Joe Gray, J.D.
Dupois, Joann Beamish, Deb
bie Benedict, Wendy Fife, Ver
nonia Community Church, Ver
nonia Christian Church, Bill
Horn, Anita Peerson and kids,
Tracy Fletcher, Peter O ’Leary,
Ina Bateman, Bill and Dorothy
Howard, Mike and Elin Hayes,
Darla Mudd, Arnold and Mary
Tolonen, Kevin and Colleen
Grittman, Knotty Bear Tree
Farm (Randall Holce), Holce
Logging, Ray Pelster, St. Vin
cent De Paul, Sentry, Randy
and Sharon Parrow, Lumber
mans, Ralph and Barbara Stur-
devant, Bill Fisher, Vernonia
Senior
Center,
Vernonia
School District - all staff and
youth helpers, Mini Mart, Bill
and Faye Sword, Joyce Erick
son, American Legion, Mike
and Carolyn Cook, Seventh
Day Adventist Church, Troy
and Lauri Jerman, WMH
Vealey, William Ostrander, Car-
mencita Vigil, Reuben Phelps,
Vicky Crowston, Rebecca
Brookins, St. Vincent De Paul,
Ray Pelster, Leonetti’s Pizza &
Grill, Oregon Cold Storage,
Fort James Wauna Mill, the de
voted volunteers of Vernonia
Cares - Sandy Deweber, Alan
Deweber, Jack Ramsey, Deb
bie Vanzant, Lesley, Vice Pres
ident Bill Yeo, Secretary Kelley
Murphy-Shaw, Treasurer Linda
Naeve and President Joel
Stith.
We are sure there are many
others who have helped Ver
nonia Cares and we would like
to thank you, too. Please know
that if your name is not men
tioned, we apologize. We truly
appreciate what you have done
for us.
There have been many
challenges in the past months,
but we know the effort is need
ed and we are grateful to have
help from such a supportive
community, year after year.
Happy and Blessed Holidays to
all.
Lisa Edgar, Director
Vernonia Cares Food Bank
Volunteers thanked
by Fair Board, staff
To the Editor:
The Columbia County Fair
Board and Staff would like to
thank everyone for their dona
tions and volunteered time to
make the fairgrounds a family
enjoyment year round. Merry
Christmas and a Very Happy
New Year.
Mark Kuhn,
Doug Bradley
David Thompson, Jr.
Jim Davis, Darin Smith
Evelyn Hudson, Tony Bolton
Hyde pledges to live
up to responsibilities
To the Citizens of Columbia
County:
I am, indeed, as humble as I
am proud, of your decision to
re-elect me as one of your
commissioners. I recognize
clearly the gravity of the re
sponsibility that you have
placed upon me and I assure
you that I shall never give short
weight to those responsibilities.
To those who have worked
so hard to make this occasion
a success, I extend my thanks.
Your kindness and the warmth
of your friendship will not be
forgotten. It is great to know
you and to work with you.
Again, thank you.
Tony Hyde
Vernonia
Parrow offers thanks,
promises hard work
To the Community:
First, I would to thank my fa
ther and mother, Art & Enid
Parrow, for all they have done
for me. I couldn’t possibly
name everything they have
done to make me the individual
I am today. I would also like to
thank them for making the Par-
row name a well-respected
name in our community. Mom
and Dad, THANK YOU!
Second, I would like to thank
all of the individuals who voted
for me in this election. I will
work hard on your behalf to
make the right decisions for our
community and to keep Ver
nonia's progress advancing
into the future.
Randy Parrow
Councilperson-elect
City of Vernonia