Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2001 Page 7 Authorities concerned that date-rape drug may be in use locally Authorities have received in form ation that GHB, a date- rape drug common in some parts of the country, may now be in Colum bia County, includ ing Vernonia. The effects of gam m ahy- droxybu tyrate, or G HB, are dram atic and dangerous. Five to tw en ty m inutes after the drug is taken, users experience euphoria followed by periods of drow siness o r unconscio us ness. These periods alternate until the drug leaves the sys tem. The drug also causes loss of mem ory fo r the period it is active. River Serving the Community since 1993 R e t i r e m e n t R e s id e n c e An Alzheimer's Specialty Home Licensed • Class-II DONNA FOSTER - PROVIDER 16941 Timber Rd. East • Vernonia, OR 97064 • 503-429-1152 Looking for an Alternative in Education? Looking for Peace o f Mind? Tired o f Homeschooling? Vernonia Christian Academy Has Openings Now in 1st through 8th Grades Preschool apps being accepted • Safe, structured environment • Small class size • Field trips • Work at their own pace • Great education • Emphasis on moral character and values For Information and Registration Call Today! 429-3118 or 429-5190 V ernonia C ommunity C hurch F irst B aptist C hurch Grant Williams, Pastor 957 State Avenue Vernonia, 503 429-6790 John Cahill, Pastor 359 “A’ Street Vernonia, 503 429-1161 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Children's Church w/Nursery Evening Fellowship 6:00 p.m. Nursery Care AWANA, Wednesday 3:15 p.m. Prayer Meeting, Wed. 7:00 p.m. Men’s Group, Thursday 7:30 p.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship Saturday, 6:00 p.m. S t . M ary ' s C atholic C hurch G race R eformed B aptist C hurch D.J. Dickey, Pastor Grant & North Streets Vernonia, 503 429-3110 Mass Schedule 1st & 3rd Saturdays 4:30 p.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays 12 Noon Sunday Services: Adult Prayer & Children's Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship 5:00 p.m. Religious Education 2nd & 4th Sundays 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Service: AU Family Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. Roger Kruger, Pastor, 397-6883 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. Vernonia, 503429-1941 Joel Stith, Pastor 410 North Street Vernonia, 503 429-6522 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Every Wednesday: Ladies' Bible Study, 9:15 a.m. Children’s Choir 3:00 p.m. Family Bible Study, 6:30 p.m. Women's Fellowship, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. S eventh D ay A dventist C olum bia P acific Food Bank will hold it’s third annual “Open Your Heart to Hunger” run/walk. The 4-mile run/walk fundraiser will be held Satur day, February 24, in St. He lens. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. under a tent in the parking lot of Red Apple m arket on Co lumbia Blvd. The run/walk will start at 10:00 a.m.; it will end at Grace Baptist Church on N. 17th Street. C om plem entary soup, bagels and beverages will be available for all partici pants. Registration fee is $10.00 per person, or $15.00, for par ticipants who want a short- sleeved T-Shirt. Long sleeved shirts will also be available. The price for a fam ily is $25.00 and includes two short-sleeved T-shirts. All proceeds will go to Co lumbia Pacific Food Bank to S t . A ugustine (C anterbury ) E piscopal C hurch The Rev. Robert Grafe, Pastor 375 North Street (Vernonia Grange Hall) Vernonia, 503 429-3700 Jerry James, Pastor 500 California Ave Vernonia, 503 429-5378 Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Nursery available Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m. V ernonia F oursquare C hurch Pastor Paul Pastor 850 Madison Avenue Vernonia, 503 429-1103 Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Sabbath School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship, 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Prayer, 7:00 p.m. C hurch of J esus C hrist of L atter D ay S aints Men’s Ministry 7:45 a.m. 3rd Saturday, each month Lee Knowlton, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street Vernonia, 503 429-7151 A ssembly of G od Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m. GHB is one of several drugs called the “date-rape drugs” because they are used to ob tain chemical submission in al leged sexual assault cases. Dr. Zane Horow itz, O regon Poison Control Center (OPC), says that use of the drug is un der-reported to OPC as local agencies become more accus tom ed to dealing with GHB cases. Since the victims have no memory of the time when the drug was active in their sys tems, the perpetrators feel that they can avoid prosecution for rape. The drug was created in the 1960s as an anesthetic/seda- tive but was not pursued. Ac cording to Gibson this “unique com pound has undergone a renaissance" and is now avail able illegally on the street. “The concern is that street- purchased GHB is a real risk... individuals have no idea of the concentration they are taking. Also, there may be caustics in the material from home synthe sis,” Gibson said. help offset operating costs as sociated with the distribution of food to its 20 m em ber agen cies. The agencies include em ergency food cupboards lo cated throughout C olum bia County, such as V ernonia Cares, H.E.L.P., H.O.P.E., Tur ning Point, and St. Vincent De- Paul, along with senior centers and group homes. For further information, call Tracie Smith at 503-397-9708. Health insurance topic of guide A new consum er publication from the Oregon Insurance Di vision may help answer any questions regarding obtaining health insurance, your insur ance policy and your health care rights. The free booklet, a C on sum er Guide to Health Insur ance, is designed to help O re gonians better understand their insurance policies and make informed health care choices. The booklet discusses what kinds of insurance plans are available, identifies resources to obtain coverage and ex plains your options if you lose you r em ployer sponsored group health insurance cover age. It also sum m arizes you r health care rights under O re g o n ’s P atien t P rote ction Act, the U nfair Claims Settle- m ent Act, and other laws and rules. In addition, the booklet includes sections on frequently asked questions and a glos sary of health insurance terms. Also included in the booklet is information on how to file a com plaint with the Insurance Division against an insurance com pany or agent. To receive a free copy of the booklet, write to: Publications, O regon Insurance D ivision, 350 W inter Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-3883, or send an e-mail request to <dcbs.insmail @ state.or.us> The booklet also is available on the d iv is io n ’s w ebsite: <www.oregoninsurance.org> Chnroh Bulletin Bloopers Stewardship Offertory: “Jesus Paid It AH” . THIS SPACE PAID TOK BY VERNONIA SENTRY AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUR AREA Sunday Services, 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. Evening Service Youth Ministry Children’s Ministry Nursery Available Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m. Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m. dered drugs, or combined with plant material. Open Your Heart, but use your feet to fight hunger N ehalem V a lley B ible C hurch Pastoral Associate Juanita Dennis 960 Missouri Avenue Vernonia, 503 429-8841 F irst C hristian C hurch At high doses there is a chance of coma, according to Michael Gibson, PhD, an asso ciate professor of m olecular and medical genetics at O re gon Health Sciences Universi ty. These reactions are en hanced if combined with other adulterants (i.e. alcohol) and can lead to respiratory arrest and death. A nearly tasteless, odorless drug, GHB can be ingested in a va rie ty of w ays. It can be added to drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), mixed in pow dered form w ith other pow 662 Jefferson Vernonia Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Domestic Violence Domestic violence creates the most common emergency call for the Vernonia Police Department. Though officers have the authority to use discretion in most cases, under the provisions of Oregon Family Abuse Prevention Act their discretionary pow ers are diminished. This law requires police officers to make ar rests at the scene if there is probable cause to believe violence or the threat of violence exists. The act exempts officers from civil liability for making an arrest in these situations, but they can be held accountable for failure to make an arrest. Two decades ago those who physically abused their spous es and children were rarely held accountable. Oregon was a leader in the passage of laws to correct this situation. The legis lature also increased the penalty for simple assault from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony when children are present, which means within hearing distance of the incident. So, if a scared child hears an assault taking place from behind a closed door, that incident is a felony. Drug and/or alcohol abuse is a factor in nearly every domes tic violence case. Columbia Community Mental Health can refer those with anger management or drug abuse problems to avail able resources. There are also shelters in Columbia County, safe havens for women and children trying to escape the cycle of threats and violence in their homes The Vernonia Police De partment encourages victims of domestic violence to seek as sistance. Leaving is never easy, but there is help for those with the courage to help themselves and their families Jim W alters C hief o f Police Vernonia Police D epartm ent
