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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2001)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, July 18, 2001 t<T »vr n. INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410, e-mail: noni@vernonia.com GûWE BUT NOT oh o*4 FOKOTTZ - this t ! L Opinion Conservation plans are sensible, not fun Like people who know they will be miserable if they overeat— and do so anyway, our culture knows we need to be sensible about over-indulging in wasteful water and energy use—but we do so anyway. In Vernonia, we’re “fortunate” that the city is provid ing us with incentive...a pain in the pocketbook...to re duce water usage, and when we reduce water usage we also reduce the amount of electricity used to trans form surface water into something we can safely drink. In the Northwest, people are not accustomed to conserving either water or power. We have always had more than enough of both and, though we com plain about electric rates because we have one of the highest rates in the Northwest, water and power are cheap and plentiful here when compared to much of the U.S. and most of the world. Because there is major concern about a lengthy spell of less-than-usual precipitation, the city has insti tuted summer water rates in an effort to hold water us age to a reasonable amount. We really don’t need to wash our cars and trucks every few days and we real ly don’t need to keep our lawns green year-around. Now the city has accepted a plan to reduce electric usage by, initially, eliminating some streetlights. These are sensible strategies; they may not make us comfortable, but they’re sensible...like not overeat ing. Until we force ourselves to look at what we’re do ing and really sort out what is important and what is merely habit, we will continue on our wasteful way. The percentage of people in Vernonia who are wired into today’s technology is probably about the same as in any community in the Northwest. At this time, that technology requires electric energy and, if reduced precipitation continues in the Northwest, that energy will become increasingly scarce. Whether we like it or not, conservation planning makes sense. It is counterproductive to seek an unwanted office Volunteering to be a candidate for an unpaid elec tive position takes a lot of courage. Running for that same position when you really have no interest in do ing the job is harmful, even if that was not the intent. It has been instructive to watch Rick Hobart, a nice guy who was talked into running for a school board po sition he didn’t really want. It was painfully obvious that his heart wasn’t in it: First he filed, then he dropped out, then he dropped dropping out and con tinued to run. When other candidates attended school board meetings and workshops, his absence was conspicu ous. After being elected, he attended one of three months of meetings, workshops and budget sessions. It has been painful for everyone involved and, no doubt, especially Hobart. It’s a good reminder: We should not let ourselves be talked into trying to be what we’re not. Being ourselves is job enough. ^oz '¿MVA bo S oio £ / fa ?» Of , WXlT, S w IA lifi I [ u iJ t N »T O STXrd>'. t><Af€CT «V F ac V. Many street lights will be turned off The following street lights ei ther have been turned off or will be turned off. All citizens who have questions or concerns about the selection of street lights are asked to call city hall at 503-429-5291 or public works at 503-429-6921. Ex plain what your concern is, or why you feel a particular light should remain in use. Your concerns will be considered. Residents who have been using street lights as security lights for their property, will be able to keep those lights on by paying the cost of operation. Call for information. • H St. and State Ave. • 1523 East Ave. • End of F St. • End of G St. • E St. and State Ave. • E St. and East Ave. • D St. and State Ave. • Middle & End of C St. • B St. & State Ave. • End of B Street • End of A Street • A St. and East Ave. • End of North St. • A St. and Washington Ave. • North St. and Washington • A St. and Grant Ave. • Park Dr. and Bridge St. • Bridge St. at Senior Center • 374 Bridge St. • Bridge St. at East of Napa • 186 Bridge St. • Center of Louisiana Ave. • Louisiana Ave. and North St. • Louisiana Ave. and Alley to Oregon Ave. • Alley between Louisiana Ave. and Arkansas Ave. • Alley between Arkansas Ave. and Mississippi Ave. • Alley behind Mississippi Ave. • Texas Ave. and Arkansas Ave. • Alabama Ave. between Missouri Ave. and Texas Ave. • End of Missouri Ave. • 680 Bridge St. • 833 Bridge St. • Bridge St. and Vernonia Lake entrance • Riverside Dr. - two lights • Two at end of Alabama Ave. • End of Spencer Ave. • Two at end of Pebble Cr. Rd. • Middle of Alder St. • End of Alder St. • Middle of Birch St. • Mist Dr. between Birch St. and Cherry St. • Two on Cherry St. • Mist Dr. and Douglas St. • End of Douglas St. • Mist Dr. and Fir St. • End of Fir St. • 3 lights on Grove St. • 5 lights on Heather Ln. and Heather Ct. • Mist Dr. between Juniper St. and Knott St. • 3 lights on Knott St. • Knickerson Ridge Sub division • Mist Dr. north of Knott St. • 2 lights at end of Mist Dr. • • • • • • • • • • 1 st Ave. and Bridge St. 1467 Bridge St. 3rd Ave. and Bridge St. 1950 Bridge St. 2032 Bridge St. End of 6th Ave. 1483 Nehalem St. 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. End of 2nd Ave. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ave. and Columbia St. • Rose Ave. and Nehalem St. • Ruth Ave. • 1236 Rose Ave. • 1539 Rose Ave. • 1st Ave. and Clatsop St. • Rose Ave. and R & R Auto. • Cougar St. and 1st Ave. • 2nd Ave. and Umatilla • 391 1st Ave. • Cougar St. and Rose Ave. • Weed Ave. and Maple St. • Madison Ave. by Mortuary • Madison Ave. and Cougar St. • End of Madison Ave. • End of Jefferson Ave. • Jefferson Ave. and Post Office • Jefferson Ave. and Mason ic Temple • 3 lights on Weed Ave. north of Bridge St. • Adams Ave. and D & R Auto. • End of Adams Ave. • Various downtown and City Hall/Library lights, between Adams Ave. and Rose Ave. If there is a school bond issue on the ballot this fall will you be able to vote on it? If you are not registered to vote, the answer is “No.” Register to Vote — Speak for Yourself
