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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2001)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, September 5, 2001 Signs weren’t quite ready for exposure The adjacent cartoon explains, very well, one of the problems with the signs that were erected - briefly - in Vernonia’s parks. Mayor Mario Leonetti’s letter, on the next page, explains another element to be considered when listening to people complain about proposed park fees. So, one by one: The word is “entrance.” It most definitely is not “en- terance.” When the City Council takes an action following publicity and a public hearing, why are residents so shocked? The signs failed to note that the fees do not apply to residents within the Vernonia School District. So, all-in-all, the signs were in error and the city wasn’t yet ready to put them up. The Vernonia Public Works crew does so much for this community, as vol unteers in addition to their jobs, that it seems appro priate to just say “Oops,” and forget about it. In the meantime, the “shocked” citizens should get more involved with their community. Involvement makes it much harder to stay ignorant. Yes, we’re shorter today The INDEPENDENT didn’t shrink, it just had three inches cut off because it is being printed at a different press. For many years, we enjoyed the excellent work of the press crew at Tualatin-Yamhill Press (familiarly called TYP) in Hillsboro. Unfortunately, a company in Philadelphia bought the Hillsboro Argus, which owned TYP. The Philadelphia company also owns The Oregon ian, so they started printing the Argus on The Oregon ian press. Then they decided that TYP wasn’t making enough of a profit so...the usual. The business was shut down and people lost their jobs. The INDEPENDENT has decided to go to Astoria -for printing, partly because the Daily Astorian is still a relatively small operation. All of that is the reason your paper is shorter. O f the People, People B ij the People and For the is Meaningless W ilk out the People. Please register and vote. Jferlvv,.» In i , n — ----- Ü campground on the right and the river picked up speed as it dropped into a narrow gorge. The rapids became steady, with few eddies to es Recently, Donna and I spent a couple of days cape into, then it was over and the gorge on the Metolius River as guests of Troy and He opened up into a wide meadow with a beautiful len Horton of Fishhawk Lake. This is a beautiful view of Mt. Jefferson. I thought to myself, “that part of Oregon and offers lots of outdoor activi wasn’t bad. Heck, I want more than that!” I ties. There are numerous campgrounds and asked Troy if that was the worst of the rapids many private cabins. We were fortunate enough and he said “ I don’t think so," with some uncer to get to stay in one of these cabins. tainty. My mind wondered about Troy’s uncer The Metolius River is kind of a strange critter. tainty. How could you forget where the good The water level does not fluctuate very much at rapids were on this river, unless perhaps you all, which is quite evident by the numerous low had blocked them from your mind because of bridges and walkways that span the river. The fear. reason for the stable river height is that this The river soon started narrowing again and, stream literally springs forth from the ground. after rounding a bend, we could see “it.” “It” was Being on the east side of the Cascade Moun a large sign nailed to a tree that said, “Warning, tains, the stream’s small basins receive low rain dangerous rapids the next four miles.” I could fall and this deters the river from rising rapidly. see Troy stiffen up and start to turn white as we The water is very cold. I heard one fly fisher- floated by the sign. I meekly asked if these woman say that the temperature was only 48 rapids were worse than the ones above. “Yep,” degrees. came the strained reply from Troy’s taut lips. We Now, you didn’t think I could have been over entered a steady set of wave trains in a fairly to the Metolius and not have a kayak story, did wide river. I thought these weren’t so bad, so I you? You're right. tried to loosen up and have some fun, yet there Last year, Troy made a solo trip through what was suspense hanging in the air that kept me on is called the gorge, which is upstream of Wizard edge. Again, the water calmed down and Troy Falls fish hatchery. Helen said she had never pointed out springs gushing into the river from seen Troy look so white as when she picked him the east hillside. We stopped to take pictures up at the end of his trip. Troy told me about his and stretch our legs. I asked Troy if the water got adventure when he got home and said that I any rougher ahead. He said, “ I think so!" This would probably enjoy this run. concerned me. Troy is a very articulate and This year, Troy and I launched our kayaks knowledgeable man, and it was not like him to into the Metolius, which flowed just in front of the have doubts as to whether or not the river got cabin, a mile and a half downstream from Camp worse. Had he, indeed, suffered from such a Sherman store. The river is very deceptive at horrible event the year before that his mind had this point. The water is flat, yet moves at about blocked out all the details? four miles per hour. We passed by the last Please see page 3 :n By Dale Webb, member Nehalem Valley Chapter Izaak Walton League hi r. ---------
