Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, November 7, 2001 tetters to the Editor ward them across the center excitement is the obvious fact line? Tell me, is there really any that several drivers are drinking purpose to the center line if no beers, as evidenced all along the road by the empties. Now, one respects it? To the Editor, A 15-mile drive averaging 60 that’s adding stimulation. While the city is formulating mph (65 on the straights, 55 on Yes, I can see that people appropriate signage on High the curves) takes 15 minutes. who would otherwise not come way 26 to lure people into Ver The same drive at a more rea this way would truly be en nonia, perhaps we should con sonable average speed of 50 thralled by the thrill of the drive sider appealing to their sense (45 on the curves, slow enough and the beauty of the trash. I’m of adventure and the need for to stay in your own lane) would sure they’ll want to come back, an adrenaline rush. Driving take 12.5 minutes. Is the two aren’t you? Highway 47 gives me a rush and one-half minutes you save Love it here, love the drive, don’t want to share the center every time I take it. by speeding worth risking the Is there anyone living out lives and psyches of everyone line. Susan Foster here without a horror story else on the Highway? Vernonia about a car or truck coming to And, of course, adding to the Thrill seekers would love driving Hwy. 47 lliro a n tho BookewM .......... ......... . By Cindy Stanley, Library Assistant Banks Public Library Many thanks to the Friends of the Banks Public Library for on-going contribution of new books. Our most recent donation from the Friends in cludes Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub, Mercy by Julie Garwood, The Wild Blue: the Men Who Flew the B-24’s Over Ger many by Stephen Ambrose, and Envy by San dra Brown. Also among our new books is a new title by Nicholas Evans, author of The Horse Whisperer. His latest book, The Smoke Jumper tells the sto ry of three people’s quest for happiness and self- fullfillment, played out against the heroism of fire fighting in the wilderness. This mesmerizing ad venture for the spirit is told in the grandest tradi tion. Don’t miss the next Saturday for recycling on November 10th from 9:00 am to 3:00 at the sol id waste transfer station on Sellars Road. This is a great time to clear out the garage before the holidays. The Friends of the Banks Public Li brary continue to need support for the monthly recycling Saturday. Volunteers are needed to work two-hour shifts once or twice a year. Inter- From page 2 at Vernonia. The only fishery would be in the north fork of the Nehalem and the estuary. What would happen if a natural event, disease or haz ardous chemical release wiped out the only fish at the hatchery? At the least, a whole year class would be gone forever. There is one aspect of this debate that has been ignored: Who is paying for these artificially propagated fisheries? Sportsmen almost totally support the hatchery fish programs that were ini tially created to produce supplemental fish. We have ignored the fact that wild, natural hatch eries have been decimated and that the people who are responsible, and have profited from this destruction, have not been held fiscally respon sible. The only real solution to this problem is to get the natural hatcheries functioning again, which will cause fiscal pain to the people who were responsible in the first place. Isn’t this fair? Oregon sportsmen should not have to bear total responsibility for ensuring the continued exis tence of Coho salmon in Oregon, by supporting hatcheries. ! i IS ! — ested persons please contact the library! Fall is a great time to take advantage of the Cultural Pass to Adventure program. This pro gram, sponsored by Banks Pharmacy, Banks Chamber of Commerce, Bighorn Logging, Brown Derby Restaurant, City of Banks Tree Board, Gookin Plumbing, the Linus Hermens family, and the North Plains Chamber of Com merce, allows library patrons to reserve free ad mittance passes to cultural institutions. Passes are available for the Children’s Museum, the Portland Art Museum, the Japanese Garden, the World Forestry Center, the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and the Washington County Museum, the Portland Chinese Garden and the Oregon Historical Society. Registration forms and program guidelines are available at the library. Please note that this program is avail able only to Washington County library card holders. Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Fri. and S at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m. Phone: (503)324-1382 Internet: www.WILInet.wccls.lib.or.us. Hunting season is in full swing and there have been a few problems and controversies so far this year. Like many of you, I was surprised to find the vast tract of land to the west and south of Vernonia locked up behind gates, even when the surrounding lands were open. I talked to Tom Budge of Longview Fibre Company, who ex plained that this tract was closed to vehicular traffic because the State of Oregon had a log ging sale off the Eastside Grade road and they feared trouble from timber activists, so Longview Fibre closed vehicular access to the back side of the sale. Tom made it clear, though, that the land was open to walk-in hunting, with the exception of the mainline on weekdays and active logging sites like the one in the bottom of Clear Creek. I also asked Tom about the mainline blockage to large tracts of land beyond them. He explained that walking directly across the mainline is okay. What is not permitted is walking along the main line, which would put a walker in danger of being hit by tree length-carrying trucks. I took Tom up on this walk-in access and enjoyed almost exclu- Please see page 13 Renters pay share of property taxes To the Editor, I have been a homeowner in Vernonia for a little over a year. I support the school measure, but I must respond to Darrell Hamblet’s letter ¡n the October 17th issue. Mr. Hamblet believes that he and his parents did not pay property taxes, as they did not always own a home. Unless rental units and rental homes are exempt, Gust ask your land lord about that one) you can be assured that a portion of your rent check is applied to the property taxes. Indeed, you could even see rents increase due to the tax liability increases on the owners of these proper ties. So be assured Mr. Hamblet, you and your parents have paid your fair share of property tax es, as do all renters of apart ments and homes. There are many good reasons to approve the school measure, but paying too few taxes is not one of them. Steven A. Loders Vernonia Vandalism is also self-destructive Open Letter to Cathy Ward, via the Editor: There are two types of peo ple: Those who are honorable and those who are not. Both types live among us. Thieves and vandals are similar to ter rorists in that they strike without warning at a time and place of their own choosing. If you and I catch them in the act and pun ish them, we go to jail but they do not. This is part of an up side-down system in which a police officer aims his gun at schoolchildren riding a motor bike, an entertainment reported earlier in The Independent. There are consequences for everything we do. The person who stole Cathy’s flag gave away a small part of himself as he did so. The person who pulled my gate apart with a truck and chain sacrificed part of himself on the altar of van dalism. It takes a long time to regain the portion of their innermost selves that they lose while committing dishonorable acts. Some never recover, blaming other people for their problems. Page 3 They all suffer from an absence of respect for themselves, brought about by their lack of integrity. They know this in their own hearts, and they dislike themselves because of it, nev er knowing that the path to their recovery is just a step away. Why don’t they catch on? I’m unable to answer that. All I can tell you is that a continuous rit ual of self-destruction is depen dably noted on the Police Re port page in every issue of this newspaper. Walt Ferguson Mist WGS is a good place for kids and parents To the Editor: As a father of a wonderful 6th Grade girl, I would like to take a moment and thank Washington Grade School for giving my daughter a great place to go to school. I have watched her grow scholastical ly, socially and as a young lady. I would also like to thank the faculty for treating me as a par ent, citizen and Father; re specting me every time I have dealt with them. Great Job! Ron Wright Vernonia Can’t afford to vote for new schools To the Editor: Just finished reading the lat est Independent from front to back. Very impressed by all the letters and paid advertisements in support of the School Bond Issue. Not a dissenting word, in fact. Well, here it comes, folks! Yes, I believe they are right when they say the Grade Schools need to be replaced. Even though I’d hate to see the buildings go, I know it’s time. I think all fairminded people want a safe, nurturing environment to raise and educate our chil dren. And yes, I’m willing to make financial sacrifices to see this happen. Oh, but the stickler! Have you sat down and fig ured out just how much the pro posal is going to cost you at tax time? $3.00 per $1,000 as sessed value for 21 years. As sessed value that goes up every year? To some of you Please see page 16
