Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2002)
From page 3 this year’s theme, loyalty to our country, “Patriotism." Due to scheduling con straints for the artwork on the tee shirts we need to receive theme entries by May 8th. Mail entries to PO Box 244, Vernon ia, OR 97064 Please note: Those of us on the 2001 Jamboree committee had many people tell us AF TER Jamboree finished that there needed to be more activ ities for the kids, and for adults. Some of the suggestions, in addition to the arts and crafts section, were baking & cooking contests, pie and/or watermel on eating contests, horseshoe tournaments and, for kids, pos sibly calf races, greased pig chase, water activities etc. In order to even contem plate these events, people must step up and volunteer their time to plan and run any additional activities. We are hoping to hear from 10 or more new people, and/or any folks who have helped in the past, who are willing to co ordinate an event in advance of the Jamboree and commit 2- 4 hours the weekend of Jam boree to run the event. If you are one who thinks that Jamboree is the same old thing every year, here is your chance to do something about it. A good idea becomes a great idea only if YOU help bring it into reality. From our personal experi ence the Jamboree is anything but the same old thing. We D e p re s s io n e ra ta x e s w o n ’t w o rk From page 2 Chairman Alan Greenspan ac knowledges, “you can’t use tax receipts over nominal GDP as a tax rate.” Thompson calls claims that taxes now take a larger share of GDP than at any time in his- Banks Firn District # 1 3 A b b re v ia tio n s : EM S, E m e r g e n cy M e d ical S ervice; MVA, M o to r Vehicle A ccid en t M A R C H 2002 Mar. 1 - MVA-Sellers Road Mar. 2 - Residential fire EMS Assist Mar. 3 - EMS Assist (2) Brush fire Mar. 6 - Power Lines Down Mar. 7 - MVA-Hwy-Tunnel Mar. 8 - MVA-Hwy 26 MVA-Cedar Canyon Mar. 9 - EMS Assist (3) Mar. 10 - EMS Assist (2) Mar. 12 - MVA-Hwy 26 MVA-Woollen Road Auto Alarm Mar. 13 EMS Assist Mar. 15 MVA-Hwy 6/47 Mar. 16 MVA-Hwy 6/47 MVA-Hwy 26 EMS Assist (2) Mar. 17 Smoke Investigation Mar. 19 Car Fire Mar. 20 Auto Alarm EMS Assist Mar. 22 - EMS Assist (2) Mar. 23 - EMS Assist Mar. 26 - Brush fire EMS Assist Brush fire Mar. 28 - MVA-Cedar Canyon Mar. 29 - EMS Assist Mar. 30 - EMS Assist Mar. 31 - EMS Assist tory, “hollow.” Total federal re ceipts, according to the Eco nomic Report of the President, absorbed 19.6 percent of GDP in 2001, no different from levels seen in early 1980’s, late 1960’s or mid 1940’s. The federal government’s share of GDP has remained about the same, cycling around 18 percent, for most of the last 55 years. “By pining away for days when taxes were lower than they are now, the anti-gov ernment activists reveal their desire for a society that we haven’t had since before World War II,” noted Thompson. “The last time we had taxes considerably lower than current levels was in the days of the Great Depression, back before the existence of the American middle class or strong military, and when masses of the elder ly withered in poverty for lack of Social Security,” Thompson added. have met so many wonderful people from the local area, and many that travel great dis tances, just to attend Jam boree. We are looking forward to seeing them again, along with the many new ones we will meet this year. If you are new to the area and want to meet people, we guarantee you will have a great time and will meet a lot of won derful people. Some of whom will become lifelong friends. After all, the name of our annu al festival is the “Vernonia Friendship Jamboree." What better way to make friends, than working alongside someone and helping to bring laughter and smiles to those around you? The Jamboree needs your help to show off our wonderful city and make it an annual destination point I sum mer activity for people, who would not normally visit our “quiet little town.” If you are interested please contact Randy Parrow at 503- 429-1093, or me, at 503-429- 3541. Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thurs day of every month in the Washington Grade School li brary. We hope to hear from you, or better yet, see you there... Glen Purvee, for the Vernonia Friendship Jamboree Committee Objects to fairgrounds benefit from concerts To the Editor: The County Commissioners have made their final decision regarding the Morse Bros., Inc. and Double-Tee Promotions concert agreement. In my opin ion, the deal was made last year between Morse Bros., inc. (MBI), Double-Tee Promotions and the County in order to ben efit the fairgrounds by provid ing space to hold concerts dur ing the summer. For this deal, MBI will be granted their sur face mining permit prior to con certs being held, even though there are concerns yet to be addressed (i.e., DEQ’s condi tions not yet met regarding safe habitat for the bald-eagles and safeguards for nitrate con tamination in current water wells). Also, why didn’t the County retain the mineral rights to the [current] MBI prop erty back when they sold it to Shell Corporation? Or why did n’t they condemn the property prior to MBI purchasing it, use the rock to support county gov ernment (parks, roads and fair), and the property to spon sor the annual fair? This would have benefitted everyone! (The Fair, County government, and its citizens.) I have several questions. Why is it that only the fair grounds benefits from the MBI deal? We have roads and parks deteriorating and threats of giving parks away. Why don’t the Commissioners think these services are important too? During these concerts, the Sheriff’s Office will provide personnel for law enforcement and safety mitigation. Why is it that when we call for assis tance, it is extremely difficult to get a hold of an officer, we are told “there are no officers avail able” and the Sheriff’s Office only needs to provide a jail and serve subpoenas. Why, then, do out-of-county groups (con certs and bike/walk-a-thons) receive these services while we, the taxpayers do not? Why does the County feel they must negotiate with MBI? It looks like the “good ole boy, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back” syndrome. When all is said and done, we will be left with another big hole in the ground; with MBI not be ing required to reclaim the land after raping it. In regards to Double-Tee, their contract with the County states that, should they default on payment to sub-contractors or vendors, the County will as sume responsibility for pay ment of those bills and charge Double-Tee 10 percent above those charges. What ever makes the Commissioners think Double-Tee will pay them for these defaulted bills, should they occur? Why would they not pay their vendors, but pay the County, with interest? This looks to me to be another US Gypsum Chapter 11 bankrupt cy case waiting to happen! Double-Tee is storing their equipment at the fairgrounds. Are they paying storage rental fees or getting another “county incentive”, in other words, “freeby"? I have many more questions of the Commissioners, but it boils down to, did they really think this through when they made their decision and was it really in the best interest of the public? And, are the Commis sioners getting addicted to concerts (like the schools have with Coca-Cola) to solve all their money problems? Thelma Bonar Warren VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM THE SPAR TREE B reakfast - L unch - D inner Prime Rib Dinner......... $1Q95 EVERY SATURDAY Breakfast Served All Day G reat place for P arties or M eetings , C all for D etails H ours : T u -T hu 6 am -7 pm • F r -S at 6 am -8 pm • S un . 7 am - 5 pm 62467 Nehalem Hwy. N. (Hwy. 47), Vernonia Orders to Go: 503-429-0191 $55” HOT TUBS $$o” REG. ROOM $45” Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST FOR RESERVATIONS CALL I -800-354-9494 / 503-429-4000 GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE 900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064 Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47)
