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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2002)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, November 7, 2002 The INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Ver nonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Editors and Pub lishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: 503-429- 9410, e-mail: noni@ vernonia.com JLliT An& TH$ tfMSuAÉ I ù lù rtT WA a /T I I SHoulû HAVéfteAi Stuoia TU-fr VoTeftS Guioeeerr«» I I CArfT I WiJT V#T€ » / Opinion No surprises in balloting Unofficial final results of the November 5 election showed 9,408 Columbia County voters opposing Mea sure 5-109, the county-wide law enforcement levy, with 7,572 voting in favor and another 727 who skipped that decision. These numbers indicate a potential for future approval, but only if the measure includes a more fru gal approach and language that specifies just how much would be used for patrol deputies and how much for jail operations. Citizens want to be sure that money approved for patrol deputies can be used only for that purpose; they are not interested in supporting an open- ended approach that would allow the funds to be taken from patrol and used for the jail or for court protection. Those who are responsible for the overall administra tion of any agency, understandably prefer some flexi bility but, given public apprehension about how the funds are spent, may have to more closely define just how people’s taxes can be used—and how they can’t. There were only two other local money measures on the ballot, both in the Scappoose area. One was a bond issue to refurbish schools, the other was a three- year tax levy for the library district; both measures were defeated by voters. Nearly 71 percent of registered voters in Columbia County voted, about the same as statewide figures, and, with a couple of exceptions, the results were also just about the same. Complete Columbia County returns may be seen on page 17. Bitten by the technology bug... After working for the past year with a great need for upgraded computer equipment, The Independent fi nally bit the bullet and made those upgrades. While there are always some glitches (to use a technical term) when new and old equipment, operating sys tems and software are combined, this particular ex perience has been horrendous (another technical term)! For this late paper, I apologize. I think most of the problems have been worked out and we should be back on track with the next issue. However...If I ever start talking about “upgrading” again, will someone please tie me to a tree until I for get about it? Noni Andersen \ I / £L£CXl6t\ *fc£Su£TS .................*.................................1................................ Ike Says... By Dale Webb, member Nehalem Valley Chapter Izaak Walton League The hunting Gods shone on me opening day of deer season this year. I had my choice of seven bucks, plenty of time to choose and frosty cold weather in which to field dress my choice. By 8:20 a.m. the ham m er was tripped and the knife was in action. My only re gret was that I didn’t get to hunt more, in fact I was thinking of not shooting, but the biggest buck of the bunch forced my hand by trying to run over me. The local hunting scene has been slow through the fourth week of October, partly due to weather, gate closures and lack of deer. The ac tion should have picked up during the remainder of the season with a heavy lean toward older bucks. I have kept score on the size of bucks taken and, as of the 28th, it was an even split be tween forked horns and three points or better. I would expect by the end of the season the ratio will be 70 percent older bucks, which is close to what happened last year. This again points out the problem in the local area, which is a low deer recruitment rate. The primary cause of this low rate of recruitment is the hair loss syndrome that has been with us for about five years. Of course, ODF&W adding about 500 antlerless kills to the cause is not helping the situation. I believe after this year, ODF&W will be forced to reconsider its Blacktailed deer management. Many biologists to the south of us are very concerned about this disease and are pushing for reforms. By the time you read this article, most gate is sues will have been resolved. Here are the gat ing issues as I see them for Elk season: Longview Fibre - Most gates will be open, with the exception of active logging areas, areas that have experienced vandalism and the Co lumbia River Mainline during weekdays. The mainline will be open on weekends. Longview Fibre was the first to open their gates during deer season and the company has a pro-hunter attitude; please foster this relationship by being a responsible hunter. Olympic Resource Management - There is a new tw ist this year, with only three gates ...Crooked Creek, Kauppi (off Bum Road) and Pebble C reek... scheduled to be open during Elk season. ORM has posted maps at local busi nesses showing locations and times. The gates will be opened one hour before daylight and closed one hour after dark. Carry your cell phone (ATT is the only one that works in this area.) be cause, if you get locked in, you will have to call the number on the back of the gate to get out. Calling several hours after the gates are closed will probably be frowned on. Do not leave a ve hicle inside the locked gates as a way of beating the morning crowds, it may be towed. ORM is trying this new system to see how it works. Since most vandalism occurs after dark, this should curb the activity. It should also cut down on hunt ing after dark, which is a major problem in our area. I feel the one-hour-after-dark gate closure may be a little too early, but we will see what happens. I expect the morning rush will be inter esting also, from a h u n te r’s perspective. I w ill Please see page 3
