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The INDEPENDENT, August 21, 2003
The
INDEPENDENT
U/ITH
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, Vernonia,
OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Publishers, Dirk & Noni An­
dersen. Editor, Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410,
e-mail: noni@vernonia.com Display Advertising, Clark Mc-
Gaugh, 503-429-9410, e-mail: clark@ vernonia.com
the PROGRAM
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Rampant ignorance
does actual harm
Oh well, what does one more biased and incredibly
ignorant article by The Oregonian have to do with real
life?
Unfortunately, a lot.
Most people’s perceptions about communities they
don’t know develop from secondhand exposure - what
they read or hear about the community. Take a look at
the letters on this page.
One writer read that article by Jerry Boone, believed
every word of it, and passed judgement on the whole
community as having a “pervasive attitude that it’s all
right for kids to drink.”
That’s about on a par with Foster Church, who came
to Vernonia to write a travel article for The Oregonian,
did all of his research from bar stools and concluded
that Vernonia is a heavy drinking town!
It’s a puzzlement: Vernonia has one library, one lake,
one magnificently restored Scout cabin, two handi­
capped-accessible fishing piers, three schools, three
adult drinking establishments, six city parks and twelve
churches.
For young people, Vernonia also has summer base­
ball and softball, soccer, kids’ football, year-around li­
brary programs, an arts program that includes both vi­
sual and performing arts, and much more - all run by
volunteers.
Jamboree is also far more than a time to play. The
Jamboree Committee has given approximately
$15,000 to nonprofits in the past five years. Boosters,
churches, Lions Club, volunteer firefighters and the
senior center all make money during Jamboree. Many
Jamboree events give directly to nonprofits; just look at
Sandy Welch’s letter on page 3.
Yet, the only conclusion Oregonian reporters Boone
and Church can reach is that Vernonians spend all of
their time, money and effort on booze!
Ed. note: The “12,000 people” cited in Lynn Chiotti’s
letter came from the article (Big protest in small town,
Aug. 6, 2003) by Jerry F. Boone, who is either factual­
ly or mathematically challenged, and totally unfettered
by editors. He also claimed attendance of 30,000 peo­
ple for the weekend, which left the Jamboree Commit­
tee gasping with envy.
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Letters
Chief was right, two
officers not enough
To the Editor:
Let me see, two officers for
12,000 people who do not live
in Vernonia. That means that
the town expected these two
gentlemen to Preserve and
Protect their personal safety
and property from a crowd of
alcohol drinking individuals.
And to patrol the narrow two
lane road called Highway 47 for
drivers who had been drinking.
Sounds like a recipe for
tragedy being brewed up.
Chief Cahill should be com­
mended, not condemned, for
having the foresight to call in
extra law enforcement person­
nel. And the Fire Marshall was
looking out for the safety of the
community by limiting the num­
ber of people who could be in
the various facilities that serve
alcohol. All it would have taken
is a small fire in the kitchen to
have led to a disaster. Look at
the recent club fires on the east
coast to see what happens
when facilities are over crowd­
ed.
One alcohol poisoning of a
16 year old, is one too many!
This was only the tip of the ice-
berg and was not the first alco­
hol poisoning incident in the
last two years in Vernonia. The
six Ml P’s were only a reflection
of the pervasive attitude that it’s
all right for kids to drink. The six
DUII citations probably saved a
few lives. The strong presence
of law enforcement did protect
the right to have a good, safe,
sober time celebrating the
uniqueness
of
Vernonia.
Friendship Days is just one of
many community celebrations
in Columbia County. And one of
the biggest.
Perhaps Vernonia should
follow the lead of other commu­
nity festivals in Oregon and
leave the alcohol out. Become
more family-oriented and the
people will come for the fun. I
used to attend every year, but
stopped going, partially be­
cause of the alcohol issue. Dri­
ving Highway 47 sober is a
challenge. Driving it with other
drivers who have been drinking
is dangerous.
Lynn Chiotti, Coordinator
DUII Victim Impact Panel
MIP Class Coordinator
MADD Columbia County
Chapter
St. Helens
Vernonia was like a
ghost town this year
To the Editor:
I wish to comment on your
Jamboree. My husband and I
used to be vendors at your event.
We made a run up there, ex­
pecting the same fun-filled fes­
tival that we had had in the
past.
We were horribly disappoint­
ed, there was not even a shad­
ow of the holiday spirit of the
past.
Not only was the event poor­
ly arranged, the vendors in one
spot, then you have to walk a
couple of blocks to get to the
food!
Something surely has to
change or you might as well
cancel next year. I feel the new
rules and regulations put upon
the town have a bad effect on
your festival. W e„felt we were
visiting a ghost town, we could­
n’t believe it!
If removal of your town Chief
of Police will return the festival
to what it once was, you better
do it! We used to look forward
to setting up in your town, I am
glad we didn’t this year.
Donna Crawford
Banks