Page 20
The INDEPENDENT, October 16, 2003
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Letters
From page 3
first was the Airport Park), look
ing for a fresh cup of coffee.
The first person I make friendly
eye contact with is working in
produce. “No we don’t, but I’d
be happy to make you a cup if
you like.” What! Whoa! Holding
back the excessive reaction of
falling to my knees in sobs, I
check the expression of his
conversation companion and
let go of a little NJ/NY suspi
cion, wondering if I unknowing
ly traversed to another coun
try... world. Maybe I didn’t hear
him right...I may have slipped
into my own world, hearing
what I want to hear and seeing
what I want to see. (No, he’s
wearing a produce apron, not
institutional white). I decided on
a safe “ I am a weary traveling
idiot" smile, and manage to pull
forth an eloquent: “Ah, nah, I’ll
just...(are you for real?)...buy
some." He kindly saves my fall
from social grace and tells me
where he finds the best coffee
in town. I'd be happy to adver
tise for them but I promptly for
got the name and the directions
upon the onset of yet another
neighborly conversation. Do I
have amnesia and this IS my
home town?
Actually, the first Vernonians
/ met were in the cabin next to
Obitnary
problem.
The Saturday that I needed
to vacate the room, I used to
proceed with my plan to touch
a SW and NW tip of Washing
ton. I didn’t get very far thanks,
in part, to Mr. Road Rage (the
likes of which I had not experi
enced since NJ) telling me this
was no time or place to take in
the scenery...oops! Was he
telling me that my cell phone
just slid off the hood of... Oh,
my cell phone!!
Time and space are taking
on strange proportions. Is this
my second, unexpected PTS
(post-traumatic stress) experi
ence since 9/11/01? I half ex
pect to wake up on a gurney in
a NY/NJ emergency room, look
around, realize that I haven’t
driven across country, didn’t
have a one year mountaintop
encounter in Colorado, and
have never been in a little town
called Vernonia...that felt like
“home". Except, I did talk to my
daughter on the phone and she
said, “Mom, what did you say
the name of that town is?
Where?" All in that “I know they
act like they like you, Mom,
they’re paid to” tone. But that’s
just her sense of humor. She’s
glad I may have found my hap
py hunting grounds.
Rebecca Carey
Lakewood, CO
mine at Lincoln City KOA. A
young couple with two kiddies,
they struck up an “over the
Vital Columbia 9-1-1
fence" conversation and, with
uncommon hospitality, invited is cost efficient
me to visit Vernonia. The young
man actually took the time to To the Editor:
Columbia 9-1-1 has been
write down directions...with a
there since the people of Co
smiley face and “Good Luck!"
I landed for coffee at the lumbia County voted to form
Country Kitchen and was hand the district. Columbia 9-1-1 has
ed an Oregonian by a patron improved its service constantly
before I even sat down. Some and is always working to get
better, in ways we don’t even
body pinch m e...gently please.
Needing to get out of the know about or appreciate, until
heat, tired of my trail tent, I we need to call 9-1-1.
Columbia 9-1-1 has been
treated myself to the Vernonia
Inn, where, if I could interrupt the efficient, effective link in
my stay for Saturday (two wed any emergency, and is now
ding parties booked) the room able to provide this vital service
at a LOWER TAX RATE than
was mine.
First stop, the library. Asked five years ago. That’s right,
if there was some way a non LOWER. Think that’s not effi
resident could check out a cient? What else do you know
book....“Come on back tomor of that has gone DOWN in cost
in the last five years? Especial
row and ask for N ancy...
Which book are you interested ly som ething you count on
in?...Oh, I have one back here when lives are on the line,
that hasn’t been cataloged when seconds make a differ
yet...H ere...Just bring it back ence in how things end up.
Columbia 9-1-1 works so
when you’re done." (What!?
...has Scotty beamed me up?) well, is so reliable, that it is
“Oh, would you mind taking this easy to forget about it until we
flyer up to the Inn when you go need it. Except, when you think
back? I called and Treasa said about it, we don’t forget it at all.
she would put it up.” Sure. No It’s right there in the back of our
minds, “Call 9-1-1.”
Did you know that the new
radio system will be coming on
line soon? It will enable our po
lice, firefighters, and medical
professionals to communicate
and respond more efficiently to
our calls to 9-1-1 for help. But
did you know the new system
cost zero additional taxes? Did
you know that the majority of
the funding was obtained from
the federal government? This is
a mark of an efficient public
agency. Many times those
words do not go well together.
For the Columbia 9-1-1 Com
munications District, they do.
I want to encourage every
one to stop and think about it
for a minute. Think about this
RENEWAL, which will cost
LESS than we are paying now.
Think about how much we
count on vital 9-1-1 services;
think about how much you want
9-1-1 to be there when YOU
call and then just vote YES to
renew Columbia 9-1-1 on the
November ballot. Yeah, the one
sitting on your table right now.
Pick it up, vote YES and send
your ballot in to make it count.
This is very important, do not
forget to vote. Do not put if off,
and do not wait. Trust me, a
YES vote will continue to make
you safer!
Martin T. Anderson KC7ILK
Emergency Coordinator
and Radio Officer
Columbia Co. ARES/RACES
9-1-1 is there for us
when we need them
To the Editor:
When we first got 9-1-1 serv
ice in Columbia County, it was
something new, we weren’t
sure about it and we certainly
weren’t used to it. Now, we
count on 9-1-1 being there, an
essential service we don’t even
think about because we KNOW
it’s there when we dial 9-1-1.
And it’s not just knowing
9-1-1 is there, it’s knowing that
a real person is there, always
answering the call, 24/7.
There aren’t a whole lot of
things we can count on to al
ways be there for us. Columbia
9-1-1 is one of the few we CAN
count on. Which is why we’re
voting YES to renew Columbia
9-1-1 operating funds, and we
encourage everyone else to
vote YES, too.
Don & DeLoris Webb
Vernonia
MARVIN A. GEHRKE
Marvin Arnold “Arnie" Gehrke, 80,
Forest Grove, died September 27,
2003. A memorial gathering was held
October 3 at the Forest Grove Elks
Lodge B.P.O.E. No. 2440. A private
gathering was held to spread his crea-
mated remains at Lawyer’s Canyon in
Idaho, where he spent many hours of
his youth fishing.
Mr. Gehrke was born March 4,
1923, in Nezperce, Idaho, to Roy and
Laura Berry Gehrke. He grew up in
Nezperce.
In 1954, he married Aloma L. Al
bers. They lived in Texas and moved to
Forest Grove in 1956.
He worked as a ranch foreman, an
ambulance driver, a steelworker, in the
shipyards of California as a welding in
spector, and in car sales, in Portland,
for Riviera Motors and for Carr Chevro
let in Beaverton.
Mr. Gehrke was a member of the
Grangeville, Idaho, Elks Lodge and the
Forest Grove Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. No.
2440.
He was preceded in death by a
daughter.
Survivors include his wife; two sons,
Roy of Nezperce, Idaho, and Arnold of
Forest Grove; three daughters, Toni
Palmer of Buxton, Lisa Gehrke-Vogt of
Tillamook, and Mona Hoilien of Forest
Grove; a brother, Delwin of Ferdinand,
Idaho; 10 grandchildren; seven great
grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Forest Grove Memorial Chapel was
in charge of arrangements.
ROY W. OAKES
Roy Waldo Oakes, 72, Hillsboro,
died October 8, 2003. Graveside serv
ices, Flag Honor Presentation and in
terment were held October 10 at the
Mist Cemetery.
Mr. Oakes was born September 2,
1931, in Brooks, to Milton and Myrtle
Taylor Oakes. He grew up in Vernonia.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950, during
the Korean Conflict, and was dis
charged in 1954.
In 1971, he married Arminda L.
LaLonde. They lived in Hillsboro.
He worked for the United States
Postal Service from 1961 to 1987.
Mr. Oates was a member of the
Beaverton Foursquare Church.
Survivors include his wife; a son,
David G. of McMinnville; three daugh
ters, Leona Mae Adams of Spokane,
Wash., Colleen A. Hall of Bend, and
Zelirtda M. Dubane of Beaverton; a
stepdaughter, Kathleen Johnstone of
Seattle, Wash.; brother, Jerome of
Brownsville; 11 grandchildren; eight
great-grandchildren;
nieces
and
nephews.
Remembrances are suggested to
Beaverton Foursquare Church, 13565
Angel Memorials
Granite Markers
Privately owned
Not a funeral home
or cemetery
SW Walker Road, Beaverton, Oregon
97005.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home
in Forest Grove was in charge of
arrangements.
DORMAN M. MOEHNKE
Dorman Michael Moehnke, 97, Hay
ward Hill, near Banks, died October 7,
2003. Funeral services were held Octo
ber 11 at Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove, with Reverend
Gene Upton, Pastor Emeritus of Tu
alatin Plains Presbyterian Church in
Hillsboro, officiating. Private interment
was held.
Mr. Moehnke was born May 15,
1906, in Kelso, Washington, to John G.
and Rose Bullard Moehnke. He grew
up in Beavercreek and graduated from
Oregon City High School.
In 1940, he married Helen M.
Berwald. They lived in Jewell and Alsea
and moved to Hayward Hill in 1945.
He worked in the logging industry,
for his father from 1926 to 1936, then
for 3-M Logging Company in Alsea. He
and his brother owned and operated
Moehnke & Berwald, a logging and
land clearing company. Prior to retiring
in 1971, he worked for Purvine Logging
as a loading engineer.
Mr. Moehnke served on the Banks
School District school board.
He was preceded in death by three
sisters, Lovelle, Twyla Repp, and Ir-
malee Whitaker.
Survivors include his wife; two sons,
Michael J. of Banks, and Robert H. of
La Center, Wash.; three daughters, Lin
da L. Rieben of Banks, Irene O. Mott of
Conifer, Colo., and Ella M. Duyck of
Parkdale; 11 grandchildren; one great
grandchild; nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are suggested to
Doernbecher’s Childrens Hospital,
1121 SW Salmon, Suite 201, Portland,
OR 97205-2021.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home
in Forest Grove was in charge of
arrangements.
"A Trusted Name in Funeral Service "
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt
Funeral Home
S e c o n d G e n e r a tio n
F a m ily O w n e d &
O p e r a te d
JEFFREY & DEBRA ROSE-HOYT
DERREL & DEANN ROSE
TINA ROSE-REYNOLDS
JANE SCHNEIDER, ROSS MATHEWS
HECTOR DE LOS SANTOS
Attendant: RAYPELSTER
2308 Pacific Av. Frst Grv....357-2161
741 Madison Av. Vem......... 429-6611
E-mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@ aol.com
Personal home visits
at no extra charge
Prices start at $320
including design
and lettering
Wendy Sears
503-429-1523
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