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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2004)
________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ The INDEPENDENT, March 18, 2004 Letters Don’t limit politics to the richest parties To the Editor: There are some people (such as Phil Keisling, former Oregon Secretary of State) who are proposing that we change the way candidates are selected for placement on the general election ballot. These people say that voters are not given a real choice when minor party candidates (which he calls “spoilers”) can be placed on the ballot along with candi dates from the two major politi cal parties. Their position is that ‘"’ ’ I we should only be able to choose between two Republi cans or two Democrats in the general election, in the event that two candidates from the same party obtain the most votes in the primary. Currently, minor party candi dates can have their names placed on the general election ballot just by filing the required application and paying the ap propriate fee. Isn’t that awful? Such a procedure allows just about anyone to run for an elective office in a partisan election! What would our Founding Fathers think of that? Just think of that, a person’s HatWBBD tbB iBBkBBdS .......... .... .— ............. .......... —... ........ — name can be on the ballot with out having the financial backing of the major political parties or well-funded special interest groups! Should Phil Keisling’s pro posal become law we would no longer be faced with a ballot made so confusing by the list ing of Independents, Libertari ans, Greens, Socialists, and other such un-mainstream can didates. We could just pick be tween the two candidates with the richest political contributors and political action groups. Ah, for the simple life! Don McDaniel Astoria .............I... tive Americans by the use of maps and displays of artifacts including pelts, trade beads and ar rowheads. He will enliven his retelling of the old In the Fall of 1970, a legends that often crossed tribal boundaries to whale washed up on the beach near Florence. form a shared culture. The public is encouraged to attend this free program sponsored by the Since it was too badly de Oregon Council for the Humanities. composed to move to The week of April 18-24 is this year’s desig higher ground for burial, nated National Library Week. Activities will in the decision was made by clude a treasure/scavenger hunt, coloring con ODOT to dynamite the whale, with the plan being test, and a “guess the number of items” contest. that seagulls and other Watch for more information about this fun-filled week. beach scavengers would consume the resulting Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m. is the next smaller pieces. Paul Linnman and his friend, Doug Brazil, were sent by KATU television, scheduled meeting for The Friends of the Li Channel 2, to report and photograph the event, brary. New members are always welcomed. which resulted in the publication of Linnman’s Yearly dues are $5.00 for an individual and $10.00 for a family. All revenue generated by this book, The Exploding Whale and Other Remark organization is used to supplement library pro able Stories from the Evening News. This is a grams and materials. For the third year, the wonderful book, containing so much more than Friends’ organization is providing a family pass just the fiasco of the exploding whale. to the Children’s Museum for patrons of the li Linnman writes with the humor and compas sion that one who has watched him on television brary. This pass is available to be checked out by would expect. As a feature reporter, Linnman those wishing to enjoy the many activities of fered at the museum. Usage of the pass will de met and reported on many incredible people in termine whether it is renewed from year to year, cluding Ron Post, the successful Salem busi nessman, who is responsible for the organiza so don’t hesitate to take advantage of this oppor tunity. tion and ongoing efforts of Northwest Medical Circulation continues to increase, with the Teams; Doc Lavender, who having been in a number of items checked out in January sur wheelchair since the age of three, successfully passing any previous month. January’s circula competed as a race car driver; and Art Pease, tion of 2488 items exceeded the previous high the Special Olympian who ran the Portland est month by 126. This, combined with the use Marathon by mistake and went on to compete in being made of the computers and of youngsters 26 more marathons. doing homework and attending library programs, Profiles of these and other remarkable people continue to make the library a wonderfully busy are included in this book as well as his “two- place. Regular programs for children include headed dog” spoof and other entertaining stories Monday morning Preschool Storytime at 10:30, from the world of television news. A serious at Reading Enrichment at 3:30 on Mondays when tempt is being made to have Paul Linnman come school is in session, and the newly formed to Vernonia to relate some of these experiences Chess Club on Friday afternoons at 1:30. in person. Whether this happens or not, I really encourage you to read this sometimes-serious, Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave sometimes-hilarious, but always compelling Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; book. Tues., Thur. 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. April will be another busy month at the library. Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The third of our yearly allotment of Chautauqua Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 programs will be Tuesday, April 13th, at 4:00 a.m., when school is in session. p.m. Noted Native American storyteller Ed Edmo Phone: (503 ) 429-1818 will trace the history of the trade networks of Na- By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Page 3 Chief’s dedication not all it appeared to be To the Editor: Hello Vernonians. Well, our [police] Chief [Mike Cahill] is gone. Our A#1 dedicated leader of our police force, a man who came to us such a short time ago with such great hopes of turning this town around, cleaning it up. Well, the moving vans and the For Sale sign in front of his house tells me that, well, maybe he wasn’t so dedicated to our community. Why would a man come to a small knit community to fill such an important position as the Chief of Police and then just bail out on us. Remember, he wasn’t fired, or retired, he left! We all remember him on the front page of the metro in The Oregonian. What a noble im- W here to F ind T hem U.S. S enator R on W yden 700 NE Multnomah St, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97232 Phone: 503-326-7525 E-mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/ contact/ U.S. S enator G ordon S mith 121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: 503-326-3386 Fax: 503-326-2900 E-mail: http://www.senate.gov/~- gsmith/webform.htm U.S. R ep . D avid W u (Dist. 1) 620 SW Main, Suite 606 Portland, OR 97205 Phone: 503-326-2901 Fax: 503-326-5066 E-mail: http://www.house.gov/ wu/issueform.htm OR S en . J oan D ukes (Dist. 16) 92578 Maki Road Astoria, OR 97103 Phone: 503-458-6746 E-mail: senatordukes@seasurf.net OR R ep . B etsy J ohnson (Dist. 31) P.O. Box R Scappoose, OR 97056 Phone: 503-543-4046 Fax: 503-543-5296 E-mail: rep.betsyjohnson@state.or.us OR R ep . E laine H opson (Dist. 32) P.O. Box 656 Tillamook, OR 97141 Phone: 503-842-5656 E-mail: rep.elainehopson@sta te.or.us age, him against the rowdy drunk Vernonians. Maybe the wrong prople are being arrest ed in this town. Warren R. Wright, Jr. Vernonia Great fun for young basketball players To the Editor: Thank you to Marla Rethwill who helped organize the third and fourth grade boys basket ball. Vernonia had two teams that played in the Forest Grove league. The boys played hard and had a good time. Good job, players. Thanks also to Sven Sand ström for helping coach and to Vernonia Community Church for letting us use the gym. Jerry Butcher, Coach Vernonia Shooters ask to use local arena From page 1 event at the arena in Anderson Park. The group used the are na for a one day event last Oc tober, during the Fall Salmon Festival. Leslie Waber, who presented the request, said the next event is planned for a full weekend, July 9-11. Waber is working with the Vernonia Ridge Riders, who oversee scheduling for the arena. Council also heard from Schann Nelson, representing a newly formed group that is pro moting the Vernonia Country Market. The group’s goal is the development of a regularly scheduled outdoor market, with ten dates scheduled from May 1 to October 2. They are seeking a location that allows for use of city rest rooms and, if possible, city garbage service. Council said no to closing Weed Avenue alongside city hall, because of heavy use by trucks going to the Wilcox & Flegel card lock, but suggested using Hawkins Park. Appointments to the Airport Commission were approved by the council. The appointees are Dana Anderson, Matt Giles, Rick Gwin and Mike Seager. Randy Parrow is the council representative on the commission.
