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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
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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.