Page 20
The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2004
Ike Says …
From page 2
usually do not winter so far
north. What is theorized is that
elk that customarily use the
area have developed certain
microorganisms needed to
neutralize the acid in the
lichens. The elk from Colorado
did not have the microorgan-
isms.
Researchers are now turn-
ing their attention to the lichen,
trying to determine if they con-
tained an abnormal amount of
acid and if the prolonged
drought in the area is a factor.
Unfortunately, the die-off killed
up to 5 percent of the Sierra
Madre herd’s breeding fe-
males, which could affect hunt-
ing quotas this fall and trigger
wildlife policy changes.
Research closer to home in-
volves the Snake River hunt
unit. Recent concerns have de-
veloped around allowing motor-
ized access to the Lord Flat
Road (Western Rim Recreation
Trail #1774) during Bow sea-
son because of the numbers of
hunters that concentrate along
the trail. According to Tim
Schommer, a Forest Wildlife Bi-
ologist, the concentration of
hunters on the rim road is
pushing deer and elk down the
hill into the middle bench coun-
try, which is about a 2,000 foot
drop in elevation. The concern
stems from the fact that the
high ground is summer forage
area and the middle bench is a
winter feeding area.
Schommer and ODF&W bi-
ologist Vic Coggins agree that it
is not good for either elk nutri-
tion or the condition of the veg-
etation to have hundreds of elk
on the winter range three
months early. The area ecolo-
gist indicates his sampling of
vegetation in the middle bench
country shows the plant condi-
tion declining over the last 20
years. He strongly recom-
mends that elk numbers be re-
duced. Schommer and Cog-
gins also agree that closing the
Lord Flat area to vehicles dur-
ing all hunting seasons will help
retain elk longer on the
plateaus.
Schommer became con-
cerned when he did surveys in
2001 and 2002, traveling the
plateau on both sides of Lord
Flat Road from the headwaters
of Cow Creek to the Lord Flat
airstrip. The survey included all
or portions of the following
plateaus: Windy Ridge, Wing
Ridge, Somers Point, Mormon
Flat, Dorrance, and Lord Flat.
Schommer did his first survey
just before Bow season, then
one after Bow season. The re-
sults were startling. Before the
season upwards of 250 elk
were seen, with abundance of
sign. After the season, less
than six elk were observed dur-
ing the three-day surveys and
elk sign was very scarce. Deer
sightings and sign were scarce
on both pre- and post-season
surveys. To confirm his suspi-
cions, Schommer rode down to
the middle bench country after
Bow season and the elk were
there. There is now a move-
ment to close Trail 1774 to mo-
torized traffic, if you have a
concern about this move, con-
tact Karyn Wood, Supervisor,
Wallowa Whitman National
Forest, P.O. Box 907, Baker
City, Oregon 97814.
Izaak Walton League
Nehalem Valley Chapter
meets on the third Thursday
of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Call 503-429-7193 for
location of meeting.
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF DISTRICT
MEASURE ELECTION
$907,098 in the second year; $960,843 in
the third year; $992,304 in the fourth year
and $1,024,710 in the fifth year.
“The estimated tax cost for this meas-
ure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the
best information available from the county
assessor at the time of the estimate.”
The following authorized district official
hereby certifies the above ballot title is true
and complete.
Sally J. Jones
Administrator
Signed: March 18, 2004
Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District
Notice is hereby given that on May 18,
2004, a measure election will be held in Co-
lumbia County, Oregon.
The following shall be the ballot title of
the measure to be submitted to the district’s
voters on this date.
5-122 CAPTION
Renewal of 9-1-1 Emergency Commu-
nications Operating Funds.
QUESTION
Shall the five-year Columbia 9-1-1 oper-
ating levy be renewed, at .29 cents per
$1,000 assessed value, in 2004?
*This measure may cause property tax-
es to increase more than three percent.*
SUMMARY
This measure may be passed only at an
election with at least 50 percent voter
turnout.
The current Operating Levy for Colum-
bia 9-1-1 Communications District, ap-
proved by voters in 1998, is due for renew-
al every five years. The renewal for the five-
year period beginning in 2004 will be at a
slightly reduced rate.
This measure is unchanged from the
measure proposed in the November 4,
2003 election, which received 69.8% ap-
proval but was invalidated because voter
turnout fell 1% short of the 50% turnout re-
quirement.
The five-year Operating Fund supports
all ongoing functions of the 9-1-1 call cen-
ter; maintaining emergency communica-
tions service for all communities and unin-
corporated areas throughout the county;
24-hour staffing and training; coordination
and dispatching for 16 public safety agen-
cies in Columbia County, including fire,
emergency medical and police in each
community, and related support services for
State Police and State Forestry Depart-
ment.
The Operating Levy renewal would be
at a rate of .29 cents per $1,000 of as-
sessed property value, or $29 per year, plus
the permanent rate of .0002554 cents, or
$25.54 per year. For a home assessed at
$100,000 this totals approximately $54.00
per year. Over the five-year period, the Op-
erating Levy is estimated to raise a total of
$4,762,397; $877,442 in the first year;
VERNONIA INN
Publish April 1, 2004
---------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF BUDGET MEETING
A public meeting of the Budget Committee
of the Vernonia School District 47J, Colum-
bia, State of Oregon, on the budget for the
fiscal year July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 will
be held at 475 Bridge Street, Vernonia,
Oregon. The meeting will take place on the
22nd day of April, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. The
purpose of the meeting is to receive the
budget message.
A copy of the budget document may be in-
spected or obtained on or after 4-22/2004,
at Vernonia School District Office, 475
Bridge Street, Vernonia, between the hours
of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
This is a public meeting where deliberation
of the Budget Committee will take place.
Listed below is the tie and place of an addi-
tional Budget Committee meeting that will
be held to take public comment. Any person
may appear at this meeting and discuss the
proposed programs with the Budget Com-
mittee.
Date: May 20, 2004 Time: 6:00 p.m. Loca-
tion: 475 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR.
Publish April 1 and April 15, 2004
EXTRA, EXTRA
Read all about it,
Easter
Bunny
Hides
Enjoy a quiet weekend with us.
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HOT TUBS
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Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance
Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL
1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064
Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47)
Search for them at
10:00 a.m. on
April 10 at
Hawkins Park –
Candy reward