The INDEPENDENT, September 16, 2004
Page 17
Letters
From page 3
say to those that question this
rate increase, waste not; want
not! To the City Council I can
only parlay that you really “bun-
gled” this one. For shame! The
next time let the townsfolk have
the facts and figures so that a
“timely” decision can be made.
Mark J. Akers
Vernonia
(Ed. note: Waste Management has
asked the City of Vernonia to keep
dollar/usage/cost numbers confi-
dential. That agreement does not
prevent Waste Management from
disseminating information. )
evitable will happen more than
once this school year. The
event you dread. You get stuck
behind the school bus. Fingers
start tapping with impatience,
annoyance sets in. Tempted to
speed up and zip around the
bus? Think that STOP arm and
the red flashing lights don’t ap-
ply to you? Sitting there fum-
ing? Consider this:
School buses have a
purpose: Kids’ safety
To the Editor:
Once again, school is in ses-
sion. Kids everywhere, school
buses everywhere. And the in-
School buses transport
some of the most precious live
cargo in the world—our chil-
dren and the children of our
friends, relatives and neigh-
bors. They are our future, and
they are on their way to and
from school and school events.
On their way to and from learn-
ing, growing, expanding their
knowledge and their world,
gaining skills that will shape
who they are and consequently,
the future of our world.
When large buses pick up
groups of children at a bus
stop, it will take a few minutes
to process all of those children.
They need to get on the bus,
remove jackets and backpacks,
get settled in their seats. Buses
don’t move until all are safely
seated. Little buses pick up
children in front of their homes,
in areas such as cul-de-sacs,
streets with restricted turn-
arounds, and on routes which
have smaller numbers of chil-
dren.
Small buses have seat belts
and ALL children must be buck-
led up before the bus will move.
Often, smaller buses have
mostly younger children. And
yes, it does take a few long
minutes for all of them to re-
move backpacks and coats,
perhaps crawl over each other,
find the right seat belts and get
buckled up. I’ve seen kinder-
gartners who can barely make
it up the tall bus steps, and
have to climb up onto the seats.
Special needs children may
take longer, needing help with
jackets and seat belts.
If children are goofing
around, the driver will tell them
to speed it up. But drivers are
not going to tell a little child who
can barely climb up on the seat
to hurry it up. 90 percent of the
children are doing the best that
they can, and that will just have
to be good enough for those of
you stuck behind the bus.
Parents and guardians can
greatly speed up the process
by making sure the child is
ready a few minutes before the
bus is due. Be sure they under-
stand the safety rules for riding
the bus. Take time to see that
they eat a decent breakfast.
With little kids, have them
dressed appropriately for the
weather, their shoes tied, faces
wiped, backpacks, homework
and lunches ready. Tuck in their
shirts, give them a hug and a
kiss. Start their day with “I love
you” and a smile.
Drivers often see little ones
with untied shoes, mouths and
noses that need to be wiped,
coats on inside-out, shirts
hanging out, backpacks spilling
their contents. We listen to tum
See page 20
Professional Directory
Terry P. Tobin, O.D.
Doctor of Optometry
M APLE S TREET C LINIC , P.C.
“Medical Care for the Entire Family”
Taking New Patients
503-357-2136
FAMILY VISION CARE
Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm • Sat 10:30 am-12:00 noon
GLASSES - CONTACT LENSES
1825 M APLE S TREET • F OREST G ROVE
For Appointment
Phone: 503-429-7008
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Most insurance accepted.
Call for information.
622 Bridge Street, Vernonia
VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC
Large & Small Animals
9 am-5:30 pm, Every Thursday
58376 Nehalem Hwy. S.
Vernonia
Call for Appointment:
1-503-556-3084
26072 Hwy. 30, Rainier
Massage Therapy
Swedish • Deep Tissue • Reflexology • Relaxation
Relief for stress, chronic pain, soft tissue injury, whiplash.
Medical Referrals Accepted • Insurance Billed
HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATES
Marie Krahn, LMT
503-429-5180
L ICENSED & C ERTIFIED
• L ICENSE N O . 5495
Massage by Missy
Swedish • Shiatsu • Reflexology • Relaxation
Injury Management • Deep Tissue • Prenatal
Gift Certificates Available
503-970-2891 • 503-429-4961
902 Bridge Street, Vernonia • Lic. #5218
Please remember…
20 mph in School Zones at All Times,
not just when children are present.
COLUMBIA COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH
Outpatient Alcohol & Drug Services
INDIVIDUAL – COUPLE – FAMILY – GROUP
Driving Under the Influence Program • ODL Monitoring
Call for App’t.
503-429-1053
Vernonia Dental
Dr. Christopher M.
Scheuerman, DMD
Accepting
New Patients
Mon., Tue., Wed. • 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
For Appointment Call
(503) 429-0880
622 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064