The INDEPENDENT, January 20, 2005
While “W” and company won
Real “WMDs” could a seemingly
convincing victory
pay for worthy causes on November 2nd in certain
parts of our country and I don’t
begrudge them an opportunity
To the Editor:
It seems to me that “W” has to celebrate, for about 50K they
an opportunity with the January could rent the Washington Con
20th inauguration to find some vention Center and charge gala
real WMD. Recent news re attendees to pay the food, bev
ports peg the projected cost of erage, and entertainment bill.
the upcoming political gala at a Such a gesture of heart would
whopping $50 million. I can’t save about 49.95 million for
help think how that amount of worthy causes: suggesting to
money might help our soldiers the nation and the world that
with body armor, rehabilitation, “W’s” WORDS really do MEAN
or even travel between extend DEEDS!
Joel Haugen
ed tours of duty. Or, what an
Scappoose
additional $50 million could do
to help with the current disaster
in South Asia and/or provide Dukes’ appointment
food, education, and medicine
for the billions of needy citizens called a conspiracy
of planet earth. Not to mention
debt service on our ballooning To the Editor:
It seems that we have a situ
deficit.
By Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia Public Library
Another
new
year
brings new books to read,
new audio books to hear,
and new library projects to
anticipate. New books in
clude thrillers by John Gr
isham (The Broker), Patri
cia MacDonald (The Girl
Next Door), Linda Fair-
stein (Entombed), Tony
Hillerman (Skeleton Man) and Lisa Gardner
Alone). Unexpected Blessings by Barbara Tay-
or Bradford and Aloft by Chang-Rae-Lee are
lovels of troubled family relationships and reso-
utions to these problems. Lilian Jackson Braun
3nce again delights her faithful readers with her
new offering, The Cat Who Went Bananas. New
audio books on cassette or CD include Twisted,
by Jonathan Kellerman, Hour Game by David
Baldacci, Deep South by Nevada Barr, and The
Motive by John Lescroart. Some of these were
adopted (purchased and given to the library)
through the annual event during which patrons
are offered the chance to give to the library at
Christmas. Gratitude is expressed to all who
adopted books this year.
Upcoming events include a Chautauqua pro
gram entitled, “Demystifying Intelligence" and a
musical presentation by Mark and Helena
Greathouse. The library board is working on re
vising Internet policies and guidelines and is
closely examining a study that has been done
regarding the feasibility of a 2-county library dis
trict involving Clatsop and Columbia Counties.
For youngsters, a container filled with Valen
tine’s Day items will be available for a “guess the
number and win the items” contest. The next dis
play table will also feature Valentine’s Day items.
Not all activities are new, but, with the New
Year, a reminder might encourage some more
participants. The pre-school story time is always
ation where our Governor, after
talking about appointing our
Senator Duke to a commission,
waited until after the election to
make the appointment. This
leaves her position open. My
understanding is that Betsy
Johnson is to be just bumped
up to take her place (which was
known to these people before
the election) as state senator.
This of course eliminates the
chance in both cases for the
people to elect the person of
their choice to represent them,
as the county commissioners
appoint the replacement.
This being the case there
was only one candidate in the
election who was viable and
honest about their campaign
and that was “Ron Ross.”
Folks this smells like a fish
that has been dead for three
days in 90 degree weather.
on Monday mornings at 10:30 and the Reading
Enrichment Program is on Monday afternoons at
3:30 on days when school is in session. Chess
club meets on Friday afternoons right after
school (also on days when school is in session).
The pass to the Children’s Museum is available
for families to use, courtesy of The Friends of the
Library. The book discussion group continues to
meet once a month with the next meeting to be
held February 14th at 5:30. The book being read
this month is Ricochet River by Robin Cody. The
next Bedtime/Storytime will be Thursday, Janu
ary 27th at 7:00 p.m. The date for this activity
continues to be irregular as an attempt is being
made to hold it on nights when there is no school
the next day. All of these activities are free and
all community members are invited to attend any
or all in which they might have an interest.
Also, of course, not all of the books are new,
but there is such a wonderful selection now, with
over 18,000 volumes, that I’m sure everyone will
be able to find something of interest. Maybe you,
like I, have picked up a book and looked at its ti
tle or cover and decided it’s not something that
catches your interest. I have been finding that
with the book discussion group recommenda
tions, I have read a number of books that once
were passed over as not being of interest at the
time and I’m sure there are many more on the
shelves that I would enjoy. Be sure to look at the
Patron Recommendation and Staff Recommen
dation displays on your next visit. Many times,
the best recommendation you can have is from
someone in the community who has already dis
covered a “hidden treasure” of a book.
Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave.
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Tues., Thur. 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30
a.m., when school is in session.
Phone: (503 ) 4 2 9 - 1 8 1 8 .
Keith Carpenter
Scappoose
Ed. note: The Boards of Commis
sioners in four counties — Colum
bia, Clatsop, Tillamook & Washing
ton _ wni select the replacement for
Sen. Dukes. If they choose Rep.
Johnson, her replacement will be
selected by the Boards of Commis
sioners in Clatsop and Columbia
Counties. State law requires the
appointee to be from the same po
litical party as the office holder be
ing replaced.
Page 3
No more recycling of
community’s junk
To the Editor:
To the People of Vernonia: I
am tired physically and emo
tionally. It is looking like we will
no longer be able to recycle
your junk; there are a few peo
ple who have the idea that we
are more of a problem than
they want to live with. We quit
for a few years as we had been
served with papers by the City
Thanks to many for of Vernonia as to our property
helping local families being a nuisance and a danger
ous liability. We have cleaned
up our property more than once
To the Editor:
This year, with the generous and told people that if our trail
donations from community er was there they could drop off
businesses, community part appliances or metal into the
ners and families, we were able trailer. I do not know how many
to brighten the holidays for over times we have come home and
230 people. This means that 68 found appliances (washing ma
families throughout the county chines, dryers, dishwashers,
were adopted. These families beds, freezers, misc. metals)
received gifts of food, clothing, garbage and loose metal in and
winter coats, toys, and Christ on our property and on the
shoulder of the road. We did
mas trees for their families.
Columbia County Womens one more clean up and had
Resource Center and our been told 2 years ago that if it
clients would like to thank Co was in the trailer and off the
lumbia Tech Center, Burg- land we could store it until we
erville, Scappoose McDonalds, had a load in the trailers. My
Salon Halloo, St. Helens Wash husband Allen finally has 2
ington Mutual Bank, Liefeld large trailers and we were try
Jewelry, Columbia County ing to do this, we have been in
Commissioners, Armstrong, formed that it is a safety hazard
Key Title, James Oliver, Rox and that if someone’s child got
anne Straus, Jessica Lauder, hurt while playing in, under
Laura Williams (Bunco Group), whatever we would be liable
John L. Scott Realtors, Scap and so we cannot do it. I asked
poose Four Square Church, Dr. about a tarp over the load and
Dan Gordon’s Dental Office, will find out whether that is fea
Irene and Bill Jauron, Robin sible. We do not live in Portland
Simpson, The S.H.A.P.E. group or some big metropolis but we
from Lewis & Clark and have people who feel that Ver
McBride Schools, Windermere nonia should be aping the
Realty Group, Clatskanie Bun swankier areas of Portland.
co group, Kiwanis Daybreak- The Irony is if we lived in Port
ers, Sunset Park Church, Linda land, Hillsboro, Forest Grove or
Kielblock, Rainier 4-H Group any other place we could do
(Top Dogz), Vernonia Medical what we have been doing. We
Group, Avamere, St. Helens have been cleaning up Vernon
Dental,
Petersen
School, ia and felt we were doing a
Curves, Warren Grange group, needed work. We cannot get a
and a very special thanks to business license as we are not
Kate Murphy and Scappoose zoned for this and none is avail
Girl Scout Troop #1071 for par able. Many people have ex
ticipating in our annual holiday pressed thanks for what we
have done. The City of Vernon
project.
Without your help many fam ia has tried to work with us but
ilies would not have been able when the charge has been laid
to provide a Christmas for their at their door that they are not
upholding the law their hands
children.
Ollie Gibson-Lavell are tied and so are ours.
There are houses in Vernon
Adopt-A-Family Coordinator
Columbia County ia and other places that are
Women’s Resource Center known as drug houses, and
Please see page 15