The INDEPENDENT, June 2, 2005
Page 3
Letters
Questions priorities
of Commissioners
To the Editor:
I was shocked to see in the
last Spotlight that County Com
missioners Joe Corsiglia and
Tony Hyde voted to raise their
own two salaries by more than
10.1 percent for a total of ap
proximately $13,000 per year.
At the same time and for virtu
ally the same amount of money
they are proposing to eliminate
the County’s Veterans Services
Office, which provides essential
services to the county’s 6500
veterans, claiming that they
don’t have the money to fund it,
From page 2
ly distributed. Making small
drives along side the gravel
road provided lots of action. I
used my big game hunting rifle
most of the time. This makes
for some very good practice,
shooting offhand at targets at
varying distances. Hitting a
rabbit at over 100 yards builds
one’s shooting confidence to a
new level.
The side roads still had
some water sitting on them and
are very slimy and, with the re
cent rains over east, I think
things probably have gotten
worse since we were there.
We saw a lot of Antelope dur
ing our travels. Having been so
wet recently, the grass was
growing well and the desert
was very green. We talked to a
local rancher who said the late
rains really saved their bacon,
before that, things were look
ing bad. The Warner lakes are
very low, though, since it takes
snow pack to provide water to
raise the water levels.
This rabbit trip kind of com
pleted a circle for Dad and me.
It was many years ago, I was
probably around 12 years old,
when that Dad and I went on
our first rabbit trip. We made a
big circle out around the east
side of the Steen’s. This year it
was my turn to return the favor
and I honestly believe we both
enjoyed it just as much as that
first trip. So get out there, and
build some memories!_______
Izaak Walton League,
Nehalem Valley Chapter
meets on the third Thursday
of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Call 503-429-7193 for loca
tion of meeting.
a Memorial Day surprise for
veterans.
It should be noted that Rita
Bernhard, the third commis
sioner, voted against the pro
posed pay raise, given the
problem of the Veterans Office
funding and other critical issues
in the county.
Voters might want to call
Commissioners Corsiglia and
Hyde (503-397-4322) about the
big raises and Veterans Office
funding.
Michael F. Sheehan
Scappoose
Appreciates efforts
of local PTA president
To the Editor:
I wanted to thank Camrin
Eyrrick, President of the Ver
nonia Community PTA for the
“Thank
You
Celebration”
potluck held on May 19. There
was a “Calling of All Parents” in
the monthly newsletter and I
was one of two moms that
showed up! I’m not sure if par
ents didn’t read the article or if
they just forgot to note it on
their calendars, but the food
and desserts were great.
The meeting was very emo
tional as the President gave all
her help a gift of appreciation
and addressed how their sup
port carried PTA through the
struggle of our PTA President
almost dying in October. I’m
happy to see she’s pulled
through and is going strong.
Her leadership is outstanding
and I appreciated her sincerity
and thoughtfulness.
Some of the concerns were
participation from a representa
tive from Head Start and Mist
By Representative Brad Witt
Oregon District 31
This week I would like
to share House Bill 3486
with you. HB 3486, intro
duced one week ago, is
one of the fastest moving
bills in the House of Rep
resentatives. It will make
information about predato
ry sex offenders available to the public via the In
ternet. If the bill becomes law, Oregon will join 48
other states that make this information readily
available in the interest of public safety.
My interest in this bill goes back several
months to a series of discussions with Gregg
Mills of Astoria. Mr. Mills had contacted me out of
concern that Oregon law made it exceedingly
difficult, if not nearly impossible, to determine the
identities and residences of sexual offenders.
Mr. Mills, like many other supporters of HB 3486,
is convinced that an awareness of who and
where the predators are enables individuals,
parents and local neighborhoods to avoid con
tact between predators and potential victims.
Late last week, Representative Jerry Krum-
mel (R-Wilsonville) approached me to see if I
would be interested in co-sponsoring a bill on
this subject. After Representative Krummel and I
discussed the problem, it became apparent that
an internet posting would address our concerns
and those of Mr. Mills. Furthermore, it is fortu
itous that Representative Krummel and I sit on
the House Information management and Tech
nology and that our Chair, Representative John
Dallum (R-The Dalles) shares our concerns on
this subject. With HB 3486 being a natural fit for
our Committee, Chair Dallum scheduled the bill’s
first hearing just one week after the bill’s intro
duction.
Our House Committee will be very careful in
developing the wording of HB 3486. Civil liber
ties of those who may have committed a sexual
School.
My daughter was ecstatic to
hear some of the raised funds
would be going towards more
swings at WGS, which are des
perately needed as my daugh
ter had always comments on
how she never gets a turn on
the swings.
The PTA makes improve
ments for our children and they
are dedicated in the fund rais
ing to make all kids happier. I
hope there will be more parent
participation for this great or
ganization for our kids.
Virginia D. DeBeikes
Vernonia
More on the value of
trees in our lives
To the Editor:
I don’t want to make a stink
But I have another way to
indiscretion in the past, but who no longer pose
a threat to either society or personal safety, will
be protected. That is why the bill limits Internet
disclosure to predatory sex offenders. According
to Washington County Sheriff Rob Gordon, Pres
ident of the Oregon Sheriffs Association, preda
tory sex offenders are the worst of the worst.
They have committed the most abhorrent sex
crimes and have the highest propensity of re-of-
fending. Even worse, their risk of re-offending in
creases over time. That is why I am a sponsor of
HB 3486.
HB 3486 will make the following information
about predatory sex offenders available over the
Internet: Name and address; physical descrip
tion including age, height, weight and eye and
hair color; type of vehicle; conditions of parole,
probation, post-prison supervision or conditional
release; description of primary and secondary
targets; method of offending; picture; name and
phone number of the parole or probation officer;
and if a predator is not under supervision, con
tact information for the State Police.
There are over 16,000 registered sex offend
ers in Oregon. Each year, we add another 800
persons to the sex offender register. To call this
a problem is an understatement. Hopefully, HB
3486 will provide a modicum of protection
against the very worst of these offenders.
I want to express my appreciation to Mr.
Gregg Mills, Representative Jerry Krummel,
Chair John Dallum and all the bill’s supporters
for making HB 3486 possible.
Monday and Wednesday are the best days to
make an appointment to see me in Salem. If you
happen to be Salem and have not made an ap
pointment, stop by and see if I am in the office. I
try to leave Salem early on Friday for meetings
in our District. You can always contact me by
calling 503-986-1431 or by e-mailing me at
rep.bradwitt@state.or.us to set-up a late Friday
afternoon or weekend meeting near your neigh
borhood.
think.
The trees that once were high
on the hill
Were cut down for someone’s
view to fill.
The trees that held the hill in
place
Now are gone-soon mudslides
will race.
The slides cause havoc for
those below
That you on the hills will never
know.
We all want and enjoy trees in
our backyards
For they are our Sentinels and
our Guards!
Remember it only takes a year
for wheat to grow
But trees take much longer -
as everyone knows!!
So while you enjoy your home
with a view
Please remember those down
below you!!
Betty (Mrs. Carl) Holsey
Vernonia
Thanks to Vernonia
Police for their help
To the Editor:
I just wanted to thank the
Vernonia Police Dept. for re
turning one of the three missing
heirloom seashells (about a
foot long each).
Hopefully, the person who
took them will find it in their
heart to return them and put
them back on my front porch.
Hurray! to the Vernonia Po
lice Dept.
Virginia D. DeBeikes
Vernonia
County deputies help
whenever they can
To the Editor:
A tip O’ the hat to the two Co
lumbia County deputies that re
sponded to my emergency. Al
low me to explain.
An injured coyote wandered
up from the woods and laid itself
down just a few feet from my
window. After I rescued it from
the jaws of my four dogs, I stood
back and realized that the ani
mal was in dire straits. She was
on her back, with her legs twist
ed about. It was obvious that
she was in severe pain.
She needed to be eutha
nized; indeed a profound situa
tion for a city boy like me. Even
after this was done, what to do
with the body? Bringing it to the
city dump is illegal. I couldn’t
bury it on my property; my dogs
Please see page 24