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The INDEPENDENT, October 6, 2005
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410. Publisher Clark McGaugh,
clark@the-independent.net • Managing Editor Rebecca Mc-
Gaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net • Editor Noni Ander-
sen, noni@the-independent.net
Opinion
Cycle Oregon visitors were
pleased with local reception
Comments from many of the participants who visited
here during Cycle Oregon have been most gratifying.
They enjoyed their stay and many said they will return.
A lot of work went into preparations for the overnight
stay of 2000 bicycle riders; all of those involved de-
serve congratulations for a job very well done. You,
and everyone who enthusiastically greeted the riders
with smiles and warm welcomes, did a good job of rep-
resenting Vernonia.
School board did their job;
we only encouraged them
It isn’t often that an editorial writer receives more
plaudits than complaints. It is even less often that the
editor feels the plaudits should have gone to someone
else. Nevertheless, this editor did not…and could
not…make a change in administration at the school
district.
It is hard for volunteer board members to referee
discord among employees. Faced with a difficult situa-
tion, the Vernonia school board did their job as grace-
fully as possible. They deserve thanks.
County should have waited
to put Sheriff’s levy on ballot
A law enforcement levy will be on the ballot in the
November special election. These comments have
nothing to do with the levy, only with the timing.
A money measure in a special election must meet
the double majority standard, ie., at least 50 percent
approval and at least 50 percent turnout. Columbia
County has never met that standard and isn’t likely to
this November, particularly without a campaign to pro-
vide information about the levy.
The levy will be put on the June ballot, which makes
sense. What doesn’t make sense is spending funds to
print ballots for a county-wide measure that voters will
ignore. This is the ONLY county-wide measure on the
ballot, and a waste of funds. The Board of Commis-
sioners should be more responsible with our taxes.
Ike Says…
By Dale Webb, member
Nehalem Valley Chapter, Izaak Walton League
Hunting seasons are
now in full swing; as you
read this I hope to be
tromping around in East-
ern Oregon, chasing mule
deer. Bow season was the
usual affair…dry weather,
closed lands and always
somebody cheating the
system. Two St. Helens
men, Michael Pense and Bradley Parnell, have
been charged with wildlife crimes for taking a 7-
point bull illegally on closed lands in the Big
Eddy area. The one who allegedly shot the bull
had a suspended hunting license because of a
prior conviction, in 2003, when he illegally took
two bulls in Grant County. Oregon State Police
are asking for anyone with information to step
forward. It is thought there may have been a bull
killed earlier in the season.
Non-hunters, I will repeat my warning about
wearing a bright color (red or blue) while taking
walks in the woods. Most hunters will not mis-
take you for game, but why take a chance? Just
keep this in mind when going out in the woods.
Now how about something fun! How about
being able to earn some money while fishing?
Sound like a dream come true. Well, here’s the
skinny! The premiere of the first Vernonia
Salmon Festival Fishing Derby is currently un-
derway. Every year during the Salmon Festival
Rainbow trout are brought in for a kids’ fishing
pond at Hawkins Park. This is a great event, en-
joyed by participants and spectators alike. The
only problem though, is that the event loses
money. There are always trout left over and if the
Salmon Festival charged enough to cover the
costs, parents would not be able to afford to let
their kids fish. So the great idea of having a fish-
ing derby was born. The extra Rainbow trout
have been placed into Vernonia Lake, with some
of the fish being tagged. You will need to register
at the Lake before you go fishing. The registra-
tion fee is $10. You only need to register once
during the derby, which started October 2nd, and
ends November 6th at 5:00 p.m., or earlier if all
of the tagged fish in the pay-out slots are filled.
There will be (ten) 1% pay out fish, (ten) 5% pay
out fish and (1) 40% pay out fish. The registra-
tion fees will be split 60/40 with the pay out pot
receiving the larger amount. The 40% pay out
fish is a guaranteed $50 at the start of the derby.
There will be twenty 1% fish tagged, twenty 5%
fish tagged and two 40% fish tagged. There will
also be non-paying fish tagged also. The first in-
dividuals that bring their fish in for inspection will
be awarded the pay out slots respectively. Even
though you catch a tagged fish, it may not be a
pay out fish because the pay out slots have been
filled or it is a non-pay out fish. The tag will be
confiscated during the inspection. Pay out slots
will be announced at the conclusion of the derby.
You can catch more than one pay out fish. Pay
out will be based on the final amount in the pot.
You
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