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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2005)
The INDEPENDENT, November 3, 2005 Page 3 Letters Support needed for holiday food baskets To the Editor: During the next two months, this local food bank will contin- ue its regular emergency food box service as well as plan for a special Christmas holiday food basket for our clients. Elsewhere in this issue you will see an article submitted by our volunteer “turkey herder,” Pat Stacklie. She does a wonderful job of rounding up meat for these Christmas food boxes. I hope you will generously sup- port our efforts to help the less fortunate in our community. Without these groceries, many of our clients would not have a Christmas meal. I would also like to encour- age you to help us continue to provide regular food boxes. Monthly, we are serving about 100 households containing over 250 people. Through sup- porters like you, local business- es, and the United Way of Co- lumbia County, Cares provides three days worth of groceries. Cares continues to be your hands extended to this commu- nity, showing that Vernonia Cares. Sandy Welch, Executive Director Vernonia Cares Food Bank Bring your ideas for 50th Jamboree To the Editor: The Vernonia Festivals Committee is having a Jam- boree meeting Tuesday, No- vember 8, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall. We are looking for new, fresh ideas. Anyone who would be interested in joining the committee please come and express your ideas. We will be electing the officer positions of President and Secretary. This is the year of the 50th Friendship Jamboree and we want to make it bigger and bet- ter. Our plans this year include adding some new events such Opinion By Noni Andersen Columbia County voters have several more days to consider the law enforce- ment levy on the ballots they received for the Nov. 8 Spe- cial Election. There is no doubt that the Sheriff’s Department is un- derfinanced, but it is difficult to understand why neither the Sheriff nor the County Commissioners will specify where new road deputies will be used. Nehalem Valley voters Favorable response to Senator Ron Wyden’s “ambitious” tax proposal (Silverton, OR) Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has pro- posed a “bold and ambitious” tax plan, according to the Sil- verton-based Oregon Center for Public Policy. “It is about time someone in Washington offered a bold and ambitious plan to close corpo- rate loopholes, tax income from investments at the same rates as income from work, and deal honestly with the country’s need for deficit reduction and additional revenues,” said Charles Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy. “The current income tax sys- tem favors wealthy investors over hard working Oregonians by taxing investment income at a lower rate than income earned from work. Senator Wyden is right to level the play- ing field by taxing all income the same, whether it is income from investments or income from work,” asserted Sheketoff. The public policy research center noted that the Wyden plan would make the tax code simpler by eliminating corpo- rate and personal income tax loopholes. “The tax code and tax forms are complicated in large part because special in- terests have carved out special tax breaks, and Senator Wyden’s proposal puts an end to some of those shenanigans,” he added. “With the costs of Gulf Coast relief and reconstruction mounting, Congress is debat- ing massive cuts to health, nu- trition, environmental and other public service programs while at the same time considering extending tax cuts that primari- ly benefit the wealthiest among us. It is refreshing to have a tax proposal put on the table that better aligns with the priorities of Oregonians,” added She- ketoff. Sheketoff expressed hope that the Wyden tax plan would change the debate in Washing- ton. “Maybe this proposal will turn the debate away from tax cuts for the rich funded largely by increased deficits and to- ward a progressive and im- proved tax system that meets the needs and priorities of Americans,” he said. and Vernonia residents, par- ticularly, have asked that question repeatedly. It is un- derstandable that they are reluctant to approve higher taxes simply to provide help to other areas of the county. At this time, residents within the City of Vernonia subsidize county law en- forcement in the Nehalem Valley. If an officer is needed in this area, they are usually provided by the city police department. The city is not reimbursed for the help, even though it is only city tax payers who pay for the as- sistance. Help should be provided whenever it is needed. How- ever, until the county guar- antees increased coverage in the Nehalem Valley, it is unlikely that local voters will approve additional taxes. The Sheriff and the Coun- ty Commissioners know this, but choose to ignore local voters. CORRECTIONS The contributions made by the Knights of Pythias to the Vernonia Police Depart- ment totaled $1,500, with $1,000 from the Forest Grove lodge and $500 from the Grand Lodge. A state Circuit Court judged Measure 37 to be constitutionally flawed, not the Oregon Supreme Court. as a “rodeo” and “Made in Ver- nonia.” We need all the help we can get. Please remember, also, that the committee can use some fresh new faces and great ideas. We are very excited about next year’s Jamboree and look forward to seeing you. Thanks for the support and see you soon. Sharon Parrow Vernonia Festival Committee Some good reasons to shop in Vernonia To the Editor: I have long been an advo- cate of shopping local as much as possible to support the local community, local economy, and my friends and neighbors. One of the benefits you get is great service that you don’t get from the big businesses “in town.” I have definitely found that to be true here in Vernonia in the short time I have been here. The folks at True Value went the extra mile to take a sprayer that I purchased there that was not working and try to fix it. When it was discovered that a part was missing, they upgrad- ed me to another sprayer so I could complete the job I need- ed done that day. I subsequent- ly purchased a dishwasher from them and got free delivery right into the kitchen and after hours so I could be home when they delivered. I have had help and assis- tance above and beyond from Mark and the good people at Sentry as well. I needed some case goods not included in their sale and he ordered them for me and at a very reasonable cost. Nancy Dailey at Vernonia Realty has been an incredible help to me and my family, get- ting not only our home, but as- sisting us in getting settled in and is a great source of infor- mation and assistance. We would have been lost without her help. I got my car fixed locally by Reginald at Ward’s Mobile Shop and for half the cost I was quoted in Idaho. He identified the problem and we found out it was different from what we were told in Idaho and was much cheaper to be fixed. The quality and personal at- tention I received at Providence Medical Group was excellent and I was even told to call at any time if I needed additional help or had complications. Okay, so I haven’t been to the dentist yet, but that’s because I’m chicken, not because he is- n’t good. I did make an appoint- ment though. I enjoy eating at the local restaurants, have purchased art from local artists, and been in each of the shops and found something I wanted in most of them. From the people at the school district and the high school, to the people at the credit union and bank, to the folks at City Hall, I have not had a bad experience yet. Everywhere we have turned, the people here have been so helpful and accommodating. I have been and remain from my experiences in this community, a firm advocate for shopping lo- cally and support our local mer- chants and services. W. Marc Farmer Vernonia Help needed to feed families in shelter To The Editor: Columbia County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) would like to acknowledge the generosity of our Columbia County residents. We are very fortunate to live in such a caring community and it is for this rea- son that I need to ask for further assistance. Our agency is seeing a large number of women who do not have enough food to sustain themselves or their children during their stay in our shelter. Due to our budget limits, we can only provide a marginal amount of food for them. So we are asking the com- munity for help. We are in need of meats, dairy products, kids’ healthy snack items, cereal, juice, rice, soups and other non-perishable food items. If you are able to help please call us at 503-397-7110 for in- formation about the drop-off lo- cation. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thank you for your contin- ued support and thoughtful generosity. Brandi M. Bonney Executive Director CCWRC
