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The INDEPENDENT, January 5, 2006
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
Look back before looking
to new plans for this year
As a new year begins, it is always a good idea to see
what was – and what wasn’t – accomplished last year.
Several important City issues are incomplete and
should be finalized before new projects are started.
These include the Learning Center, Spencer Park im-
provements, acquisition of the old mill site property,
pedestrian/bicycle lanes on Hwy. 47 (East Bridge
Street), and the most urgent project – improvements to
the wastewater treatment system. Most of these proj-
ects are pending because of the cost, always a prob-
lem for small towns. Nevertheless, while making plans
and setting priorities is vital, so is completion. The new
downtown crosswalks are a great touch, but lights at
the lake are overly bright and plastic flowers in the lake
planters are appalling.
In another area, a badly needed new Senior Center
is still working its way through funding problems.
The school district has completed a needed new
building, but has neglected maintenance of existing
properties. The modular buildings require good main-
tenance, which they haven‘t been getting. In fact, a
short walk around the school buildings reveals
abysmal neglect of most of them. A new building is no
excuse for failure to maintain existing properties.
The county is working toward completion of a linear
trail between Vernonia and Scappoose. A lot of time
and effort has gone into this project, which will certain-
ly benefit Vernonia. But it would be really helpful if they
would guarantee a Sheriff’s deputy in this area the next
time they ask voters to pass an operating levy.
Losses diminish our community
Two much loved citizens have left us this month.
Mike Cook, a big man with a big laugh, and a gener-
ous heart, will be missed by all who knew him. He
could tease with the best of them, but never in a neg-
ative way. Our memories of Mike will stay alive each
year with his Christmas trees.
Bill Horn, a World War II veteran, was not well known
by those under the age of about 60. But his many
years of service in the community are remembered by
the “old timers.” We have not been able to obtain obit-
uary information, but felt his many old friends would
want to be notified.
By Dale Webb, member
Nehalem Valley Chapter, Izaak Walton League
Happy New Year, we
made it through another
year. 2005 wasn’t too bad
a year, hunting was pretty
much normal across the
state, with the exception
of the continuing decline
in Blacktailed deer. The
Columbia River salmon
fishery was also a disap-
pointment. So what is in store for us in 2006?
Fishing across Oregon should be similar to
last year, which includes low salmon runs in the
Columbia River; forecasts are actually for lower
numbers than in 2005. The debate will continue
on the reason for the decline, with the culprits
being the seals and sea lions, the dams, the
Canadian fishery, the Washington Tribal fishery,
ocean conditions and river conditions. There is
definitely no lack of things to blame the decline
on! Whether any of them deserve the blame is a
whole other debate.
Trout fishing here on the Nehalem will remain
great, unfortunately we will not have a consump-
tive fishery this year or probably next. A propos-
al that would have allowed the retention of two
trout a day was nixed by the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife commissioners. Too bad, we
are growing a lot of trout with most dying of old
age or the elements. If you want to catch some
trout to eat, catch some at Vernonia Lake; the
lake has a few trout in it right now, and large
numbers will be planted in the spring.
Hunting this year should be similar to last
year, too, unless this winter turns out bad. We
are definitely having some bad weather lately,
but at least most of the low elevation snow over
east has melted off. Snow is very hard on game
animals, especially when it gets crusted over.
Locally, the elk are doing fine, the Blacktails will
probably suffer additional losses due to Hair
Loss Syndrome, especially in light of the cold,
wet winter we are having so far.
One thing that elk hunters will notice next year
is a drastic reduction in cow elk tags in all three
of the units that border Vernonia. Tag numbers
will be cut in the Saddle Mountain, Scappoose
and Wilson units. The tags are being reduced
for varying reasons – populations below Man-
agement Objectives and mounting cow harvest
in the Disabled Hunter Program being the two
biggest hitters. Another big change will be the
state wide restriction of bull-only harvest for
archery hunters, with the exception of units that
can sustain cow harvest. This is kind of a vague
new regulation, but should follow the same
guidelines as the disabled hunter program,
which allows antlerless harvest if there is a sig-
nificant antlerless harvest opportunity allowed ri-
fle hunters. I would anticipate archery antlerless
harvest in our surrounding units.
Recently, I was invited to hunt on some pri-
vate lands over in Eastern Oregon. The target
was coyotes; it seems that ranchers are quite
willing to allow predator hunting on their lands,
Please see page 17