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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2006)
The INDEPENDENT, January 5, 2006 Page 5 Business Notes Family Forestlands Committee to meet The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) campus, Ad- ministration Bldg. C, Clatsop Conference Room, 2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon. The meeting is open to the public. The committee serves as an advisory group to the Oregon Board of Forestry and deals with issues affecting family forestland owners. The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet Tuesday, Jan. 10, for an update on a pro- posed rule change to Oregon’s Forest Practices Act that would increase tree retention require- ments along small and medium fish bearing streams in western Oregon. Recent monitoring by the Department of Forestry has shown that current rules are not providing as much wood to these streams as has hap- pened historically. The committee will also see “Landmarks in Conservation,” an interactive multimedia proj- ect designed by Oregon State University Extension Service. The project, which includes DVD video clips and access to print, video and on-line re- sources using web technolo- gies, will help rural foresters, farmers and ranchers develop County jobless rate unchanged Columbia County’s unem- ployment rate was essentially unchanged at 6.0 percent in November. This was still a bit higher than the statewide un- adjusted rate of 5.5 percent and higher than the national rate of 4.8 percent. Total em- ployment in the county dipped by 25 from October and the number of unemployed people increased by 21. Columbia County’s revised unemployment rate for October was 5.9 percent. The rate was 8.4 percent one year ago in November. Total employment was 21,705 in November and 1,386 people were unem- ployed. Total employment was 425 greater than one year ago. Unemployment rates for other counties can be found at http://www.qualityinfo.org/olmi sj/AllRates. sustainable natural resource management plans. The proj- ect draws on the experiences of nearly 30 land managers across Oregon who are using resource management plans. An update will also be pro- vided about the progress of workgroups established to ex- plore the feasibility of providing speculatively-grown seedlings using a state/private nursery cooperative and leasing D.L. Phipps Forest Nursery to a pri- vate nursery grower. Phipps is a state nursery owned and op- erated by the State Forester and the Board of Forestry. In- creased capacity at private nurseries and concerns from some private nurseries that the state nursery may be compet- ing with private nurseries has prompted a look at possible al- ternatives for providing a stable and reliable supply of tree seedlings for family forestland owners. The Committee for Family Forestlands will continue to dis- cuss implementing a communi- cation plan to increase forest landowner and public aware- ness about the committee’s role in advising the Board of Forestry about issues that con- cern family forestland owners. Increased awareness would improve the likelihood that fam- ily forestland owners, stake- holders and the public would share their ideas, thoughts and concerns with committee mem- L bers. Anyone requiring special ac- commodations should contact Gail Barnhart at least two work- ing days in advance at 503- 945-7378, or by text telephone 503-45-7213 (in Salem), or by e-mail at <gbarnhart@odf.state. or.us>. Black Bear Coffee Co. named “2005 Business of the Year” U.S. funds may guarantee rural home purchase The Rural Housing Service of USDA Rural Development has $5,111,524 in funds for mortgage loan guarantees and $2,083,655.92 for direct mort- gage loans to help finance homes for rural homebuyers. In addition, there is $70,694 to provide limited low income housing repair grants to quali- fied rural homeowners. The rural housing programs are for qualified modest and low income buyers to purchase or build a new home in rural Oregon with no down payment and 100 percent financing. The homes must be located in an eligible rural area. More than 50 banks and mortgage lenders in Oregon participate in the USDA guar- anteed program. Additional in- formation can be obtained by calling a participating local lender, or the USDA Rural De- velopment office in Portland at 503-414-3335. Dana Roach, owner of Black Bear Coffee Co. and Vernon- ia Mercantile was honored by the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce for the 2005 Business of the Year. President Donna Webb made the presentation on behalf of the chamber. In addition to being a favorite of Vernonia area residents, Black Bear Coffee Co. received accolades from numerous participants in last September’s Cycle Oregon. 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