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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2006)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, , 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 May 16 primary election Little interest has been shown in Columbia County positions for the May 16 election. The only commissioner position on the bal- lot is held by Democrat Rita Bernhard, who is unopposed. No Re- publican filed for the primary election. The only “race” is between long-time County Clerk Elizabeth “Betty” Huser of Scappoose, and Holly B. Freeman of Clatskanie. A county ballot measure has attracted attention, however. If it is approved, a five-year operating levy for the Sheriff’s Depart- ment will provide a resident deputy in the Vernonia-Mist-Birken- feld area, among other improvements. Area residents have been seeking this for a long time, now they can show whether they were serious about local law enforcement. Vernonia residents will also see a ballot measure for a general obligation bond to finance wastewater system improvements. If approved, the bond issue would add about $400.00 per year ($33.33 per month) to taxes on property assessed at $100,000. According to the City’s fact sheet, the $7,000,000 bond would still be short of local project costs by about $1,600,00, which would re- quire increased sewer rates unless other funding sources can be found. If the bond fails, the fact sheet says, the “typical customer’s monthly sewer bill will increase to approximately $99.” But even if the bond is approved, monthly sewer rates will increase from $37 to $47 for the typical customer, without any consideration of the, as yet, $1,600,00 remaining unfinanced. In Washington Co. Commissioner Andy Duyck, District 4, will face Susan Mclain and Eddie McMullen. The Commissioner-At- Large position has Chairman Tom Brian and four challengers – Samuel M. Cone, Daniel J. Denorch, Dennis G. Holtz and Robert D. Vanderzanden. Clatsop County has a four-way race for Commissioner, District 5, including Ann Samuelson of Jewell, who will face John R. Ben- son of Hamlet, and Russell Earl and John B. Dunzer, both of Sea- side. Clatsop Co. residents will also decide a levy request of $0.09 per $1,000 of assessed value each year for five years starting in 2006-07. The taxes would be used to finance operations and maintenance of the fairgrounds and operation of the annual County Fair. The Fair Board is considering closing the fair- grounds, except for the annual two-week fair, which would be sig- nificantly reduced to only 4-H and FFA activities. The facilities would not be available for community or private events without funding for maintenance. The last day to register to vote in the May 16, 2006, Primary Election is April 25th. Ballots will be mailed starting April 28th. If you’re not registered, you can’t vote. If you don’t vote, don’t complain about the outcome. Letters Sheriff seeks votes for resident deputy To the Editor: I hope the people of the Ver- nonia, Mist, Birkenfeld areas will join me in voting for Mea- sure 5-143. I have been proud to serve as your Sheriff but have not had enough money to provide the deputies to proper- ly serve you. Measure 5-143 provides enough money to do just that. Measure 5-143 will al- low us to assign a full time Res- ident Deputy in your area. You deserve law enforcement cov- erage and this measure, if passed, will provide it. Please vote YES on Ballot Measure 5- 143. Phil Derby Columbia County Sheriff Resident deputy is needed in this area To the Editor: I have lived in Vernonia for 36 years and started my law enforcement career with the City of Vernonia as a Police Reserve. I was hired by the Co- lumbia County Sheriff’s Office in 1974 where I served the area as a “RESIDENT DEPUTY” in the Vernonia-Mist-Birkenfeld area. I did that for a short time and then was pulled out to the St. Helens area. I am now re- tired from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and I have al- ways believed that we need a “RESIDENT DEPUTY” in the area, and now we can have one. Please join me in voting YES on Ballot Measure 5-143. This will guarantee a “RESI- DENT DEPUTY” in our area. It will provide more deputies and result in safer communities for us all. Fredric W. Oviatt Vernonia Vote yes on levy to maintain safe living To the Editor: Throughout the twelve years I have resided in Columbia County, I’ve always appreciat- ed the balance of our natural beauty and “small-town” at- mosphere. Some of the gifts I’ve come to take for granted in- clude a low crime rate, gang- free schools, negligible traffic problems, as well as our envi- ronmental gifts of hunting, fish- ing, hiking and boating, etc. These are things I could only dream about while growing up in Chicago. Each day it seems, more and more people discover Co- lumbia County to be an attrac- tive and viable option for raising a family. There is a discernable tension building from this con- stant stream of new families re- locating here. It is beginning to put a strain on the very things that have always made our community attractive and liv- able to us. Reasonable citizens of any society will agree that maintain- ing a low crime rate requires a professional police organiza- tion. Stronger enforcement is critical to sustain the livability we enjoy. Because our law en- forcement has been steadily eclipsed by our County’s growth, this livability is being severely threatened. In the past year we have seen star- tling crime incidents like high- speed car chases, bank rob- beries, property theft and even Please see page 3
