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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2006)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, August 3, 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 Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net Assoc. Editor Noni Andersen, noni@the-independent.net Opinion Enjoy the 50th Jamboree From The Independent’s 1986 Jamboree paper: When International Paper closed the Vernonia mill for the last time, 29 years ago, the community’s re- sponse was not despair, it gave rise to the first Friend- ship Jamboree, a positive, almost defiant collective statement. The 30th is no less so. As chairman of this 30th Friendship Jamboree, I speak for the many volunteers who have worked long and hard to prepare a festival that visitors and old friends will enjoy. On behalf of the community, I invite you to Vernonia to share these days of celebration with us. While the logging show remains the centerpiece of the Jamboree, it is supported by a host of other delight- ful and entertaining activities for young and old. So come for a visit; make new and renew old friendships. You’ll be glad you did, I am sure. Tony Hyde, Chairman Jamboree Committee Although Jamboree Committee members change and this is the 50th Jamboree, not the 30th, the above statements still hold true. The 50th is no less so. Once again, it happened It happens every day on Timber Road, Hwy. 47 (both north and south), Scappoose/Vernonia Hwy., Apiary, etc., drivers cut corners and not always where they can see if anybody is coming from the other direction. Is there anybody out there who doesn’t know a story of someone crossing the line and wrecking their vehicle and/or someone elses? Evidence of this type of acci- dent can be seen in the photo on Page 1 of this paper. So, why does it keep happening? Is it to save time? If you go 55 miles an hour from Vernonia to Staley’s Junction, a trip of 15 miles, it takes 16-1/2 minutes. If you go 70 miles an hour, same distance, it takes 13-1/2 minutes. WHOOPEE, you can save three minutes by speeding and cutting corners — if you make it to the end of the 15 miles without losing control and flying off the road or hitting another vehicle. Enjoy the 50th Vernonia Friendship Jamboree, Au- gust 4–6, drive to and from Vernonia in a sober, safe manner so The Independent doesn’t have to print your obituary in the next issue. We want you to come back for the 51st Vernonia Friendship Jamboree in 2007. Ike Says… By Dale Webb, member Izaak Walton League, Nehalem Valley Chapter It’s Jamboree time again! Make sure you get the kids down to the Fish- ing Derby this year. As al- ways, there will be great prizes and who knows, the kids might even catch some fish. Registration is free and starts at 4:00 p.m., fishing starts at 5:00 and ends at 6:00. Donations will gladly be accepted to- wards next year’s prizes or the Izaak Walton League Scholarship fund. If you are new to Vernonia, take a look around, it is some pretty country around here. Yes, there is a lot of logging, but that also makes for a lot of wildlife habitat. We have Cutthroat trout, Chinook and Coho salmon and winter Steelhead in our streams. Vernonia Lake has trout, bass, crappie, bluegills, perch and catfish. Birds of prey include Bald Eagles and Osprey. Great Blue Herons are a common sight, as are a great variety of ducks. Vernonia is only an a hour away from the mighty Columbia River, the ocean at Seaside, or an hour-and-a-half from the sand dunes near Tillamook. A couple of hours will get you into the Cascade Mountains. In five hours you are in the high desert and a few more hours to the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon. Yes, Vernonia is wet in the winters, but not near as wet as the coast or as windy. We are just high enough to get teased with snow, and in rare in- stances a foot or two. The local rivers provide en- tertainment for boaters in the winter and cool places to swim in the hot summer months. Oh yes, even when it is hot, the nights usually cool off about 10 degrees cooler than Portland. Yes, Vernonia is a nice town to live in, close enough to the big city, if that is what you desire, and far enough away that you can hear the owls and coyotes at night without the buzz of cars on a highway. Vernonia’s people are hard workers, who cherish quiet times as well a beer with friends. We have a lot of people who work in the hi-tech field and the low-tech loggers who you will see on the streets in their rigging pants, hickory shirts, sus- penders and even a hard hat at times. Vernonians are proud people, people who make things with their hands as well as their minds. Bow season is right around the corner and, again, it looks like fire closures are going to ham- per access onto the nearby timberlands. Please respect private landowners’ wishes; I know it is frustrating, but it is the right thing to do. Horn growth should be exceptional this year, since for- age conditions have been excellent, and this will relate to good body conditioning. Bear season starts August 1st and I plan on making a trip east to chase them along with cougars and coyotes. Hmm…calling in a bear or cougar, now that could be interesting! Please be safe this Jamboree, have fun and en- joy our great outdoors. Izaak Walton League, Nehalem Valley Chapter meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Call 503-429-7193 for location.
