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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2006)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, October 19, 2006 Learn to prevent fires during National Fire Prevention Month October is National Fire Pre- vention Month, a time when we should all be aware of ways to help learn fire safety and pre- vention. According to Depart- ment of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency (FEMA) Acting Regional Director Dennis Hun- singer, most Americans under- estimate their risk for fire, and many either lack emergency re- sponse plans – or fail to prac- tice them with fire drills. “This last week, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sponsored National Fire Prevention Week, with a great message: ‘Home Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat!’” said Hunsinger. “And it’s true. One out of three home fires starts in the kitchen, and leav- ing cooking unattended and other unsafe kitchen practices are recipes for disaster.” Hunsinger also cautioned against complacency and en- courages everyone to take the next step. “Annual observances like National Fire Prevention Week and National Fire Pre- vention Month are excellent op- portunities to focus on fire haz- ards – but we should all prac- tice fire safety every day—at home, at work and at play,” he said. “The NFPA offers a wealth of safety information, fire pre- vention tips and resources on their comprehensive website: www.nfpa.org. And I encourage everyone to contact your local fire department to learn more about making your home safer from fire, or how you can best participate in fire prevention ac- tivities.” FEMA manages federal re- sponse and recovery efforts fol- lowing any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood In- surance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law en- forcement personnel, firefight- ers and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Se- curity on March 1, 2003. Loans can help some to buy farms The Washington County Farm Service Agency (FSA) has loan funds available to help qualified women and minorities buy and operate family-sized farms. FSA reserves a portion of its loan guarantee funds to as- sist socially disadvantaged ap- plicants. Socially disadvantaged groups, for purposes of FSA’s loan programs, are women, African Americans, American In- dians, Alaskan Natives, Hispan- ics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. FSA’s loan and loan guaran- tee funds are available to indi- viduals and entities that are pri- marily and directly engaged in farming and ranching on family- sized operations. Farm owner- ship loan funds are available to help purchase a farm or ranch. To qualify, the applicant must have participated in the busi- ness operation of a farm or ranch for at least three years. For those applicants who have at least one year’s experi- ence in managing or operating a farm or ranch, funds are avail- able to help with the purchase of livestock, machinery and equip- ment, as well as animal produc- tion expenses. More information is available from your local USDA Service Center or on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov. Re-Elect DEBORAH BOONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE Working Hard for Oregon Families People • Schools • Jobs Native Oregonian, Democrat, 32 year rural homeowner in HD 32 Paid for by Boone for State Representative Endorsed by: The Oregon Council of Police Association PAC Oregon State Police Officers Association Oregon State Fire Fighters Council Oregon Police Chiefs for Safer Communities Sheriffs of Oregon National Federation of Independent Business Oregon Business Association PAC Oregon Small Business Coalition Oregon Nurseries Political Action Committee Oregon Landscape Contractors Association AG-PAC Oregon Farm Bureau Associated Oregon Industries Oregon State Building & Construction Trades Council Association of Oregon Loggers B.O.M.A. American Federation of Teachers C.A.R.E. AFSCME Council 75 Oregon AFL-CIO United Transportation Union A.F.T.R.A. Oregon Nurse PAC Oregon Nurses Association Oregon Chiropractors Association Communities for Oregonians with Disabilities NARAL Pro Choice Oregon Planned Parenthood of Oregon PAC Basic Rights Equality PAC Oregon NOW Equality PAC