Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2006)
The INDEPENDENT, October 19, 2006 Free workshop for horse owners Horse owners are invited to learn practical ways to improve their land’s value and their ani- mals’ health. The Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation Dis- trict is offering a repeat of last year’s successful free work- shops, “Keeping Your Horses and Land in Good Shape.” The workshops start at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, at the Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Hall and Wednesday, November 8, at Jewell School. The guest speaker, Karin Hunt, is owner of the nationally- known Shady Springs Farm. Hunt uses cost-effective land management practices to keep her operations near Portland and Clatskanie productive and profitable. She is a popular speaker throughout the north- west, nationally known for her successful and innovative horse operations, pasturing, and grounds maintenance. Hunt keeps her pastures free of mud and standing water, which dramatically reduces rates of infection and hoof rot. “Even small acreage land- owners can maintain dense, green, and weed-free pas- tures,” said Dave Ambrose, the CSWCD Watershed Technical Specialist. He said the work- shops will present local re- sources to help with land and animal management. The num- ber of horses in Clatsop Coun- ty continues to increase, and the CSWCD’s goal is to help owners maximize the pleasure and minimize the dangers and aggravations to their horses and land. The free workshops are sponsored by the Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation Dis- trict with a grant from the Ore- gon Department of Agriculture. For more information call the CSWCD at 503 325-4571. Wildfires still a threat, be careful Two wildfires that broke out October 11 in northwestern Oregon served as a blunt re- minder that cooler tempera- tures and recent rains have not eliminated the fire hazard in the forest. When Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters re- sponded to a grass fire north of Banks Wednesday afternoon, they didn’t anticipate a long night. But just as they gained control of the rapidly spreading fire, saving a home in the process, another report of fire came across the radio, this one northwest of Yamhill in the Tillamook State Forest. As firefighters from the de- partment’s Tillamook and For- est Grove districts converged on the new blaze, Forest Grove District Forester Dave Johnson activated a helicopter to work the incident with water bucket drops as an added measure to contain it at small size. Though his district has re- ceived about three inches of rain in recent weeks, Holloway said, strong easterly winds have dried out the forest vege- tation once again. Both districts are still in wild- fire season, and additional re- strictions on recreational and logging activity remain in place. “Just because we’ve had a little rain and it is cooler,” John- son said, “Don’t be lulled into thinking we’re done with fire season. The forest will still burn.” Firefighters stopped the Banks fire at less than eight acres and the Tillamook Forest fire at just over five acres. But under the current weather and fuel conditions, any fire that starts has potential to grow large. The Department of Forestry urges everyone to exercise caution with campfires, motor- ized equipment, smoking and backyard debris burning. Con- tact the nearest department of- fice or the local fire department for current fire safety rules. Page 13 Power of the People By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager, West Oregon Electric Cooperative Saving Money and Lives U n - fortu- nately we find o u r - selves in a very serious situa- tion that is costing our mem- bers and the Co-op money, and jeopardizing the lives and safe- ty of my Crew as well. The perpetrators are putting their own lives at risk, as well, as a news article from LaCen- ter, Washington, illustrated. The article told of a man who saw smoke smoke coming from a Clark County PUD regulator station. When he stopped his car to call 9-1-1, he also saw a body on fire inside the fenced area. When deputies and firefight- ers arrived, they couldn’t enter the station until the power was shut off. After the fire was extin- guished, deputies found a hole had been cut in the fence. The man who died inside ap- parently was trying to steal the copper wire and, in the process, tried to cut a live wire leading to one of the regulators. The wire carried 7,200 volts of electricity. The same thing could hap- pen here. Any person who en- ters one of our substations or attempts to tamper with one of our power lines, will meet with VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM HOT TUBS Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access • Commercial Rates FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006 Gift Certificates Available 900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064 Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47) serious injury or death, as the high voltage is extremely dan- gerous. It also puts the lives of my Line Crew at risk if they enter a substation to do work and are unaware of grounding being taken, parts missing or tam- pered with, that might alter volt- ages inside. Already this year across the U.S. more than a dozen people have died while attempting to steal wire from a power line or substation. We have had several break- ins and thefts at our pole yard and at two of our substations. Each time equipment, tools, wire, or supplies are stolen, it comes out of our members’ pockets to repurchase these items. It costs us all in time, re- placement costs, and potential- ly not being able to accomplish a job if the items we need are not available when we need them. West Oregon EC is installing security systems in all of our substations and pole yard to help combat this growing prob- lem. We will be prosecuting to the fullest extent anyone who steals or damages any of our equipment or system. We hope our members will help us stop this problem and inform us if they have any information about persons responsible. We are also working with other electric co-ops in Oregon on legislative and legal assistance to deal with this increasing problem.
