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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, January 18, 2007 January is Stalking Awareness Month January has been designat- ed as National Stalking Aware- ness Month, the Columbia County Women’s Resource Center has announced. While public awareness of stalking is low, the pervasive- ness of stalking is very high. Most of the publicized stalking cases are those involving celebrities, though these cases are serious and dangerous, they are rare. More commonly, victims are people being stalked by some- one they know. About 77 per- cent of female and 64 percent of male victims know their stalker. Victims could be neigh- bors, friends or family mem- bers. Considered a crime in all 50 states, stalking is usually de- fined as a course of conduct di- rected at a specific person which would cause “a reason- able person” (in legal terms) to feel fear. Stalking behavior may range from harassing and an- noying to dangerous and terri- fying. Stalking may also esca- late to violence and even result in murder. More than one million women and 370,990 men are stalked annually and about one in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their life- time. “Stalking is often invisible to everyone except the victim,” said Mary Lou Leary, Executive Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. “Our hope is that National Stalking Aware- ness Month will serve to bring stalking to the attention of poli- cy makers, law enforcement of- ficials, and the general public so that, when stalking victims need help, we will all respond appropriately – doing every- thing we can to keep them safe and hold offenders accountable for their actions.” Columbia County Women’s Resource Center is encourag- ing all community members and the State of Oregon to pro- mote awareness and public ed- ucation about stalking during the month of January and throughout the year. For more information or to schedule a free training on stalking, call Katie at Columbia County Women’s Resource Center, 503-397-7110. A presentation on the pro- posed Vernonia Bicycle Recre- ation Skills Park will take place January 23, at 6:30 p.m. in Ver- nonia City Hall. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to at- tend. Bring your ideas on what you’d like to see in a bicycle skills park. Tell your Valentine how you feel with an ad in The Independent’s February 1 issue. Call today to order your very own affordable ad – 503-429-9410 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay Hap- py, Hip- py, Hop- py, Flip- py, Flap- py, Flop- py, tear – t i e r , laugh – l a f f (slang), flam – flimflam, flick, flack, flunk, see – sea, alter – altar, bow – bough, lam – lamb, shtick – shtik, reign – rain, stick, stack, stuck, tare (vetch) – tear (eye fluid) – tear (rip) – tier (dock). No – I haven’t lost my mind. I was gearing up for the Spelling Bee for seniors at Vernonia Senior Center on January 13. Did you go? Did you join in? Did the weather keep you stuck at home? Just another thing you can put in your winters to remem- ber. Cold, snow and ice. 18° - 20° on January 12, 2007. I’m going to break from the norm so I, as President of Ver- nonia Cares, can say “Thank You” to all that have supported the Food Bank this past year. We have had several downs but with the support of our food drives, especially the grade, middle and high school compe- titions, postal-workers, and at- tendance at our fund raiser events, the monetary dona- tions from individuals, small groups, small businesses, cor- porations, and your prayers, we at our January business meeting had much to be happy and excited about for the year ahead. Not knowing what we can expect, we are looking for- ward to serving our area of Co- lumbia County with a smile and a happy heart. To all those folks that have so generously given us their free time daily or when they had some spare time: Every minute was and is deeply ap- preciated by the officers of Ver- nonia Cares. Again, THANK YOU. President Jacqueline Ram- say, Vice President Andy Nebergall, Secretary Tammy Tankersley, Treasurer Josette Mitchell, Chairheads; Carolyn Velasco, Terry Grosnick and Di- rector Sandy Welch. If you need us, we are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm. Be sure to bring proof of address. Please Don’t Drink and Drive Come see plan for Skills Park This picture was taken on December 23 during installation of the first Gateway Project archway. Above, on ladder is Dan Brown, standing below are Dan Murphy and Brett Costley, all members of the Gateway Project. Installation of the second archway, next to Grey Dawn Gallery, is now complete. Pantech, Worlds Smallest Flip phone. Products & Services • PC parts & Service Low Rates for PC repair We build new computers • Cingular Service and a Wide Variety of cell phones • Office Supplies • 24 hr. Ink& Toner Refill Tel: 503.429.8324 Open Mon. thru Sat.10 a.m. to 7 p.m 842 Madison Ave., Vernonia Page 9
