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