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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2007)
Page 16 The INDEPENDENT, October 4, 2007 Oregon Zoo schedules events on October 14 to help Cheetahs Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land animals, can reach speeds of 60-70 mph. Though the cheetah can out- run all other land animals, its most important race right now is the race for survival. On Sun- day, October 14, Oregonians can help these spotted cats by participating in three events at the Oregon Zoo: Run for the Cheetah, Cheetah Camp and “Big Cat. Big Party.” The three cheetah events benefit the Cheetah Conserva- tion Fund (CCF), an organiza- tion working to ensure the long- term survival of the cheetah. “With only 12,000 wild chee- tahs left on earth, time is run- ning out for these endangered animals,” said CCF founder Dr. Laurie Marker, a Time maga- zine “Hero for the Planet” award recipient and world- renowned cheetah expert. The third annual Run for the Cheetah begins with a kids’ half-mile dash at 8:00 a.m., fol- lowed by an 8K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K run/walk at Your Window On The Weather Come inspect our selection of Maximum weather instruments. Choose wind speed and direction, barometer, thermometer, clock and a wide variety of combination instruments. Housed in solid brass they are ideal for home or office, for a gift or for yourself. 8:45 a.m. Dr. Marker and for- mer Gov. John Kitzhaber, the honorary chair for the event, kick off the race and hand out awards. The run begins near the zoo entrance and winds through Washington Park. To register for Run for the Cheetah, visit www.runforthe cheetah.org or call 503-644- 6822. The Cheetah Conserva- tion Fund is donating $5 of each $20 registration fee to support the Oregon Zoo. Chil- dren must be registered for the kids’ dash by Oct. 12. Children ages 4 to 11 are in- vited to Cheetah Camp from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Campers are divided into age groups and are able to visit with Dr. Marker and two cheetahs, Kamau and Kgosi. Kgosi is an extremely rare king cheetah, one of only about 30 king cheetahs on earth. Campers will also create gifts for children in Namibia, Africa, CCF headquarters. For further information or to regis- ter, visit www.oregonzoo.org/ Education/families/cheetah- camp.htm. For cool cats who like to par- ty, CCF’s sixth annual ‘Big Cat. Big Party” takes place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The patron party begins at 5:00 p.m. with Dr. Marker answering ques- tions about her feline friends, Kamau and Kgosi, in a more in- timate setting before dinner and the auction. During the party, there will be both a silent and a live auc- tion. Rebecca Webb from KINK-FM will be the master of ceremonies. Among other items, cheetah-themed plates designed by local high school students are available for bid- ding. A portion of the proceeds from “Big Cat. Big Party” sup- ports the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, which will bring lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs to the Oregon Zoo in 2009. Tickets may be purchased for $90. For tickets, call 503- 690-3532 or e-mail ccforegon @cheetah.org. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 9. The zoo opens at 9:00 a.m. daily and is located just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 Take precautions with wood heat Oregonians will be turning to their woodstoves or fireplaces to keep warm now that cold weather is upon us. However, state and local fire safety offi- cials urge you to take the nec- essary safety precautions. The Oregon Hearth, Patio and Bar- becue Association urges peo- ple to follow these steps for a safe heating season: Maintain your smoke alarm – Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simple precautions that can prevent not only exten- sive property damage but the loss of lives as well. Change smoke alarm batteries twice a year and replace any older than ten years. Vacuum and test smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly. Clean and inspect the chim- ney – Fireplace inspection is perhaps the most essential precaution. Every year firefight- ers respond to chimney and flue fires that could have been easily prevented had the homeowner taken the time to clean and inspect their fire- place system. The most impor- tant step is to clean the stovepipe or chimney before lighting the first fire in the fall. A chimney fire can occur in a dirty chimney if you do not clean the flue. You can clean it yourself but fire officials recommend hir- ing a professional chimney sweep. The cleaning process in- State Farm ® Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Available at Bunny Girt, Agent Forest Grove Honda Weather Center 1229 N. Adair PO Box 543 Cornelius, OR 97113-0543 Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667 bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com 3619 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 24 hour weather line for local weather conditions 503- 359-5410 (Option #1) (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional con- servation projects through the zoo’s Future for Wildlife pro- gram. A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregon zoo.org or by call- ing 503-226-1561. volves special tools to clear away creosote, the sooty buildup made of tiny unburned particles of wood fuel. Cre- osote is very flammable. Flue fires start because accumulat- ed creosote heats up until it turns bright red and ignites. As air rushes in to oxygenate the ignited creosote, temperatures inside the chimney can surpass 2000º Fahrenheit. The rushing air may sound like loud roaring inside the stovepipe and may shake loose sections of pipe, emitting burning particles and flames into the house. These intense fires can cause exten- sive damage, igniting the house inside and out, and cre- ate enough smoke to be fatal to indoor occupants. Should you experience a flue fire, shut off the air supply to the wood- stove, get everyone out of the house and call 911. Dispose of ashes properly – Another precaution includes disposing of ashes properly in a covered metal container. Keep the metal container out- doors and at least three feet from anything flammable. Keep combustibles away from heat sources – Com- bustible materials such as fur- niture, drapes, and decorations should be kept away from the fireplace or woodstove itself. Using a fireplace screen can also help prevent sparks and ashes from escaping the fire and landing on surrounding fur- niture and carpet. Do your part to preserve air quality – In Oregon, thousands of homes rely on outdated woodstoves or fireplace inserts installed during the energy cri- sis of the late 1970’s. Many of these have not been installed or maintained properly. In addi- tion, these old stoves produce far more smoke and burn less efficiently than modern emis- Please see page 23