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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, November 1, 2007 Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay Ques- t i o n : How can a city or t o w n dweller k n o w how to vote on Measure 49? While driving home from Portland thru the vast open fields you could see on the same space, Yes 49 and Kill 49. No fence or posts to give the impression there are two owners, so – flip a coin? You can sink or swim either way. I do not understand legalese jargon so sometimes who you know is how you vote, but as I said, you vote or keep your mouth shut. Shadow and I had quite a walk last weekend – of course around the lake. After the rains the duck population left the lake for the mud puddles near the burner base. Shadow nearly shook out of her fur coat want- ing to herd them back to the lake where she thinks they be- long. In the same area, I no- tices the pair of Canadian geese – maybe the same pair that was here last year at this time. Farther along, the Big Wind has downed another tree, into the lake, now the lone tree roots are cracking the path. NOTE – The city crew should be given the order to cut the tree down and save the walk. It would give someone firewood and save expense of redoing a section of path – Right? Also, the bunnies seem to have been thinned out. Two black, one or two light brown and a brown and white seem to be all that hang out in the cat- tails. Oh yes, even some horse- do on the pathway; yes, I’m nit- picking. I even saw horses be- ing ridden on the sidewalks crossing the Rock Creek Bridge. Question #2 to ponder – “Shangri-La” on T.V. Highway has been closed out to make way for a parking lot. The food was good, the ambiance was most pleasurable to me. It fed many people. Why does the $ sign take over when Big Busi- ness comes in? A few people were serving many people on that spot for many years. This proves I’m stuck in the past and enjoy the slower lifestyle, I guess. I am totally upset: You know who I am so this is as good a place an any to put in my 10¢ worth in writing on the city mess. A newspaper reports what it hears and sees in council meet- ing and from city records that are open to the public, Right? For more than a few years, there have been ‘goofs’ being made and kept quiet from the voters in the running of city business, Right? The council folk have found this out for themselves, Right? So, who screwed up the pot? People, elected by the people, to run our city. The fact we have a new City (Manager) Administrator doesn’t make him the Bad Guy but it falls on his shoulders to take the heat that was and is caused by trying to get the city back on track. We, the city folk, flip our lips to any and all that will listen but I neither heard nor saw anything about the council meeting that was held to trash The Independent (no, I didn’t attend it either). But I’ve heard plenty (the only packed regular meeting some had ever seen). Elected city officers are to be of an open and fair mind; able to listen, understand and seek out what is best for the commu- nity they are serving. They do not (or should not) have the 20 Years Ago This Month The November 27, 1987 is- sue of The Independent had the following story on the front page (Editor’s Note: The Bill Hansen in this story is not the same Bill Hansen who lives near Vernonia now): A proposal to create and fill the position of city administra- tor in Vernonia was approved by the city council on Novem- ber 2, but stalled November 16 because of charges that it would create grounds of a law- suit by city recorder Don Dun- away. In the absence of members Bill Hansen and Rob Richards, Tom Buffington and Mario Leonetti approved the adminis- trator proposal, which Buffing- ton had previously presented to the council for study. Then, at a special council meeting on November 12, Hansen said the city had a two year contract with Dunaway and since the administrator proposal would eliminate the recorder’s position, the city would be liable for damages. When asked by Buffington why he hadn’t mentioned a contract previously, Hansen said he never saw the contract. When it was pointed out that he signed it, along with the mayor and the rest of the council on December 15, 1986, he said he thought it was just part of regu- lar wage negotiations. Mayor Vaughn also said he was unaware that it was an em- ployment contract until that af- ternoon when Dunaway told him about it. Richards, who was also on the council in December, made no statement about the docu- ment. Following an executive ses- sion at the November 16 regu- lar meeting, the council ap- proved a motion to hold the proposal in abeyance until the next meeting in order to seek legal opinions on the docu- ments. In other business during No- vember, the council agreed to: • add a second “Business from the Floor” section to the council agenda, following Old business, because the mayor objected to citizen participation during discussion. Alley Auto Wrecking ✮ ✮ Gasoline 503-429-7581 Most parts under warranty Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Closed Sunday and Monday 54372 Nehalem Hwy South, Vernonia, OR 97064 6 miles south of town on Hwy 47 Buying unwanted vehicles with clear title privilege of leaving the chair and speaking their personal feelings in such a demeaning way. This includes all elected personnel. Professional conduct? No. Acceptable conduct? No. Are you aware that if you run for re- election you may find yourself on the outside wondering what happened? Mr. Kline should sit down and ‘talk out’ all of the Blocks that seem to have been put on his plate. He probably had no way of knowing the closet held a box of hidden treasures – he just happened to be the one that opened the Box – and now people have the right to know why it took so long. I do not feel The Indepen- dent nor any of its staff has done anything but what it has obligated itself to do – Report. Report – and say Thank You for your slap in the face. Sr. Center Bazaar The Christmas Bazaar at the Vernonia Senior Center will be held on Saturday and Sun- day, November 17 and 18, starting at 9:00 a.m. Tables are $10. There will be wood products, gifts, jewel- ry, knitting and more. Contact Barbara Holm at 503-429-0161 to reserve your table. First Friday schedule of events Vernonia’s First Friday for November falls on November 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Events scheduled for First Friday in- clude an Open House at Provi- dence to welcome Robert Giusti, FNP, the new Family Practitioner, with door prizes and refreshments. At the Vernonia Community Learning Center garden art will be for sale and the Balloon Company, the high schools company, will have free bal- loons for all, plus cookies and bouquets for sale. Goodbye to the ‘50s Sock Hop will be on saturday, Nov. 3, starting at 7:30 at the Vernonia Grange hall, with prizes, raffle, a photographer and DJ music. Wear a ‘50s costume. Questions or comments to vernoniaart@aol. com.
