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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2008)
The INDEPENDENT, June 19, 2008 Page 3 Letters Firefighters pancake feed a huge success To The Editor: Our pancake feed, held May 18, was a huge success thanks to the Oregon Trail Rally, local businesses, and a handful of community members. Those who attended enjoyed home- made biscuits and gravy, pan- cakes, eggs and ham; all put together by our volunteer fire- fighters and families. Firefighter Luke Ellis headed up this event and did a tremendous job preparing, organizing and cooking from scratch. We re- ceived unbelievable amounts of support and donations from those who were able to come enjoy breakfast with us! We were able to purchase a stair chair, which is a big neces- sity for our community now that houses are being lifted in the air. We were already able to put it to use on a call, where the volunteer firefighters were very impressed by how easy and safe it was to get a patient down a lengthy set of stairs. We would like to thank Sen- try and Black Bear Coffee for their bountiful food and drink donations. To Vernonia Hard- ware and Supply, Vernonia Re- alty, Mike Pihl Logging and Wauna FCU; thank you for your big-hearted donations! Without your support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, thank you! We look forward to seeing all of you and more at our next event! With gratitude, Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters Material wanted for Museum flood video To The Editor: I am putting together a video of the 2007 flood as a fundrais- er for the Vernonia Pioneer Mu- seum. If you have some footage or even pictures you would share with me, it would be greatly appreciated. You can call me at 429-4062 or email blueshoes88@msn.com. Donna Webb Vernonia “Catch the Reading Bug” at the Vernonia Public Library this sum- mer! Youngsters ages 3 and older, and their par- ents, are invited to take part in the fun-filled sched- ule of reading related events on Tuesdays be- ginning June 24th at 10:30 a.m. Prizes for completion of reading goals will be awarded, drawings will be held, and weekly prizes for participation will also be awarded. In addition to the morning activities, two special presentations will be held. Mary of Hart’s Reptile World will be here July 1st at 7:00 p.m.with rep- tiles and bugs. On July 8, also at 7:00 p.m., Steve Taylor, the magical ventriloquist, will be back with Rudy and a “Catch the Reading Bug Magical Adventure!” Complete schedules and registration forms are available in the library. The movie for mature audiences this month will be A League of Their Own, to be shown at 7:00 p.m., Thursday June 26th. In another event this month, author George Byron Wright will be here Monday, June 30th to discuss his writing and specifically his novel, Roseburg 1959 . The public is encouraged to attend these entertaining events. New acquisitions include The Other by David Guterson, The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver, Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, Another Man’s Moccasins by Craig Johnson, Odd Hours by Dean Koontz, The Reapers by John Connol- ly, Black Out by Lisa Unger, and Blood Trail by C. J. Box. Most of these new books were written by “well-known, established, best-seller” authors A bane to common citizens these ego driven mortals with their fascist leaning ac- tions they’re, at best, posterial portals. R.D. Stevens Vernonia Bridges, like houses, Ode to totalitarian, should be raised To The Editor: despotic leaders Open Letter to Columbia To The Editor: Small time despotic bureau- crats and other bottom feeders Dream of glory days when they become despotic leaders. Most bureaucrats serve pur- poses of value beyond doubt but totalitarian donkeys Between the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library we can surely do without that library patrons request time after time, but there are many not so famous authors whose books usually appear only in paperback format and are often overlooked. I would encourage pa- trons to watch for works by Sandra Kring, espe- cially one entitled, Carry Me Home . Earnestly narrated by brain-damaged 16-year-old “Earwig” Gunderman, this novel tells the story of a broth- er’s love as his family and community in rural Wisconsin are irrevocably altered by the effect of World War II. Oregon author Cathy Lamb ( Julia’s Chocolates and The Last Time I Was Me) is an- other author I would like to recommend. Lamb’s novels are set in Oregon and might be called “chick lit”, but the characters are colorful, eccen- tric, and so funny that at times I found myself laughing out loud. Some Things That Stay by Sarah Willis, The Memory of Water by Karen White, and As Hot as it Was You Ought to Thank Me by Nanci Kincaid are other novels by “not so famous authors” to check out. I’ve been reminded to mention the ever-grow- ing selection of books on tape. The library is con- stantly adding to its collection of books in CD for- mat to supplement (and eventually replace) those on audio cassette. Some of the newest of these are God of Animals by Aryn Kyle, Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult, The Friday Night Knit- ting Club by Kate Jacobs, and The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. All of the books from The Libri Foundation have now been catalogued and are available to be checked out. Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave. Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tues., Thur. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m., when school is in session. Phone: 503-429-1818 County Commissioners: Hello, Last December’s flood surely was a trying experience for everyone involved and it is good that the commissioners and government representa- tives are concerned in estab- lishing policies that will be help- ful in future floods. We may have a 100 or 500 year flood every year, especially with the unpredictable weather changes we are seeing. I have learned that the com- missioners of Columbia County are considering passing an or- dinance that requires the prop- erty owners whose dwellings have been damaged to raise up their structures or move. If the dwelling structures that have existed for a very long time are going to be required to be modified would it not be helpful to look into what can be done to minimize water dam- age to them in the future? The bridges over the river seem to work like a dam when the water rises, specifically the bridges that are owned by large corporations. These bridges are not owned or maintained by the county or the state. Some of them have been around for decades and are exempt from any regulation. If the dwellings that have been around for a long time are not ‘grandfa- thered in’ and are going to be required to be modified why are these private bridges exempt? Please see page 22 Policy on Letters The INDEPENDENT will not publish letters that include per- sonal attacks on private citizens. Because of space limitations, preference will be given to brief letters, 300 words or less. All letters must be signed and include a verifiable address or phone number. Where to Find Them U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat-OR) 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585 Portland OR 97232 Phone: 503-326-7525 230 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-5244 Website: http://wyden.senate. gov U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (Republican-OR) One World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: 503-326-3386 Fax: 503-326-2900 404 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Website: http://gsmith.senate. gov U.S. Representative David Wu (Democrat-01) 620 SW Main, Suite 606 Portland, OR 97205 Phone: 503-326-2901 Fax: 503-326-5066 1023 Longworth Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-0855 Fax: 202-225-9497 Website: http://house.gov/wu Senator Betsy Johnson (Democrat-16) PO Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056 Phone: 503-543-4046 900 Court St. NE, S-314 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1716 E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@ state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/johnson Representative Brad Witt (Democrat-31) 21740 Lindberg Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Phone: 503-728-4664 900 Court St. NE, H-277 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1431 E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/witt Representative Deborah Boone (Democrat-32) PO Box 926 Cannon Beach, OR 97110 Phone: 503-717-9182 900 Court St. NE, H-375 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1432 E-mail: rep.deborahboone@ state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/boone
