The INDEPENDENT, August 7, 2008
Page 3
Letters
Kids Fishing Derby
was fun for all ages
To the Editor:
This year’s Jamboree Kids
Fish Derby went off well, every-
body seems happy with the one
hour fishing time.
A special thanks to The In-
dependent paper, who has
been a sponsor for years.
Thanks to True Value and
Vernonia Hardware for dona-
tions of fishing tackle. Thanks
to Bill Yeo for auctioning off
items that were left over after
the kids got their Derby prizes.
We also had a drawing for
prizes, the kids enjoyed that.
We had 44 youths fishing
this year and had a lot of fun.
We had quite a few youths from
out of town, but the number of
local youths was down for
Ike Says…
From page 2
to pry a two-ton rock out of the
road with a screwdriver. The
chapter was inventive, though,
and soon they found the lever
to move that rock – Channel 2
News and Pat Wilkins. All it
took was a couple of minutes
on the news exposing what was
going on and the DEQ was on
the phone saying they would
take care of the problem,
please no more news media! I
can say that the Nehalem Val-
ley Chapter definitely saved a
lot of fishery resources in the
Nehalem River and a lot of that
credit should go to Ralph Berg-
erson and the other charter
members who formed our
chapter.
We are living in an interest-
ing time right now, a time that I
predict
will
bring
many
changes. We are being forced
to be conservationists of fossil
fuels. While the increases in the
price of fuel are indeed painful,
it is what will drive the change
that will ensure our futures.
Whether we will be driving vehi-
cles powered by hydrogen, wa-
ter, compressed air, compres-
sed natural gas, sunlight or
something else to be discov-
ered is yet to be seen. Let us
choose wisely the path for the
future.
Izaak Walton League,
Nehalem Valley Chapter
meets monthly on the 3rd
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Call
503-428-7193 for location.
some reason.
A big thanks to those who
helped measure and count the
fish and pick the winners; Bob
Scoggens, Jack Lindsley, Mar-
vin Long, DeDe Webb, Donna
Webb, Dale Webb, Mario
Leonetti, Dennis Nelson and
Rebecca McGaugh.
Don Webb
Fish Derby Helper
The Nehalem Valley
Chapter of the
Izaak Walton League
Too many fail to stand
while flag passes by
To the Editor:
Small town American – the
backbone of our country – the
town with the “Can Do” spirit –
the town that went through two
100-year floods in just a little
over a decade, neighbor help-
ing neighbor, stranger helping
stranger, a shining example of
Americans for our children and
grandchildren; patriots one and
all.
I watched Saturday during
the Jamboree parade as thou-
sands lined the streets, towns-
people plus visitors, many of
who were the wonderful volun-
teers who assisted during our
time of need. Lining up an hour
before it started, waiting in an-
ticipation for the renowned Ver-
nonia Jamboree Parade. And
then finally, it started – Yea!
Here they come, first Chief
Workman in his Police vehicle
and then the Boy Scouts and
the Honor Guard and then
SHOCK!!! – Only a handful of
those lining the streets stood
and put their hands over their
hearts as the ‘Colors’ passed
by.
Granted, a number of you
may be disenchanted with the
current administration and the
direction the country is going,
but that is still our flag and the
symbol of what this great coun-
try means and a reminder of all
who fought for our freedom.
A suggestion for future pa-
rades, maybe the Chief could
have the National Anthem or
other patriotic songs (America
the Beautiful, God Bless Amer-
ica, etc.) playing through his
bullhorn or whatever sound
system they can rig up, to sort
of remind the spectators to start
the parade with PRIDE.
Don Biancone
Vernonia
Scout Cabin needs
more board members
To the Editor:
I watched the flood of ‘96
and the last one in ‘07. and I
feel there is only one word for
all of the volunteers who
helped: Hero
Heroes helped rebuild the
Vernonia Scout Cabin after the
‘96 flood, and heroes are need-
ed again, but not to rebuild.
The beautiful Scout Cabin
we all enjoy needs commitment
and involvement, so this call is
being sent out for heroes who
would like to join the current
board members for this non-
profit organization. We need
help.
For more information, please
call 503-429-8403 or 503-429-
7193.
Isabelle McDaniel
Vernonia
Board members are
needed for CCWRC
To the Editor:
Try to imagine, just for a mo-
ment…you are 32 years old
and you have two young chil-
dren. The three of you have the
clothes on your back, a worn
teddy bear, a treasured toy
truck and $28.00 in your purse.
You have a split lip, a black eye
that is swollen closed, and sev-
eral bruised ribs. You’re on the
run from the person that has
physically and emotionally
abused you for several years.
You are frightened to be run-
ning and to be so alone, but
you are even more terrified that
the next time you will die. And
you know all too well that there
will be a next time. You have no
close family that can or will help
you. They’ve always looked the
other way, after all, they don’t
want to interfere in other peo-
ple’s business. What now?
What will you do? Where will
you go with your $28.00?
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.
Well…we’re just imagining,
right? Most of us, thankfully, will
never be in this position. But,
unfortunately, this scenario is
just one of many and it’s not
just a big city issue. The Co-
lumbia County Women’s Re-
source Center (CCWRC) exists
to provide safety and shelter for
survivors of domestic violence
and/or sexual abuse, as well as
counseling and the skills devel-
opment to help them to become
strong and self-sufficient.
The staff at CCWRC is
small, but dedicated and hard-
working. There are many ama-
zing volunteers who give of
their time and energy to help at
the shelter and office as well as
helping at the Starting Over
Store, a resale shop which is
an arm of CCWRC.
CCWRC is seeking volun-
teers to serve on the Board of
Directors. The Board is looking
for members with financial ex-
perience, fundraising experi-
ence or experience with non-
profit boards. If you would like
more information about being a
board member please call Pam
Powell, Board Chair at 503-
936-6848.
We would like to thank all of
you who have supported our
fund raising events, who have
given donations of money,
goods, and time, and those
who have lifted us with your
good thoughts and prayers.
The reality is that each year
there are more victims who
need our help and fewer fund-
ing sources to support that
need. Times are hard for many
families right now and we know
that there are many worthy
causes out there. If you are
able to give a donation, we
would ask that you remember
the Columbia County Women’s
Resource Center. We appreci-
ate and thank you for any
amount, large or small.
For more information about
CCWRC and its commitment to
our local communities, log onto
www.noexcuse4abuse.com.
Linda Liefeld
Volunteer Board Member
St. Helens
Immigrants have not
caused our recession
To the Editor:
It’s no secret that many of us
are hurting – feeling the pain of
rising fuel costs, soaring inter-
est rates, maxed-out debt,
falling home values, and threat-
ening unemployment.
Please see page 22
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
2338 Rayburn 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