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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, January 1, 2009 Page 5 Georgia-Pacific, Wauna mill employees raise over $228,000 for UW Georgia-Pacific, the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1097, and United Way an- nounced, December 16, the successful conclusion of their 2008 United Way campaign. With a grant from the Georgia- Pacific Foundation and pledges from Wauna Mill employees, over $228,000 was raised for United Way. The funds will be distributed to Clatsop, Columbia, and Cowlitz/Wahkiakum counties. Mill Manager Mike Tomp- kins, who joined the facility in June, commented, “I have been overwhelmed by the com- mitment and passion Wauna employees have for United Way and commend them for all that they do to make this com- munity great.” Vince Leonard, president, USW Local 1097, added “Our membership has for years been a strong supporter of United Way and I couldn’t be prouder that now, with all of the distractions of the current econ- omy, our members continue to keep the needs of our commu- Beware of storm repair scammers December’s winter storms have left many homes and buildings damaged by downed trees, ice-covered tree limbs and heavy snow. The Con- struction Contractors Board (CCB) warns Oregon home- owners not to become a victim to those pretending to be legiti- mate contractors. Homeowners whose home and other proper- ty is damaged are prime tar- gets. If roofs, windows, fences, or patio coverings are damaged, or if you’ve got downed trees that should be removed the CCB has the following advice: • Check to make sure the contractor is properly licensed. Consumers should verify a contractor’s CCB license at www.oregon.gov/CCB, or 503- 378-4621 before signing a home repair contract or paying any money. • Be wary of door-to-door re- pair solicitations, contractors using vehicles with out-of-state license plates and “too-good- County jobless rate sharply increased Columbia County’s season- ally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.7 percent in No- vember, a significant increase from the previous month (7.7%) and higher than the year before (5.7%). The rate was higher than the statewide rate (8.1%) and the national rate (6.7%). Total employment dropped by 101 to 23,084 and the number of unemployed people rose by 367 to 2,158. Total employment this Novem- ber was 217 fewer than one year before and there were 772 more people unemployed this year. to-be-true” bids. • Don’t pay 100 percent of the bill before the repairs are properly completed. “If you’ve been a victim of the storm, don’t become a vic- tim to a scam artist,” said CCB spokesperson Gina Fox. “Scam artists come out of the woodwork after severe weather to prey on people anxious to get their home fixed.” The CCB is the state agency licensing more than 45,000 contractors. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the CCB. Free consumer publi- cations and other helpful tips are available at the CCB’s web- site and 503-378-4621. Top Ten list for power outages As the winter months arrive, you can never be too careful in making sure you are prepared for the winter power outages. Depending on how much dam- age is done by the storm, your power could be out for several hours to several days. Here is a list from the CampSafe Coali- tion of “must have” items to en- sure that you and your family are safe during long power out- ages: 1. Battery Powered Lighting – when evening rolls around, battery powered lights and lamps provide a safe and reli- able light source. Flashlights are handy for temporary uses, but battery powered camping lanterns can be used to light rooms, hallways, and stairs without the fear of an open flame candle. 2. Bottled Water – don’t wait until the last minute to buy bot- Please see page 10 nity in their thoughts.” With over $81,000 of these pledges going to Columbia County United Way, Kathye Beck, executive director, adds that the funds coming “at a time when we are seeing more need in our community than ever be- fore, the generosity of Georgia- Pacific, USW Local 1097, and Wauna Mill employees is val- ued even more. It will do a lot to help members of our communi- ty cope through this current economic crisis.” Beck also noted, “For the past decade, their generosity has assisted our neighbors in need by providing food and clothing for families, providing safe havens for women and children at risk, empowering low income workers to learn new life and job skills to better their circumstances, providing support for our seniors, and a host of other valuable servic- es.” Those interested in more in- formation, or in contributing to United Way of Columbia Coun- ty can contact the United Way office at 503-556-3614.