Page 22
The INDEPENDENT, June 4, 2009
Survey, cont.
Need for food stamps is on rise Learn how to prevent ID theft
From page 4
Owners of woodlands of all
sizes – from five acres to thou-
sands – are invited to take the
survey. Some people will be re-
ceiving a copy directly in the
mail in the coming weeks, but
others can request a copy by
calling the Extension office at
503-397-3462. It can also be
taken online by going to
http://extension.oregonstate.e
du/columbia/forestry. To en-
courage participation, several
survey respondents will be se-
lected at random to receive a
prize.
The need for food stamps
and cash assistance increased
by more than 25 percent over
the past year, and forecasts
from the Department of Human
Services predict an additional
24-30 percent increase in Ore-
gonians needing food stamps
and Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF) pay-
ments in 2009-11.
“We have now started on the
second year of record-breaking
demand,” said Erinn Kelley-
Siel, interim Director of DHS
Children, Adults and Families.
“Oregon’s unemployment re-
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mains at high levels, and that
means families continue to
need support to feed their fam-
ilies and keep them safe. We
don’t see demand decreasing
any time soon.”
A total of 590,062 Oregoni-
ans now count on food stamp
assistance, and 16,571 addi-
tional people applied for and
received food stamps last
month alone. The number of
Oregonians receiving food
stamps increased by 119,200
See TANF on page 23
From Page 4
to the drawing, members will
receive a key-chain light for
participating in our enhanced
WFCU’s Member Security pro-
gram (in-branch and e-Ser-
vices layered security meas-
ures). Other safety and securi-
ty resources at WFCU include
ID Theft Protection Service, ID
Network Safety Service offered
by Share Club, and Verified by
VISA and Falcon Fraud offered
by VISA cards.
Wauna Federal Credit Union
is headquartered in Clatskanie,
Oregon and has branches in
Astoria, Clatskanie, St Helens,
Vernonia and Warrenton.
Everyone in Clatsop or Colum-
bia counties is eligible for mem-
bership. For more information,
call our toll free number 1-800-
773-3236.
Summer water safety tips provided
From page 17
6. Look before turning: Let’s
face it. It’s the turns that really
make watersports fun. But
don’t leave those at the end of
towline guessing when the next
turn is coming. The hand signal
for turning is a pointing finger
upwards in a circular motion,
then pointing to the direction of
turn.
7. Think big: Keep in mind
that with kids on the end of long
towline, your boat’s safety
“footprint” is now much larger.
That means being extra cau-
tious when near other boaters,
docks, navigational aids, and
crossing wakes.
8. Two head turns for every
“drop”: As soon as someone
falls off the tube or a skier or
boarder drops, the boat opera-
tor should always look to both
sides before turning around for
a pick-up.
9. Good to go: For riders af-
ter a knock down, clasp your
hands over your head so those
on the towboat know you are
OK and ready for retrieval. In
some states a red or orange
“skier down” flag may need to
be displayed.
10. Tip up and be seen: A
skier who has fallen in the wa-
ter can be seen by others much
more easily if they keep the ski
tips above the water.
For more information on
Oregon’s safety requirements,
go to www.BoatUS.org/on
linecourse and click on State
Boating Regulations.
“Chance to Become” scholarships
From page 11
Another major source for
this scholarship is the Colum-
bia Learning Center’s annual
Black Tie and Blue Jeans
fundraiser held at the Deer Is-
land Stock Ranch. Last year
the proceeds from the event al-
lowed $30,000 to go to “The
Chance to Become” scholar-
ships.
This year’s Black Tie and
Blue Jeans fundraiser is sched-
uled for Saturday, August 1.
The Columbia Learning Center
welcomes everyone to join in
this summer social, dinner, and
benefit auction. Tickets can be
purchased by calling Anna at
503-397-1139, or by stopping
in the office located at 375
South 18th Street in St. Helens.
outsiders to do it for them. The
money we’re paying some of
these guys could be much bet-
ter spent elsewhere in our com-
munity.
Ed Johnson
Vernonia
March of a conditional use per-
mit hearing for exploration of oil
and natural gas in both the
Keasey Road vicinity and in the
Mist-Fishhawk Lake area. The
hearing was held in St. Helens
at the Columbia County Court
house by the county Natural
Resources Administration, be-
fore the Columbia County
Commissioners.
The applicant was Klabzuba
Oil and Gas, Inc., active in Ari-
zona, New Mexico and Arkan-
sas, who requested the permit
to do seismic testing on ap-
proximately 34,000 acres of
county-owned mineral rights.
These mineral rights run be-
neath pri-vate property. They
may be accessed with or with-
out property owners’ permis-
sion. Klabzuba Oil and Gas,
Inc. was awarded
Please see page 24
Letters
S EE US FOR
H EATING O IL
D ECK & S HINGLE O IL
A NTI F REEZE
CALL
(503) 429-6606
WILCOX & FLEGEL
720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia
From page 21
times, a community still must
maintain control over their law
enforcement agency. Citizens
of a community must continue
to maintain a certain level of
vigilance towards them. Too
many cops are just as bad as
not having enough. People in
this community need to step up
and take responsibility by per-
forming their civic duty of polic-
ing instead of hiring a bunch of
Aware your property
rights are in peril?
To the Editor:
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