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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2010 Between the Bookends From page 12 traordinary bravery under fire at Guadalcanal, he toured the nation with movie stars, shared podi- ums with governors and shook the hands of thousands of citizens. Why would a man who had gone above and beyond the call of duty and was reaping the rewards beg his commanding officers to send him back in to combat? Leg- endary columnist James Brady explores this and other questions in this surprising biography. This is the tale of a small-town boy who became one of World War II’s best-known heroes, only to be forgotten after his death in battle. Catalyst, a Tale of the Barque Cats by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. Cats have been solving mysteries in books for many years now. But in this science fiction story, cats are heading into space and helping to save the universe. Since the first Maine coon cat showed what a cat could do for a ship and its crew, the so-called Barque Cats have become highly- prized crew members. His progeny, assisted by humans with whom they share a deep and lov- ing bond, travel the galaxy and are responsible for keeping the craft free of vermin, for alerting human crews to potential environmental hazards and for acting as morale officers. When an epi- demic threatens all animal life, it will take some dedicated humans and some special kittens to save them, and possibly the universe, from total destruction. Sand Daughter by Sarah Bryant. This histori- cal novel is set in the time of the Crusades. The Islamic world is divided and the Franks have captured the Holy Land. As the mighty Saladin struggles to unite the clans of Arabia against the invaders, a young Bedouin woman faces danger. She is Khalidah, a woman set to enter an arranged loveless marriage at the behest of her father. She soon finds the impending union Page 13 County boards seek volunteers makes her a pawn in a deadly plot involving her own feuding tribe and the Knights Templar. She runs away with a man she barely knows and their journey is an unimaginable adventure. But she is somehow still connected to the Jinn, mys- terious Afghan warriors who may hold the key to winning the imminent battle for the Holy Land. The Witch Doctor’s Wife by Tamar Myers. The long-beloved mystery writer tells a tale of duty, greed, danger and miracles in equatorial Africa, drawn partially from her own years in Africa. Young missionary Amanda Brown goes to the Congo in 1958. Her enthusiasm is countered by the shock of a very foreign culture. Little by little, Amanda is drawn into the lives of the villagers in Belle Vue and she befriends the local witch doc- tor, who has been forced to take a second job to support his two wives. When First Wife stumbles upon an enormous, uncut gem, events are set in motion that threaten to devastate the lives of these people Amanda has come to admire and Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. Hours: Mon., Fri., Sat., 11 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m. Phone: (503 ) 324-1382 for information Internet: www.wccls.org Browse library resources, reserve or renew materials online. Call for information. The following Washington County boards are currently seeking applications for new members: • Civil Service Commission has two positions open. Volun- teers provide a third-party re- view of the County’s employ- ment practices. The Civil Ser- vice Commission is comprised of five county residents. They hear and decide appeals by employees and candidates for employment. The length of term for this commission is two years. • Farm Board of Review has one open position. The Farm Board of Review is an advisory panel to the County Assessor. The Board meets once each year to inform the Assessor re- garding farmland rents and oth- er information pertaining to the valuation of farmland for prop- erty taxation as provided by Oregon Law. Board members serve for two years. The application deadline is April 27, 2010 or when all va- cancies are filled. Applications may be obtained by visiting the Web site or by calling 503-846- 8685. Descriptions of all the boards can also be found on the Boards and Commissions web site. Boards, committees, and commissions advise the Board of Commissioners on matters of interest to people who live and work in Washing- ton County. Committees them- selves do not pass ordinances or establish policy; their pur- pose is to study issues and make recommendations. Com- mission members are volun- teers appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. Members must be residents of Washington County. Serving on an appointed board or com- mission is a great way for Washington County residents to participate in decisions that affect them and to learn more about how local government works. S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR & H YDRAULIC H OSES 2-4-6 S PIRAL W IRE S UCTION H OSES A DAPTORS - 3/16” TO 2” A MERICAN & M ETRIC F ITTINGS B ULK O IL P RODUCTS 276 S UNSET , B ANKS 503-324-9808 STIHL KombiSystem Complete Systems Starting at $249.95 One powerhead and numerous “Easy to Switch” attachments allow great flexibility for grass and hedge trimming, edging, cleaning, cultivating and more…saves on equipment cost and storage! Powerheads on sale. See Store for details. PRECISION OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Banks Hardware 503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm Saturday 8am to 5pm Sunday 10am to 4pm