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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, August 19, 2010 New help for those in foreclosure by Chris Thomas, Oregon News Service The U.S. Treasury Depart- ment has approved Oregon’s latest effort to stem the tide of foreclosures in the state. The Homeownership Stabilization Program gives $88 million to the state’s six Regional Hous- ing Centers (RHCs), which al- ready work with struggling homeowners. Stacey Howard, foreclosure intervention manager at the Neighborhood Economic De- velopment Corporation in Springfield, says the federal money will buy some time for those who are job-hunting, and give lenders more incentive to modify mortgages, “Obviously, people are pretty cash- strapped or they wouldn’t be in this situation; they just can’t come up with that amount of money. But, that would save a family from going through fore- closure and losing their home. When we have something to bring to the table with a ser- vicer, I think it’s going to make quite an impact.” RHCs report they are coun- seling record numbers of fami- lies in financial trouble, and at the Housing Resource Center in La Grande, manager Lynne Ewing says their options have been limited, “Right now, we don’t have anything for pay- ment assistance. There’s no monetary help for people who are behind and have looming foreclosure, to help them get caught up. That’s one of the levels of assistance.” There will be four new levels of assistance, including helping with payments and late fees, negotiating modifications, and, as a last resort, moving people if they can’t work things out with lenders. The program should be up and running by December, although the wait should not discourage people from seeking help. Oregon’s toll-free mortgage assistance hotline is 800-SAFE-NET (723- 3638). More information at www. oregonhomeownerhelp.org. SWAC seeks Vernonia member The Columbia County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) is seeking someone from the Vernonia, Clatskanie, Rainier or Columbia City area to fill an At-Large position. SWAC serves in an advisory and technical capacity to the Board of Commissioners and the county’s Solid Waste Divi- sion on matters relating to how Columbia County manages solid waste disposal (trash) and recycling services. The SWAC members repre- sent a balance of interests, in- cluding citizens, professionals from the business community, operators of solid waste collec- tion and recycling companies, and representatives of local governments. The SWAC gen- erally meets at 9:00 a.m. Tues- day mornings, on a quarterly basis, with additional meetings as needed. For more information, con- tact Roy Weedman, Columbia County Solid Waste Coordina- tor at 503-397-7263, or roy. weedman@co.columbia.or.us before Monday, August 23. ODFW seeks committee member The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Oregon State University (OSU) are seeking one new member for the Oregon Hatchery Re- search Center Advisory Com- mittee. The successful candidate will represent the public-at- large for a three-year term be- ginning October 2010. If reap- pointed, subsequent term(s) will be three years. Candidates must submit a letter of interest by September 1, 2010. The let- ter should specify why the ap- plicant is interested and pro- vide three references. ODFW and OSU representatives will finalize their selections prior to September 15, 2010. The 15-member committee advises the OHRC Senior Sci- entist on activities and func- tions related to the operation and maintenance of the OHRC. The committee meets quarterly with the next meeting on Mon- day, Dec. 20, 2010. Committee members repre- sent the federal government, local governments, conserva- tion groups, sport fishing groups, the commercial fishing industry, tribes, resource pro- ducers (agriculture, timber and Page 15 Power of the People By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager, West Oregon Electric Cooperative WOEC Employees Take a Voluntary Wage Freeze The salaried and union employees of West Ore- gon Electric Cooperative have voluntarily elected to adopt a one year wage freeze, and to donate half of the cost savings to energy assistance, to help those who are strug- gling through these economically difficult times. The Board of Directors enthusiastically accepted their generous offer and willingness to help out the financial well being of the Co-op and its members. “This is a magnanimous gesture by all of the employees of the Co-op to willingly freeze their own wages for a year in the first place, and then to request that half of the cost savings go to en- ergy assistance to benefit our members who are experiencing hard times is truly heartwarming,” stated Robert VanNatta, WOEC Board Presi- dent. “It is reassuring to see such a wonderful act of charity and caring within our own commu- nity and staff. We wish to thank all of our employ- ees for taking the initiative and we fully support their efforts to help our members who are in se- rious need at this time.” gravel), watershed councils and education. Two members represent the public-at-large and four represent the scientif- ic community. The OHRC is a cooperative research project between ODFW and OSU. The center’s mission is to develop an under- standing of the mechanisms that may create differences be- tween hatchery and wild fish, and devise ways to reduce and manage the differences so hatcheries can be used respon- As the General Manager of WOEC, I am so very impressed with the unified desire of the em- ployees to come together to make a statement with this generous decision to freeze our own wages for the benefit of the Co-op, most impor- tantly, to the members we serve. We experience firsthand every day the struggles our members go through to pay their bills. Our hearts go out to all of our members who are dealing with rising costs, fewer jobs, fewer hours at work, and eco- nomically uncertain times. This is one way that we can give back to the community and show them we care and want to help out our friends, neighbors, and members. In the 2010 budget, the Board of Directors ap- proved a fund of up to $6,000 to match whatev- er the employees raised to donate to energy as- sistance. We will combine the Board’s matching funds with the employees’ donation from their wages, and will then make a contribution to Care to Share and Oregon Heat on behalf of the em- ployees of WOEC. This will provide many of our members with the help they need to keep their homes comfortable and bright. I would like to conclude this column with my personal thanks and gratitude to the wonderful people I have the privilege of working with at WOEC. This gesture and decision they have made shows what kind of people they really are, and what is in their hearts. Thank you my friends! sibly in the conservation and management of Oregon’s na- tive fish. For more information about the Advisory Committee or how to submit a letter of interest, contact Margaret Cleveland at margaret.l.cleveland@state.or. us or 503-947-6230. 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