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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2010)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, August 19, 2010 From the Sheriff’s Desk… From page 19 concerned citizens were looking for him. I was so impressed with the turnout by the citizens in the Vernonia area that I took it upon myself to throw the invitation out to join the ranks of our trained search and rescue team. To the community’s credit, 21 people thus far have shown an interest in being trained in the SAR discipline and will be meeting with our SAR team at the Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Station at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25. If you are interested in SAR, you are welcome to attend and find out what it takes to become part of the team. RESERVE DEPUTIES Reserve Deputies are citizen volunteers who have many hours of training and progressive experience to bring them to the point that they are authorized to wear a deputy’s uniform and operate a patrol vehicle. Our eight sworn enforcement deputies are aug- mented in their service by four reserve deputies, who are trained as regular law enforcement personnel. Re- serve deputies are volunteers who work only when regular deputies are on duty, and generally provide back-up and assistance with routine tasks, but their assistance means more trained eyes and ears and en- forcement capacity for us when these deputies are available to us. Two of our reserve deputies are also paramedics for Columbia River Fire and Rescue. One of those re- serves was on duty the day a man was gored by a bull on Highway 30 this summer. While one deputy took the bull out with a rifle, the reserve WEATHER REPORT was able to care to JULY 2010 the man’s medical DATE TEMPERATURE PRECIP. needs until addi- HI LO AMT. tional medical help arrived. The efforts 1 61 46 .26 2 63 51 .02 of both deputies 3 65 46 -- and an OSP troop- 4 65 41 -- er helped save the 5 64 47 -- man’s life. 6 83 38 -- Sometimes we 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 93 93 91 80 74 63 66 82 80 70 73 69 66 72 81 67 81 87 86 85 78 77 79 76 69 43 47 47 55 57 50 46 41 43 49 44 49 49 48 46 46 43 42 42 42 50 50 48 48 52 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Temperature and precipitation amounts are from the official U.S. weather station at the Vernonia wa- ter plant. Measurable precipitation in July totalled .28 inches. hire deputies to full-time service from the ranks of our reserve deputy corps. Our most recent hire was a re- serve deputy who left a steady job in the private sec- tor to take the oath of office of a deputy sheriff because he loved what he was doing as a reserve and wanted to do it full time. VIPS Finally, two dozen volunteers assist us through our Volunteers In Partnership with the Sheriff (VIPS) pro- gram. VIPS is part of a national program with the same acronym, standing for Volunteers in Police Service. Nationally, VIPS is one of five partnership programs with Citizen Corps – a movement that sprang out of the massive outpouring of volunteer helpers in the af- termath of the 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation. Even before I took office in January 2009, I set out to establish our own VIPS program at the Sheriff’s Of- fice. Within a few days of taking office, we were up and running with our VIPS program, dispatching volunteers to help with flooding in Clatskanie and Vernonia. From those early stages in our development, VIPS has steadily grown. VIPS volunteers have helped out pub- lic safety at large events such as the county fair, fire- works events and the Hood-to-Coast event. Our VIPS reduce the burden on our front office staff with filing, phone answering and working the front window. They help the jail by working the window during jail visitation hours. Volunteers also provide programs to inmates in our jail. Church services and meetings with Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are facilitated by volunteers who make these important outreaches happen. We are also working on a reading program for inmates that would be run by volunteers. All of these volunteer efforts further the goal of my office to be at the cutting edge of peace conservation efforts in our county. I must tell you, that I have some of the most dedicated and committed staff a sheriff could want to have. Without the employees we have putting in the long hours and overtime to get the job done, we would be nowhere as an agency. But I also must say that, in everything that we have accom- plished in the 20 months since I first took office, the mark of the volunteer is not too far removed. The hard work and professionalism of our paid employees is un- derscored and augmented by the faithful dedication of our volunteers. If you would like to be a volunteer, call our office at 503-366-4611 and ask to speak to Dorothea about all the volunteer opportunities we have at the Sheriff’s Of- fice. It is one very big way to make a difference for good in the county in which you live. 4-Hers do well at County Fair From page 11 Sheep Showmanship, Jr.: Reserve Champion – Megan Ely. Rabbit Pen of Three Fryers: Reserve Champion – Kaitlyn Eyrrick. Junior Performance Showmanship: Champion – Kassidy Fetch. Beef Showmanship, Jr: Reserve Champion – Lauren Glass. Market Steer: Grand Champion – Nicole Glass. Beef Showmanship, Int: Reserve Champion – Nicole Glass. Pullet, APA Standard Bred Lrg Fowl: Champion – Jessica Stringfield. Senior Performance Showmanship: Champion – McKenzie Tarkalson. Western Equitation, Sr: Reserve Champion – McKenzie Tarkalson. Grand Champion – McKenzie Tarkalson. Salem Scene From Page 3 states like Oregon whose demand for public services is growing while state resources continue to be volatile and uncertain. The bill passed by Congress does not increase the federal deficit, but it does send Oregon an immediate boost to protect critical services and jobs. These funds won’t solve all of our budget chal- lenges. Because the budget shortfall is $577 million, we still face nearly $300 million in cuts to state servic- es and programs. These new federal dollars – dollars Orego- nians sent to the federal gov- ernment and will now get back – will help keep some core services intact, but it will not eliminate the need for cuts. We will continue to take a thought- ful, responsible approach to balancing the short and long- term needs of our citizens. Once we have the August 26th forecast in hand, we hope to be able to use these federal funds to mitigate the worst of the cuts to critical health care services and our schools. Want to know what happens around here all year? Get The Independent delivered to your home for a year for only $20.00 Call today to start your subscription 503-429-9410 In the District… As I mentioned above, I have been out and about, try- ing to keep up with lots of func- tions in the District. If you see a bright blue PT Cruiser on High- way 30, somewhere between Sauvie Island and Astoria, it’s probably me!