The INDEPENDENT, October 21, 2010
Child identification kits available
New equipment purchased
to improve the efficiency of fin-
gerprinting services is enabling
the Columbia County Sheriff’s
Office to provide free Child
Identification Kits to parents
wishing to fingerprint and pho-
tograph their children as a
safety measure.
“We don’t keep the files, so
the fingerprints are used only if
the parents choose to use
them,” said Sheriff Jeff Dicker-
son. “The equipment we now
have takes the fingerprints
without ink and transfers them
digitally onto a fingerprint card.
It also takes a photograph of
the child, and places the photo
on the card,” he added.
A special feature of the pro-
gram is that it automatically
produces two detachable busi-
ness-card sized ID cards with
the child’s photograph and
thumb print on each card.
The department also offered
the free ID kits on October 2 at
the Clatskanie Health & Safety
Fair. Future opportunities for
child fingerprinting are planned
for the Children’s Fair at St. He-
lens High School, October 30,
as well as ongoing services of-
fered at the sheriff’s office, by
appointment.
24 Years Ago This Month
The October 30, 1986, issue
of The Independent included
the following news story on the
front page:
Jessica Jensen, 13 year old
daughter of Norman and Patri-
cia Jensen of Vernonia, was
honored at the annual meeting
of the West Oregon Electric
Cooperative when she was
awarded the American Red
Cross, Oregon Trail Chapter,
Lifesaving Medal for saving the
life of her friend and neighbor
Teresa Young.
The order of business at the
meeting was suspended by
WOEC Chairman Rod McLean
so Elmer Jensen (no relation),
a Red Cross volunteer from St.
Helens, could present the
award. Jensen related the
events that led up to the pres-
entation:
“The two girls and Jessica’s
sister Rebecca, were playing
together last May in a tree-
house that overhangs the Ne-
halem River near their home on
Long Pine Road, when a tree
limb broke and plunged Teresa
into the river. Teresa was
knocked unconscious by the
fall into the rocky river, and was
being dragged downstream by
the current, with her face under
water.
“Jessica jumped into the riv-
er and pulled Teresa to the sur-
face, held her out of the water,
and pulled her to safety on the
bank while Rebecca ran for
help. When help arrived, it was
determined that the quick ac-
tion by Jessica saved Teresa
from drowning.”
Jensen presented the medal
and a certificate “for extraordi-
nary personal action in saving
another person’s life,” while
Teresa, who shared the podium
with Jessica, smiled shyly at
the public recognition for her
friend.
At the end of the ceremony,
WOEC members gave Jessica
a standing ovation for her hero-
ic action.
Free movie on
harassment
On Saturday, November 6,
at 10 a.m. at the Scappoose
Cinema 7 complex, 33520 SW
Edward Lane, the Columbia
County Citizens for Human
Dignity are presenting the film
and a panel discussion after-
ward. Director Joe Wilson will
be on hand to discuss the film,
Out in the Silence, and talk
about the experiences that
brought him to development of
the film.
Out in the Silence captures
the remarkable chain of events
that unfold when the an-
nouncement of filmmaker Joe
Wilson’s wedding to another
man ignites a firestorm of con-
troversy in his small Pennsyl-
vania hometown.
Everyone is encouraged to
attend this important movie
and discussion. Admission is
free, thanks to the generosity
of local businesses and individ-
uals.
Page 9
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
Thank you my Father in Heaven for the
wonder and marvel of your passion for
beauty on this Earth where you have
placed me. On my daily walk you have
again made the forsythia to start the fall
blooming. Blossoms so tiny they are just a
speck of yellow – others will be full blooms.
I thought at first I was just wishing the col-
or yellow among the green of the leaves
but a second and third day of seeing them;
I know they are real.
Ice Cream Day was wonderful at the Vernonia Senior Center.
A full house with many friends I hadn’t seen for quite a while. Sor-
ry for those I missed because you were ill. Most of you will never
know what getting together just one day a week can mean to
some of us.
The other side of God’s wonders – were you awake or asleep
when it started to pour that Friday night? My house plants that
were out on the patio for a little sun and fresh air almost floated
away. The shamrock I poured at least two cups of water out of the
pot and I may still have to replant it in dry soil. And, now Fall has
fallen – 45°, sunny and a stiff cold wind – brrr. It’s time to dig out
my winter jammies and fluffy robe and slippers.
Oh, if you could see me now. I have my new wheels, a Rolla-
tor, four wheels, two handbrakes, and a lifting seat, cherry red
metallic and black. Now Shadow and I can “tool” right along at a
strolling pace. Walk three blocks and sit. Walk three blocks and
sit, and so on. Now we can take our “long” walks again. The fresh
air does us both a wonder of good.
Nothing Earth shaking going on at this moment, so – ta, ta. Oh,
yes – Have a spooky Halloween.
Elect Ed Johnson to Vernonia City Council
I guess I didn’t quite answer a couple of Scott Laird's ques-
tions. Therefore, I’ll take the unfair advantage of answering
them now. I listened carefully to the answers the other candi-
dates gave at Scott’s “meet the candidates forum.” I feel that
most of their answers were meaningless…political blather.
Here is my answer:
Which City projects are important? As a City Councilor
how would I implement them? Answer: Whether it’s the
school project, public works, airport, etc., they’re all important!
They are all on their way to being implemented by the current
city council. As a new city councilor I’m certainly not going to
recommend scrapping these projects. We need to finish them
and move on. Though, some of these projects may need to
be revisited for economic reasons.
However, we can’t allow these projects to overshadow
other issues. Real issues! Issues such as the way the cur-
rent city council views the public…their lack of transparency
and refusal to allow the public access to certain public docu-
ments. Do we want a city council that rejects negative input
from the public but accepts the positive, apparently so a spe-
cific publication will give them a good review? Do we want a
city council that approves outside contractors, for flood buyout
demolitions, who bring in their own labor without considering
our labor that’s already available…and who need the jobs? A
council who favors “green” businesses over businesses that
will actually employ someone local? The council was ques-
tioned about hiring outside contractors before local labor. The
Mayor responded with, “How is this our problem?” meaning
the city council. Do we need a mayor with this attitude?
How about a city council that absolutely refuses to commu-
nicate with the public? We could end up with a city council
where the majority are business owners who rarely employ
anyone or very few at the most? A council that enforces the
city code for some and not others…depending on how much
clout they have with the city? I don’t think, as a community,
we want a city council like this.
The role of the city council is to hire a city administrator,
watch over the city budget, vote on resolutions, approve fund-
ing, etc. The current city council has not been successful in
any of these tasks. We’ve had six city administrators in the
past five years. The council has approved funding for very
expensive items the community really doesn’t need or want.
They’ve passed resolutions that have cost the public but ben-
efitted a few in the business community. I have nothing
against the business community but there are only a couple
of independent businesses, on Bridge Street, that really em-
ploy anyone.
The way I see it…if you want change you have to change
the city council. This doesn’t mean replacing the current
councilors with their friends! We need to be very careful
about who we elect to the city council so we don’t wind up
with the same people, different faces. Remember…the com-
munity elects the mayor and the city council so they can work
for us!
Vote Ed Johnson for City Council!
The funding for this paid advertisement provided by Ed Johnson.