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The INDEPENDENT, November 4, 2010
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Mentor Noni Andersen
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes
Opinion
New faces for Vernonia
A close election, like this year’s race for Oregon gov-
ernor, often indicates a lot of indecision on the part of
the electorate. The opposite, an election that leaves no
doubts about what the voters think, just occurred in
Vernonia.
In a four-way race for mayor, Josette Mitchell re-
ceived 342 votes, more than twice the 150 votes that
went to two-term incumbent Sally Harrison, making it
abundantly clear that voters want something different.
Challengers also won the two open council positions by
large margins, with Willow Burch getting 423 votes and
Marilyn Nicks receiving 305, to 109 votes for recently
appointed (and little-known) incumbent Catherine
Helmer, and well-known incumbent Cindy Ball’s 68 bal-
lots.
The question now, of course, is what will be differ-
ent? The answer can’t be known until the new mem-
bers join current councilors Randy Parrow and Kevin
Hudson in January.
It is likely that accurate budgeting and fiscal respon-
sibility are voters’ goals, since Mitchell has demonstrat-
ed her commitment to these goals as chairman of the
city budget committee, then by following through with
an ad hoc budget panel that is trying to maintain the fis-
cal sanity that has been sorely missing in Vernonia
government for too long.
Both Burch and Nicks are downtown business own-
ers and, naturally, are concerned about local business.
But they will also have to demonstrate an understand-
ing of the many other elements involved in “governing”.
Regardless, both winners and losers in any election
deserve thanks from the rest of us. It isn’t easy to put
yourself in front of the public and say “I can do the job.
Vote for me.”
Banks school bond defeated
Voters in the Banks School District said no to a bond
measure for school improvements. It is hard to know
whether it is the uncertain economy that caused the
bond failure, or whether the majority feel that the im-
provements were not needed.
After more than a year of study, public meetings and
tremendous effort, the result must be disheartening to
those who worked so hard to pass the bond. Although
it will be hard for many to revisit, it is important to make
an effort to find out why the bond was unsuccessful.
Ike Says…
By Dale Webb, member
Nehalem Valley Chapter, Izaak Walton League
The local rivers fin-
ished off the summer a lit-
tle on the low side for wa-
ter flow, but it appears no
harm was caused to the
fish. With the recent
rains, the rivers have
again shot up to levels
that exceed the norm. We
should have a high level of
survival this year for salmonids due to the cool
summer water temperatures, now we have to get
them through the winter. Let’s hope for another
mild winter, but it sure doesn’t look like it is shap-
ing up to be mild.
Deer hunting locally started off slow, but
what’s new; it has probably been several
decades since we actually had a deer population
that would supply a good opener. It sounds like
the harvest has picked up a bit at the back end
of the season, but again, that is no surprise, it al-
ways does. With the bucks going into the rut
they become far more vulnerable. I have also
noticed more deer movement in the last couple
of weeks as witnessed in road kills on my way to
work. I saw one deer hit in the opposite lane on
highway 30, that was getting a little too close for
comfort. I have also been witnessing people
driving excessively fast on highway 47. I really
doubt that going 70 mph is going to give a per-
son much of a chance to react to a deer stepping
out into your travel lane. Maybe ODF&W should
start charging for the animals that are struck by
careless drivers?
Elk hunting season is just around the corner,
all indicators show it will be another good season
in our area. Despite the recent cut in rifle elk
hunting tags in the Saddle Mt. unit, sportspeople
took more bulls last year, and the second season
tag holders actually pushed the success rate up
to 20%. I was happy to help in that regard! Rifle
hunters need to be on guard though, who knows
what ODF&W will propose to do next in their mis-
guided quest to lower the bull harvest. Let’s not
let them keep cutting our tags, give Herman
Biederbeck (503-842-2741) a call and let him
know that the rifle hunters have been cut enough
both in tags and season length.
The preliminary word from eastern Oregon in
regards to deer hunting this year was dismal in a
general view. Of course there is always some-
body with a honey hole or private ranch ground
who thinks everything is just fine, but that is a
very narrow view of a very big state. My own
personal and limited view was the same as oth-
er recent views. I perceive a deer herd on the
decline, shrinking down to key core areas, fe-
male deer having lots of fawns but very few sur-
viving to recruit into the herds. Hunter numbers
far exceed the ability of the herds to produce ma-
ture bucks and predator numbers are continuing
to climb. This year, our hunting party of three
never saw a single legal buck and, with a legal
buck being one with a visible antler, that is plain
pathetic! What I did see was, the farther I went
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