The INDEPENDENT, January 20, 2011
Where to Find Them
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(Dem)
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585
Portland OR 97232
Phone: 503-326-7525
223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
Phone: 202-224-5244
E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/
contact
Website: http://wyden.senate.
gov
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
(Dem.)
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-326-3386
107 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3753
E-Mail: http://merkley.senate.
gov/contact
WebSite: http://merkley.senate.
gov
U.S. Representative David Wu
(Dem) OR District 1
620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: 503-326-2901
2338 Rayburn House Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-0855
Website: http://house.gov/wu
Senator Betsy Johnson
(Dem) Senate District 16
PO Box R,
Scappoose, OR 97056
Phone: 503-543-4046
900 Court St. NE, S-314
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1716
E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/johnson
Representative Brad Witt
(Dem) House District. 31
21740 Lindberg Road,
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Phone: 503-728-4664
900 Court St. NE, H-373
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1431
E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/witt
Representative Deborah
Boone
(Dem) House District 32
PO Box 926
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Phone: 503-717-9182
900 Court St. NE, H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1432
E-mail: rep.deborahboone@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/boone
Page 3
Letters
Thanks from Vernonia
Lions for a stellar year
To the Editor:
The Vernonia Lions club
would like to say “Thank You” to
the people of Vernonia. By put-
ting your spare change in our
Gales Creek Camp collection
cans around town, we were
able to give an extra $250.00 to
Gales Creek Camp. (The camp
provides experiences for chil-
dren, youth and families affect-
ed by Type 1 diabetes, this
helps them gain confidence to
manage their diabetes and
achieve the goal to grow to-
ward living independent lives.)
This shows us that if everyone
gives a little we can accomplish
a lot. Good Job Vernonia!
The Lions would also like to
thank the stores and restau-
rants that have participated this
last year. We hope to get new
cans out this year and in a few
more places.
Also, the Lions are especial-
ly proud we were able to help
our community and a little bit of
the world this last year with our
fundraising efforts (BBQ sand-
wich booth during Jamboree,
Texas Hold’em and selling raf-
fle tickets and plant sale). We
have been able to donate over
$15,000.00 this year. Some of
our donations were maintaining
trailers for families who were
lifting their homes, having the
Mobil Screening Unit come to
the grade school, being able to
provide 17 pairs of eye glasses,
and nine scholarships to gradu-
ating seniors. Donations also
went to Camp Wilkerson, Ore-
gon Sight and Hearing, Vernon-
ia Cares Food Bank; the list
goes on. But, we could not
have accomplished this without
the support of our community.
Thank You!
We hope you all have a Hap-
py and Healthy New Year.
Sincerely,
Randal Harvey
on behalf of the
Vernonia Lions Club
Nicks’ efforts also
deserve thanks
To the Editor:
We would like to add a post-
script to the letter recently sub-
mitted by Marilyn Nicks about
the Vernonia Spirit of Christ-
mas festivities.
Kudos to Marilyn for all of
her efforts in spearheading this
great event.
Vernonia has a wonderful
memory to look back on for
2010.
Best wishes for a happy and
prosperous 2011,
Pat Phillips and
Catherine Helmer
Vernonia
United Steel Workers
donations valuable
To the Editor:
Thank You USW 1097.
Thanks to the members of
United Steel Workers Local
1097 for their support of the
Holiday Food Box programs in
Clatsop, Columbia, and Cowlitz
Counties.
They donated a total of
$4112.
Donations helped here:
1. Turning Point Community
Center, HOPE, Inc, and Ver-
nonia Cares in Columbia Coun-
ty
2. Community House on
Broadway – Lives in Transition
Program in Cowlitz County
3. Pioneer House in Clatsop
County
Your support helped us put a
smile on the faces of many
people in need in our communi-
ties.
Thank you for all you do to
make life better in the commu-
nities where you live and work.
Kathye Beck
Executive Director
United Way of Columbia
County
Policy on Letters
The INDEPENDENT will
not publish letters with per-
sonal attacks on private citi-
zens. Preference will be giv-
en to brief letters, 300 words
or less.
All letters must be signed
and include a verifiable ad-
dress or phone number.
Salem Scene
By Representative Brad Witt
Oregon District 31
The beginning of the
76th Legislative Session
was marked by the cus-
tomary rituals involved
with swearing in the
members of the House
and Senate, as well as
our new Governor. But it
was also marked by
some historic events:
• The first time the House of Representatives
has been evenly split 30 Democrats and 30 Re-
publicans.
• The first time the Legislature joins 45 other
states in meeting on an annual basis.
• The first time a Governor has been sworn in
for a third term.
• The first time the position of Speaker of the
House has been shared equally by members
from each party.
• The first time committee chairmanships have
been co-shared by members from each party.
Under the circumstances, you might think that
things would be in disarray, but on the contrary,
everyone is focused on the enormous job that
lies ahead. With a looming $3.5 billion budgetary
deficit, we recognize the need for cohesion and
cooperation. Our Co-Speakers, Rep. Arnie Rob-
lan and Rep. Bruce Hanna, have set the pace,
and they have dedicated themselves to maintain-
ing an environment that will help everyone ac-
complish the tasks ahead. I am enormously opti-
mistic about this session, and I look forward to
plunging into the work ahead.
Speaking of what lies ahead, I received my
committee assignments this week, and here is
what I will be working on come February 1st:
• Co-Chair, Veterans Affairs
• Member, Transportation and Economic De-
velopment
• Co-Vice Chair, Ways and Means Subcom-
mittee on Transportation & Economic Develop-
ment
I see these as great committee assignments
for our district. The movement of goods and
services is essential to the economic develop-
ment of any community and we in Columbia and
Clatsop Counties have good basic infrastructure
that includes road, rail, water and air, much of
which would benefit from additional investment. I
hope that the information gleaned from my
Transportation Committees will help us revitalize
these assets for the benefit of our entire region.
The Veterans Affairs Committee also promis-
es to be very interesting. We have many veter-
ans in the district, many of whom are newly re-
turned from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The needs are great, especially with regard to
health care, so I plan to make sure that the Com-
mittee is a forceful advocate for our veterans.
They serve without reservation and so should
we.
Items of Interest…
I want to pass along information about a new
program that will allow Oregon homeowners to
go solar for as little as $20 a month, with no up
front costs. It may sound too good to be true, but
it is an approach offered by a private company
with assistance from state and federal tax credits
and the Oregon Department of Energy. The fol-
lowing link explains more about the program;
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ss
f/2011/01/oregon_homeowners_can_now_go
_s.html
One of Gov. Kitzhaber’s first acts in office was
to direct the Oregon Department of Energy to
use $2 million in unused ARRA funds to proceed
immediately with energy audits on 500 Oregon
schools. Conducting energy audits will create im-
mediate private sector jobs, and is the first step
in the Governor’s commitment to create thou-
sands of Oregon jobs through school weather-
ization retrofits.
In the District…
Finally, I want to take a moment to express
my deepest sympathies to the family of Sheriff
Ralph Painter, and to all the citizens of Rainier,
who have suffered the terrible loss of an out-
standing public servant. His loss has been rec-
ognized far beyond the borders of Columbia
County, even during our opening ceremonies at
the Capital. His great warmth and devotion to his
family and community will never be forgotten and