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The INDEPENDENT, February 17, 2011
State shows great improvements
in transportation safety results
The preliminary numbers
from 2010 are in, and they
paint a picture of Oregonians
responding to transportation
safety messages. Oregon’s
motor vehicle fatality toll for last
year is preliminarily set at 325.
That’s 13 percent lower than
2009 (377 fatalities) and the
lowest since 1944, when it was
245.
“Of course, this is good
news overall,” said Troy E.
Costales, Oregon Department
of Transportation Safety Divi-
sion administrator. “It appears
that education and enforce-
ment are helping Oregonians
realize they can make a differ-
ence in safety. Still, there were
too many individuals who paid
the price of their lives, and we
all must continue to be dili-
gent.”
Improvements in road de-
sign and traffic management
techniques have also con-
tributed to fewer crashes and
fatalities, as has the availability
and skill of emergency respon-
ders. But most important is the
personal responsibility required
by drivers, riders and walkers
every time they travel.
Although 2010’s numbers
won’t be finalized until later this
year, other preliminary statis-
tics show a positive trend:
• The number of “zero fatal”
days (days when there are no
fatal crashes) grew to 167 last
year. The number of “zero fatal”
days has been increasing the
past few years.
• The number of motorcycle
fatalities was the lowest since
2004, at 38. Also, it appears 19
percent of the motorcyclists in
fatal crashes were under the in-
fluence of alcohol or drugs, one
of the lowest percentages in
many years.
• The number of bicyclist fa-
talities has remained low, at
seven.
• Based on the number of
vehicle miles traveled, esti-
mates show a fatality rate of
0.96 per 100 million vehicle
miles traveled — the lowest in
Oregon motorized history,
surpassing the goals set in
1995 and 2004 by ODOT and
the transportation safety com-
munity.
The numbers for pedestrian
safety are not as positive, ac-
cording to preliminary statis-
tics.
• Pedestrian fatalities were
higher than expected, at 62 (In
2009, 39 were killed).
• In the first six months of
2010, more than half of the
pedestrians killed were under
the influence (16 of 31 tested
positive for alcohol/drugs), with
seven above 0.11 BAC (blood
alcohol content).
• In the first six months of
2010, almost two-thirds of the
pedestrians killed were not at
an intersection (marked or un-
marked) and instead were re-
ported as “in the roadway” (23
of 31).
If these numbers hold,
Costales said, this will be the
12th straight year Oregon has
fared better than the national
overall crash fatality average,
after 50 years of being worse
than the national average.
“The 2010 story clearly
shows that by buckling up, driv-
ing and walking sober, manag-
ing speed and training our teen
drivers, we are absolutely mak-
ing a difference,” said Costales.
“I want to stress, though, that
we can all do even more, be-
cause one life lost is one too
many.”
Here are some general tips
for staying safe on Oregon
roads:
• Don’t drive impaired. Alco-
hol, illegal drugs and even
some legal drugs can reduce
the ability to use good judg-
ment.
• Obey the speed limit.
Speed limits help reduce
crashes based on congestion,
road design and other factors.
• Buckle up every time.
Safety belts and child safety
seats (including boosters) are
the biggest contributors to sav-
ing lives in crashes.
• Pedestrians: Stay alert,
walk predictably, follow traffic
signals, wear light-colored or
reflective clothing, and be es-
pecially careful at curbs.
• Bicyclists: Ride with traffic,
follow traffic signals, wear hel-
mets, wear light-colored or re-
flective clothing, and maintain
control of your bicycle.
• Young drivers: Take a for-
mal driver education course.
• Pay attention: Your life de-
pends on it.
To learn more about Ore-
gon’s transportation safety ef-
forts or to get involved, visit
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS.
Can You Dig It?
By Schann Nelson
Columbia County Master Gardener
Hello gentle readers!
Many thanks to our es-
teemed extension agent
Chip Bubl for picking up
the slack when I couldn’t
write. It feels weird trying
to write now, after such a
long hiatus, especially
since the season feels so
much the same now as it
did in November. It’s a matter of long gloomy
days, with brief moments of sunshine to run out
and soak it up.
I have a Nikko Blue hydrangea that I would
sure like to have bloom some day. In past years,
it has succumbed to our false spring by starting
to grow, then dying clear back to the ground lat-
er in the spring. Then, delayed by the clouds and
damp, it doesn’t seem to get enough growth to
put blossoms on before the weather gets too
cold again. Three other white hydrangeas, pur-
chased as tiny dormant roots from Park Seeds,
have bloomed steadily since their third year in
the ground. All were planted after this (my sec-
ond) Nikko Blue plant, which I purchased in a
one-gallon pot.
This year, when I saw that these warm days
were causing it to begin to grow, I covered the 2-
foot round shrub with frost blanket, added a cou-
ple of one-gallon jugs of water to help retain heat
at night, and tucked the edges in all around. I re-
ally don’t know if this is going to help the early
growth survive. But I’m attempting to follow
Chip’s recommendation about this problem in
answer to my query at last year’s market.
The garden is now as dormant as it’s going to
get – the trick is to be able to get out and do what
needs to be done when it’s not frozen and, pos-
sibly, dry enough. Circumstances do not allow
me to linger longer, spouting prose but, when (if)
you get a chance, it’s time to:
• Transplant and divide.
• Kill moss and grass, respectively, where
you
don’t want them.
• Prune fruit trees and cane berries.
• Clean up and compost dead stuff.
• Clean and sharpen tools, and get annu-
al main-
tenance done on power equipment.
So much to do, and I’m sure you can make
your own list. I wish you luck and godspeed with
all your winter chores.
— Pruning Workshop —
The Columbia County Master Gardeners™
will hold a pruning workshop February 26, from
10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Columbia County Fair-
grounds. Topics covered will include pruning fruit
trees, small fruits including grapes, roses, and
other woody plants. There will be a brief discus-
sion about fruit tree diseases and insects.
The event is free and open to the public.
Dress for the weather and bring pruning tools if
so inclined.
Church Directory
V ERNONIA F OURSQUARE C HURCH
F IRST B APTIST C HURCH
P IONEER B APTIST F ELLOWSHIP
Carl Pense, Pastor
850 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-1103
Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Sunday School
Pastor John D. Murray
359 “A” Street, Vernonia
503 860-3860
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m.
John Cahill, Pastor
939 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-1161
www.pbfalive.com
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Thursday Prayer 7:00 p.m.
S EVENTH D AY A DVENTIST
Larry Gibson, Pastor
2nd Ave. and Nehalem St., Vernonia
503 429-8301
Morning Worship, 11:00 a.m.
Sabbath School 9:30 a.m.
A SSEMBLY OF G OD
Wayne and Maureene Marr
662 Jefferson Ave., Vernonia,
503 429-0373
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m
S T . M ARY ' S C ATHOLIC C HURCH
Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator
960 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-8841
Mass Sunday 12:00 Noon
Religious Educ. Sunday 10:30 a.m.
V ERNONIA C OMMUNITY C HURCH
957 State Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-6790
Sunday Worship 9:45 a.m.
Children’s Church (Blast!) 10:15 a.m.
Nursery 10:15 a.m.
High School Youth 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Prayer 6:00 p.m.
Vernonia Community Preschool
V ERNONIA C HRISTIAN C HURCH
Sam Hough, Minister
410 North Street, Vernonia
503 429-6522
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
(meets in Youth & Family Center)
Home Group Meeting throughout
the week at various locations
N EHALEM V ALLEY B IBLE C HURCH
Gary Taylor, Pastor
Grant & North Streets, Vernonia
503 429-5378
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Nursery available
Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m.
C HURCH OF J ESUS C HRIST
OF L ATTER D AY S AINTS
Marc Farmer, Branch President
1350 E. Knott Street, Vernonia
503 429-7151
Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m.
Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m.
Relief Society, Priesthood and
Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m.