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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, April 7, 2011 State website offers information access State government has rolled out a powerful new website that lets citizens easily customize their view of data from state agencies and comment right on the site, the Oregon Depart- ment of Administrative Services announced March 22. The website, Data.Oregon. gov, also lets visitors interact with state records, create their own charts, graphs, calendars and maps, and save them on- line. Visitors may even suggest new “datasets” for displaying information not yet available on the site. “Our goal is to enable state government to interact more di- rectly with the citizens of Ore- gon, and this new site is a pow- erful way to help make that happen,” said Kris Kautz, act- ing-director of the state Depart- ment of Administrative Ser- vices. “We want to transform the way government works, and that means making it easy for Oregonians to get informa- tion about agencies and offer their views about what they see.” Kautz also noted that Ore- gon is among the first states to employ this new technology. The White House has used the technology since 2009, making available records on visits to the White House and staff salaries. Oregon’s use of the technol- ogy is more far-reaching, Kautz said. The site displays informa- tion in a wide range of datasets, including state agen- cies’ expenditures, buildings leased by state government, salaries of state workers, state contracts with private business- es, and more than 60 others. Forty new datasets are already in the testing and evaluation stage. The offerings will contin- ue to grow as viewers suggest more datasets. “You don’t need to be a tech- nology expert to use Data.Ore- gon.gov,” Kautz said. “The site is easy to use and very flexible. Countless Oregonians have said they want more access to the information that state agen- cies collect, and this new re- source gives them that ac- cess.” In addition to offering visitors immediate access to a vast ar- ray of facts and records, Data.Oregon.gov lets them do the following: • Post comments about the data right on the dataset. • Use the data to create charts, graphs, maps and cal- endars, which users can share with others. “Creating displays is as easy as posting to YouTube,” Kautz said. • Suggest new datasets for the state to display. • Create or participate in dis- cussion forums, where visitors may share their views and con- cerns with state agencies and the public. • Download the data in any of eight formats, something re- searchers and scientists will appreciate. Users may filter or sort the data any way they want. They may also embed it in their own blogs and websites. “Pioneering comes naturally to Oregonians,” Kautz said. “With Data.Oregon.gov, we’re blazing a new ‘Oregon Trail’ that leads to more citizen in- volvement and openness in state government.” 50 Years Ago This Month The April 6, 1961, issue of the Vernonia Eagle included the following news story on the front page: The premiere of the movie, Ring of Fire, occupied the atten- tion of the city council Monday evening when Louis Towne, presi- dent of the chamber of commerce, told of plans being made for its showing here May 14 and pro- posed to the council that Andrew Stone, producer of the movie, be named honorary mayor for that day and that the star, David Janssen, be named honorary chief of police or fire chief. The council indicated willingness to go along with the plans and will take defi- nite action at the next council meeting. Representatives from the Ver- nonia Saddle club appeared to re- quest a definite agreement be- tween the club and the council re- garding the portion of Anderson park designated for horse show use so that their interests would be protected in the matter of improve- ments they might make. The mat- ter was referred to the city attor- ney. James Johns, general chairman for this year’s Friendship Jam- boree, was present to discuss vari- ous details relating to that celebra- tion and to ask additional police assistance with the parade and log- ging and horse events. Other matters discussed includ- ed grass seeding of Anderson park, reports on survey of timber owned by city which showed none ready for cutting now, consideration of problems relating to the cemetery upkeep, and various other small items. Routine paying of bills completed the business of the evening. The April 27, 1961, issue of the Vernonia Eagle included the following news story on the front page: A meeting was held at Robert C. Lindsay’s home Monday evening after the athletic banquet for the purpose of setting up a committee which would draw plans for the refurbishing of the Boy Scout cabin in the city park. Those who attended the meet- ing and the groups they represent- ed are as follows: E. V. Robertson and Earl Ray, Explorer Scouts; Don Cameron, Calvin Bass and Robert C. Lindsay, Boy Scouts; Leslie Caron, Scout neighborhood commissioner; Don Wantland and Paul Well, Brigadiers; Linn Mich- ener, Cub Scouts; Dick Nightwine and Wally Grosche, square dancers. E. V. Robertson was elected as chairman of the committee which is made up of one representative of each group wishing to use the Scout cabin. The committee, with the help of the organizations, will make the cabin an asset to the community and also provide a very modern meeting place for civic organizations. Present plans call for a new roof, plywood and paint interior, two new bathrooms, wiring, plumbing, kitchen and refinish all floors. The city park department is providing some of the funds. All persons who have time, equipment, or materials to donate, please contact E. V. Robertson, HA 9-5379. Others on the committee are: Don Wantland, Dick Nightwine, Linn Michener and Calvin Bass. Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay March 12th – I am reclining in space #16 today, munching on an apple for my lunch. I’ve worked two crossword puzzles, argu- ing with about seven of the words. Some I strongly disagree with, I may have to dig out my big Red Book when I get home. There are 16 of us on dialysis this shift. One is in isolation. That means Hepatitis C. Eight are men, so that leaves eight women. Gee, I can count. Three men sleep, one has a laptop disc movie machine, so he laughs a lot, one brings his newspaper from home and reads every page, another is a sports nut – watches any and all sports (rather loudly, I may add). One has had double foot/leg surgery (he’s diabetic and not doing so well). The eighth one chews gum all day. Well 3-1/2 hours any way. Honest. Of the women; two read, three sleep, two others watch TV, that leaves me. I’m the odd gal out. I read, do cross- word, eat apples and pretzel mix, and knit and write. If I get bored, I may watch NCIS on TV. I do not sleep. If I did, I’d be awake all night. Once in awhile, I may converse with a neighbor, but mainly each is wrapped in their own world. I’ve run dry for now so I’m going to knit again – I’ve only got an hour and 45 minutes to go. Oh yes – the wind is blowing, the rain is falling and the sky is blue, black and grey, it’s bored too. An update on knitting during dialysis: I was enjoying my new found freedom and one of the staff came up to me and I thought, “Uh, oh, I’m in trouble.” No, no way. She asked me if I would teach her how to knit. Of course, I said, “SURE.” So my next day on “dy”, I had extra yarn and needles. She was having so much fun one of the floor nurses came over, “My grandma showed me how when I was seven.” Said I, “Would you like a refresher course?” Her an- swer was yes so I said I’d bring yarn and needles (to see if she was really interested). I could draw this out, but the short story is – It was contagious. The wife of a patient asked me to teach her (she’s forgotten what she knew) and one more nurse is joining the line. So, I have four students to brighten my 3-1/2 hours of just sit- ting and trying to keep from being bored. Hallelujah. Meyers ‘ Auto Body,Inc 503-429-0248 493 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR