The INDEPENDENT, May 19, 2011
24 Years Ago This Month
The May 28, 1987, issue of
The Independent included the
following news story on the
front page:
Vernonia’s City Council con-
tinued work on upgrading of
city parks during their meetings
in May, approving the use of
heavy equipment (obtained on
a volunteer basis by Jim Morri-
son) at Spencer Park to com-
plete the groundswork and
stump removal needed for
youth baseball; approving addi-
tional expenditures of up to
$275 for paint, gates, siding
and miscellaneous materials
needed to finish the horse are-
na in Anderson Park; discussed
fencing for the swimming pool
area at Hawkins Park, and ap-
proved major changes for An-
derson Park.
Caretakers at Anderson
Park will be a thing of the past,
starting July 1, as the council
approved elimination of the po-
sition and the caretaker’s mo-
bile home. They also approved
installation of 5 lights in the
park, plus lights at the en-
trances to the park restrooms.
Noting that the chamber of
Bits & Bites
commerce has been granted
permission to put the city’s old
street lights up in Anderson
Park, the council agreed to see
what progress has been made
on that project before putting
up new lights.
The council also thanked
Jim and Kathy Morrison for ob-
taining the heavy equipment
and work crew for Spencer
Park’s ball fields, noting that
the Morrisons “got done in 2
days what it would have taken
the city 3 months to do.”
Boaters: Prevent invasive species spread
When launching your boat
this season, you’ll likely see
signage aimed at educating
boaters about how to prevent
aquatic invasive species from
spreading or gaining a foothold
in Oregon’s beloved water-
ways.
In 2009, the Oregon Legisla-
ture passed legislation that cre-
ated a self-supporting aquatic
invasive species prevention
program,
geared
toward
boaters who have watercraft 10
feet long or longer. The pro-
gram is designed to educate
boaters about the threat of
aquatic invasive species and
what boaters can do to prevent
the spread of aquatic invasive
species that are already in Ore-
gon, like the New Zealand mud
snail. Revenue generated by
the permit fee is used for in-
spection/detection, decontami-
nation, and education efforts.
Registered motorboats pay
a surcharge in addition to their
boat registration fee. A current
registration decal affixed to the
bow of the boat acts as proof of
payment into the program.
Manually powered boats 10
feet long and longer (paddle-
craft) are required to purchase
a permit and carry it with them
when operating their water-
craft.
In January, the Oregon State
Marine Board approved more
purchasing options for manual-
ly-powered boats, based on
feedback from this boating
community and marine law en-
forcement.
The Marine Board approved
both a one-year and two-year
Tyvek tag. These tags are
available for purchase through
the Marine Board’s office in
Salem and can also be ordered
by downloading a permit appli-
cation online at http://www.boa
toregon.com/OSMB/Clean/doc
s/Boating_public_order_form_
2011.pdf.
Boaters can purchase as
many permits as they like from
one application form. Once the
form is downloaded and filled
out, mail the application to the
Marine Board at P.O. Box
14145, Salem, OR 97309. Per-
mits expire on December 31 of
the current year for the one
year permit or December 31 of
2012, depending on which per-
mit is purchased.
“What’s nice about purchas-
ing your AIS permit through the
Marine Board is boaters aren’t
charged a processing fee,” said
Glenn Dolphin, Aquatic Inva-
sive Species Prevention Pro-
gram Coordinator for the Ma-
rine Board. “It’s $5 for a one
year permit and $10 for two
years. Funds are used for the
aquatic invasive species pre-
vention program designed to
protect our waterways from be-
ing taken over by non-native
species.”
One-year paper permits can
also be purchased from ODFW
license agents or online at
www.dfw.state.or.us for $7.
Boat inspection stations are
Page 9
also gearing up at boat launch-
es and rest areas across Ore-
gon in May and June. Travelers
entering the state are asked to
look for “Boat Inspection
Ahead” signs and be prepared
to pull off the highway for in-
spection. An inspection takes
about 10 minutes if boats are
free of aquatic species. If a
boat is found to be contaminat-
ed with aquatic invaders, it will
be cleaned by a mobile decon-
tamination team.
For more information about
the aquatic invasive species
prevention permit program or
for directions to the Marine
Board office, visit www.boa-
toregon.com.
By Jacqueline Ramsay
What am I doing today? After having
heard what Sally talked about last Wednes-
day afternoon at the Vernonia Senior Cen-
ter and then seeing and listening to Chan-
nel 2 Thursday evening, I am trying to re-
group my thoughts. So, I’m sitting at my
table, feet propped on a chair, munching a
tuna fish sandwich, watching a bushie-
tailed squirrel frolic on a backyard fence
across the street from my patio window. (Got the picture?) I could
tell you what I think but since I do not live there or vote there any-
more I will keep my thought to myself and pray that what is left of
the City Council has enough power and help from the informed
citizenry to stop the disaster that will happen if it isn’t cleared up
and stopped. Stop and realize what will happen to the “City” of
Vernonia if you don’t keep the “Key” to all of the projects in the fire
that is trying to keep Vernonia on the map for its upcoming spirit
to live despite the floods that have tried to wipe you OUT.
Now for the brighter side of the news. Jim (son), being kind
hearted, decided to “leash” train his house cat, so we could let it
out in the fresh air once in a while. OK. So she accepted the har-
ness. In the house she’s a calm cat. Outside she’s a “Fraidy Cat.”
She does love it out there in the dirt and tree roots. So, now she
sits in front of the closed front door and yowls her head off. Guess
who has to hook her up and stroll in the dirt now? Shadow isn’t
too keen on the idea of my paying attention to the CAT. Ho, ho.
Sorry I flipped my lid, but I do care what happens in the Little
Town Lost in the Woods. I have many friends there.
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