Page 18
The INDEPENDENT, July 20, 2011
From the Sheriff’s Desk…
by Jeff Dickerson,
Columbia County Sheriff
Public Safety in This
Economy
Everywhere you look in
Oregon and around the na-
tion, public safety is taking
huge budget hits in service
levels as sheriffs and police
chiefs grapple with shrinking
revenues and rising costs. Lo-
cal, state and national gov-
ernments are scratching for spare dollars and citizens
are overwhelmed with a weak economy and have an
intolerance of new taxes to pay for services.
It is in this environment that public safety leaders
are tasked with providing the services that help keep
our communities safe and secure from the ravages of
lawlessness, and seek to promote peaceful communi-
ties where we live.
Sheriffs are uniquely positioned in the public safety
community by virtue of the wide variety of peace con-
servation services they are authorized and mandated
to perform according to our state Constitution and
Oregon Revised Statutes. Sheriffs are mandated in
our Constitution to serve as the “ministerial officer of
the court,” providing whatever services the courts de-
mand in order to execute the rule of law in our socie-
ty. In addition to this constitutional mandate, the sher-
iff is singled out in state law as the “chief executive of-
ficer of the peace” in each county, with the duty to:
• Arrest those who break the peace and commit
them to prison
• Defend the county from lawlessness
• Serve civil justice processes at the direction of the
courts
• Execute warrants
• Oversee county jail operations according to legal
standards
• Oversee all search and rescue operations in the
county
• Manage the concealed handgun license program
Please see page 19
Tony Johnson Construction
DALE WOODWORKING
N
I
A
.CO
NT
U
O
SPECIALIZING IN REMODEL & REPAIR
M
M
Service Directory
C ABINET D ESIGN & M ANUFACTURING S INCE 1976
J OEL T EMPLIN
CCB #43965
503-429-5504
503-429-5436
V ERNONIA , O R 97064
FALL CREEK
WOODWORKING
WOOD FLOORS
INSTALLED &
REFINISHED
503-429-4351
Cory Colburn
11561 Keasey Road, Vernonia, OR 97064 • CCB #79876
St. Helens-Scappoose
Septic Tank Pumping
& Drain Cleaning
Office 503-397-3172
Cell 503-396-1408 or 503-396-1409
P.O. Box 203 • St. Helens, OR 97051
•
•
•
•
•
•
Excavating
Septic Systems
Site Prep
Underground Utilities
Driveways & Roads
Trenching
PO. Box 65 Vernonia CCB 166815 DEQ 38649
Office (503) 429-7009 • Cell (503) 989-9109
P OPPINO
P AINTING
FREE ESTIMATES
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB No. 90548
503-429-7101
Jim Morrison Jr.
General Contractor
(503) 429-0154
CCB# 112057
FREE ESTIMATES
503-429-8930
Reliable Commercial and Residential Service
SINCE 1981
CONTRACT LOGGING IN
OREGON & WASHINGTON
CCB #85280
Additions, Kitchens,
Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile,
Finish Carpentry & More!
DENNIS ELECTRIC
CORPORATION
“Have Tools Will Travel”
WINDOWS & DOORS
POLE BUILDINGS
ROOFING
FENCING
SIDING
DECKS
TILE
New Construction
and Remodeling
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
BI G HO R N
L OG G I N G
UTILITY SHEDS
GARAGES
CAR PORTS
ADDITIONS
DRYROT
DRYWALL
VINYL
Your Source for Reliable Electrical Service
in the Nehalem Valley
and Surrounding Area
for Over 35 Years
WE BUY TIMBER • 503-324-2422
Licensed & Bonded • CCB No. 193092
VERNONIA, OREGON
Dennis & Schann Nelson • P.O. Box 310 • Vernonia, OR 97064
Be here when they need you.
The INDEPENDENT Service Directory
is the ONLY Service Directory in the
Upper Nehalem Valley.
Call 503-429-9410 for information.