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The INDEPENDENT, September 7, 2011
Oregon starts mandatory boat checks
Fire restrictions increased for now
Motorists hauling boats in
Oregon are now required to
stop at boat inspection stations
to have their watercraft inspect-
ed for aquatic invasive species
under a bill signed into law by
Gov. John Kitzhaber on August
2. Failure to stop at an inspec-
tion station could result in a
$142 fine.
Motorists are alerted to in-
spections stations by orange
“Boat Inspection Ahead” signs.
All vehicles carrying kayaks,
canoes, paddleboards, sail-
boats and any other boats,
non-motorized or motorized,
are required to stop.
Inspections usually take
about 10 minutes if boats are
free of invasive species. If a
boat is found to be contaminat-
ed with quagga or zebra mus-
sels, it will be cleaned on site
by the boat inspection team
with a pressure washer. There
is no penalty or cost for the
boat owner if their boat is found
From page 1
drying of wildland fuels, and
forecasted weather patterns
calling for warmer and drier
weather with no measurable
precipitation in the foreseeable
future.”
The stepped-up restrictions
include the following:
1. Smoking is prohibited
while traveling, except in vehi-
cles on improved roads.
2. Open fires are prohibited,
including campfires, charcoal
fires, cooking fires and warm-
ing fires, except at designated
locations. Portable cooking
stoves using liquefied or bot-
tled fuels are allowed.
3. Non-industrial use of
chainsaws is prohibited, except
as waived by the forester.
4. Use of motorized vehi-
cles, including motorcycles and
all terrain vehicles, is prohibit-
ed, except on improved roads.
5. Possession of the follow-
to be contaminated with inva-
sive species.
When a motor boat passes
inspection a zip-tie will be con-
nected from the boat to the
trailer as proof the boat has
been inspected and is clean to
launch. Boaters can easily re-
move the zip tie when they
launch. All boaters will be given
a copy of the inspection form.
Non-motorized boaters can
show their inspection form if re-
quested by law enforcement.
According to Rick Boatner,
ODFW Invasive Species Spe-
cialist, inspection stations will
be set up at roadsides and boat
ramps throughout the state.
ODFW’s four regional inspec-
tion teams are based in Med-
ford, Clackamas, Madras and
La Grande.
“Zebra and quagga mussels
are established in many states
and we want to make sure they
don’t end up in our waterbod-
ies,” said Glenn Dolphin,
Aquatic Invasive Species Coor-
dinator for the Marine Board.
“And, we have to contain the
invaders we already have in
the state, New Zealand mud
snail and Eurasian water mil-
foil, so they don’t get transport-
ed to new areas.”
Columbia 9-1-1 Administrator quits
Rick Whitehead, Columbia
9-1-1 Communications District
Administrator, has notified the
board of directors of his intent
to resign for personal reasons
effective September 15.
The board has indicated that
it will explore options to fill the
position as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, administrative
staff will assume some of the
duties of the administrator.
Whitehead held the adminis-
trator position for nine months,
following the retirement of long-
time administrator Sally Jones.
ing firefighting equipment is re-
quired while traveling, except
on state highways, county
roads and driveways: one
shovel and one gallon of water
or one 2-1/2 lb. or larger fire ex-
tinguisher.
6. Use of fireworks is prohib-
ited.
7. Cutting, grinding and
welding of metal is prohibited.
8. Use of exploding targets
is prohibited.
The ODF field districts en-
compassed by the regulated-
use closure include the Astoria,
West Oregon, Forest Grove
and Tillamook districts.
Current information on local
fire season regulations for both
public and industrial users may
be obtained by calling the Co-
lumbia City office of the Oregon
Department of Forestry at 503-
397-2636.
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
6:30 p.m., 410 North Street
Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street
American Legion Post #119
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
6:30 p.m., Library
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-3018
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6081
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
For Info Call 503-429-4250
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2
For Info Call 503-819-0143
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
For location call 503-429-7193
Kiwanis Club
2nd & 4th Tuesdays
6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong
Municipal Airport Committee
1t Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Public Works Committee
4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Cares Directors
For Info call 503-429-1414
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Community PTA
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., WGS Library
Vernonia Garden Club
2nd Tuesday
1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library
Vernonia Grange
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., Grange Hall
Vernonia Health Center
3rd Thursday
6:30 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
Vernonia Learning Center
1st Wednesday
6:00 p.m., VLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Pride
2nd Thursday
1:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
6:00 p.m., District Office
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
2nd Friday
10:00 a.m., Senior Center
Vernonia Transfer Station
2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Behind VHS
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., WOEC
MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
American Legion Post #90
Banks City Council
Banks Fire District #13
Banks Library Commission
Banks Planning Commission
Banks School Board
Banks Youth Group
Chamber of Commerce
CPO 14
Everybody’s Hometown Band
Friends of the Library
Lions Club
Sunset Park Assoc.
T.O.P.S.
Friday
Wednesday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Wednesday
3rd Tuesday
Last Tuesday
2nd Monday
Sunday, Wednesday
1st Thursday
3rd Monday
Tuesdays
2nd Tuesday
1st & 3rd Mondays
3rd Wednesday
Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:30 p.m., Main Street Post
7:30 p.m., City Hall
7:00 p.m., Station 13
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., City Hall
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room
7:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., Brown Derby
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesday
10:00 a.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia Comm Mental Health
1st Tuesday
5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Tuesday
Times vary, 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plan. Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.