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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, November 16, 2011 Social Security cuts will hurt rural areas by Chris Thomas, Oregon News Service America’s small towns will be hit hardest by any cuts in Social Security, according to a new analysis on the rural-news website, the Daily Yonder. The review by the Center for Rural Strategies says that is because rural areas simply have a high- er percentage of people who receive those benefits. Economist Mark Partridge, Swank Chair in Rural-Urban Policy at Ohio State University, says the loss may appear small on an individual basis, but its reach would be broad, “I don’t want to necessarily say it would devastate communities, but I think small businesses, restau- rants, grocery stores, hardware stores – all of these are going to feel some impact if a lot of their steady customers, the ones who spend their money locally, have less.” The main reason for the higher percentage of Social Security recipients in rural ar- eas, Partridge explains, is be- cause young people tend to gravitate toward cities. He also points out that more people in rural areas receive disability payments, “It relates to the kinds of industries people work in. Industries like logging, min- ing or agriculture tend to be more dangerous, and thus you’re more likely to draw things such as disability.” In Oregon’s metropolitan counties, about 19 percent of the population receives Social Security benefits, while in the rural counties that figure aver- ages almost 25 percent – and in several, it’s 30 percent or higher. The Congressional “Su- per Committee” is expected to make its recommendations for spending cuts later this month; they may include changes to the Social Security program. More information is avail- able at www.DailyYonder.com. Details by county and by state are at http://srdc.msstate.edu/so- cialsecurity/. Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay Hello again. Here I sit plunking away with one (maybe two) fingers. I had my surgery last Thursday. The cast weighed (I swear) five pound, well, maybe not, but it felt like. Anyhow, I went back this past Monday, cast [was] cut off and a sort of molded tray was fit to my hand. It’s held on by velcro strips. Every two hours I have to release the fingers and play “this little pig- gy bend down and touches the palm of your hand (three different ways) 30 times.” Then velcro it back together, do whatever comes to my mind and then in two hours do it all again. WOW! It is exciting. But one of my friends got me a book on tape to listen to while I’m on dialysis. Of course, it is an Agatha Christie book. One I haven’t read before. That is a shock, I thought I’d read them all. My finger is tired so, for now, TA TA. Oh yes, I won’t see you all on the 16th. That’s the day I get my stitches out (I hope). 24 Years Ago This Month The November 27, 1987, is- sue of The Independent includ- ed the following news story on the front page: A proposal to create and fill the position of city administra- tor in Vernonia was approved by the city council on Novem- ber 2, but stalled November 16 because of charges that it would create grounds of a law- suit by city recorder Don Dun- away. The November 2 meeting, with only two council members and the mayor in attendance, started with a ruling by City At- torney Tom Kohl that a quorum existed under city charter defi- nitions that include the mayor Know how to cook turkey? When you’re planning holi- day menus, keep your time schedule in mind. Although many families enjoy roast turkey, it’s time-consuming to prepare. Be aware that short- cuts could result in food safety problems. If the turkey if frozen, you’ll need to allow enough time for thawing. It’s best to thaw in the refrigerator. Allow about 5 hours per pound. That may mean starting 4-5 days before the meal. To speed up thawing, sub- merge the wrapped bird in a sink of cold water. Allow about 30 minutes per pound to thaw See Turkey on page 12 as part of the council, although he votes only in case of a tie. In the absence of members Bill Hansen and Rob Richards, Tom Buffington and Mario Leonetti approved the adminis- trator proposal, which Buffing- ton had previously presented to the council for study. Then, at a special council meeting on November 12, Hansen said the city had a two year contract with Dunaway and since the administrator proposal would eliminate the recorder’s position, the city would be liable for damages. When asked by Buffington why he hadn’t mentioned a contract previously, Hansen said he never saw the contract. When it was pointed out that he signed it, along with the mayor and the rest of the council on December 15, 1986, he said he thought it was just part of regu- lar wage negotiations. Mayor Vaughn also said he was unaware that it was an employment contract until that afternoon when Dunaway told him about it. Richards, who was also on the council in December, made no statement about the docu- ment. Following an executive ses- sion at the November 16 regu- lar meeting, the council ap- proved a motion to hold the proposal in abeyance until after the next meeting in order to seek legal opinions on the doc- ument. In other business, during November the council agreed to: • terminate the contract held by Hal Evey for logging city tim- ber; • appoint Bill Hawkins and Jim Tierney to the State Linear Park Advisory Committee, with Terry Nimz as alternate; • direct Superintendent of Public Works Mike Smith to seek costs for hauling rip rap to the bank of Rock Creek in Hawkins Park, and noted that Bill Hawkins would donate the Patterson Ceramics Holiday Pottery Sale Hosted by Grey Dawn Gallery 879 Bridge Street Vernonia rock needed to stop soil ero- sion there; • sent a letter thanking the state highway department for placing a culvert, clearing ditches and improving drainage near Washington Grade School; • add a second “Business from the Floor” section to the council agenda, following Old Business, because the mayor objected to citizen participation during discussion; • ask Police Chief Phil Ja- cobus for a list of names and qualification of all reserves, and for notification when new reserves are accepted. Open Daily 11 a.m. Biker Friendly Nov.19 th Random Access Dec. 2 nd Country Backroads Dec.16 th Dusty Trails All Bands & Karaoke start at 9 P.M. Happy Hour: Mon - Fri 4 pm - 7 pm th th Nov 25 & 26 10am - 5pm ~ Nov 27 Noon - 5pm Dec 3 rd 10am - 5pm ~ Dec 4 th Noon - 5pm th Ladies Night: Wed. 5 pm - Midnight Open until midnight Sun-Thu & until 2:30 a.m. Fri, Sat. 733 Bridge St., Vernonia 503-429-9999