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