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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2011 Hunter education classes now online Oregon’s hunter education students can now register for a class or field day online at ODFW’s licensing sales web- site under the “Classes/Work- shops” tab at www.dfw.state. or.us . Students may also register at any license sales agent or ODFW office that sells licenses and tags. Previously, students or their parents had to sign up by emailing or calling class in- structors. “Students and their parents have been asking for this for years, and we’re thrilled to fi- nally be able to offer it,” said James Reed, ODFW hunter education coordinator. “It should streamline the sign-up process for students and our dedicated staff of volunteer hunter education instructors. Oregon is the first state in the U.S. to integrate hunter ed- ucation registration with its li- censing sales system,” Reed added. To register, students will need to purchase a hunter ed- ucation class application fee, which is $10. When registering, the student chooses the date and time of their desired class or field day. Contact informa- tion for the class instructor is printed on their receipt. Students who do not have internet access or cannot go to a license sales agent should contact the Hunter Education Department at 503-947-6028 to sign up for a class or field day. Hunter education is manda- tory for all hunters under the age of 18, and recommended for any new hunter. The course covers topics like firearms safety, hunter ethics, wildlife identification, hunt preparation and techniques and outdoor survival. The program certifies about 6,000 new hunters each year. Classes are taught by ODFW’s network of volunteer hunter education instructors. Students may choose to take the hunter education course entirely in a classroom setting or by independent study (online or by workbook). Inde- pendent students must pass a required field day that includes live fire exercises before get- ting certified. More information at www. dfw.state.or.us/education/hunte r/index.asp . Marine Board seeks public opinion The Oregon State Marine Board seeks public comment on proposed rules that would identify a list of invasive species that are approved for removal by groups participating in the program, along with pro- tocols to follow and the devel- opment of best management practices to guide program ac- tivity. The 2011 Oregon Legisla- ture, through HB 3157 directed the Marine Board to update the Adopt-A-River Program. These rules will clarify program com- pliance and requirements. The public meeting, beginning at 4:00 p.m., is scheduled for De- cember 28, at the Marine Board office, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem. Written com- ment will be accepted through December 31. Written comments can be submitted via email to osmb. rulemaking@state.or.us or by U.S. mail to June LeTarte, Rules Coordinator, 435 Com- mercial Street NE, Suite 400, P.O. Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309-5056. Comments via telephone cannot be accepted. To review the proposed rule language to make public com- ment on, visit www.boatore gon.com/OSMB/admin/OSMB _Rulemaking_Newpage.shtml . Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay A chilly December morn to you. Once in a while I see the sun. Do you remember what it looked like? A couple of days ago I saw it set and five minutes later I saw a full moon shining a bright cold orange. The latest on my trip down “the road to recovery”. I got the brace off, and a bunch more exercises to do, a week ago. The good news was they canceled my Friday treatments, that means therapy only on Mondays. Yippee, but then I awoke Sunday morning to a pain in my right ear and ooz- ing goo. So off to the E.R. I go. Blocked ear canal, power pills and ear drop meds. A trip to an ear specialist. He cleaned out all the wax, gave me a hearing test, and said, “If it is still not open on the 30th, come back and I’ll punch a hole in the drum so it will drain out.” At this point, I’m looking to return and get a drain tube. Oh yes, one more thing, to exercise my fingers I now play with mar- bles and macaroni. But, I am back to writing, knitting, but no dish- es, sweep no floors or lift anything over the weight of a glass of water or a cup of tea. That’s the GOOD (for me), the BAD and the UGLY (for my grand-daughter). Ho Ho Ho. One more thing to marvel at – the forsythia (with all the cold) still has fresh blooms on it. Christmas is getting too close. Our church had the “Angel Tree” Christmas for the children. Our Bible Study group had our Christmas party today. All I have to do now is get some small nails, dress for the North Pole, go outside and put up my outdoor lights and set up Santa and Frosty under my Hinoki cypress. I’ve rattled about me long enough, so how about you all? Are you sick or well? Cold or not? Bored or happy and on the go? Ready or not, Christmas is only 13 days away at present (but when you read this it will be December 21) and then it will be 2012 before you read me again. So… Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours from, Jacqueline and Shadow in the Concrete Jungle. 24 Years Ago This Month The December 24, 1987, is- sue of The Independent includ- ed the following news story on the front page: Vernonia’s water treatment plant can pump more than a million gallons of water per day, the city’s superintendent of public works, Mike Smith, told the city council on December 21 as he contradicted state- ments at the December 7 coun- cil meeting that the plant didn’t meet specifications. At the earlier meeting, water superintendent Tom West re- sponded to a question by say- ing the plant couldn’t meet the specifications. The council re- sponded by requesting more information from West and Smith before referring ques- tions to the city’s consulting en- gineers. Smith, who was unable to attend the early December meeting, presented mathemati- cal data that, he said, West misunderstood and that showed the plant’s capacity. Smith said West was confusing data on the plant’s in-line booster, which pumps water through the filter, with main pumps, which run only part of the time. If the main pumps ran for 24 hours, Smith added, they would pump 1,008,000 gallons of water. The council instructed city attorney Tom Kohl to amend the city ordinance to allow one citizen from outside the city lim- its to serve on the planning commission because, they felt, that legitimate involvement by people outside the city should be recognized. A separate telephone line for the city library was approved at the December 7 meeting. Li- brarian Sandy Nimz told the council that a small state grant, plus a donation from the local Lions Club, would pay for the phone for the remainder of the fiscal year, and requested that an expenditure be included in the next budget to continue this service. Nimz quoted increased li- brary usage as one reason for having a separate line, and was supported by city recorder Don Dunaway who said he felt it would be an improvement. The recorder’s office and li- brary have been sharing the same line. The December 24, 1987, is- sue of The Independent includ- ed the following news story on page 3: The rezoning of most of the 800 block of Madison Avenue, from residential to commercial, received its second approval at a public hearing held by the Vernonia City Council on De- cember 7, 1987. The change was requested by Howard “Pat” Knight, owner of the first two lots north of Bridge Street, on the west side of Madison, so he could rent one of his properties to a small laser manufacturing business. Scott Sword, a resident of 891 Madison, said he had no objections to the zone change, but wanted to know where the cars generated by the business would park. David Smith, owner of the laser business, said he planned to use an adjacent va- cant lot, also owned by Knight, for parking. The change approved by the council was for the east side of the block, and for 3/4 of the west side of the block. Two res- idential properties remain un- changed. Made in Vernonia Handmade local crafts 10% off purchases over $20.00 Open: Thu 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sat 10:00 to 4:00 PM Sun 12:00 to 4:00 PM Expires 12/31/11 Or by appointment Call Kathy Larsen 503-449-3591 847 Madison Avenue