Page 10
The INDEPENDENT, February 15, 2012
Who will be biggest energy loser?
Banks, along with North
Plains, is getting ready to go on
a diet…an energy diet, that is!
With the help of Portland Gen-
eral Electric, Energy Trust of
Oregon, Partners for a Sustain-
able Washington County Com-
munity, and Adapt Engineering,
the cities are going to see what
it will take to lose some of their
kWh and therm carbon pounds.
The contest begins now,
with each community identify-
ing five to ten businesses that
want assistance shedding un-
wanted energy. Participants
will receive free energy consul-
tations to help them learn what
steps they can take to reduce
energy use. Incentives and/or
rebates available to help offset
the cost of changes will also be
identified.
For example, simply turning
off your computer at night and
on weekends can save $15 per
computer, per year.
Find out who is the biggest
(energy) loser after the energy
consultations have been com-
pleted.
County seeks nominations for
10th Public Health Award
As part of the 2012 National
Public Health Week celebration
(April 2-8), Washington Coun-
ty’s Department of Health and
Human Services will honor an
individual and an organization
that have made significant con-
tributions to public health in the
county. Nominations are being
accepted now through March
9.
The 10th Annual Public
Health Recognition Awards will
be presented on Thursday,
April 5, 9:00 a.m., in Washing-
ton County’s Charles D.
Cameron Public Services
Building, Shirley Huffman Audi-
torium, 155 N. First Avenue,
Hillsboro.
Nominee criteria:
• Work focuses in Washing-
ton County
•
Demonstrates
public
health best practices
• Projects or activities are
sustainable, making a lasting
impact on the community
• Nominees also may have
created new partnerships, sys-
tems or policy changes.
Download a nomination
form at www.co.washington.
or.us/HHS/ or call Wendy Gor-
don at 503-846-3634 to re-
quest one.
Boone asks Congress to fund Coast Guard
The Oregon House of Rep-
resentatives passed House
Joint Memorial 202 on Febru-
ary 7, urging the US Congress
to fully fund the United States
Coast Guard, which saves, on
an average day, 12 lives, inves-
tigates 13 marine accidents,
and responds to 64 search and
rescue cases, and ensures
safety and stability for trade
and tourism in our waters.
“The US Coast Guard pro-
tects our waters daily with effi-
ciency and dignity,” said Repre-
sentative Deborah Boone (D-
Cannon Beach), “fully funding
their efforts to ensure that fish-
ermen, traders and tourists are
safe should be a priority of our
Congress.”
There are three Coast
Guard stations in Boone’s
House District, Astoria, War-
renton and Garibaldi. Federal
funding will keep those facilities
operating efficiently with ade-
quate crews and needed
equipment. In addition, the
Coast Guard’s enforcement
area continues to increase on
the west coast. The Coast
Guard has been operating in
the Arctic since Alaska became
a United States Territory, as-
Special Pricing on Bulk Saw Chain and Cut Loops for $1 per Bar Inch
503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main St., Banks
ODFW announces art contest
The Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife invites artists
to enter its Habitat Conserva-
tion Stamp art contest. The
winning artist will receive
$3000 and his or her artwork
will be used to produce a
stamp and other promotional
items. Deadline for entries is
5:00 p.m. on February 29,
2012.
Artwork must feature one of
the fish or wildlife species iden-
tified in the Oregon Conserva-
tion Strategy in its respective
Strategy habitat. There are 286
native species and 11 habitats
From page 3
posed to each of us having to
pay for a separate collection.
So, if you would like to keep
both our courts and the Colum-
bia County Law Library as on-
going resources for all of us
when we need them, you might
want to convey this to both
Rep. Brad Witt (1-503-986-
1130) and Sen. Betsy Johnson
(1-503-986-1716) as these
budget cuts are currently being
considered.
Yours truly,
Michael F. Sheehan
Scappoose
Saw Chain On Sale! Hurry while supplies last!
Banks Hardware
Boone introduced HJM 202
as part of an effort of the Pacif-
ic Fisheries Legislative Task
Force, an association of legis-
lators from Oregon, Alaska,
Washington, Idaho and Califor-
nia. Similar legislation is being
introduced in all five states to
encourage Congressional sup-
port for full funding of the Unit-
ed States Coast Guard.
House Joint Memorial 202
now moves to the Senate for
consideration.
called out in the Strategy,
which is available on ODFW’s
website.
See the ODFW website for a
copy of the announcement,
rules and entry form, http://
www.dfw.state.or.us/conserva
tionstrategy/habitat_conserva
tion_stamp.asp .
The contest winner will be
chosen by a panel comprised
of a Fish and Wildlife Commis-
sioner and four citizens to be
selected by ODFW’s Director.
Artwork will be available for
public viewing.
Letters
STIHL HT 101
Telescoping Pole Pruner
PRECISION OUTD OOR
POWER EQUIPMENT
sisting in scientific exploration,
charting the waters, providing
humanitarian assistance to na-
tive tribes and conducting
search and rescue and law en-
forcement operations. As open
water continues to replace ice,
human activity is increasing in
Arctic waters, substantially ex-
panding the Coast Guard’s re-
sponse area. Having additional
equipment strategically placed
in the Arctic region, will shorten
Coast Guard response times
and increase life-saving efforts.
• Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm
• Saturday 8am to 5pm
• Sunday 10am to 4pm
Questioned change
of requirements
To the Editor:
When I attended the Plan-
ning Commission meeting on
10/13/11, I was the only one to
stand up and “object” to the Su-
perintendent’s request to
change a Condition of Ap-
proval, that required under-
ground utilities. (city file no:
CUP/SD10-02).
The city panel of at least 5
people expressed their “dis-
content” of said request and
were “clear” as to the fact that
“underground” mean “under-
ground.” But, the $80,000 up in
fee swayed the panel to ap-
prove said request, although
unwillingly. I said, “…so much
money already spent on this
project, do it right! (as power
company will not keep up with
repairs?!)”
I expressed my feelings of
our first mistake being hiring a
company from out-of-state to
trust in building in this area and
in these conditions I’m sure
they are unaware of (I also
hope the flat roof to hold a roof
garden and solar equipment
and hopefully not cave-in. Not
sure if the flat roof will hold up
to the weight of the snow in
heavy winters!).
Only to hope and wish the
best for this spectacular build-
ing to go forth in the success
and education of our kids.
Virginia Kepner
Vernonia