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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2012)
The INDEPENDENT, August 15, 2012 Where to Find Them U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (Dem) 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585 Portland OR 97232 Phone: 503-326-7525 223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510-0001 Phone: 202-224-5244 E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/ contact Website: http://wyden.senate. gov U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (Dem.) One World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: 503-326-3386 313 Hart Senate Ofc. Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-3753 E-Mail: http://merkley.senate. gov/contact WebSite: http://merkley.senate. gov U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici, (Dem) OR District 1 620 SW Main, Suite 606 Portland, OR 97205 Phone: 503-326-2901 2338 Rayburn House Ofc. Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-0855 Website: http://bonamici.house. gov Senator Betsy Johnson (Dem) Senate District 16 PO Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056 Phone: 503-543-4046 900 Court St. NE, S-314 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1716 E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@ state.or.us Website: http://www.leg.state.or. us/johnson Page 3 Guest Opinion by Tony Hyde, Columbia Coun- ty Commissioner and Columbia County Economic Team, and Jeff Kemp, CEO, Pacific Stain- less and Columbia County Economic Team Columbia County’s Industrial Grade Workforce Columbia County’s greatest economic asset is its highly skilled workforce. These highly skilled workers excel in manu- facturing. Fortunately, workers with experience in goods pro- ducing industries – a full 25% of the local workforce – can find quality opportunities throughout the region. Howev- er, the bottom-line value of working locally, for residents and the community, is incom- parable. In Columbia County, there are currently unfilled openings for skilled workers at manufac- turers – and the Columbia County Economic Team fore- sees a growing manufacturing sector that generates many more such opportunities for lo- cal residents in the future. Manufacturing is a key in- dustry here. It generates more wages than any other private- sector category – $63 million in total payroll last year. And local manufacturers need skilled employees today. Manufacturing jobs range in scope from production operator to industrial engineering man- ager. In Columbia County these positions pay, on aver- age, $50,000 in annual wages – more than any other catego- ry. At face value, these wages slightly trail neighboring coun- ties, for example, by only $3,000 per year relative to Multnomah County. However, switching to a lo- cal manufacturing job from a similar position elsewhere, is like getting, on-average, a $12,500 pay raise when you factor the high cost of a long commute. A 20-mile commute each way, at minimum, costs $5500 per year in gas and car wear- and-tear. In terms of lost wages, the cost of time spent commuting is, on average, al- most $10,000 per year. Yet, you almost can’t put a price tag on the considerable loss of free time. For example, commuting 45 minutes to Port- land, each way, eats up 7-1/2 hours per week, 375 hours per year. This grueling commute is the equivalent of nearly 10 ex- tra weeks of vacation per year – time anyone would rather spend with their family, or what- ever else adds to their notion of “the good life.” We both are fortunate to work locally, and spend some of our free time in service to the community. Community groups – Kiwanis, Rotary, Elks Club, Chambers of Commerce, for example – are a big part of what makes Columbia County great. We can only imagine what it would mean to the com- munity if each group had 50 more people volunteering one hour per week, instead of com- muting. An “on-shoring” trend finally seems to be bringing manufac- turing jobs back to the U.S. af- ter decades of decline. Rising productivity here, and increas- ing costs overseas, is leveling the playing field. This points to new opportunities for Columbia County’s skilled workforce, en- trepreneurs, and the communi- ty. The Columbia County Eco- nomic Team (CCET) is hearing from local manufacturers that they are getting new contracts. Contracts that were formerly awarded to Chinese competi- tors. Perhaps this explains, in part, why the Oregon Employ- ment Department finds Colum- bia County manufacturers to have added 100+ jobs in the last twelve months. Regional and statewide eco- nomic development groups are working diligently to capitalize on on-shoring and new export opportunities to stimulate eco- nomic growth – and Columbia County is well positioned to participate in and take advan- tage of these strategies. Our robust base of industrial sites, favorable business cost structure, and access to mar- kets means Columbia County is ripe with opportunity – for en- trepreneurs, the community, and, most of all, Columbia County’s industrial grade work- force. Learn about the manufactur- ing companies operating in Co- lumbia County by visiting the Columbia County Economic Team’s website at www.colum biacountyoregon.com, and dis- cover job openings at www. worksourceoregon.org. There are great opportunities in our own backyard. Out of My Mind… From page 2 borhoods, when they contami- nate our planet on land and sea, and when they bury streams and whole valleys with coal ash. Real courage would be tak- ing on super rich corporations and individuals with a tax code that ties taxes to income, so those who enjoy raking in 70 percent of the year’s wealth also pay 70 percent of the year’s income taxes. Romney, who said the Ryan budget was “marvelous”, now says he has his own tax plan to reduce rates and close loop- holes. Like Ryan, he doesn’t say which loopholes. Many people still want to see Romney’s taxes because that is how we will know what kind of tax policy he supports. That may be why he doesn’t want to reveal more than two years of returns. hi-point winners in each age group at the Jamboree Play- day: Sentry Market, Vernonia Hardware, Napa Auto Parts, Wauna Federal Credit Union, Stump Branch Logging, Ver- nonia Equestrian Team, and Vernonia Dental. Vernonia Ridge Riders would like to thank the Vernon- ia community for their contin- ued support over the past 55 years. DeLoris Bellingham President of Vernonia Ridge Riders Letters Representative Brad Witt (Dem) House District. 31 21740 Lindberg Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Phone: 503-728-4664 900 Court St. NE, H-373 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1431 E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us Website: http://www.leg.state.or. us/witt Representative Deborah Boone (Dem) House District 32 PO Box 926 Cannon Beach, OR 97110 Phone: 503-717-9182 900 Court St. NE, H-375 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1432 E-mail: rep.deborahboone@ state.or.us Website: http://www.leg.state.or. us/boone Use corn for food, not to make ethanol To the Editor: Friday, the USDA lowered its projections of the 2012 corn crop by 13% (WSJ, Saturday, August 11 Ethanol vs. the World). The intense drought in the Midwest is largely to blame. 40% of the precious remain- ing crop will be used in the pro- duction of ethanol, a fuel addi- tive for gas. Even environmen- tal groups have turned against the ethanol subsidy because of the deforestation it causes. The EPA can suspend this ridiculous bit of corporate wel- fare. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, if the mandate isn’t stopped im- mediately, widespread starva- tion could result. Don’t be deceived by lower beef prices in the short term. Cattle have been rushed to slaughter because of spiking feed prices. This reprieve won’t last long. Contact the EPA or your congressman. Wayne Mayo Scappoose Ridge Riders thank sponsors for support To the Editor: The Vernonia Ridge Riders would like to take this opportu- nity to thank our sponsors for their donations towards our Montana Silver Buckles that for Policy on Letters The INDEPENDENT will not publish letters with per- sonal attacks on private citi- zens. Preference will be giv- en to brief letters, 300 words or less. All letters must be signed and include a verifiable ad- dress or phone number. — NOTICE — The INDEPENDENT pub- lishes on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Because August has five Wednesdays, there will be three weeks before the next issue, on September 5. The deadline for the Sept. 5 issue is Friday, Aug. 31.
