The INDEPENDENT, October 3, 2012
Tips for trouble free hunting
From page 6
priate tag by completely remov-
ing the month and day the ani-
mal was harvested and secure-
ly attaching the tag to a portion
of the animal.
• Please be Careful with Fire
– Practice fire safety at all
times. This year has been a
busy fire season so be aware
of any fire restrictions for the
area you intend to hunt. You
wouldn’t want to lose your
home to a fire, and neither
does the wildlife that call Ore-
gon’s outdoors their home.
Check with the land manager
and see Oregon Department of
Forestry’s webpage on private
lands access and phone num-
bers of local districts to check
fire restrictions.
• Respect Road Closures –
Road closures are in place to
conserve wildlife and improve
the hunting experience. It’s
very important to respect clo-
sures on private land so access
to hunters remains open.
• Report Wildlife Violations –
You can help protect Oregon’s
wildlife and natural resources
by reporting violations. If you
observe someone violating the
law in the field please call the
Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at
1-800-452-7888. Helpful infor-
mation includes the date, time,
location, type of violation, a de-
scription of the subject(s), and
any information if a vehicle is
involved, including a license
plate number if possible. Re-
wards may be offered for infor-
mation leading to the prosecu-
tion of violators through the TIP
Reward Fund sponsored by the
Oregon Hunter’s Association.
• Alcohol & Firearms Don’t
Mix – Many hunting accidents
in Oregon each year are pre-
ventable, and alcohol is often a
factor in these incidents. Wait
to celebrate your daily hunting
adventures at the end of the
day when weapons are safely
secured at home or in camp.
Always remember and practice
basic firearms safety:
- Keep your firearm’s muzzle
pointed in a safe direction.
- Keep your finger outside of
the trigger guard until ready to
shoot.
- Treat every firearm as if it
were loaded.
- Be sure of your target and
what is in front of it and beyond
it.
- Wear blaze orange.
Questions can be directed to
your local office of the Oregon
State Police or Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish & Wildlife.
Power of the People
By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager,
West Oregon Electric Cooperative
National Cooperative
Month
October is National Co-
operative Month and cele-
brates the long history of
Cooperatives and their vi-
tal role in communities and
the lives of its members.
Cooperatives were a cen-
tral hub in a lot of communities, bringing people,
products, services and resources together for
the betterment of all. It is this spirit of communi-
ty that has been a driving force in our own elec-
tric Cooperative.
West Oregon Electric Cooperative has been
in existence now for over 68 years. It was
formed to provide electricity to those who were
left without power in the rural areas. The large
investor-owned utilities would not extend power
unless the return was there for shareholders,
and rural areas didn’t provide enough financial
incentive for them. The area that West Oregon
serves didn’t make much financial sense to
them then, and that continues to be the case
now. For this reason we still exist to make sure
the members of our electric Cooperative receive
the same opportunities and power as their more
densely populated neighbors.
The most unique difference that separates us
from other utilities and makes us a Cooperative
is the fact we are owned by our members, who
elect a seven member Board of Directors to rep-
resent them.
This process
continues to
for the 2012 controlled hunt be an integral
draw. For hunts that allow an part of our
and
animal with two or more points Co-op
was
evi-
on the antler, the hunt must
denced
in
this
have had a minimum of 60 tags
year’s
elec-
available for the 2012 draw.
(These hunts will have a bag tion as two of
three
limit of “one bull elk,” “one 3 pt+ the
Military can hunt for free while on leave
Active members of the U.S.
Armed Forces may now be
able to get a controlled deer or
elk tag so they are able to hunt
with family and friends while
home in Oregon.
On September 26, ODFW
filed a temporary rule that gives
each of its wildlife districts the
chance to authorize up to 20
controlled deer and 20 con-
trolled elk tags. These tags
would be available on a first-
come, first-serve basis to Ore-
gon residents who are active
members of the Armed Forces
currently stationed outside of
Oregon, but home in the state
on temporary leave during
hunting season.
Active members of the U.S.
Armed Forces who are inter-
ested need to call one of
ODFW’s four regional offices in
the district where they want to
hunt: Northwest Region in
Clackamas,
971-673-6000;
Southwest Region in Rose-
burg, 541-440-3353; Northeast
Region in La Grande, 541-963-
2138; or High Desert Region in
Bend, 541-388-6363. To get a
tag, they will need to show a
copy of an active duty military
ID, a copy of current leave pa-
pers to document they are cur-
rently stationed outside of Ore-
gon and a valid Oregon resi-
dent hunting license.
Only certain hunts are eligi-
ble for the program. For con-
trolled deer or elk hunts with a
bag limit of “antlerless,” “spike
only” or “antlerless or spike,”
the hunt needs to have had a
minimum of 20 tags available
Page 13
elk,” “one elk,” “buck with visi-
ble antler,” “buck 2pt+,” “one
deer,” and “one white-tailed
deer.”) Information on tag num-
bers and bag limits for the 2012
See Military on page 14
Creatures P S
ETS &
UPPLIES
We’ve
Move
d!
998 Bridge St. Vernonia
(Across from City Hall)
Look For our Grand Opening in November
and Holiday Pet Grooming Promotion
503-429-PETS (7387)
board positions up for election had challengers,
with one of the challengers being the successful
candidate. The Board of Directors meets month-
ly to provide the direction, policies, budget and
goals of the Co-op, and oversees management
of the utility. Ownership, direction, management
and employment are all locally controlled and
operated. The margins made all stay with the
Co-op and its members, not sent to sharehold-
ers who reside somewhere else. This system
has served us well for over 68 years, and we
strive to protect this important heritage for our
members.
In keeping with the theme of working for the
benefit of our members, it is important for our
members to know that during these turbulent
economic times, we are being diligent in watch-
ing over the financial condition of the Co-op. We
are doing our best to keep the cost of doing
business in check. We have refinanced all of our
loans possible, which will result in savings of
over $640,000 during the remaining terms of the
loans. Budgets have been bare bones over the
last three years; we implemented wage freezes
for all employees for one year and two years for
management staff. By keeping our budgets so
tight, we reduced our ability to replenish our re-
serve fund for storm events, so we had little left
when hit by the snow storm this year. The Board
has approved a 4% rate increase to recapture
the storm expenses and loss to tree trimming
dollars which will take effect on October1. The
board voted to put $4 on the base charge and
the remainder on the kilowatt hour charge. The
average member using 1,200 kWh will see a
monthly increase of $6.41. We would not have
increased our rates this year had this event not
occurred. We are carefully watching the econo-
my as we begin budget preparations for 2013.
Our members can be assured that Staff and
the Board of Directors elected by the member-
ship take their roles seriously, and carefully
weigh each decision we make. We carefully bal-
ance the needs of the Cooperative to operate as
a successful business with the needs of the
members. Keeping the lights on and serving our
members continues to be our top priority.
Clean Teeth are
Happy Teeth!
We now offer Complete
Dental Ser vices for Dogs & Cats
Vernonia Veterinary Clinic
Call for appointments
503-429-1612
Monday, Wednesday
Wednesday & & Saturday
Saturday
Monday,
a.m to
to 4 4 p.m.
p.m.
9 9 a.m
700 Weed Avenue,Vernonia