Did You Know...

08-17-06 DON'T FORGET, Vernonia Night Out will be Tuesday August 22nd from 6pm to 8pm at Anderson Park. There will be free music, free food, free raffle prizes, demonstrations, and more. Donations to support the event continue to come in. Bring your dogs as Kim Pultz & Tess Workman from Happy Grooming Dog Salon will be clipping dog nails for a $3 donation to the Police K9 Fund. If you wish to donate to Vernonia Night Out contact Chief Workman at 503-429-7335. Remember, almost 500 people participated last year and parking space is limited. If you can walk to the event please do so, otherwise look to park nearby and walk in. The Vernonia area is seeing an increase in thefts and vandalism. Items that are being stolen vary from tools, mowers, metal, furniture, or anything that can has a monetary value. Many of the thefts are occuring while the owner is home. A riding lawn mower was taken and later recovered at a residence in Portland. Portland Police believe the residence is a fencing-location for stolen items that were traded for drugs, etc. The damage that has occurred recently include items at the Memorial Cemetary and Pioneer Cemetary. Besides being a senseless act and devoid of all respect, there is a separate ORS (161.076) making it a A-Misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $50,000. I also have been asked to touch on the topic of discarding lit cigarettes. A citizen recently told me during a night trip on Hwy 47 and Hwy 26 he counted over fifteen lit objects being discarded from vehicles. Given the dry conditions and the numerous wildfires burning around the state he was disgusted. I agreed with him and want to remind everyone that it only takes one spark to start a fire that can destroy thousands of acres, millions in property, and even take lives. ORS 476.715 specifically makes it illegal to discard such items on the roadway or in forestland, punishable by $500 fine and 6 months in jail.