Did You Know...

10-05-06 I have said it before that this time of year is extremely beautiful in the Vernonia area. The leaves are changing to create a cascade of colors to entertain our eyes. Unfortunately the scene is short-lived and the leaves soon fall to the ground. I would remind everyone that wet leaves soon form a slick paste that can cover the roadway. Be cautious and patient while driving on wet roads, especially when covered with wet leaves. Recently I have been asked several questions about juveniles being out late at night and the Vernonia Curfew Ordinance. To review, Vernonia City Ordinance #313 addresses the City Curfew. The main points to remember are: It is unlawful for children under 18yrs old to be on the streets, alleys, parks, or other public place unless accompanied by parent, guardian, or other person 21yrs or older who is authorized by parent or by law to have custody of the minor between 10:00pm and 5:00am the following day (Sunday through Thursday) and 11:00pm and 5:00am the following day (Friday & Saturday). This does not include a child traveling to or from work, school, or religious function, an emergency, or going to or from legally established place of recreation with consent of the above mentioned adults. The ordinance also addresses officer and parental duties. Offending juvenile to be taken into custody and referred to the juvenile department as well as parents who knowingly allow children to violate this ordinance can be fined from $100 to $1000. Most everyone has heard about McGruff the Crime Dog and many of you met him at the Vernonia Night Out. McGruff is now launching a new campaign to help families with one of the largest problem facing America: cyber crime. McGruff has joined forces with several groups and will be addressing computer viruses, spyware, id theft, online predators, and more. In the coming months, McGruff will be "Guarding the Home Net" against scams and working with cyber-crime investigators. The "Take a Byte Out of Cyber Crime" website can be found at <www.bytecrime.org>. On the site you can register for updates and access numerous tips, tools, and resources under the "content" tab. You can also click on the McGruff logo on the VPD website to access the site as well.