Did You Know...

07-19-07 As you may have read in the blotter, the Vernonia Police Department assisted with the rescue of a 14yr old female who was injured after falling approximately 60ft from the Linear Trail to the creek below. I first want to commend Officer Jeff Dalrymple for locating the girl, attempting to get to her, then communicating with her until the Metro West Ambulance and the Vernonia Fire Department arrived. I next want to commend Dan Owens from Metro West for going over the edge and down the ravine to assess the girl's condition, reassure her of her safety, and then assisting in the rope-rescue to get her up to the ambulance. Lastly I want to commend the Vernonia Fire Department on there actions to secure the girl then working as a team, to bring her up the ravine to safety and the ambulance which took her to the awaiting Life-Flight helecopter. The team of "volunteer" firemen out on the scene worked together to bring that girl to safety using their adequate but less-than-stellar equipment. The citizens of the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District should be proud of the men and women who volunteer and serve this area. I recently received a notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles that they are initiating changes to the driver licenses and ID cards. The cards will now be centrally issued and you will not receive an over-the-counter card but instead a temporary paper interim permit. The new cards feel different and are made with different plastic. The text is clearer and more vibrant as well as having enhanced security features making it more difficult to counterfeit. The biggest change will be the use of "facial recognition" software that checks all photos on file (including other interim card photos that day) to ensure against giving duplicate cards and cards to people with false identities. The changes will be implemented thoughout the summer. I received another notice from the Attorney General regarding Oregon entering into an agreement with a Colorado firm that sales adjustable beds. The firm (Success Marketing, Inc. d.b.a. Craftmatic Beds) advertised misleading price reductions, false health claims, and took advantage of elderly customers. The Attorney General warns residents, especially the elderly, to be extremely careful when buying goods sight-unseen and to have someone with them when listening to their sales pitch. For more information or if you feel you have been taken advantage of by in-home sale people you can contact the Oregon DOJ at 877-877-9392. On July 28, 2007 the American Council on Criminal Justice Training (ACCJT) and the Vernonia Police Department will be sponsoring a Drug-Free Family Movie Event at Hawkins Park. Besides showing a family-oriented movie we will have BBQ and will be joining together as a community against drugs and celebrating together. More information will be posted in the near future on the city and police websites as well as flyers around town.