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09-06-07 SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION! Remember the 20mph School Zone from 7am to 5pm and be extra cautious watching for children and adults in the crosswalk. Children are unpredictable and we need to be very vigilant while driving. Remember there will be very heavy traffic in the mornings and afternoons around the schools so plan on some delays. Be patient and cautious when driving around the schools and downtown. The 3rd Annual Vernonia Night Out was held on August 21st at Anderson park and was once again a success. Over 300 people attended the event and were treated to a free BBQ, ice cream, raffle prices, police and fire equipment, K9 demonstrations, self-defense demonstration, and lots of interaction with friends, relatives, and neighbors. The VNO is one of the many Community Oriented Policing events the Vernonia Police Department sponsors to enhance our community and increase interaction with all citizens in the area. The VNO would not be possible without the many volunteers, donations, and business sponsors that readily provide of their goods, services, and time to make the event successful. I would like to express my thanks to the following: Vernonia Fire Department, Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Association, Fairview Police Department, Columbia County Dairy Woman's Association, Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, City of Vernonia, Vernonia Lions Club, SSS Saw Shop, Blackbear Coffee, Vernonia Scrub Tub, Vernonia CATV, Mike Seager, Jaquelyn Ramsay, US Bank, Vernonia Realty, Cycle Oregon, Jazercise, Buckhorn, Out On A Limb, Henk & Nancy Schenk, Vernonia Dental, Brett & Penny Costley. I would also like to thank the many volunteers who served food and helped with the set-up and take-down. A very special thanks to Randy Parrow and the Vernonia Sentry Market for supplying a majority of the food items and to Randy for being the MC for the evening. Thank you to the great cooks; Larry Snethen and George & Donna Tice for the wonderful burgers and hot dogs. I apologize if I am forgetting anyone but know that I am very grateful to everyone for their willingness to make our community such a wonderful place to live. I recently received a phone call from a concerned citizen who wanted me to address a traffic topic in my article. The citizen was very concerned about how difficult it is to see when meeting another vehicle at night with fog or auxiliary lighting on. The citizen commented how dangerous it can be to meet an on-coming vehicle whose lights cause you vision problems. The citizen wanted me to address the law that regulates the use of fog lamps and auxiliary lighting. According to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 816.230 Fog lights shall be mounted, aimed and adjusted in accordance with standards adopted by the Department of Transportation, fog lights and any part of such fog lights that tends to change the original design or performance must be of a type that complies with standards adopted by the department under ORS 816.010, and forward mounted fog lights shall show a white, amber or yellow light. According to ORS 816.040 (Lighting equipment standards) unless specified by the DOT, lighting equipment can be used any time from sunset to sunrise or any other time when, due to insufficient light, persons and vehicles are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet. Essentially, to use fog lights or auxiliary lighting there must be some type of decreased lighting conditions that limits the effectiveness of your headlights (i.e.; fog, rain, snow, etc). The use of fog lights or auxiliary lighting during normal visibility is prohibited. The lights also must be adjusted in accordance with DOT requirements that keep them from adversely affecting other motorists. We all know how annoying and often difficult it can be when approaching motorists fail to dim their high beams. Fog lamps and auxiliary lighting being used under normal visibility or if they are improperly adjusted can have the same effect on other motorists as high beam headlights. The base fine for this violation is up to $145. Besides being illegal it is just common courtesy to use your fog lamps and auxiliary lighting properly. Help make our roadways safe by properly using your fog and auxiliary lights as well as dimming your high beams.