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The members of the Vernonia Police Department want to thank everyone for the support and help we have received from the community. By working together, in partnership and cooperation, we are able to maintain our quality of life and make Vernonia a much safer community. I have now been here just over a year and want thank everyone for the encouragement and backing I have received. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your police chief and as a resident of Vernonia. As a quick follow-up to last week's article on the Nuisance Ordinance, I would remind everyone to stay on top of their yard work. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the country where everything grows and flourishes so abundantly. Because of this fact our grass, weeds, and trees also flourish. Before you know it, they have become overgrown and may be in violation of the Nuisance Ordinance. I have seen several yards where the grass is overgrown and the trees are starting to create a vision obstruction for traffic and pedestrians. Please take the time to keep everything trimmed up especially if we have the dry fire season that is being predicted. If you have questions call the department at 503-429-7335. I want to quickly address a potentially dangerous topic of Internet Safety. Some of you may have seen the recent Fox12 special reports on male subjects making arrangements on-line to meet a 13 yr old girl. The girl was actually an adult posing as a "girl" but several men showed up to rendezvous with her. I cannot stress enough that parents, grand parents, guardians, and everyone needs to be aware of you children's activities on the Internet! My daughter is 11 and has much more Internet savvy then I ever gave her credit for. Both my wife and I have established rules and guidelines for her to follow or there will be no computer, period. This would include me calling the school to have them restrict her Internet access, if need be. I have had some parents here in Vernonia approach me as say that many Vernonia juveniles are giving their personal information out on-line. This is very dangerous and the cause of many serious incidents. For more information on Internet Safety click on the link on the VPD web site at <http://vpd.vernonia-or.gov> There is also a link to a photo page from the SKID Program done at VHS on the 27th. Thanks to Clark McGaugh for some of the photos.