A4opinion
Opinion
A4 The News Guard
September 26, 2012
Observe firearm safety Published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 930 S.E. Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367-0848 Phone: (541) 994-2178 Fax: (541) 994-7613 www.TheNewsGuard.com USPS 388-100
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Sheriff’s Tips By Sheriff Dennis Dotson
Many Americans own firearms and for a variety of reasons. Some people feel more secure, others enjoy the sport of target practice and competition, there are many collectors, and others enjoy hunting. Your Sheriff’s Office wants to offer some information to firearm owners, much of which is already familiar. Our hope is that the incidence of accidental discharges will be eliminated. If You Keep a Firearm: • Understand the operation of any firearm before attempting to use it. • Never point your firearm at anyone or anything you do not intend to shoot. • Treat every firearm as if it was loaded. • Do not allow your firearm to be handled by anyone who does not know the rules of firearm safety, or who does not understand how it should be safely operated. • Store your unloaded firearm separate from your ammunition. Always keep both in places that are inaccessible to children and other individuals who are not permitted to use it. • Never use alcoholic beverages or other drugs before or during shooting. Instruct your children, if
they find a firearm: • Do not touch the firearm and leave the area immediately. • Tell an adult that they trust where the firearm can be found. Ammunition: • Firearms are designed for ammunition of a specific type and caliber. Do not alter the barrel, slide, or chamber of a firearm. Consult with a certified Gunsmith for any firearm maintenance or repair. • Never use a cartridge not specifically designed for use in your firearm. Excessive pressure can damage or even blow up a firearm. • Make sure your barrel is clear and free of obstruction. If you see an obstruction, have it serviced. Never fire a firearm with an obstructed barrel. Transportation/storage: • Store unloaded firearms separately and in places inaccessible to children. • Never leave a gun in your vehicle. Guns are often stolen from cars. Protect your children: • Tell your children to stay away from firearms when they are in the homes of their friends. • Speak with the parents of your children’s friends to determine whether or not they have a firearm in the home. If they do, urge them to empty it out and lock it up! For more information and tips, visit our web site at www.lincolncountysheriff.net.
A Moment in History
Frank Hallock built the Nelscott Cash Store in the spring of 1927. The store was the heart of the town and included a general store, the first offices of the Nelscott Land Company, a bus depot, a restaurant, a beauty parlor, and by 1929, the post office. During rush hour and on busy Saturdays, the store needed six clerks. Anna Cushing operated the restaurant, famous for its home cooking and generous portions. This photograph and many more are available at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum and in the book, ‘Lincoln City and the Twenty Miracle Miles.’ Dates and names are given when they are known. If you have more information about this photo, contact Anne Hall at 541-996-6614. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE HALL AND THE NORTH LINCOLN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Guest Commentary
One VRD owner’s complaint Judy and John Piper The Tiffany House, LLC.
In January 2003, my brother-in-law, his wife, my wife and I met in Lincoln City to decide on a vacation rental to purchase. We were all in our mid 50s with an income from a family trust. We looked at every beachfront property for sale in Lincoln City that weekend. We chose a property, 4425 S.W. Beach Avenue, because it was constructed for a vacation rental. Vinyl siding, metal roofing, rough cedar interior walls, no interior or exterior paint to redo every year, and a history of family rentals. My brotherin-law had rented this home in the early 1980s as a vacation rental. It was built by three real estate salesmen from Salem as a vacation rental in 1976. The home north of us was a vacation rental and still is. The home south of us was a vacation rental
and still is. Now, the VRD consensus group is proposing that this area should be off limits to future vacation rentals and that ours should expire when the property next changes hands. Our home has a 36-year history as a vacation rental. I would venture to guess that our 36-year history is more longevity than most of the people complaining about this issue. We don’t complain about our neighbors parking in the street. We don’t complain about the garbage dumpster at the apartments across the street. We don’t complain when our neighbors are working on their vehicles at 11 p.m. We don’t complain about the salal and blackberries taking over landscapes. We don’t care what plants our neighbors plant. We should have cared when the home south of us went up an additional two stories and the additional shade all but killed our 40–foot shore pine. We
don’t complain when tourists park in our lot to use the stairs to the beach. We hire a reputable management company to manage our home. We manage our home to be an asset to the community. Now it is time to complain. In August, one of our clients was confronted by a man who had taken pictures of two bags of garbage that previous renters had left outside of the garbage can. He had filed a complaint with the City. The City had contacted our management company and the bags were removed. The man was on the property, yelling and screaming, asking what our new client was going to do with his garbage, which was due to be picked up the next morning. We don’t care how this gentleman acts towards us as owners, our management company, the City or the police department — but for him to come onto our
property and act so inappropriately towards our clients crosses a line. If he has a problem, he has a proper recourse outlined in the present rules. We talked with the City police department and were advised that we couldn’t act against this person until we had put him on legal notice. While we were formulating our response, my brother-in-law had a confrontation with this gentleman’s wife. On a sunny afternoon, my brother-in-law was on our back deck listening to the radio. He noticed this gentleman’s wife standing in the street positioned so she could see the people on the deck. After 15 minutes, he went outside and talked with her. Nothing came of this because he introduced himself as an owner. She knew this was a vacation rental and she was intentionally interfering with normal beachfront activities. If these people come onto our property again,
we will use the only remedy available to us through the local police department. As VRD owners, we all need to act on these inappropriate and unwarranted actions. The real problem that vacation rental owners face is the vicious attacks that a few people seem to think they are compelled to do. They need to be held to the same standards that you and I are held to. They have to call the police or the City. The City or the police call the representative on the license to fix the problem. If the problem isn’t fixed file a complaint. If these people confront the renters, have them fined or arrested. This needs to be addressed. At this time, Lincoln City has a group of vigilantes that are using their brand of justice to impose their will on others. It crosses the line, when that justice is imposed on innocent visitors that are the lifeblood of Lincoln City.
check your voter registration status and find more information about an upcoming election at www.vote411. org. Type in your address and you’ll find a link to the Oregon Secretary of State’s online Voter Registration Lookup. You can also go directly to www.oregonvotes. org. If you are not yet registered to vote, but have an Oregon driver license or Oregon identification card, you can also register online. Otherwise, you need to register by mail or in person. Forms for registering by mail are available at locations including the DMV, libraries, the community college and at voter registration events. Clients of the Department of Human services can get registration forms from their caseworkers. If you want to register in person, the people at the County Clerk’s Office in the Lincoln County Courthouse in Newport will be happy to help you. The League of Women Voters will be holding candidates forums and distributing voter guides before election day. But the first step is to be sure you are registered. We encourage you to do it now. Maxine Demory Secretary Lincoln County League of Women Voters
Re-elect Bill Hall
I urge you to join me in voting for Bill Hall for Lincoln County Commissioner. Jane Holbrook Lincoln City
Voices of Lincoln County Obama is food stamp president
Obama has learned well from George Soros on how to manipulate the American System of Government, to skirt around our Constitution & Congress, in order to waste $6Trillion of Taxpayer money on Boondoggles & failed Stimulus. Obama makes it look like he isn’t doing anything but playing golf all the time, (105 outings in three and a half years) but he has sneakily administered hundreds of stifling Regulations on our “Small Business Job Creators” (bankrupted our Coal Industry) and initiated 134 Executive Orders, so far, to skirt around Congress & Constitutional Law. He has 4,000 new Regulations waiting to be implemented if he wins re-election. Foreigners and Traitors are now using our own freedoms & rights against us in our open & free society to make us into another 3rd World Country, instead of an Exceptional Country! What Obama has created is a Welfare State that now has 100 Million (almost a third of our population) getting some form of Welfare from the Federal Government. There are now nearly 80 different, over lapping, Welfare Programs. The most popular being Food Stamps & Medicade. Food Stamp recipients alone jumped from 17 Million in 2000 to
45 Million in 2011. These recipients do not include those who only get Social Security & Medicare. Teryll Baker Lincoln Beach
Like blood from a stone
About your Blood Drive. I was Shocked to read you only had 38 pints donated. What has happen to Lincoln City?? Lincoln City at one time would have close to Two Hundred pints donated at a drawing. Lincoln City at one time held the record for the state, for the most pints donated. Come on, Lincoln City... you can do better, don’t be satisfied with 38 pints. R.L. Chapman Las Vegas
Are you registered to vote?
The deadline for registering to vote in the November 6 general election is October 16. If you are 17 or older and are not registered, if you’ve changed your address, or if you want to change political parties, now is the time to do it. You can register once you turn 17 years of age, but you won’t receive a ballot to vote until you are age 18 by election day. You can register to vote,
Please join me in reelecting Bill Hall as a Lincoln County Commissioner. Bill has dedicated himself to the citizens of Lincoln County as an active and effective county commissioner. For the last 8 years he has shown character and commitment in making our communities safe, inclusive and family friendly. Bill provides a voice for our most vulnerable populations but is also a champion for small business. He knows our economy is dependent upon a healthy small business climate and good employment opportunities. He has demonstrated an open-mind to constituent concerns and is always approachable. Bill is very visible throughout the county, taking the time to attend community events and scheduling evening forums. He actively seeks citizen input and makes himself available to everyone. He is especially committed to advocating for those who cannot for themselves and ensuring we are addressing their needs. Not only is Bill easy to see and interact with, he also gets things done. Whether it’s making difficult budget decisions, ensuring countywide bus service, or leading the animal shelter effort, he has a proven track record of concrete accomplishments.
Help students get SMART
We have a great volunteer opportunity with the SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) program reading with children in grades pre-K through 3rd grade in Lincoln County. You need to be available a minimum of just one hour per week during the SMART program year, which is from mid-October to mid-May at most SMART sites. We are also looking for Volunteer Coordinators who work 2-10 hours a week. Most programs operate during the school day; days and times vary depending on the particular site and the SMART reading schedule. Volunteers who aren’t available consistently each week are encouraged to apply as SMART Substitute Readers. View a list of SMART sites in need of volunteers and apply online at www. getSMARToregon.org. You can also request a list from the local SMART office at 503-391-8423 or e-mail Jessica Kliewer at jkliewer@ getSMARToregon.org Jessica Kliewer SMART