22
march
vernonia’s
voice
community
2008
Remembering Virgil Duane Hiveley
Virgil Duane Hiveley, 75, died on February 17,
2008. A Celebration of Virgil’s Life was held on
Saturday February 23 at the Vernonia Community
Church with Reverend Mike Wilson officiating and
pastor Grant Williams assisting. Internment was held
with Military Honors at Willamette National Cem-
etery in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Hiveley was born on June 1, 1932 in Watford
City, North Dakota, the son of Everett E. and Helen
(Wheeler) Hiveley. He moved with his family as a
young boy to Oregon, settling in Corvallis where he
graduated from high school in 1950.
Virgil was a Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving
in the United States Navy, joining on January 9, 1951,
and was Honorably Discharged on November 17, 1954.
Virgil was united in marriage to Helen Vaughn on January 2, 1955 in Belle
Gardens, California. Following their marriage they made their home in California
before moving to Oregon and settling in the Vernonia Community.
While living in California Virgil worked as a meat cutter and owned “Virgil’s
Fine Meats” until 1974. He was also a graduate of the Long Beach Reserve Police
New Course for
Vernonia Recovery
Even as the City of Vernonia grapples with pressing
recovery needs, its residents are working together to cre-
ate a long-term plan for the city’s future.
On February 22 the City of Vernonia began Vernonia
2020, a community-based planning effort to assist resi-
dents to envision and plan for a disaster-resilient commu-
nity. This effort represents a partnership between Interim
City Administrator Aldie Howard, the City of Vernonia,
and nine graduate students from Portland State Univer-
sity’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program.
The students, also known as the Bridges Planning Group,
will facilitate community meetings and workshops over
the next three months asking residents to set priorities for
their city’s future.
Vernonia 2020 began with an initial meeting Friday,
February 22, 2008 at the Vernonia Learning Center, at-
tended by over 20 community leaders and local officials.
The first community gathering on Monday March 3 will
bring together Vernonia residents to share both their im-
mediate concerns and their vision for the future of the city.
This community gathering will also include Vernonia’s
information and relief agencies under one roof to provide
residents access to recovery resources.
Smaller district meetings over the next three months
will provide residents with several opportunities to create
their goals and vision for Vernonia in the year 2020 as
well as discuss and prioritize the elements of the Vernonia
2020 plan. In April 2008 residents of Vernonia will form
several Citizen Action Committees to implement the Ver-
nonia 2020 plan.
The March 3 event will be held at the Vernonia Com-
munity Church, 957 State Street, Corner of State and A
Street, from 6-8 p.m. If you are interested in learning more
about the effort or would like to inquire about the March 3
meeting please contact Bridges Planning Group at Bridg-
esplanning@gmail.com, (503) 841-7660, or Jessica Jones
at the City of Vernonia at jesse.vernonia@gmail.com
Academy and served as a reserve officer for the Los Angles Police Department for
two years. After moving to Oregon, Virgil worked at the Vernonia Market as Man-
ager of the Meat Department from 1974 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983 he worked
as Plant Manager for the Willamette Poultry Company, and worked for Lynden
Farms in Poultry Sales from 1983 until he retired in 1994.
Virgil enjoyed bowling and golf and was an expert knife sharpener. He
enjoyed being with people and through the years had made many friends and
acquaintances.
He was proceeded in death by his parents and a daughter, Sheri Wilson.
Virgil is survived by his wife, Helen Hiveley of Vernonia; two daughters and
son-in-laws, Robin and Steve Leone of Seattle, and Dana and Tony Hyde of Ver-
nonia; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Rhonda Wilson of The Dalles; five
brothers and sisters-in-law, Leo Hiveley of Boynton Beach, Florida; Jack and Barb
Hiveley of Downey, California; Jim and Carolyn Hiveley of Indonesia; Del and
Jan Hiveley of Woodburn; and Gene and Betty Hiveley of Rock Hill, South Caro-
lina; two sisters, Eunice Abrahamsen of Camas, Washington and Bonnie Knepper
of Aurora; nine grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Remembrances can be made in his memory to the Hydrocephalus Associa-
tion, 870 Market Street, #705, San Francisco, California 94102 or to the Vernonia
Senior Center, 446 Bridge Street, Vernonia, Oregon 97064.
What’s Happening On Knott Street?
The plan to place FEMA temporary housing on Knott
Street at the undeveloped Nickerson Ridge subdivision
has become a contentious and confusing issue within the
community of Vernonia. Neighborhood residents pro-
tested the placement of temporary housing in a number of
ways – a protest demonstration was held, neighbors spoke
with television reporters and a petition was circulated and
signed by eighty residents. The information presented
in the petition has now raised questions about whether
residents who got involved had all the information they
needed before signing.
According to Interim city Manager Aldie Howard, the
process to relocate displaced residents has been slowed
because of interference by Knott Street neighbors. “We
had a site that was all ready to go,” said Howard. “We
could have been helping people in this community who
needed it.” The intention is to provide flood victims up to
eighteen months of housing in order for them to re-enter
the community – to begin rebuilding their homes and so
their children can attend school.
Citing infrastructure concerns (especially drainage
issues), Kim and Stephen Perry created a petition which
simply read, “We Do Not support the Proposed Idea to
Relocate Approximately 45 trailers through FEMA on
Knott Street.” According to the planning commission, the
Nickerson Ridge subdivision was approved over ten years
ago and the Perry’s moved to Knott Street about six years
ago.
The Perry’s also created two pages of suggested al-
ternatives and facts and figures that backed up their con-
cerns; some facts and figures that upon further investiga-
tion could not be substantiated and alternatives that were
not feasible and didn’t meet FEMA requirements. Sug-
gested alternatives included using Big Eddy County Park,
and Stub Stewart State Park as locations, which are miles
outside of town. They also identified the city owned Air-
port and Anderson Parks, and the Blue Heron Apartment
complex site – all of which are in the flood management
area and were flooded during this recent disaster. Accord-
ing to FEMA representatives, temporary housing must be
placed outside the flood zone.
The petition and backing documents were sent on to
Oregon State Representative Brad Witt. The Perry’s also
appeared in February before the city Planning Commis-
sion and City Council to ask that their concerns be ad-
dressed.
The information the Perry’s provided with their pe-
tition expressed concern that recovery funds were being
wasted “…on trying to build a trailer park on private
lands,” and claimed Emergency personnel could not safe-
ly service the area.
FEMA Public Information Officer Denise Everhart
addressed the issue of duration, “By law we are required
to remove any temporary housing eighteen months after
the declaration of an emergency.” Vernonia Police Chief
Mathew Workman said he had no concerns about access
to the neighborhood. FEMA is currently in negotiations
with property owner.
When questioned, Kim Perry said she did not inten-
tionally provide misinformation and that she and her hus-
band always had the best intentions. “We only wanted to
insure that we did not end up with a worse situation on our
street than we had during this last flood. We were almost
flood victims ourselves. We were just trying to protect
our neighborhood,” said Perry. “I love this town, I have
worked hard and helped people during this recovery.”
One resident who signed the petition said they wished
they hadn’t signed and felt like they had been mislead by
the petitioners.
Another citizen who’d heard the Perry’s request at the last
planning and council meeting commented, “If there’s truly an
issue with drainage, why didn’t they address that year’s prior
(say six years) – why wait until now? We are recovering from
a disaster and need solutions… the timing is horrible.”
Vernonia Rural Fire Department
Looking for Volunteer Recruits!
60 Hours Free Training. Begins March 29th
& 30th. Trainings Held on Weekends thru
May 10th. Must be 16 years old.
Contact Chief Paul Epler if interested.
503-429-8252.
Help Serve Your Community!
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
St Helens Bookshop & Houlton Bakery , St. Helens
Flowers N Fluff, Clatskanie