july2008
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume 2 issue 02
vernonia
visitors
guide
Page 17
Congratulations Class of 2008! Oregon Solution Project
Receives Grant
By Scott Laird
Vernonia’s Voice congratulates all graduates this year. See Pages 13-16 for a special
Vernonia High School Graduation Section.
The Vernonia Schools Oregon Solutions
Team received a $20,000 grant from the Verizon
Foundation at its June 23rd meeting.
Renee Willer, External Affairs Director for
Verizon, presented Oregon Solutions co-conve-
ners Tony Hyde and Tom Kelly with the check,
noting Verizon’s continued commitment to help-
ing the Vernonia community since the flooding in
December 2007. Willer mentioned previous do- Tony Hyde and Tom Kelly receive
nations of funds for unmet needs and equipment a check from Verizon’s Renee
that assisted the community immediately after the Willer.
floods. Recently Verizon returned to Vernonia,
asking what else they could do to help. “Because the Verizon Foundation focuses its
giving in two areas- K through twelve education and literacy, and safety and health, the
Vernonia Schools Oregon Solutions project is a perfect fit,” said Willer. “We want to
help you quickly find solutions and help keep families and kids in this community.”
The Oregon Solutions Team, made up of local community leaders, public and
private sector interests, local politicians, and members of local and state government
agencies, has been charged with identifying a site and finding funding for a new school
campus for Vernonia. The team is currently evaluating potential sites, looking for pos-
sible partner agencies to locate on the new site, researching funding sources, develop-
ing a budget, and creating a project time line.
At the June 23rd meeting, the team heard a report from members of the Oregon
Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) about a possible Trans-
portation and Growth Management (TGM) agreement between Oregon Solutions and
DLCD and the Oregon Department of Transportation. The TGM agreement provides
grants to fund initial engineering and studies, looking at location requirements for roads,
infrastructure and development around a new school site at no charge to the project. The
team also discussed the presented time line that showed kids in new schools by Septem-
ber of 2009. The team agreed that, though optimistic, September 2009 was a good goal
to work towards and that mid-year 2009 was a more realistic target.
Compassion First - Helping Vernonia One Home at a Time
By Scott Laird
Over the last six months, there have been many groups that have stepped up and helped out
those affected by flooding in Vernonia. One of those groups that has very quietly but effectively
assisted some of those in the most need has been a group from Beaverton called Compassion First.
Compassion First is affiliated with the
Beaverton Foursquare Church and was found-
ed out of their response to the Hurricane Ka-
trina disaster in 2005. Only three weeks after
the hurricane hit, the folks from the Foursquare
Church had established a permanent base in
Biloxi, Mississippi, in partnership with Medi-
cal Teams International, the Salvation Army
and a number of other churches and organiza-
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tions. Compassion First, which was formed during the Katrina re-
sponse, provided laborers and helped hurricane victims with home
repairs. That base in Biloxi just closed on June 1, 2008, almost three
years after being established.
Jim Pringle, who spent a year in Mississippi along with his wife
Nancy, are now in Vernonia as part of Compassion First, bringing
what they learned during their time helping Katrina survivors. Also
in Vernonia is Michael Do who at twenty- one years old is an expe-
rienced veteran of the Katrina relief efforts. “Because of our prox-
imity to Vernonia and the skill set we developed in Biloxi, it was
natural that we would come here and help,” said Pringle.
Continued on page 20
Columbia County Fair Donates Tickets to
Flood Victims
The Columbia County Fair has donated 200 day passes to victims of the
flooding this past winter. Columbia County residents who have registered
with Columbia County Flood Relief (CCFR) are eligible to receive these
passes through their case workers.
Henry Heimuller, a member of the Fair Board, presented the Tickets to Jill
Hult of CCFR, noting, “Most people that were flooded have a lot they are
trying to accomplish this summer. We hope this will be an opportunity for
them to take a day and come enjoy themselves on us.”
Henry Heimuller delivers Fair passes to Jill Hult of Columbia
County Flood Relief.