Vernonia's voice., January 01, 2009, Image 1

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january2009
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume2 issue8
vernonia
visitors
guide
Page 13
Winter Storms Put a Damper on the Holiday
Vernonians wishing for a White Christmas got more than they bargained for...
The weather outside was frightful, and for Vernonians outages began. When power went out for about twelve hours
without power, a fire was delightful. And it snowed, and it on December 19-20, local CERT (Citizen Emergency Re-
snowed, and it snowed.
sponse Team) volunteers were activated, with fourteen re-
The City of Vernonia was forced to declare a State of sponding and going door to door to provide welfare checks
Emergency during the Christmas holiday when snow-falls on fifty-three vulnerable senior citizens. More snow on Sun-
of two feet shut down
day, December 21, brought
roads, and power was
total accumulation to about
knocked out to area
24 inches around town-- more
residents.
in some higher elevations.
City officials met
Treacherous road-conditions,
on December 22, and
and lack of proper equipment
declared the emer-
left Vernonia isolated from
gency at the request
outside help, with Highway
of Interim City Police
47 and the Scappoose-Ver-
Chief Mike Kay, who
nonia Highway both impass-
was named Incident
able at times, and local resi-
Commander and act-
dents unable to travel safely
ing City Administra-
around the area. “We tried
tor when Interim City
to use the one plow-blade
Administrator
Jim
the city owns, but it broke,”
Johnson was unable to
said Johnson. It was also de-
reach the city. John-
termined that it was unsafe
son was consulted by
to operate Public Works ve-
phone, and was aware
hicles on city streets due to
of the city’s inability
conditions.
to respond to the needs
On Monday, December 22, a
of its citizens during
quorum of the Vernonia City
what is being called
Council met and declared a
the worst snowstorm
State of Emergency, and au-
in forty years.
thorized Chief Kay to make
Snow began fall-
decisions for the city. Kay
ing in the Upper Ne-
established a Joint Incident
It was definitely a white Christmas in Vernonia
halem Valley on Sun-
Command with the Rural Fire
day, December 13, leaving a few inches of accumulation. Department, and, in the absence of Chief Paul Epler, who
Freezing temperatures in the teens caused slick conditions resigned in early December, consulted with Deputy Chiefs
that forced School Superintendent Ken Cox to close school Ben Davis and Dean Smith on most major decisions.
on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, December 17,
With limited resources, city police, fire and emergency
snow fell continuously throughout the day, bringing the city medical crews struggled to keep up with the needs of local
to a virtual standstill. Cox closed school for the rest of the citizens, and feared not being able to provide adequate pub-
week, giving students an early start to their holiday vacation, lic safety. “It was absolutely the right decision to declare an
and hopes for a white Christmas in Vernonia. “The weather emergency,” said Johnson, when asked about the Council’s
reports had been pretty accurate so far, and they were calling decision. “The city had exhausted its resources. I do not
for more snow,” said Cox in justification of the week-long believe we overreacted, and that we took precautionary mea-
closure.
sures that were appropriate.”
And then the snow just kept coming and periodic power
(Continued on page 12)
inside
Vernonia was ready for Christmas, even before the snow started to fall.
Vernonia Cares Hands
Out Christmas Cheer
The folks at the Vernonia Cares Food Bank helped make
Christmas a little brighter this year for almost 200 families, as
they handed out food boxes that contained the makings for a full
Turkey Dinner on the weekend before the holiday.
Nasty weather on Friday, December 19, didn’t stop Ver-
nonia Cares from accomplishing its goal of providing a holiday
meal for Vernonia citizens, although local power outages on
Christmas day probably put a damper on some holiday celebra-
tions. But that doesn’t negate what Vernonia Cares was able
to accomplish. “This is the best day of the year for Vernonia
Cares,” said Director Sandy Welch, as she watched clients pick
up their dinner boxes. “It’s the day I enjoy the most!”
Vernonia Cares had
prepared 200 boxes, and
had 178 families signed
up. “We always have a
few walk-ins at the last
minute,” said Welch.
“And we’re ready for
them.”
This year the boxes
provided a full Turkey
dinner, including yams;
corn and green beans;
stuffing; cranberry jelly;
gravy mix; pumpkin and
evaporated milk for pies,
Sharon Pierce picks up her Turkey
Christmas Dinner at Vernonia Cares
(continued on page 10)
Vernonia Flood Stories - One Year After the Flood
Part II: The City
By Scott Laird
2
christmas
bazaar
9
schaumburg
house
14
winter
wonderland
Last month, we passed the one-year anniversary of the Flood of 2007, and received a major snowstorm
as a reminder that we are still vulnerable. This month, Vernonia’s Voice continues its look back at what
happened in December, 2007, looks at what has been done during the past year, and looks ahead to the
future. As always, it is the personalities and people who make up the bulk of the story. This month, we
focus on The City-- the folks who we elect to make decisions for us, those they hire to work for us, and the
volunteers who help keep things running by giving of their own time.
City Government-- Steering a Straighter Course
When the Flood of December 3, 2007, washed through Vernonia,
a vacuum of power was left behind. Three of the five members
of the City Council, Mayor Sally Harrison and Councilors Randy
Parrow and Steve Whiteman, were directly affected by flooding,
with severe damage to their private homes. In addition, Parrow’s
business--the Vernonia Sentry Grocery Store--was flooded, and
Whiteman, who is a teacher and coach in the Vernonia School dis-
trict had other major responsibilities to attend to. During the initial
days and weeks of recovery, all three were at times distracted by
personal and business matters. City Administrator M.R. “Dick”
Kline was preparing for a family trip to witness his son graduate
from Army bootcamp, and chose not to try to return to the city to
help with recovery. There was a lack of leadership the first few
days as the city struggled to establish relief operations.
(continued on page 16)
Vernonia’s parks saw their share of damage