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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2009)
welcome september 2009 3 from the editor... Here it is September already, and September, of rent form. The buildings we have are uninsurable, FEMA course, means back to school. Back to school holds special assistance to pay for the modular classrooms dries up next significance for those of us in Vernonia, as we are sending year, Washington Grade School is not seismically safe, and our children back to what many feel are inadequate facili- according to FEMA guidelines, the gymnasium needs to be ties. demolished in the next few years. Vernonia cannot afford High school and middle school students will again to rebuild the campus where it is, and the school district attend the majority of their classes in modular classrooms. will most likely fold. Students would have to be bussed out Students will again have to carry all their books with them of town, or some other option would have to be developed. all day, as they do not have lockers. Lunch for everyone Schools are often the life-blood of rural commu- will still be served in a cafeteria that was designed for nities. They provide entertainment and social activities. the middle school only. The campus is spread out-- the They create a sense of pride and help establish community gymnasium stands alone at one end, the mods at the other, traditions and history. They help tell the story of the gen- far end-- a long walk during the rainy winter season. And erations that have come before and are a part of the very Washington Grade School remains... well, in many peo- fabric of who we are. ple’s minds, just plain old and unsafe. It’s hard to imagine a Vernonia without Friday Which, of course, brings us to the possibility of night football games. It’s hard to imagine a Vernonia with- building a new school campus. A school bond measure on out our Loggers. Please vote YES for Vernonia schools in the November 3 ballot is now a reality, and Vernonains will November. get a chance to approve or decline to make the down pay- ment on a new $37 million campus that would be built out Scott Laird of the flood zone. If everything goes right, the balance of Editor and Publisher the funds needed to complete the project will be secured through state, federal and private sources, meaning Vernonians will get a lot of assistance towards assur- ing the future of our school district for years to come. Pay for one-third of the costs and not have to worry about schools for the next Li ve c ! i one hundred to two hundred Mus years? An opportunity of Good, Southern, Country Music a lifetime, if we choose to take it. A yes vote for a new school campus means better morale for students and teachers, a better learn- ing environment, and a safe place to send our children Grocery & Liquor Store: into the foreseeable future. Mon. - Sat. 8am - 6pm A no vote probably 11139 Highway 202 Sun. 9am - 5pm means an end to Vernonia (503) 755-2722 Café open daily 9am - 4pm schools, at least in their cur- Birkenfeld Store and Café NEWLY REMODELED BACK YARD DECK Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors News Editor Scott Laird Copy Editor Dennis Nicks Photography Scott Laird Barb Carr “Lock, Stock & Barrel” September 4th 6:00-9:30 PM “Ratwing Jam Band” September 19th 1:30-4:00 PM Also serving dinner DON’T MISS THE 7th annual April Bamburg Nancy Burch Mackenzie Carr Janelle Thomas - Cedergreen Charles Comstock Brandy Fosdick Ben Fousek Sally Harrison Maria Lemay Seth Lenaerts Heather Lewis PJ O’Leary DeAnna Pearl Mark Sargeant Sonia Spackman Burt Tschache Want to advertise? Contact: ads@vernoniasvoice.com Have an article? Contact: news@vernoniasvoice.com PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com Festival Schedule All Day: Salmon Viewing Kids’ Trout Pond Scarecrow Building Pumpkin Carving Artists/Craft Vendors Great Food Salmon Education & Claudia the Chinook 11:00-3:00 Hay Rides 11:00-2:00 Music in the Gazebo 2:00 “Knee Deep in Salmon” Auction 4:00 Original Melodrama by Sally Harrison “The Sweet Violette of Vernonia” SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd