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
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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
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503-367-0098
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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