Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2010)
8 area news january 5 2010 Wu Helps Secures Funds for Columbia County Projects By April Bamburg Columbia County will receive $950,000 from a bill that combines sev- eral appropriations bills with projects in Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, Commerce Justice and Science, Labor, Health and Human Ser- vices and Education. On December 10, the House of Representatives passed a final version of this legislation, which includes $150,000 for equipment for the Vernonia Schools, and $800,000 for Columbia County’s Transit system. According to a press release issued by Congressman David Wu’s office, “the Senate is expected to pass the same final version and send the bill to President Barack Obama to sign into law shortly.” Columbia County Rider An allocation of $800,000 to Columbia County’s public transit sys- tem, Columbia County Rider, will be used to construct a multi-modal public transit facility, including an adminis- tration office, vehicle maintenance and storage facility and park and ride/pool facility, in St. Helens, Oregon. The county held a ground-breaking cer- emony for the future public transit facil- ity in October, after purchasing the prop- erty in June, 2009. At the moment, the Columbia County Rider is not using the site, as re- modeling is needed, according to Transit Coordinator Janet Wright. The county is in the process of land use reviews for the site and is cur- rently hiring an architect and engineer for this project, Wright said. “It will be a phased project, and the architect and engineer will establish the phasing.” Although Wright anticipates re- ceiving this funding, she said that she’s not sure what it will be used for, whether it will be lighting, street improvements or other construction-related projects. That answer will come after the architect and engineer determine the phasing and design of the project. Wright applied for this alloca- tion “some time ago,” she said, and, since the original application, the project has evolved. The funding involved in the new transit facility comes from the fed- eral government, and from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Wright said. “We secured a Connect II grant, and through ODOT, received stimulus money to match the Connect II grant,” she continued. “I think we’ve done a good job of not dipping into the county’s coffers for this project. The new facility will be located at 1155 Deer Island Road, in St. Helens, the site of the former Stimson Lumber mill. Vernonia’s Schools $150,000 was also allocated to the Vernonia school district, to purchase Computer, Monitors and TV’s Landfill Ban As of January 1, 2010, Oregonians can no longer dispose of computers, monitors and TV’s in the landfill. Unwanted, non-working or damaged comput- ers, monitors and TV’s must be recycled instead. Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States. Recycling electronics is important because electronics contain valuable pre- cious metals like copper, gold and aluminum that can be recycled and used in new products. In addition, these electronics contain hazardous and toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Even small amounts of these metals can be dangerous if re- leased into the air, soil and/or water. In 2007 alone, Americans generated about 232 million used comput- ers, monitors and TV’s for disposal or recycling. An estimated 235 million additional TV, computers and monitors are stored in our basements, closets and ga- rages. Through the new Oregon E-Cycles Program, anyone can take seven or fewer computers, monitors and TV’s at one time to one of more than 200 Oregon E-Cycles collections sites in Oregon for free recycling. Columbia County Offers Legal Aid Services Two area clinics have created new options for the com- ing calendar year for the poverty population of Columbia County. These are critical areas of need that supplement our work within the county. The Bankruptcy Clinic will operate out of the Hillsboro Legal Aid Services of Oregon Office. Potential clients can call 888-245-4091 or contact the Co- lumbia County Legal Aid office for further information. The clin- ics are held monthly, and intend- ed for individuals thinking about filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy or who would like more informa- tion about bankruptcy. There is no charge for these clinics, but often the waiting lists are long. The Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law will be hosting a year round Tax Clinic. This clinic is not for the purpose of filing returns or an- swering question about returns, but for dealing with problems such as examination of returns, liens filed by the IRS against one, notice of deficiency, and past due taxes. For scheduling, potential clients need to call 503- 768-6500. This is not a toll free number for many in our area. However, the Columbia County Legal Aid office has unlimited long distance for purposes such as this, and will happily accom- modate those needed to make this type of call from their ser- vice area. Columbia County Le- gal Aid Continues to offer once weekly brief advices for certain family law cases, tenant issues, public benefits, elder law, expungement and other poverty issues. For more information contact either Holly Pennock Barbourme or Janelle JahaAd- ams at Columbia County Legal Aid at 503-397-1628. ANONYMOUS DONOR In support of Vernonia’s Voice! equipment for the new school facility. A call to Superintendent Kenneth Cox re- garding this allocation was not returned. “The projects I secured funding for will benefit people across the first dis- trict, from community college students who want to train for new green jobs to the many commuters who use our roads and rails every day,” said Congressman Wu, on December 10. “We must con- tinue to invest in our communities dur- ing this economic downturn in order to provide new jobs and the foundation for sustained economic growth. In addition to helping strengthen our economy, these funds will be used to educate our future workforce, protect our environment, and care for those in need.” For more on Columbia County Rider, see the organization’s web site at www.columbiacountyrider.com. Households, small businesses and small non-profits with 10 or fewer employees may recycle more than seven items at a time. Locally, the Columbia County Transfer Station accepts these items for recycling free of charge. Anyone needing additional information on the landfill ban or recycling locations can visit the DEQ’s website www.oregonrecycles.org or contact Roy Weedman, Columbia County Solid Waste Coordinator at 503-397-7263 or roy.weedman@co.columbia.or.us.