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community bulletin board
july13
2010
Vernonia Community Volleyball
Vernonia is now holding Adult Commu-
nity Volleyball. Join your friends and neighbors
for competitive, coed volleyball at the Washington
Grade School gym from 7:00 to 9:30 PM every
Friday evening. No small children please. For
details, contact Teresa Williams at 503-799-3424,
or by email at fitnessbytw@netzero.com.
Band Car Wash
The Vernonia Middle and High School
Bands will be holding a car wash every second
Saturday, ( August 14, Sept. 11) from 9:00 AM -
2:00 PM in the District Office parking lot. Dona-
tions appreciated. All proceeds go to band events,
festivals and instrument repairs.
Vernonia Ridge Riders Schedule of
Events
July 24th – Team Penning Practice, sign up at
9AM, starts at 10AM, (Free BBQ at this event)
Aug 7th – Triple Crown, sign up at 2PM, starts at
3PM
Aug 8th – Jamboree Horse Show, sign up at 8AM,
starts at 9AM; (To be eligible for the High Point
Buckle, you must have participated in at least 2 of
the above events, excluding the poker ride).
Aug 28th – Play Day, sign up at 9AM, starts at
10AM, Also Jack Pot Barrels at this event.
Sept 18th – Team Penning, sign up at 1PM, starts
at 2PM.
Camping is available, contact Deloris
Bellingham at 503-895-0553 for more informa-
tion. At all events, dogs must be kept on a leash at
all times, riding boots are required, riding helmets
are recommended but not required and please no
stallions.
Events at Stub Stewart State Park
If there are two programs in a day, Junior Ranger
programs are listed first, Family Campground
programs second
7/13: Incredible Insects (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 10am)
7/14: Talkin’ Trash with JR Beaver (Dairy Creek
Amphitheater, 10am)
7/15: Signs of Wildlife (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 10am); Eyewitness Reptile (Dairy Creek
Amphitheater, 9pm)
7/16: Junior Ranger’s Leave No Trace (Dairy
Creek Amphitheater, 10am); Leave No Trace
(Dairy Creek Amphitheater, 9pm)
7/17: Saturday’s at Stub: Building a Park (Hill-
top Day-use Area, 10am); OMSI Star Party Lunar
Viewing (Hilltop Day-use Area, 9pm)
7/18: Newts are Neat (Dairy Creek Amphitheater,
10am); Eyewitness Amphibian (Dairy Creek Am-
phitheater, 9pm)
7/19: Slugs, Bugs and Other Ughs (Stub Stewart
Welcome Center, 10am)
7/20: Treasure Hunt (Dairy Creek Amphitheater,
10am)
7/21: Incredible Insects (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 10am); Wonderful Watersheds (Dairy Creek
Amphitheater, 7pm)
7/22: Where Does JR Beaver Live? (Dairy Creek
Amphitheater, 10am); The Silent Invasion (Dairy
Creek Amphitheater, 9pm)
7/23: Junior Ranger’s Leave No Trace (Dairy
Creek Amphitheater, 10am); Leave No Trace
(Dairy Creek Amphitheater, 9pm)
7/24: Cowboy Day - Co-sponsored by the Friends
of Stub Stewart State Park and Banks-Vernonia
Rails to Trails, includes a treasure hunt for hikers,
bikers and equestrians for prizes ($6 entry fee),
dancing horses, square dancing demonstration,
real cowboys, and more. Begins at Hilltop Day-
use Area at 8am for treasure hunt, other activities
and booths open until 3pm.
7/24: Leave No Trace (Dairy Creek Amphitheater,
9pm)
7/25: Incredible Insects (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 10am); Tall Trees (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 9pm)
7/26: Signs of Widlife (Dairy Creek Amphithe-
ater, 10am)
7/27: Newts are Neat (Dairy Creek Amphitheater,
10am)
INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) is proposing to provide funding to Columbia County for the Vernonia K-12
School Project (Project). Funding would be provided by the Flood Mitigation Assistance
Program (FMA) as authorized by the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (42 U.S.C. 4101).
The Vernonia School District, Columbia County, and the City of Vernonia give notice of
the intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Vernonia K-12 School Project
(Project). This public notice is issued in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA); the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA); Executive Order 11988, Floodplain
Management; and Executive Order 11990, Wetlands Protection.
Columbia County has applied for FMA grant funding from FEMA to help fund the
Vernonia K-12 School Project in Vernonia; with matching funds provided by the Vernonia
School District 47J. The purpose of the project is to reduce repetitive flood losses at the
existing K-12 school and to replace the existing elementary, middle, and high schools outside
of the 500-year floodplain. The project is needed in order to provide for the safety of students,
staff, and the community and to alleviate repeated losses due to flooding at the current location.
The proposed action includes the demolition of the existing school buildings, construction of
the new school, roadway improvements to Bridge Street and Missouri Avenue, removal of
federal protection under Section 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act from
Spencer Park, development of a new park to replace Spencer Park, and construction of a
compensatory wetland mitigation project. The latter two elements are under the jurisdictions
of the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers respectively. FEMA is the
lead agency under NEPA for the combined actions.
The project site (existing school and replacement park) is located in or affects
the floodplain of the Nehalem River and Rock Creek, Upper Nehalem River Watershed
(1710020201 5th Field Hydrologic Unit Code). Wetlands are present across the proposed
new school site and would be affected by construction. The proposed action has the potential
to affect a historic property. The Washington Grade School is eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places and under the proposed action, would be demolished.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will issue a separate public notice as part of a
Section 404 Clean Water Act permit currently under review for the proposed project.
Comments concerning the proposed action, alternatives, and preliminary identification
of environmental issues; will be accepted from the affected public; local, state and federal
agencies; and other interested parties in order to scope the EA and inform decision-making.
Comments should be made in writing, sent to the applicant contact listed below. Comments
must be received prior to August 20, 2010 to be considered.
An informal open house will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 from 7-8:30 p.m.
at Vernonia High School Cafeteria (299 Bridge Street, Vernonia, Oregon).
Additional information about the project, including a project area map, conceptual
design, and scoping report, can be obtained from the Vernonia Schools Project Website (www.
vernoniaschools.org), at the School District Office (475 Bridge Street, Vernonia, Oregon), from
the applicant contact below, or during the public open house on July 28, 2010. Documents will
be available on July 23, 2010.
Responsible Official:
Science Kilner
Deputy Regional Environmental Officer
FEMA Region 10
130 228th St SW
Bothell, WA 98021-9796
Science.kilner@dhs.gov
(425) 487-4613 fax
Applicant Contact:
Christy McDonough
PBS Engineering + Environmental
4412 SW Corbett Avenue
Portland, OR 97239
Vernonia@pbsenv.com
(866) 727-0140 fax
Upcoming Events
Live Music at Birkenfeld Store, Thursday July 22 Lock, Stock
and Barrel, (no music on July 23, 24 due to Run 21) July 31
Bolt Upright, August 7 Lynn Conover Band, August 14 T-Birds
Open Air Market, Every Friday, 5-7:30 PM--at the VCLC
Courtyard. Local Vendors selling fresh produce, breads, crafts,
coffee and more.
Bike Skills Park Work Weekend, July 17 & 18, 9:00 AM-
-Join professional trail builders and other volunteers to work
on cleaning up the jump park and trails and constructing new
stunt features. Bring work gloves and hand tools. Follow
signs from Vernonia Lake parking area. Contact Scott Laird
503-367-0098 for more info. Lunch for volunteers and tent
camping at Anderson Park for out of town volunteers provided
by Vernonia’s Voice.
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Meeting, July 22, 6
PM-- at the Vernonia Grange Hall 375 North Street. Steering
Committee meets at 6:00 PM followed at 7:00 PM by a public
presentation by Steve Trask of Bio-Surveys on the findings
of the Rapid Bio-Assesement of juvenile salmon presence in
the Upper Nehalem watershed during the summer of 2009
stream surveys. Call UNWC 503-429-0869 if you need more
information.
Vernonia Friendship Jamboree, August 6-8--Join your
friends, neighbors and family for this 54th annual celebration
of everything Vernonia. Live Music, Car Show, Parade, Food,
and much, much more. For current information on schedule
of events go to: www.vernoniachamber.org/community/events.
Bear Creek Run, August 14, 8:00 AM-- 10K and 5K Run and
Walk to benefit Vernonia Cares Food Bank. Starts at Anderson
Park. To register go to http://www.signmeup.com/66420.
Texan Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament, August 14, 6:00 PM-
-A Vernonia Lions Club Fundraiser at the New Hong Kong
Restaurant.
Vernonia’s Biggest Class Reunion, August 15, 10AM-5 PM-
-In place of the Old Timers Picnic plan to attend the Biggest
Reunion Ever! A Benefit for Vernonia’s new schools. anyone
who has ever attended any of Vernonia’s schools (or knows
someone who did!) is invited. Held on the current school
grounds--tours of the old buildings and the new school site,
prizes, entertainment, food and fun. RSVP at VernoniaReunion@
yahoo.com. More info at www.VernoniaClassmates.com or the
Alumni & Friends of Vernonia Schools Facebook Page.
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To The Editor:
As most of you have probably
heard our city is in a financial pinch,
with all departments making deep cuts,
one of those is the library.
We are fortunate to have such
a great facility and a librarian and staff
dedicated to providing so many services,
such as a book discussion group, pre-
school story hour, the summer reading
program, after school crafts, adult and
children movies, guest programs, and
free internet use.
The library budget was cut over
$4,000 dollars, $1,000 of that is for pur-
chasing new books.
I would like to encourage all li-
brary patrons to donate towards a fund
to ensure the purchasing of new books.
If you read as many books as my hus-
band and I, you know how much money
you save by using the library.
If you are not a user of our li-
brary, preferring to buy your books, I
invite you to support our local library. I
have been using the library for 56 years
and always find something to my liking.
If you have books you no longer
have any use for, please donate them to
the Friends Of The Library for their an-
nual book sale in August.
I’m sure if we all pitch in we
can easily make up that $1,000 dollars
or more.
If you wish to donate, please make
your checks to the Friends Of The Li-
brary, that money will then go directly
to the library fund.
We will be making the first do-
nation and hopefully many of you will
do the same, and make our goal a reality.
DeLoris Webb
Vernonia
HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas.
Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300
words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for
a response to letters submitted. We will print letters, space permitting. Deadline
is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email to: scott@vernoniasvoice.com
or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064.
