Vernonia's voice., March 08, 2011, Page 9, Image 9

community
march8
2011
Pihl Logging Purchases New Truck
Mike Pihl Logging has purchased a brand new
Kenworth T800 truck
Pihl Logging driver, Doug Davenport, says the
vehicle was purchased specifically to pull the lowboy
trailer. “It was time to upgrade,” said Davenport
Doug Davenport shows off the new Kenworth truck that
Mike Pihl Logging recently purchased.
recently, as he watched the
trailer being loaded. “The
old truck was sixteen years
old, had a lot of miles on it
and was just getting tired.”
Davenport says
Pihl Logging uses their
truck, not just for hauling
their own equipment, but
to contract out to other
companies who rely on
their service. “With the
customer base we have
outside of our company
and the amount of
machines we have of our
own, I have to be able
to get to work everyday
without having to work
on the truck first,” says
Davenport. “It’s peace of mind for us and it’s peace of
mind for our customers.”
So why is a local company that is buying new
equipment considered newsworthy? With the recent
decline over the past few years in the logging industry
and a depressed local economy in general, a local
company reinvesting in itself is very good sign that
business is beginning to trend upwards.
“I think things are getting better,” says
Davenport. “Most of the time we’re staying busy
9
six or seven days a week.” Davenport says that in
addition to work for Pihl Logging, he has done work
for construction companies and utility companies and
others. “Those guys just seem to be getting busier and
busier,” says Davenport. “From what I can tell, the
economy is picking up everywhere for everybody, bit
by bit. And the timber industry has really been picking
up. We’ve been busier the last two months than we
have been the last year. And it’s supposed to keep
getting better.”
That sounds like good news for everyone.
Vernonia Friendship Taekwon-do Tournament

On Saturday, February 19th, several local
adults and youth participated in the Vernonia
Friendship Taekwon-do Tournament. Leading the
Vernonia group were Head instructors 5th degree
black belt Master Andrew Berkholtz and 3rd degree
black belt Ruth Brown. The instructors, along with
brown belt Kathy Leach and white belt Aubrey
Leach, put on a demonstration for the entire group
attending the tournament simulating the defense of
a knife attack and potential abduction.

The Vernonia students did very well at
the tournament and placed as follows: Kathy
Leach, 3rd place medal for sparring and 2nd place
medal for breaking in Women’s heavyweight
brown belt, Jonah Ooten, 3rd place medal,
Men’s heavyweight white belt, Brad Ely, 2nd
place medal,Junior heavyweight white belt,
Brandon Moloney, 1st place medal, Pee Wee super
heavyweight white belt, Sarah Law, 2nd place
medal, Pee Wee super heavyweight white belt,
and Aubrey Leach won a 2nd place medal, Pee
Wee heavyweight white belt. Kathy leach also
was presented with an award for special dedication
in service to the martial arts.

If you are interested in Taekwon-do in
Vernonia, you can contact 503-359-4997.
Rebuilding Vernonia: The Rose
Avenue Project continued from page 5
Avenue Project, according
to the Health Board’s
Lewis, the two projects
are not necessarily linked.
“The Health Center needs
to be moved, regardless of
whether Catherine Mater’s
plan proves to be viable,”
says Lewis. “The Forest
Health—Human
Health
Initiative is still being
researched; if it proves to
be feasible, that partnership
will be icing on the cake
for the development of
our project, but we should
still bake the cake with
or without the icing. The
priority is to move essential
services out of harm’s way
to be accessible in any
eventuality.”
Previously
the
Vernonia City Council had
given approval for Haack,
as City Administrator,
to
continue
pursuing
the transfer of the Rose
Avenue property and to
continue planning for
development. In January,
Vernonia replaced three of
its five Council members.
There appears to be some
hesitation from the current
Council about whether
they are in support of
moving forward with the
project. Councilor Willow
Burch publicly questioned
whether it should be a
priority for the city, leaving
members of all three
groups wondering where
they stand.
“We have been
moving forward with
good faith that the city
is backing this project,”
says Lewis. “Twelve
to fifteen years goes
by quickly. We want
to provide this Council
with the information they
need to give us a vote of
confidence to continue to
move forward, as soon as
possible. Otherwise, we
need to start considering
other options.”
“All these three
groups don’t want to
move forward with
this and undertake the
cost and risks, making
promises and burning
other peoples’ time
unless we know we have
the City Council on
board,” says Tierney.
Dr. Gilmore’s
Retirement Party
Friends and patients gathered on Sun-
day February 27 to honor Dr. Phyllis
Gilmore. Gilmore has retired from her
practice at the Vernonia Providence
Clinic. The party, with a Mardi Gras
theme complete with beads, boas and
even a traditional King Cake, was
hosted by the Vernonia Health Board.
Phillip Darrah acted as Master of Cer-
emonies. Vernonia’s Voice would like
to wish Dr. Gilmore best wishes in the
next phase of her career.
Right now, the
Rose Avenue Project still
has some questions that
need to be answered.
Hopefully, that can happen
soon and the Health Clinic,
Senior Center and Food
Bank can move forward
with some kind of plan to
move to a safe and suitable
location.
We saddle shoe. Do you?
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950 Bridge Street
Vernonia, O8 97064
503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050
www.muffys.com
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CELL: 503-313-9044
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879 Bridge St. (503) 429-2787
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