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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2011)
june14 2011 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community free volume5 issue11 The End of an Era: Vernonia Pride Disbands Hudson Loses Webb town area; provided the welcome Recall in Landslide By Dede Vernonia Pride was formed sign and landscaping at the south en- Vernonia citizens voted to recall City Councilor Kevin Hudson on Friday June 10, 2011. Unofficial results were 504 “yes” votes and 84 “no” votes. 83.4% of Vernonia voters said they no longer want Hudson to represent them. Hudson was to be informed of the results as soon as Columbia County election officials certify the election, which was expected on Monday June 13, at which time Hudson would cease his duties as Councilor. Earlier in the week, petitioner Sharon Bernal received a letter from the office of the Secretary of State, informing her that the Elec- tions Division had received a complaint from Hudson, alleging Bernal had violated election law because of statements made on the petition to recall him. State Investigator Alana Guiney in- formed Bernal in the letter that she had found insufficient evidence of an election law violation and that the case was now closed. In his complaint Hudson questioned three statements in the petition. Guiney found that, “Because the statements are either vague or use adjectives open to interpretation, reasonable people could differ on their meaning. They are therefore better constituted as opinions than as factual statements. While some of the statements may have been ‘misleading’ they do not rise to the level of a violation of ORS 260.715.” Guiney goes on to state in the letter to Bernal, “In the future, please be vigilant to en- sure that every statement you make on an elec- tion document is either an opinion or true.” The remaining Vernonia City Council members must now appoint a replacement to fill Hudson’s vacant seat. inside 11-14 vhs graduation 15 wgs field day 22 open air market in 1994 by Genny Fisher, a long time resident of Vernonia. Fisher had moved to Longview after she mar- ried her current husband. When he retired they moved back to Vernonia; Fisher was very dismayed by the ap- pearance of our downtown. It didn’t take her long to enlist the help of oth- ers, including Shirlee Daughtry, Enid Parrow, and Dorothy Haas, and Ver- nonia Pride was formed. It was the purpose of the group to instill pride in the commu- nity and to make our downtown more attractive. We have decided, with the help of downtown businesses who have painted, planted flowers, and much more, that we have accom- plished our goal. After reviewing our many projects, and since our group is so small, our present members have decided to disband Vernonia Pride. To our credit, here is a list of some of the many projects our group has contributed to providing for the community: replaced ceiling tile, painted, new carpeting and window blinds for the old library; purchased kitchen appliances for the new City Hall; replaced the water fountain in front of the old Penny’s Building; provided the wood benched, garbage can receptacles, the metal coyote and bear on the light poles in the down- trance to Vernonia; installed bricks and trees at Shay Park, provided the Walking Tour plaques on down- town buildings and the tour books; published the “Pocket in the Woods” historical book about Vernonia; pro- vided American Flags for downtown, Shay Park and the Pioneer Cemetery , as well as a sign for the Pioneer Cemetery, provided and cared for flowers for the tops of the down- town garbage receptacles and for our Parks; presented a “Yard of the Month” award to help instill commu- nity pride; and with the help of the Chamber of Commerce, provided the new downtown banners. We have also donated $500 each to the Logger Memorial that will be placed at the Pioneer Muse- um and to the new sign that will re- place the elk sign as you enter town from the south. Vernonia Pride has spon- sored the annual “make Vernonia Shine Day,” the 4 th of July Parade and Fireworks, the Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighter Truck Parade. With our remaining funds we will be purchasing bricks and a tree for the addition to Shay Park; doggie bag holders and bags for each downtown block; a banner for the Farmers Market; new garbage cans for the garbage receptacles, and re- Downtown banners were donated by Vernonia Pride as one of their final projects. furbishing the receptacles and bench- es downtown. It is our hope that some other group or individuals will step up and continue some of the projects this group has adopted over the years. UNWC Holds Annual Meeting The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC) held their Annual Meeting on May 21, 2011 at the Vernonia Grange Hall. The Meeting was brought to order by UNWC Chair, Jason Busch. All stakeholders present were deemed voting members for the day. The meeting included several presentations, a business meeting, and the election of a new Steering Committee. A festive potluck, organized by UNWC Volunteer, Jo Zettler, was enjoyed by all. UNWC Vice Chair, Cory Colburn made a presentation and spoke eloquently about the value of watershed health from a local perspective. Network of Oregon Watershed Councils (NOWC), Executive Director Tom O’Brien spoke on the statewide perspective of the origin and value of watershed councils and the role of the NOWC in supporting them. UNWC Executive Director, Maggie Peyton gave a Power Point presentation overview of the Nehalem watershed, identification of limiting factors to watershed health and native salmon production and UNWC accomplishments and partners/ advisors/volunteer supporters, to date. Then she presented awards to people present who had contributed to the success of the UNWC. ODFW Restoration Biologist, Michele Long gave a Power Point presentation on the recent assessment results, overview of salmon, passage, habitat and riparian improvement restoration projects completed by the council in the biennium and projects planned for the future. Vernonia School District Teacher, Rachel Wilcoxen and Vernonia Rural Education Corps leader, Beth Kintz did a short Power Point presentation on the VREC 2010-11 school year hands- on restoration projects and other accomplishments. Vernonia School Principal/ Vernonia Rural Sustainability Center Director- Aaron Miller did a power point presentation on the Vernonia Rural Sustainability Center and the UNWC role in its development and future. UNWC Secretary - Eric Larke distributed a questionnaire for attendees to provide feedback to set UNWC goals and priorities. During the Business meeting Tom O’Brien from NOWC spoke about the changes to and the growth of the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council and the reasons for amending the Bylaws and the establishment of a Conflict of Interest Policy. Copies of By-Laws and Conflict of Interest Policy were provided to all prior to meeting via email, with copies on hand at meeting. The Council by vote approved the amended version of the UNWC Bylaws; approved the Conflict of Interest Policy; and approved the Responsibilities of the Steering Committee. The newly elected Steering Committee consisted of: Jason Busch, Cory Colburn, Eric Larke, Lee Klingler, Vic Dykstra, Aaron Miller, Rachel Wilcoxen and Gil McClain.
