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.
