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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2011)
july12 2011 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community School Walls Go Up! The new Vernonia K-12 school campus took a giant step forward with a community ceremony on June 27, 2011 to commemorate the raising of the first wall. Work is quickly progressing at the site with a goal of opening the school to students in the fall of 2012. For more photos on the progress of the project, see page 19. inside 8-9 soccer camp 19 july 4th parade 19 walls up volume5 issue13 New Welcome Sign Installed The welcome sign at the corner of Bridge Street and Rose Avenue has received a much needed face lift. See story on page 5. Council Terminates Kay After meeting for over four hours in a Special Executive Session on June 27, 2011 the Vernonia City Council returned to regular session and voted 4-0 to terminate the employment of Vernonia Police Officer Michael Kay. The Executive Session was pursu- ant to ORS 192.660(2)(a)(b) to consider “Employment of Public Officers, Employ- ees, and Agents” and “Discipline of Public Employees and Officers.” After returning to Open Session, Councilor Randy Parrow made the motion to terminate Kay’s employment; it took Councilor Marilyn Nicks almost fifteen sec- onds of silence before she made a second to free the motion. Councilor Willow Burch sat on the dais with her face in her hands the entire time, even while voting in favor of the mo- tion. There was no deliberation or discus- sion. Nicks immediately left the chamber in tears. Because the City is without a per- manent City Administrator, the responsibil- ity of hiring and firing employees currently falls to the City Council. The termination was effective the following day. The City has not released any further official statement concerning Kay’s termination. Recall Filed for Burch and Nicks Signatures were certified by the Columbia County Elections Of- ficial on July 7, 2011 for the recall of Vernonia City Councilors Marilyn Nicks and Willow Burch. According to City officials, each Councilor has 5 days starting July 8th to either submit a written letter of resignation or submit a writ- ten Statement of Justification that does not exceed 200 words explain- ing the public officer’s record in of- fice. The last day for submission is to be delivered to the City Recorder/ Elections Official at Vernonia City Hall by July 12, 2011, 5:00 PM. Depending on each Councilors deci- sion a special election may be held in early August. Recall petitioner Sharon Bernal needed to gather 119 valid signatures of registered Vernonia voters to force the recall; she said she collected 180 signatures for each in one day. In the recall election for Kevin Hudson in May, 2011, 668 to- tal votes were counted. Lights...Camera...Action! It’s Time For the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo The 96 th Annual Columbia County Fair and Rodeo is ready to hit the stage starting Wednesday July 13 th and running through Sunday July 17 th . This year the Fair takes on a movie theme and this is your chance to get your big break! On Saturday July 17 th Ridgeback Ranch Pictures will be on hand, filming a scene from the movie “Country Girl.” Extras are needed to be in the audience or a battle of the bands scene—show up before 5:00 PM and sign in so you can be part of the act and listed in the credits. A new event premiers this year at the Fair--Pig Races. The All-Alaska Racing Pigs--a traveling team of pigs who race around a 100 foot, sawdust covered, flat track with hurdles--take to the track every day. There are four rounds of racing each time before the final and loads of op- portunity for crowd participation. You can even get your photo taken with a pig after the races! The races happen on the South Grounds every few hours all week long. Stop by and watch these racers bring home the bacon! Also taking center stage as a premier event this year—Peddle Tractor Pulls for kids. For ages 4-12, pedal tractor competitor’s race side-by-side down a thirty foot track, pedaling a genuine, converted, John Deer tractor. Attached behind is a custom sled that is loaded with weight—the older the kid, the more weight they start with. If you “pull-out,” going the full thirty feet, you earn an- other run in the next round with double the weight. Ev- eryone keeps going until the weight brings them all to a halt. Every competitor wins a ribbon, and this is a great photo opportunity for par- ents. Kid’s Peddle Tractor Pulls happen everyday, sev- eral times each day, at the South Grounds. Of course, this year’s Fair includes all the usual activities. Wednesday is Senior Citizen Day and includes the My Fair Lady Court; the pageant starts at 1:00 PM. On Wednesday Seniors can receive a free ride to and from the Fair on continued on page 6
