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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2011)
area news july12 Jail Commander Retiring After 22 Years of Service Jim Carpenter came to the sheriff’s Office to serve in Corrections in 1989 after a career as a small- businessman in Scappoose. On Thursday, his 22-year career with the Sheriff’s Office will officially come to an end, although the retiring captain will still be available to help occasionally, said Sheriff Jeff Dickerson. “Jim Carpenter has been a shining star for the Sheriff’s Office for many years,” the Sheriff said, “and he was instrumental in making my transition to the Sheriff’s Office in 2009 a fairly easy one. “His experience in corrections, his knowledge of our facility and its operations, and his interest in people helped make him an outstanding resource for three sheriffs from 1989 to now. He will be missed by this administration as he takes this next step that he and his wife, Kelly so richly deserve.” Sheriff Dickerson named Jim Carpenter as his jail commander in 2009 after a regional search for candidates. Due to budget cuts at the Sheriff’s Office, no new hires will be made to fill the jail commander position. Undersheriff Andrew Moyer will now take on the role as Jail Commander. Captain Carpenter began his career with the Sheriff’s Office started as a part-time deputy after working for many years in muffler repairs. He owned Jim’s Muffler and More in Scappoose and was very active in the Scappoose City Club before Sheriff Oester hired him. In 1990, Carpenter became a full-time deputy in the Corrections Division, and in 1997, Sheriff Phil Derby promoted him to sergeant. Carpenter oversaw the planning and construction of the new jail facility in 1999 after the old jail became unusable. Carpenter spent an equal amount of time (11 years) in both facilities. He said that when the Sheriff’s Office moved from the old facility at the courthouse, they had nearly twice the number of inmates as they had authorized beds. “The old jail had a capacity of 38 beds,” he said, “but when we moved to the present facility in 2000, we moved with 75 inmates.” Prior to the move, Carpenter was instrumental in beginning the Sheriff’s work crew to help ease jail overcrowding at the old jail. Afterward, Sheriff Derby put Carpenter over jail programs where he became well known for his ability to work with inmates and the community in finding jobs for inmates to help keep them out of jail. Sheriff Derby later promoted him to administrative First Sergeant, where Carpenter expanded his services The Columbia Health District Board of Directors on June 23 successfully wrapped up details to dissolve the district and end work as the Public Health Authority at the last meeting before five new directors take office in July. The Board unanimously authorized transfer of the deed for the public health building on Gable Road to the county, and authorized Public Health Administrator Karen Ladd to sign the warranty deed. The County Commissioners accepted the deed on June 29. An 11th hour attempt by the incoming board members to stop the transfer of the public health clinic was quickly dismissed by Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove on June 30 because the transfer was already completed, “which makes this injunction, as we say, moot,” said Judge Grove. “We were forced to defend ourselves against this empty complaint,” said Karen Ladd, public health administrator, “and to spend time and tax dollars to do it.” She added that the state public health grants paid for the clinic building from the time of original purchase in 1996 until the final payment was made. Ladd announced that the contract for provision of public health services had been signed by both the Columbia County Commissioners and the Board of the Public Health Foundation of Columbia County effective July 1. With that transition, the non-profit Public Health Foundation has the Public Health Authority for countywide public health services. Later, Ladd said that the CHD Board, the Foundation Board and the Board of Commissioners have accomplished a seamless transfer of public health services, and clients will not see a change in programs, services or staff. “The changes will be in business cards, signage, heading on paperwork,” she said. All archives for the Columbia Health District were physically transferred to the County on June 30, and voters will decide on dissolution of the district in the Sept. 20 election. At the end of the meeting, Board member Diane Hutson said that she has respected her fellow board members and staff, and knows that everyone had the best of intentions. “It is my hope that this unrelenting harassment by a small group of angry Jim Carpenter is retiring as Commander of the Columbia County Jail. Kids Can Eat FR EE 5 days a Week Public Health Transfer Successful Summer Meal Program June 20th — August 19th Vernonia Middle School Cafeteria Breakfast 8:30 Adults $1.25 Scheduled Activity 9- 11 Lunch 11:30 Adults $2.00 All REGISTERED volunteers & staff are provided a meal on the day they participate Over 1 4 00 Youth Meals Served to Dat e! te la Choco k il M e am Ice Cr s Friday Pizza Wedn esday s Waffle Breakfast ull You Can Eat Salad bar The Vernonia Summer Meal’s Program committee has agreed to provide a set of guiding principles that help ensure the sanitation and safety of the whole Participant Standards All youth under the age of 10 must be with an older sibling, parent or care provider (ORS 163.545) Any youth, under 10, without a chaperone WILL be fed and sent home if they cannot provide name of older care provider All participants WILL have shoes and shirts ( T-shirts available to borrow) Any questions please contact Cathy Meyer (503) 429-8033 or (503) 522-5311 USDu and the State of Oregon are equal opportunity Providers and Employers 2011 7 to the Sheriff on both the Corrections and Enforcement side of the house. Sheriff Dickerson later promoted him to captain and made him the Jail Commander in 2009. Though he is retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff says he still expects Carpenter to remain active in the community, where in recent years he has organized the “Cop Walk for Life”, benefitting the American Cancer Society and other philanthropic events. He was instrumental years ago (as a member of the Scappoose City Club) in securing the property from the state and designing the Welcome to Scappoose sign and totem pole. He and his wife, Kelly also were the driving force behind the development of the Scapppoose Sauerkraut Festival. “Jim Carpenter has been a mainstay for Columbia County for many years,” Sheriff Dickerson said. “Sheriff Oester, Sheriff Derby and I all recognized him for his talents and connection to the community, and now he will have even more time to devote to his favorite causes. He will be greatly missed.” people won’t keep good people from stepping up to public service.” The Health District had been working since 2004 to build a small community hospital in St. Helens. Voters approved a 38 cents/$1,000 tax to support planning and operations. In November 2010, an initiative petition to stop the hospital project and return all of the tax collected since 2004 was approved by voters. Although Circuit Court Judge Steve Reed ruled March 28 that the measure was unconstitutional and unenforceable, the CHD Board agreed to follow through on the wishes of the voters and end work on the hospital and move toward ending the permanent tax by dissolving the district. In April, the Board hired Sponsler to map the dissolution and make sure the law was followed. Sponsler, of Beery Elsner & Hammond, a Portland law firm that specializes in government law, worked with district staff to complete public health inventory lists, movement of public health staff, public health assets and the public health clinic out of the Health District to the County for the provision of continuing public health services. CHD has served as the public health policy board since 1992, but those services had to be transferred before the district could dissolve. Because the dissolution required an Vernonia election, the Board set Sept. 20 as the and submitted a ballot title to Coffee Roasters election, the County Clerk. The Millard Road property, “QUALITP COFFEE ROASTED 8.3 acres purchased as the hospital TO PERFECTION” site, will continue as an asset of the CHD at the time of election. The County Commissioners are designated the trustees of the District, in the event that voters approve the dissolution. The commissioners would then carry out the rest of the liquidation of district assets. The CHD Board approved 503.429.0850 the budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year on May 26, prepaying a number 503.816.2265 of anticipated district expenses and WWW.VERNONIACOFFEEROASTERS.COM levying no tax, in anticipation of the District’s dissolution.
