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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2011)
welcome from the editor Despite all the political trials walking in the rain between classes and and tribulations of the last seven months to the lunch room. Next year at this in Vernonia, there are still lots of time, as Vernonia families prepare for reasons to be encouraged about things back to school, they will be headed to a in Vernonia. Several major projects brand new campus. have been slowed down, some of • Planning is getting under which are getting back on track, while way for the deconstruction of the old other projects have continued to move school buildings next summer and the forward. Although certainly everything construction of the New Spencer Park isn’t rosy around here, I thought this on the old school site. In addition to the might be a good time to take a look two soccer fields and baseball field that at some of the positive things that are will be replaced from the old Spencer happening in Vernonia: Park, the new 20 acre site, right in the • The Summer Meals Program, heart of downtown, has the possibility offered at the Vernonia of hosting several other school’s cafeteria, community amenities. provided free breakfast The community will and lunch to kids this have the opportunity summer; thousands of to begin meeting with meals were provided park designers to help and there were other plan for the new park; activities for kids as a public Town Hall well. The program Meeting will be held was a collaboration on September 13 at between several groups 7:00 PM at the school including the Pioneer cafeteria. Baptist Church, the • The New Spencer Vernonia Prevention Park will connect to the Coalition, the Vernonia old mill site and the mill School District, Vernonia pond, giving Vernonia a Hands-On Art and others, park and natural area of including the St. Helens over one hundred acres. School District. Loads Construction has begun of volunteers made the on an eight acre wetland program run every day, on the mill site, replacing and the first year of the Children enjoying banana wetlands lost at the new program looks to have splits, celebrating the last school campus site. This day of the Vernonia Summer been a big success. It wetland will become a Meals Program. just goes to show what new natural area that can can be accomplished when we work be used by local citizens and will also together. attract visitors to the area. • The construction of the new • Homes that were damaged school campus continues to move during the Flood of 2007 continue forward and remains on track to open to be bought out and deconstructed, in the fall of 2012. This spring the first while numerous homes were raised this walls were raised, and the building is summer. Open space is being created quickly taking shape. Hopefully this in the flood plain and families are being will be the last school year students protected against the inevitable next will spend in modular class rooms and flood. It has been a long haul for many august23 2011 3 of these families but progress continues to be made and Vernonia continues to work to fix this problem. • West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC) is close to opening the doors to their new headquarters and celebrated the dedication of the new Publisher and Managing Editor facility at their Annual Meeting on Scott Laird 503-367-0098 August 20, 2011. The completion of this scott@vernoniasvoice.com project is the first move out of harm’s way by a major entity and I believe Contributors signifies the steadfast determination of Chip Bubl this community--the belief that we can, Dr. Carol McIntyre and will, rebuild ourselves. Dr. Christopher Scheuerman • Vernonia celebrated a great Sonia Spackman Friendship Jamboree during the first Burt Tschache weekend in August, and welcomed the Don Webb return of the Logging Show, a celebration of this community’s heritage. The Photography whole weekend seemed to go well, Scott Laird with a parade that was enjoyed by Erika Paleck everyone, a larger than usual Car Show Want to advertise? on Saturday, live music in Shay Park on Have an article? Saturday afternoon, a great turnout for Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com the Vernonia Cares Pancake Breakfast One year subscriptions and many other activities, including the (24 issues) $35 Logging Show—which even featured a surprise marriage proposal! Even the Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday Vernonia Police Department reported a of each month. fairly quiet weekend. • Politically the City is getting Vernonia’s Voice, LLC back to business. At the August 15, PO Box 55 2011 City Council meeting, remaining Vernonia, OR 97064 Councilor Randy Parrow and Mayor 503-367-0098 Josette Mitchell voted to promote police www.VernoniasVoice.com Sergeant Mike Conner back to Interim Police Chief and begin the process to hire two new Police officers. The councilors will hopefully be announced hiring of two new officers is extremely at a special City Council meeting on critical—the VPD has been operating August 29th. with only two officers since March 21, 2011. Scott Laird • In addition, Parrow and Editor and Publisher Mitchell have invited a panel of fifteen citizens, chosen by lottery, to assist them in the selection of the three replacement Councilors. Asking the citizens to be part of the selection process was a Small and Large Animals great move on the part of the current Council—it puts the power of choosing their representatives back in the hands of the people, and takes away the potential for criticism Mon, Wed & Saturday that Parrow and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mitchell are Call for Appointments h a n d - p i c k i n g (503) 429-1612 who they want to work with. New Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 The new Vernonia School campus is currently under construction. 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Now Open This photo, taken August 17, shows its progress. THE BIRK 7-10 PM Saturdays Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Lady’s Night Wed 5-12 Live Music at the Birkenfeld Country Store Sat, 8/27 “Christie Snow Band” Rockin’ Blues Fri, 9/2 8pm “Saturated Phats” Classic Rock “Step Child” Sat, 9/3 “Third Member” Rock ‘n Roll Sat, 9/10 Sat, 9/17 “Megan James Band” Country Rock Monday 10am-6pm Cafe Close Tue-Fri 10am-7:30pm The Birk Night - Saturday 10am-10:30pm Sunday 10am-2pm (unless sunny 5pm) 11139 Highway 202 (503) 755-2722 “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” LIVE MUSIC Fri, Sept. 2nd 9 pm Strawberry Roan & • Specialty hamburgers • Draft beer & mixed drinks • Pool tables & satelite TV • Special live music events • Free Wi-fi Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Catherine Loyer Rock, Blues, Pop & Alternative Country Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999
