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
