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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 2011)
october25 2011 free V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community volume5 issue 20 A Tale of Two Houses After Losing Almost Everything in the Flood of 2007 the Eyrrick Family Finally has a New Home By Scott Laird On December 3, 2007 everything changed. Large portions of the town of Vernonia were flooded, and friends, families and neighbors could do little to help those around them. Businesses, government infrastructure, and community resources were effected in various ways. But most of all, the Flood of 2007 impacted the people of Vernonia. The families that call this town home. The flood left a wake of destruction in the personal lives of many of the citizens, damaging homes, destroying memories, damping holiday spirits, and leaving numerous families with a trail of red tape and paperwork and severely limited options about how to go about rebuilding their lives. The devastation was great and recovery has taken a long time; continuing even today, almost four years later. The flood damaged all three schools, key components in the community infrastructure including the headquarters of West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC), the Vernonia Cares Food Bank, the Senior Center, and Health Clinic. Businesses were damaged, including the Sentry Market, the only grocery store in town and the Bridge Street Mini Mart, the only supplier of gasoline. The recovery over the last three and a half years has been varied—new schools are in the process of being built and WOEC just completed construction and opened the doors of their new headquarters facility. Most businesses quickly cleaned up and got back to serving customers; the Sentry Market is currently putting the finishing touches on a flood wall around their building to protect their property. Many families, who had access to resources, including flood insurance, have repaired their homes and were able to quickly put their lives back together. Columbia County Flood Relief (CCFR), a locally organized relief agency which has helped identify funding sources and offered counseling to the community through the recovery, assisted many families who chose to lift their homes or go through a buyout process-- two options that have taken considerable time, effort, energy and stamina. The Eyrrick family, Brandon and Camrin and children Jacob and Health Care Town Hall October 27th, 6 PM at VCLC to discuss the future of health care in Columbia County inside 10 vhs homecoming 10 vhs sports 15 my trip Camrin, Brandon, Jacob and Kaitlyn Eyrrick in front of their new home in Vernonia. Kaitlyn, who lost almost everything on December 3, are just one of several families who have spent the years since that day negotiating the hurdles of the recovery process in an attempt to put their lives back together. On September 23, 2011 their long journey came to an end when they moved into a brand new home--a home that is safe and out of the way of future flooding. *** *** Brandon and Camrin Eyrrick purchased and moved into their new home in Vernonia on Juniper Street in April of 2007 after renting in the continued on page 8 “Voices of Rural Oregon” Hosts Forum for 1st District Congressional Candidates By Jill Hult On Tuesday, October 11, 2011 a forum with Columbia County residents and four out of the 11 invited Congressional Candidates for Oregon’s 1st District was held in Scappoose, Oregon. The event was hosted by Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity (CCCHD), the Rural Organizing Project (ROP), and the Working Families Organization (WFO), along with MoveOn.org and Rebuild the Dream. A Special Primary Election will be held on November 8, 2011 followed by a Special General Election on January 31, 2012 to replace Oregon District 1 Representative David Wu, who resigned. Over 125 citizens attended the event which was structured as a “Kitchen Table Conversation” between the candidates and five citizens representing participating organizations. Each representing citizen asked the candidates questions covering issues such as the economy; education; public infrastructure; social security; health care; and immigration. Audience members were asked to submit questions which were asked and answered immediately following the “Kitchen Table” segment. The four attending candidates were Oregon Labor Commissioner, Brad Avakian; State Senator Suzanne Bonamici serving Oregon’s 17th District; Delinda Delgado-Morgan, an International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 701 member; and State Representative Brad Witt, serving Oregon’s 31st District. Audience member questions were: whether the candidates supported Oregon becoming a Right to Work State; what they believe the effects of NAFTA have been on the State and economy; how they would solve FEMA’s financial crisis; if they support the “Occupy” Portland protesters; and if they supported a National Anti-Discrimination Law that includes the LGBT community. Many concerns centered on the economy as it affects other issues mentioned such as health care, immigration, education, social security, and the rights of every citizen. All of the candidates spoke passionately about the need to keep jobs in America mentioning that we need to educate the population, invest in small businesses, manage for forest health, and cut down on waste.
