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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 2011)
community 2011 Senior Stars: Ken Bateman By Karen Miller october25 pharmacy and dental office is now locat- ed. It moved to its current location in the 1950’s. Several names Ken remembers as mail carriers from his dad’s post office days: Jerry Russell and Dick Aldrich. Ken has lots of memories about growing up in Vernonia. “You didn’t have as much to worry about back then as we do now,” says Ken. “You never locked your doors.” When he was a kid, Ken remem- bers running on logging roads, grouse now stands, also only cost twenty-five cents. The year was 1965: average Ken has memories of the film- rent was $118 a month; gasoline was ing of “Ring of Fire”--his mother was in 31 cents a gallon; average income in the film running for the train and brother the U.S. was $6500 a year. Australia Steve was in the WOEC office scene , joined the Viet Nam War; Pope Paul be- being sworn in as a deputy. came the first Pope to visit the U.S; Mal- Ken remembers eight gas sta- colm X was shot in New York; cigarette tions (8?!), lots of Ma and Pa grocery ads were banned on TV in Britain; the stores, and hanging out at the now torn Beatles released their movie and album down Pine Cone. He remembers his “Help!”; President Lyndon Johnson an- Dad had a 60’s Chevy Bel Air that Ken nounced his project to inherited in 1967—which create Medicare... and we won’t see at the yearly in Vernonia, Ken Bate- Jamboree car show, as man made it through Ken sold it in 1970. He twelve years of school then purchased a cute, and graduated from yellow VW Bug for Vernonia High School $1800, but traded it in for with the class of ‘65! a Dasher station wagon Books may not after his marriage to ac- have been on Ken’s commodate his growing agenda in high school, family. Yep, having kids but quiet, laid back changes things! Ken went on to Corval- Another memory of lis that fall, graduating growing up in Vernonia: four years later from picking strawberries af- Oregon State in 1969. ter third grade. His mom Ken’s dad, was a field checker in Tom arrived here in Banks and Ken got paid Oregon from Coving- fifty cents a flat and made ton, Oklahoma, a result $105 in his first season. of his brother head- He proudly admits pick- ing west in the 20’s. ing thirty-eight flats and Upon arrival Tom went making $19 in one day. to work for the Verno- Although he didn’t spend Ken Bateman, age 12, with Chinook Salmon caught in the Columbia River 3/6/60. nia Post Office. Ken’s it all on candy, he paid brother Steve was a for half his school clothes wartime baby, born in and he purchased a $25 1942. Tom returned from service in the hunting. Things back then were more savings bond each year. Could that have Philippines and New Guinea in 1945 and care free. Ken remembers when he was been an early sign of Ken’s good busi- Ken was born in 1947. in grade school that people could just go ness sense? Tom retired after forty years out and cut down a Christmas tree and Some school memories: May with the Postal Service in Vernonia, no one cared. Pole dances; Pee Wee Baseball behind working his way up from sorter, all the Ken’s favorite thing to do as the high school; playing basketball and way to postmaster. The old Post Office, a boy—fishing! You never saw Ken golf for the school teams all four years, Ken recalls, was first located on Madi- “cruising the gut” up and down Bridge and doing as little school work as pos- son, moved to the building where the Street, unless he was a tag a long, as Ken sible. Ken’s favorite teacher was Har- never owned a car, but old McEntire, his math teacher at VHS. instead filled his time Harold was Ken’s dad Tom’s fishing baiting a hook. buddy and Ken’s mentor. Ken’s first Ken’s memory of Graduation memory of the Friend- night: the “secret” senior party on Ke- ship Jamboree was at asey Road. the age of eight or nine Many long time Vernonia resi- and throwing darts at dents remember Ken’s sweet mother, Ina During the 2012 Miss the POPular Balloon Bateman, who at times could make peo- Rodeo America Pageant Booth, and the large ples hair stand on end... as the local hair- which will be held at the crowds watching. dresser that is. Ina was raised in Laurel MGM Grand Hotel & Casino The Joy The- on the back roads near Gaston, where her in Las Vegas, NV, December ater only cost twenty- parents owned a Ma and Pa grocery store 3 through December10, 2011 five cents and haircuts and raised filberts. Ina moved to Verno- the “People’s Choice Award” by “Barber Bricle”, nia with a friend after graduation from will be presented to the where Bear Creek Pub high school in Hillsboro in 1933 and at- contestant who receives the most “likes” on their picture that will be posted on the Miss Rodeo America Facebook page. STEVE DENNIS Vernonia’s own Mackenzie Carr, 2011 Miss HM: 503-429-3400 HM: 503-429-2810 Rodeo Oregon, will be a contestant in the Pageant. CELL: 503-313-9006 CELL: 503-313-9044 The People’s Choice voting will start Monday, October 31, beginning at noon and ending Thursday, 1264 G ST. December 8, at noon. The 2012 Miss Rodeo VERNONIA, OR 97064 SELF LOADER ROAD BUILDNIG America Pageant People’s Choice Award winner LONG LOGGER LAND CLEARING O.P.L. CERTIFIED O.P.L.H. CERTIFIED EXCAVATION will be announced Friday, December. 9, at the Miss CUSTOM LOGGING Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation Auction that takes place at Cowboy Christmas in the Las Vegas We saddle shoe. Do you? Convention Center. The winner will receive a beautiful Montana Silversmiths Sculpture. Voting is simple and FREE!! If you wish to vote for your favorite contestant all you have 950 Bridge Street to do is become a fan of the Miss Rodeo America Vernonia, O8 97064 Facebook page. To see photos of contestants and 503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050 additional pageant information please visit www. www.muffys.com missrodeoamerica.com. World Headquarters Vernonia, Oregon “Like” Your Vote for the Next Miss Rodeo America Vote for Vernonia’s Mackenzie Carr, 2011 Miss Rodeo Oregon 7 tending beauty school in Portland. She opened her beauty shop in the JCPenney building on the corner of Madison and Bridge. Ken’s family lived at 158 North Street in Vernonia, which never flooded until 1996. Ken’s father Tom passed away in 1968; Ina passed away in 2005. Hitting the books in college paid off for Ken, as he landed a job at Dunn and Bradstreet in 1969, the same year man first landed on the moon. A world- wide commercial credit and informa- tion gathering firm, Ken stayed at Dunn and Bradstreet through 1988. The job required a lot of travel out of state. He left that job and purchased Vernonia Re- alty and Insurance, selling the Insurance agency five years ago and continuing to operate the realty office with wife Helen. Ken, married to Helen, a Banks High School grad, still reside in the same 1250 square foot house they raised four children in, and are happily expecting their tenth grandchild. Ken’s favorite vacation memo- ry: the one week fishing trip he took to Vancouver Island in 1991. One last story Ken wanted to share—his beginner’s luck hunting sto- ry: “I was a freshman in high school and my dad and his buddy, Cecil John- son, took me on a hunting trip to teach me the ropes. They had me sit on a tree stump that overlooked a fifty foot cliff, and walked away in separate directions to scout the area. I was quietly sitting there, rifle in hand, when a forked deer walked right in front of me. Well I guess I should do what I am here to be taught, so BAM, off went the rifle and down went the deer over the cliff. After a few moments, still sitting on the stump, I turned to the right and there was another three point buck. Well, what was I to do, so BAM went the rifle and down went the buck over the cliff. Right after that moment, to my left, there came another three pointer, running out from behind me. I swung around and BAM, off went the rifle and down went the deer over the cliff.” “My dad and Cecil came run- ning back. ‘We heard shots!’ they ex- claimed. ‘Did you get him?’ I told them I shot three deer and they said I must have shot the same one three times and I said, nope each one went over the cliff.” Talk about beginners luck— three shots, three dead deer, three tags filled. Thanks Ken for sharing your memories with our Vernonia’s Voice readers. 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