community
december27
2011
Celebrating Families
The Vernonia Prevention Coalition, with the help
of the Vernonia Lions Club, the Vernonia School District,
Vernonia Girl Scouts, community churches and community
volunteers, held a great event for local children and families.
“Celebrating Families 2011” offered children an opportunity
to create homemade holiday gifts they could give to family
15
and friends. During the week before Christmas on December
20-23, children came to the Vernonia School cafeteria and
decorated plates of cookies, put together mugs of hot cocoa
mix, had their portraits taken for holiday gift cards, and made
other craft projects, including gifts for pets. All this merriment
was provided free to the families that participated.
Senior Stars: Shirlee
Daughtry continued from page 8
New Vernonia School Vernonia teachers and staff had a chance on December 16 th to check
on construction progress at the new Vernonia School campus. Superintendent Ken Cox gave a tour
and showed off the gymnasium (above right), locker rooms and new wrestling room, cafeteria and
multipurpose room and the office space where staff will be working. Teachers got a first hand look at
progress in the classroom areas (below). Construction is scheduled to be completed by June 2012.
can thank Shirlee for that. She was both the North and South Rims—
an instrumental figure in the refur- very different views, she says. One
bishing of this unused community regret--she would have liked to
building after the flood of 1996.
Shirlee joined forces with Norm
and Debbie Brown, along with
now deceased Tom Holce, a Ver-
nonia financial success who do-
nated $50,000 of the $100,000
needed to complete the project.
Shirlee emphasizes that it took
many willing community hands
to see the total rehab completed
in 2000. The still-in-great-shape
cabin is available for rent for
parties and events—call Shirlee
at 503-429-9002.
Shirlee is still active to-
day—in fact she still cleans both
the library and City Hall build-
ings for the city.
Shirlee would like to
express her appreciation to Nan-
cy Burch, head Vernonia Li- Shirlee with her grandfather Oscar Vike
and her dog Skipper.
brarian—according to Shirlee
we are fortunate in this city to have have ridden the mules down into
such a community outreach based the canyon. She also has memories
library with all its events and chil- of beautiful British Columbia. On
dren’s activities.
the top of patriotic Shirlee’s bucket
Today Shirlee collects... list: a trip to the Statue of Liberty
Hot Wheels! She especially likes and New York City.
the old Fords and GM’s of the
I am excited to wind up this
1940’s. She has also been an avid article about Shirlee Daughtry—
Mickey Mouse collector for over I’m on my way to dig out my own
twenty years—one prize possession Hot Wheels collection and take it to
is a photo taken with Mickey at Dis- Shirlee for her inspection!
neyland. She also likes to collect
“I feel Vernonia has given
cobalt blue glass, and has recently to me in my lifetime more than I
started collecting Coke memorabil- could ever be able to give back,”
ia.
says Shirlee in conclusion. “I truly
Shirlee enjoys life with her love Vernonia.”
son and daughter and three grand-
Thank you Shirlee Daugh-
kids, Erin, Megan and Daniel and try for your part in making this
one great grandson, Jacob.
community what it is today and for
On traveling, Shirlee has sharing your thoughts and memo-
been to the Grand Canyon three ries with our Vernonia’s Voice read-
times with her husband, visiting ers.
