Vernonia's voice., February 28, 2012, Image 1

february28 2012
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
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volume6    issue 4
Let’s Go Loggers!
Boys Basketball Wins League and State Playoff Game-
Head to Pendleton for State Final Eight

The Vernonia Loggers Boys
Basketball team won the Northwest
League Championship on February 18,
and followed up with a resounding first
round state playoff victory over the Pilot
Rock Rockets on February 25.
the Rockets, with Austin Edgar and Jesse
Edgar, along with Cutright and Craig
Weller dominating the boards. Byron
Weller was solid all night on defense.
The Loggers secured their place
in the State Tournament on February 16
with a hard
fought league
playoff vic-
tory
over
Gaston 52-49
at home. For
the Loggers,
Paul Jiranek
led the way
the entire eve-
ning with 2
points. Aus-
tin Cutright
The Vernonia Loggers Boys Basketball team celebrate their Northwest added a solid
League Championship after defeating Faith Bible 66-35.
10 points and 8
Photo courtesy of Amanda Mikalow Photography.
rebounds.
The Loggers now head to Pend-
But it was Craig Weller who
leton for the final eight State Champi- closed out the win, making four crucial
onship, beginning on March 1, and will free throws in the final minute for the
play Regis.
Loggers.
Playing their usual fast-paced,
In winning the League Champi-
uptempo style against Pilot Rock, the onship on February 18 the Loggers de-
Loggers took control early and never feated Faith Bible for the second time
looked back in a 85-55 dominating in less than two weeks. In their next to
win. In front of a packed hometown last game of the regular season the Log-
crowd in the Logger Dome, the boys gers beat first place Faith Bible at home
played a great all-around game. The 55-45. Playing for the League Champi-
Loggers rebounded and passed well, onship on February 18, it wasn’t even
played strong defense and got out- close, as the Loggers rolled over the Fal-
standing outside shooting from Craig cons 66-35.
Weller, Austin Cutright and Paul Jiranek.
After the League Championship
The Loggers won the battle inside against game, Loggers Craig Weller and Jiranek
were named First Team All-
League, while the Austin Ed-
gar and Austin Cutright, were
named to the Second Team.
inside
8
mail
call
9
community
theater
10
vhs
robotics
Wrestlers Win District Team Title--Send Five to State

On February 18 the Vernonia Jake Stevens at 182 and Bret Benes at
High School Wrestling team won the 195 all won individual District Cham-
District 1 Tournament and qualified pionships and earned a trip to the State
five Loggers for the State Tournament Tournament. Shylo Dooley at 132 and
on February 24-25.
Joe Benes at 152 both finished second
At the State Tournament, the and also qualified for State.
Loggers finished tied for fifth place
Also at the District Meet, Ty
in the team standings, with
four Loggers winning indi-
vidual medals.
Jake Stevens at 182
and Brett Benes at 195 both
made it to the state cham-
pionship final round and
finished second. Quin Jo-
hansen finished third at 145
and Joe Benes took fourth at
152.
The Logger wres-
tlers won the District Tour-
nament with 240 points,
VHS Wrestlers Quin Johansen, Jake Stevens and
far ahead of second place
Brett Benes were individual District Champions.
Neah-Kah-Nie with 186.5
Photo courtesy of Yaraslava Denysenko.
points. For the Loggers it
was a sweet victory after finishing sec- Talantov took fourth at 126, Mikol Pihl
ond last year by only one point. The took fourth at 152, Jake Barnes finished
Loggers placed eleven wrestlers in the third and Jacob Levenseller fourth at
semi-finals and five wrestlers in the fi- 160, and Dawson Shay took third and
nals. Loggers Quin Johansen at 145, Kristian Wredstroem fourth at 170.
Council Approves Release of
Escrow Funds for School
At the request of School
Superintendent Ken Cox and with
the consent of the Columbia County
Board of Commissioners, the Vernonia
City Council approved an amendment
to escrow instructions, allowing
for the release of escrow funds of
approximately $500,000 to be paid out
to the Vernonia School District.
The funds had been set aside
in escrow to assure compliance
requirements for the replacement of
Spencer Park which is to be developed
at the existing school site following
the demolition of the current school
facilities.
The School District has been
finalizing plans for the new park in
conjunction with the City of Vernonia.
The City of Vernonia currently owns
the old school property. The Vernonia
Empty Bowls Event Scheduled for
Friday, March 9, 2012
The sixth annual Empty
Bowls event is scheduled for Friday,
March 9, 2012, from 5:00 PM to 7:00
PM at McBride Elementary School,
2774 Columbia Blvd. in St. Helens.
Empty Bowls is sponsored by the
Columbia County Commission on
Children and Families which is the
annual fundraiser for the Columbia
Pacific Food Bank. Guests will
receive a simple meal of soup and a
bowl of your choice.
This is truly a community
effort. Everything involved in
the event, the bowls, the soup,
the entertainment and the auction
items, are donated by schools and
individuals, local businesses and
artists, who are dedicated to making
the lives of those facing food
insecurity a bit easier.
Guests
donating
$10
receive a ticket allowing them to
choose the bowl of their choice
and to have it filled with soup.
Restaurant owners of Bertucci’s,
Dockside, Houlton Bakery, Nawitka
Catering, and Sunshine Pizza have
generously agreed to provide soup
while Starbucks will provide the
coffee and tea. Advance purchase of
tickets for the event is appreciated
for planning purposes.
Advance tickets can be
purchased at Word for Word and
Houlton Bakery in St. Helens,
and Dianna’s Formal Affair in
Scappoose.
continued on page 7