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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2012)
4 community bulletin board/letters to the editor april24 2012 Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, As I look through the slate of candidates for our 2 County Commissioner seats, I am concerned, as voters, that we overlook the most qualified candidates when voting. Our County has over a $20 million budget per year and over 160 employees. There are certainly some nice and conscientious citizens running for County Commissioner, but are they qualified to budget and manage our County, especially during these economic times? I will be voting to retain our incumbents, both Earl and Tony. I have had the pleasure of working with them both over the past 4 years and both are smart, level-headed and have the experience we need. I’ve watched Earl roll up his sleeves and get involved before it is too late, numerous times. I’ve also seen Tony jump on an airplane and fly to Washington DC to fight for Columbia County, or drive to Salem to fight an issue that concerns our County. Also, Tony has been instrumental in forming CCET, which works county- wide to retain and attract jobs. Our County is diverse and with our current commissioners, we have representation from South County, North County and West County which seems like a perfect fit. I am sure my conservative friends and liberal friends will disown me for endorsing both Earl and Tony, but I vote for the good of the County. Jeff Kemp President Pacific Stainless Products To the Editor The VHS Leadership Class would like to thank the local businesses that supported the Donate a Dollar, Build a School, Save a Town campaign. The fundraiser received $1,619.10 for our new school. We would like to thank the following businesses for displaying the donation jars and promoting our cause: NAPA Auto Parts, Bridge Street Mini Mart, Mariolino’s, Clever Cricket, True Value Hardware, Vernonia Pharmacy, Sentry Market, Black Bear, and Creatures Pet Store. We appreciate your help. Without your dedication to our new school, we could not have raised the money. Thank you so much! Vernonia High School Leadership Class To the Editor Have you heard? One of ‘US’ is leaving. Synda and Ray Allen have decided to leave their post as care-takers at the cemetery and sadly Vernonia too. I can’t let this happen without saying a big “Thank You!” to Synda for her 20 years of service to the city. Synda has cared for our departed loved one’s last resting place, through rain or shine, good times and bad, so that we may visit there and be proud. She has always shown a caring heart for the families left behind. Her memorial services have been memorable. 20 years, 20 years of respectful service. So thank you, Synda, for your hard work, but most of all, thank you for being the caring, loving lady you are. I can only hope we find someone to fill your shoes who will care half as much as you. Much luck in your new “digs’. Sally Harrison Vernonia To the Editor Thank you to everyone that helped make the class of 2012 senior project presentations a success! Staff of Vernonia School District, Staff that volunteered to be judges, community members that volunteered to be judges, School Board members, the Boosters, community mentors, families and students of the class of 2012, Dana Hyde, Kim Scott, Juliet Safier, Doris Buchholtz, Nate Underwood, Mark Brown, Terri Willard, Leah Wilson, Matt Bringman, Austin Ragsdale, Riplee Burch, Jana Titus and anyone else that assisted our students and at this event! Much Appreciated! Mrs. Rachel Wilcoxen Vernonia High School To the Editor Recently, the Vernonia’s Voice printed an article about the high school band’s trip to the OSAA State Band Championship for the second straight year. The article explained how I was going to run in the Vernonia Half Marathon in order to help pay for the hotel rooms for the students and chaperones. The day the article came out, I received a phone call from a Vernonia resident who made a clear request to remain anonymous. This wonderful person donated the entire amount necessary to pay for thirteen rooms, and then threw in an additional amount to help out any students who might not have enough food money for the trip. So it is with my deepest gratitude that I thank this person publicly, while maintaining their desire for anonymity. But that brings up the issue of all who have expressed a desire to sponsor me on the half marathon. I still plan on participating in this event, even though I experienced a leg injury while training. If you have signed up to sponsor me for this event, but wish to withdraw in light of our generous gift, that is perfectly fine with me. However, there is still much that needs to be done in general for the program for which we do not have the funds. There are aging instruments that are in bad need of repair, or, in many cases, replacement, as they are so beat up the repair people will not do any more work on them. There are things down the road, like next year’s band trip that we will be raising money for. Believe me, if you wish to financially HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064. support the band, there are plenty of opportunities and needs. So, thank you for your support, whatever you decide to do in regards to the half marathon. Rob Izzett Vernonia Band Director To the Editor, I am writing this letter in support of Tony Hyde for his re-election as Columbia County Commissioner. I first met Tony in December 2007 when I had been hired to work for Columbia County Emergency Management after the floods of 2007. In my position I was the FEMA liaison in charge of authoring the Columbia County Debris Management Plan and leading the team for the Hazard Mitigation Planning for Columbia County. Previously I had spent nine months working as a project officer for FEMA in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. It has been stated that Tony spends a lot of time in Salem and in Washington DC. That is true. That is part of his job. If he did not spend the time in Salem and Washington DC Columbia County would not be able to get the funding that helps us to continue to have the quality of life that we enjoy in Columbia County. Tony has worked diligently with FEMA to get additional funding for disaster relief in our local communities. And yes, we in Columbia County are suffering very difficult economic times. Columbia County has had mills and businesses close. That has cost jobs. We do not have the tax base that we had a few years ago. Unemployment is high. Living wage jobs are hard to find. Foreclosures and bankruptcies are at an all time high. Most county government employees still have their jobs. Those employees have suffered a loss of one day’s work every two weeks. That hurt them financially. That is not a good thing. However, the Columbia County Commissioners have insured that they are still getting their full benefits. That is a good thing. Yes, the county government officers are closed on Fridays. But it could have been worse and would have been worse without the leadership of Tony. I feel that during these difficult economic times we have fared fairly well considering everything that is going on in Columbia County, the State of Oregon and the Federal Government. The guidance that Tony has provided has helped us to be better off than many other communities. For Tony his job as County Commissioner is not an 8 to 5 job. He passionately serves you, the people he was elected to serve. He spends many hours in planning what needs to be done for Columbia County. Columbia County needs him. Upcoming Events UNWC Steering Committee meeting, April 26, 6:30 PM, at the Vernonia Grange Hall (375 North St.) For more info call the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council office at (503) 429- 0869, or check the calendar at our website unwc@nehalem.org. 17th Annual Spring Garden Fair, April 28, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the St. Helens High School. Over 5,000 plants, over 40 varieties at $1.50 per plant. VHS Band Concert, May 5, 7:00 PM at the VHS Gym. The Vernonia High School Band Presents: An Evening With Oscar. Doors open at 6:30 PM. The Wizard of Oz by the Vernonia Ballet, June 1, 7:00 PM at WGS. No admission, donations are welcome. Last Chance Dance, June 23, at WGS. Save the date. 2012 Logging Show Kelly and Lindsay Baska are beginning to plan the 2012 Logging Show. To get in- volved call Mike Pihl Logging at 503-429-1470. Tony has had to make many difficult decisions for our county and I know that he does not make them lightly. I know Tony to be an honorable and dedicated servant to Columbia County. That is why I am supporting Tony Hyde for re-election as Columbia County Commissioner and why I urge you to vote for a proven leader and re-elect Tony Hyde. Frank E. Hupp, DTM Columbia City Kindergarten Round Up Notice of Budget Committee Meeting A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia County 4-H & Extension Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013, will be held at the OSU Extension Service office, 505 N. Columbia River Hwy, St. Helens, OR. The meeting will take place on May 9, 2012 at 12:15 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 7, 2012 at the OSU Extension Service office, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.
