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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2012)
may22 2012 free V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community volume6 issue10 VHS Band are State Champs! District Identifies The Vernonia High School Band was named 2A/1A State Champions on May 10, 2012 at the State Band Festival held at the Oregon State University campus. VHS Band Director Rob Izzett was excited for his students and for the families and fans that have supported the program this year. portion of the competition, where they must perform a piece of music they have never seen before. During the Sight Reading, the Band is given seven minutes to look over and discuss the music and then they have to play it, which is part of their final score. Izzett said he thought the VHS Band “It was bedlam when they announced us as the received high marks for the difficulty of the winners,”said Izzett. “Not only did we have the music they chose to perform and also said he felt largest band in the competition, like his group has continued to but we had the largest contingency improve and add new elements of audience members, by far. It to their playing throughout the was just crazy—the place just festival season this year. erupted! Our audience had to be Izzett also expressed thanks to double the size of anyone else.” the families that have supported Last year the VHS Band the program and especially to finished 5 th in the State Festival. the “Band Moms” who help with Izzett was especially many of the details it takes to thrilled for the group of eleven perform at this level. “I couldn’t seniors that are part of the band. do these trips by myself,” said “ The joy for me, as much as I Izzett. “I can’t make sure all the wanted to win, was seeing the uniforms get clean. They take looks on faces on the seniors,” care of things like that—making said Izzett. “ I thought, ‘They sure everyone gets on the bus, will have this for the rest of their making sure all the instruments lives.’” are where they need to be, that Izzett said the VHS Band VHS Band director Rob Izzett. the music is all there and that was the final of seven bands to Photos courtesy of Tracy Easlon . everyone is in uniform. They perform in the contest. After have been great!” playing their set of music, which contained Izzett said one of his seniors gave him three separate musical pieces, the band was what he believes is the ultimate compliment then escorted into a room for the Sight Reading after the competition when they told him that next year most of the graduating seniors intend to be part of the band Izzett directs at Portland Community College. “I said, ‘Great—I would take you guys in a minute,’” said Izzett. “That is very gratifying to know that they would want two more years of this!” inside 7 diggin’ in the dirt 9 vhs sports 10 vhs forestry Funding to Complete Construction ODE grant moves new school closer to completion By Scott Laird It looks like the Vernonia School District 47J has found the missing puzzle piece and identified a source of funding that can be used to take another step toward closing the funding gap and complete construction of their new K-12 campus. Following a conversation on April 16 with Ed Dennis, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), the District was notified in writing that they can anticipate receiving what is called a Facility Grant from the ODE. The grant could be for as much as $2 million. The ODE Facility Grants are provided by the Oregon State Legislature to help school districts with costs to increase classroom space. The Legislature allocates $25 million each biennium to help pay for shortfalls in expenses for new school projects. The grant is paid out to qualifying projects after a new facility has been open for a half year. Eligible school districts can receive 8% of the total cost of the projects; if eligible projects statewide exceed the funds available in the grant pool, then the funds are prorated continued on page 3 Columbia County Commissioners Head to November Run-off There will be another election for Columbia County Commissioners in November. Neither incumbent Tony Hyde nor Earl Fisher could secure more than fifty percent of the vote in the March 15 th primary, forcing a run-off election on November 6, 2012 in the newly non-partisan races. Hyde, running for re-election for position one, received 46. 38 percent of the vote. He will face Tammy Maygra who finished second with 29.22 percent of the vote. James Gibson received 20.24 percent and Reginald Ward received 3.77 percent of the vote for Position 3. Fisher who is also running for re-election for Position 1, received 28.39 percent of the vote, finishing ahead of Wayne Mayo, who he will face in November. Mayo received 23.8 percent to take second place. Terry Luttrell received 18 percent; Colleen DeShazer received 16.69 percent; and Brady Preheim received 12.91 percent of the votes for Position 1. Vernonia Golf Club Has New Ownership Zavales brothers hope to make positive changes to local landmark The Vernonia Golf Club has been in existence since 1928. And now it has new, local ownership. Nick and Bob Zavales, two brothers who grew up at the club, took over ownership on May 1, 2012 and are hoping to make some changes and breathe new life into the facility. The Zavales brothers purchased the property from Seaside Golf Corporation which had been managing the Vernonia Golf Club since around 1986. One thing that appears to be important to Bob and Nick is renewing local interest and use of the club. “For the past five or six years about eighty percent of our players have been from over the hill—from Hillsboro and St. Helens and other of the community again.” places,” says Bob. “We really want Bob and Nick have plenty of to strive to get the local interest back. ideas about how to revive the club We want to see the club be a big part continued on page 8
