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
