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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2012)
schools VHS Fall Sports Recap Volleyball- The Lady Loggers accomplished all but one of their goals this year. Otherwise it was an extremely good year for the Vernonia varsity. The Loggers finished their season at 15-7 overall, with wins in ten straight matches before heading to the State Tournament for the second year in a row. Head coach Teresa Williams was very proud of the way the team came together down the stretch. “We began the season trying to find the right combination of players,” said Williams. “By the end of the year we put everything together and ran our offense the way it was designed to be run.” Sophomore setter Taylor Titus took some time early in the season to adjust to varsity level play, but was instrumental in the Loggers stretch run into the playoffs. Coach Williams also noted the play of Samantha Wallace, who moved from the front to the back line in mid season. “Our passing really improved, which allowed us to run our offense,” said Williams. Williams also noted that the team worked on their serving a lot in practice. “This year we were a really good serving team.” In the league playoffs the Loggers defeated Nestucca 3-0 and Gaston 3-0, before playing Knappa for third place. The Loggers 3-1 victory was a sort of bell weather match for coach Williams. “It proved that we are somebody in this league,” she said, Unfortunately, the playoff format didn’t allow the Loggers a chance to challenge for the league title at the end of the season when they were playing their best volleyball. That third place finish earned them an away first round state tournament match up against last year’s state champion, Day Creek. It was also a repeat of last year’s first round match up. The Loggers lost for the second year in a row, 3-0. “We accomplished everything we set out to do this year, except make it to the final eight,” said Williams. “Once we came together as a team we were unstoppable in our league.” Williams is already looking toward next season when she should have a strong returning team with a lot of varsity experience. The loss of seniors Sara McMahon and Wallace will be missed, but Williams has some very talented underclassman waiting in the wings. Williams says her goal is to finish higher in the league next year and earn a top eight seed and host a state playoff game next year. Cross Country- At the District Meet at Tualatin Hills Vernonia’s Samantha Lindauer finished fifth and qualified for the State meet. Nathan Fleck saw his Cross Country career end with a very respectable seventh place finish in the District. The state 1A/2A/3A cross country meet was held on Saturday November 3 at Lane Community College in Eugene. 107 of the best distance runners in the state competed. Lindauer finished 19th overall. “It was a heck of a year for Sammy in her first year ever in cross country,” said Logger head coach Byron Brown. “The year really demonstrated her Vernonia Students of the Month October 2012 Camille Corielle , Grade 4 Camille is a good student who is conscientious and considerate. She is a new student at Vernonia Elemen- tary School who has done an excellent job this year learning and following school rules. Camille says she spent the first half of her third grade year at an Ameri- can International School in Israel and was home schooled the other half of the year. She says her favorite subject is Art because she likes the freedom to make what she would like. She plays basketball and is hoping to learn to horseback ride soon. She is in Junior Girl Scouts. She likes to play outdoors in her free time. Morgan Harral , 2012 versatility as a runner. Sammy has made it to state every year in track but always in the sprints. It is so unusual to have a runner who can excel at both distance and sprinting. At Vernonia, we are fortunate to have 2 runners who break the mold--Sammy and Nathan Fleck. A top 20 finish at State is an exceptional accomplishment and it portends well for us for the coming track season as well.”. Brown and the VHS runners now turn their attention to preparing for the upcoming track season, starting 13 at the end of February. The first track meet will be the middle of March at the Grizzly Bear Open in McMinneville. Football- The Loggers finished their year with a 4-5 record overall. Tough league losses down the stretch to Knappa, Neah-Kah-Nie and Portland Christian left the Loggers out of the state playoffs this year. Head coach Gordon Jarmin said he was pleased to see continued continued on page 14 From the Superintendent: The VEF By Dr. Kenneth Cox It seems so long ago. It was the Fall of 2008, and we were beginning to strategize about how we could find the rest of the funding for the new schools. We were informed that some organizations and foundations do not donate to public schools. So we chose to create a foundation of our own that they could donate to. Thanks to the relationship of Gordon Smith with a local (Portland) law firm, we were able to get the legal paperwork done at no cost to create the Vernonia Education Foundation (VEF). The by-laws were drafted and approved and our first meeting was held February 9, 2009 where we elected our first, and so far only, Chairman of the Board of Directors--our local dentist Dr. Chris Scheuerman. The other two original board members are Cari Levenseller, who is the Vernonia School Board liaison on the VEF board, and me. I also have the privilege of serving as the President of the VEF, with Barb Carr serving as Secretary and we have appointed Dawn Plews as Treasurer. Since that first meeting we have had a number of board members join the foundation, among them Pam Weller, Wauna FCU Manager; Ronda Lennen, Vernonia Alum; Camrin Eyrick, representing the Vernonia Community PTA (and a member of the school board); and most recently, Bill Langmaid, also a school board member. Other board members whose commitments elsewhere have precluded them from continuing as members of the board are Sharon Bernal, a local realtor, and Brent Dass, a community member. Now that you have met the people who make up the VEF, you might be curious about just what they have done, and what they have planned. Well, as we have worked with the Metropolitan Group to coordinate the fundraising for the new schools, the VEF has received over $1,000,000 in funding and has provided funding to the district so we can make our construction loan payments on the new schools. The VEF has so far been involved in two major fundraising events. The first was when we participated in the Biggest Class Reunion which was held here in Vernonia in August 2010. The various alumni who attended helped contribute over $1,800. The second event, which was held this last summer, was the Last Chance Dance, a huge success and a great deal of fun for all who attended. Those who attended were able to participate in a catered dinner and live auction followed by a silent auction on items contributed by local artists and attractions and a dance that shared music through the decades. The Last Chance Dance generated nearly $8,000 in funding for the VEF. We continue to look for opportunities to raise funds to close the gap in our funding and accept gifts from various sources. We recently received a $3,500 check from a group of VHS alumni who were focusing on funding for our current sports facilities. This came directly from the efforts of Jim and Kathy Eckland who have donated many hours recently to this cause. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping the VEF raise funds or in participating in our meetings to contact Barb Carr, the VEF Secretary at the Vernonia School District Office, now located at 1201 Texas Ave. or by calling 503 429-5891. Harlem Crowns to Play at VHS Grade 7 Morgan is an all around great student. She works hard and takes pride in her assignments. “Morgan is a joy to teach,” says one of her teachers. She is also kind to others and is well liked by her peers-and her teachers too. Morgan says her favorite subject is Language Arts. She plays volleyball, basketball, softball and runs track. She raises pigs and rabbits for 4-H. Morgan says in her free time she enjoys riding horses and likes to be in the outdoors. Damian Young , november13 Grade 10 Damian is a hard working student who has shown a lot of initiative and creativity in his work. Damian runs Cross Country and is also on the wrestling team. He plays trumpet in the VHS Band and was part of the group that won the State Championship last year. Damian volunteered this past summer to help serve food to kids at the Summer Meals Program Sponsored by Vernonia’s Voice The world famous basketball travelers known as the Harlem Crowns are coming to Vernonia to play in the Vernonia High School gymnasium on December 8, 2012. The Crowns will play against the local Vernonia Scepters, coached by local legend Steve Whiteman. The Scepturs will feature Don Dalebroux, Ron Maldonado, Tim Jennings, Mario Castro, Brandon Eyrrick, Todd Sulli- van, Jeff Ely, Aaron Miller, Nate Under- wood, Jerry Butcher, Derek Handegard, Stacy Adams and possibly some surprise guests. Referees will be VHS faculty Matt Blair and Justin Ward. The VHS Cheerleaders will also be on hand. The game is a prom fundraiser for the VHS junior class and will replace donkey basketball this year. The Harlem Crowns began their existence in the mid 1950’s when a for- mer Harlem Globetrotter, Chico Burell formed his own team of highly talented players. Burell played for the Globetrot- ters for twelve years playing with such greats as Goose Tatum, Sweetwater Clif- ton and Maquis Haynes. Today the team is owned by a group of California businessmen and are managed by former player Herbert Scaife. Members of the Crowns are chosen for their showmanship as well as their ability to play above average bas- ketball. The Harlem Crowns play a regulation four quarter game. There is never a dull moment during the game, which displays superlative basketball skills coupled with zany acts and laugh- a-minute routines. Advance tickets are $9 and are available at Sentry Market. Tickets are $10 at the door.
