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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 2014)
10 community january16 2014 Metro West Debuts Four Wheel Drive Ambulance Metro West Ambulance and the Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Associa- tion are excited to welcome the newest member to their EMS team-a Chevy Sil- verado K3500 four wheel drive ambu- lance! “This is the first four-wheeled drive ambulance and also the first pickup based ambulance that we’ve had in any of our family of companies active fleets,” said J.D. Fuiten, Metro West Ambulance President and owner. “We want to see how it performs for our crews in the Ver- nonia area to see if it should be consid- ered for other communities our various companies serve.” The new ambulance is only slightly different than other ambulances used by Metro West crews and Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance volunteers says Randy Carlton, who is both a paid Metro West crew member and a local volun- teer. Carlton noted that the major dif- ference is that the new ambulance box is mounted on the pick-up truck chaise instead of the usual van chaise. The vehicle has upgraded mud terrain tires. It also has reverse lights installed on the side of the vehicle and all the emergency lighting are the upgraded, new generation LED lighting which are less of a drain on the battery in the vehicle. “This type of ambu- lance was bought for enhanced safety for our crews and for the patients we care for,” said Alex Lee, Metro West Ambulance Fleet manager. “We remem- bered the years of substantial snow in the Vernonia region and knew that by having a unit with four wheel drive, more aggres- sive tires and the ability to chain all four tires that it greatly increases getting our patients where they need to go much more safely, especially considering the road conditions that the crews can and have faced!” “This is a culmination of our ex- periences going through our numerous winters up here,” added Metro West Ver- nonia Supervisor Jeff Mathia. “And it is especially a result of the effort made by Randy Carlton, who really lobbied hard for this.” Older Vernonia Grads Are Giving Back continued from front page many to the Sports Initiative project. “The vast majority (95%) of the Alumni who have contributed thus far are considered “senior citizens” or over the age of 55, and graduated somewhere between 1940 and 1975,” said Eckland, who lives in Keizer, Oregon, during a recent visit to Vernonia. “This segment of the Alumni population makes up only about a third of the total number of Vernonia grads. In other words, two thirds of Vernonia Alumni (those who graduated after 1975) have not been asked to donate yet to the Sports Initiative.” Another interesting statistic provided by Eckland is that 80% of the Alumni who have contributed thus far reside outside the Vernonia School District. “This is very understandable since District voters passed a bond measure in 2009 and local taxpayers have seen an increase in their property taxes and utility rates in recent years,” says Eckland. According to Eckland, $30,000 was raised through just four donations; two of $10,000, one of $7,500 and one of $2,500. But Eckland seemed just as pleased with the ten donations of $200, the thirty-one donations of $100, the twenty-nine donations between $99 ra th Health Se l Pa r lo ca tio n! mail, using address lists that were painstakingly gathered from reunion committees. A second mailing of 200 was sent out by the Ecklands this past December, at a cost of $150. According to Eckland, 110 of those mailings went out to Alumni who had already donated; ninety were mailed to new contacts. Fifty Alums responded, a 25% response rate, contributing over $13,000. Twenty-one were new donors and twenty-nine were repeat donors. The next challenge, according to Eckland, is to try to locate the “younger” Alumni, who graduated after 1975, and ask them to contribute to the Vernonia Alumni Sports Initiative so that more fields and facilities can be completed. Future home of the VHS softball field. If you would like to $22,000 or 43% of the total; and grads contribute, you may send your tax- from the 1960s have donated over deductible donation to the Vernonia $14,000 or 28% of the total. Grads from Education Foundation, 1201 Texas the 70s and 80s have donated $1,320 Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064; or log on or just 3% of the total. According to to www.vernonia.k12.or.us Eckland no other graduating classes have been contacted and asked to donate Jim Eckland, Class of 1962, currently in an organized way. resides in Keizer, Oregon, with his wife Eckland says the older Alumni Kathy Minger Eckland, Class of 1965. were originally contacted by direct Absolute ces vi Na tu ne w and $50 and the forty-five donations of $25 and less that the fund has received. “They are all adding up!,” says Eckland. Eckland also provided an additional interesting breakdown of where the money has come from: graduates from the 1940s have donated over $12,000 or 24% of the total; grads from the 1950s have donated almost QUALITY FABRICATION & INSTALLATION MARBLE GRANITE TRAVERTINE Dr. Carol McIntyre Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 758 Weed Avenue Vernonia, OR, 97064 Marble & Granite FREE ESTIMATES Kitchen Countertops Fireplace & Furniture Tubs & Vanities CCB#159794 Phone 503-429-2617 ABSOLUTE@AGALIS.NET www.absolutemarbleinc.com While this vehicle is not an off- road vehicle, having a four-wheeled ambulance available and ready no mat- ter what Mother Nature provides is reas- suring to both of the EMS crews and the Vernonia Community. Fundraiser for David Spackman Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament Sun, February 9 at 2 PM Sponsored by the Vernonia Lions Club David is having liver transplant surgery in San Francisco. Fundraising will go to help David and Sonia with living and medical expenses during this difficult time. Calling All Vets! Columbia County Veterans Stand Down Sat, February 1, 9AM-5PM at the Columbia County Fairgrounds • Hot Meal • Clothing • Dental and Health Care • Personal Care Items • Haircuts • • Homeless Services • Flu Shots • • VA Benefits Experts • Employers • • Vocational Rehab • Eye Care • • Educational Info • Mental Health Care • • Housing Info • and much more! Free transportation provided by CC Rider Leaving Vernonia City Hall at 8AM & 1PM Proudly Sponsored by Community Action Team. For more info contact Pam Daniels at 503-366-6591 A Soul Quest Readings by Stacey Lynn Palmistry Tarot Angel cards Medicine cards Sacred Path cards Osho Zen Ruins & more If you have questions or are unsure how to go forward in life This can help Reasonable rates Safe • Fun • Confidential For appointment 503-828-8323 entertainment only
