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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2014)
february6 2014 VERNONIA’S volume8 issue3 www.vernoniasvoice.com reflecting the spirit of our community Loggerbots Get Ready to Rumble The Vernonia High School Loggerbots are getting ready to compete in the 2014 FIRST Robotics competition. As they prepare for a new challenge this year, the Loggerbots are planning to host an Open House on Saturday, February 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Vernonia School, Room 143 to preview their robot for their supporters and the rest of the community. Anyone inter- ested in learning more about the FIRST Robot- ics competitions, the VHS Loggerbots team, or about becoming a sponsor, is invited to attend. Last year, in just their second year of competing, the Loggerbots surprised almost everyone when they finished third in a field of fifty-nine teams at the Regional competition at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland. According to their webpage, FIRST Robotics Competition “...combines the excite- ment of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resourc- es, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks inside 3 9 10 12 19 columbia county at a crossroads amateur radio vhs senior projects vhs winter sports voices in my head free against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” Each year student teams are tasked with a new “competition” or game in early January and are given six weeks to design their robot to perform the required tasks. This year the game is called “Aerial Assist” which is played by two competing alliances of three student controlled robots each on a flat 25’ x 54’ foot field, straddled by a lighting truss suspended just over five feet above the floor. The objective is to score as many goals as possible, using a large exercise ball, during a 2 minute and 30 sec- ond match. The more alliances score their ball in their goals, and the more they work together to do it, the more points their alliance receives. The format of the overall com- petition has changed slightly this year, as the Loggerbots will be re- quired to travel to Oregon City and Corvallis for District competitions and then to Portland for Regionals, if they qual- ify. The region now includes over 200 schools competing for a chance to go to Portland for the Regional Competition. Each competing team receives a basic kit that includes the frame for the robot and some additional parts as well as credits that can be used to “purchase” parts from other vendors. Teams can also manufacture additional parts themselves to help their robot complete the in- tended tasks. The Loggerbots continue to receive a continued on page 3 WOEC Issues Refunds to Commercial Customers West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC) has dis- pensed checks to thirty-six of their commercial customers after an internal audit revealed that numerous commercial accounts had been classified under the wrong rate schedule, causing a discrepancy in billing and over- charges. The overcharges did not impact any residential custom- ers. WOEC representatives say the overcharges were discov- ered last year when all commer- cial accounts were reviewed af- ter a WOEC employee received training as a meter man and had the specialized knowledge to conduct the audit. Overcharges were found in thirty-six of the approximately 300 commer- cial accounts and refund checks that covered up to three years of overcharges were sent out on December 31, 2013, totaling $131,448.47. It was also determined that a handful of customers were being undercharged and those customer’s rate structure and billing has been adjusted. According to WOEC staff, commercial account rate structures fall into two cat- egories, Large Commercial and Small Commercial, based on us- age, size of the customer’s trans- former and demand. The inter- nal audit revealed that thirty-six customers had erroneously been placed in the Large Commercial rate structure and were being overcharged. It is possible some of these customers had been overcharged since the 1980s, al- though WOEC staff says it is im- possible to know since records have been lost during flooding in 2007 and 1996. Based on advice from the co-op attorney the WOEC Board determined that State Statute requires utilities that overcharge customers to issue a refund for up to two years. The state agency that regulates PGE’s and Pacific Core’s rates (the OPUC) has adopted regulations to address this and has them go back three years in the case of mistakes in billing. The WOEC Board of Directors, based on rec- ommendations from their legal staff, decided to issue refunds for three years. “The Board of Directors had to consider the Co-op as a whole as well as all the members and the financial viability of the cooperative, not just how it af- fects individual members, when making this decision,” said act- ing General Manager Sarah Ros- si. Several commercial members attended the Board of Directors meeting on January 28 and requested that the Board reconsider their decision to only grant refunds going back three years. The Board agreed to re- view their decision. Vernonia Indicator Project Finishes Report The Vital Vernonia Indicator Project (VVIP) has completed their initial report and will be presenting their findings to numerous civic and community groups over the next several months. The Vital Vernonia Indicator Project is a collaboration between Oregon State University Extension Service and the community of Vernonia and was designed to quantify and measure the well being of the Vernonia community. By examining, recording and tracking indicators of vitality over time the community can now measure progress towards goals to improve well being and identify areas for targeted community action or investment. Many community indicator projects have been implemented across the U.S. and other countries, at scales ranging from the municipality, county, or state levels. Community indicator projects are typically implemented by a government entity or non-profit organization, often in conjunction with a university. Indicators draw on data obtained from reliable outside sources (such as the U.S. Census and other regional data collection efforts) as well as primary data collection in the form of community surveys. In Vernonia, community goals were created and indicators were chosen and measured in the following five categories: Livability and Community Engagement, Youth and Education, Economy, Health and Well Being, and Environment and Natural Resources. By tracking community indicators over time, a community can gain insight into progress being made towards community goals, and can identify areas for targeted community action or investment. Working with OSU staff and meeting monthly over the last two years, numerous local volunteers helped to develop the goals and indicators of vitality to be measured. Data was collected through a series of household, business and student surveys as well as other sources, and then assessed to determine indicator targets. A final report has been completed which will be available throughout the community for community members to read. Volunteers will also be available to present the findings to any groups who may be interested. A community forum is being planned in April to discuss the VVIP findings and the potential for community action. The VVIP is seen as a useful tool for evaluating the long-term impacts of flood recovery, public and private investment in the new school campus, and other community initiatives. This project will also contribute to a better understanding of rural community vitality across Oregon, build local leadership capacity and knowledge, and further develop a framework for university- community partnerships centered on community indicators. The Vital Vernonia Indicator Project was made possible through financial and in-kind support from OSU Extension Service/Columbia County, Vernonia Prevention Coalition, and The Ford Family Foundation.
