4 community june5 2014 What Happens Now that the Levy Has Passed? By Sheriff Jeff Dickerson Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Dr. Ken Cox Jeff Dickerson Steven Leskin Stacey Lynn Gayle Rich-Boxman Ernie Smith Michal Smith Grant Williams All the plans we were making to close the jail came to an immediate halt last month after the voters passed the $7 million levy to keep our jail going for the next three years. Our effort and energy leading up to the vote had been devoted to getting everything in place for what would have been a very quick closure if the levy had been defeated. Once the levy revenue is figured into the equation, we will begin in earnest to reverse direction. This will take some doing, initially, as the jail remains on life support due to low staffing. There is a long process that must be initiated Photography Gayle Rich- Boxman Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. before we can begin hiring staff, but we have contingency plans in place to fill gaps until we can begin the hiring process. We also have several vendor contracts that need to be renegotiated, as we had let them lapse pending the vote, continuing on a month- to-month basis. Now that we know we will be in business, we need to start afresh with new contracts for food, inmate telephones, and inmate medical. We need to upgrade our software for jail inspections and jail management, and it will be better to do that now, than while we are in the hiring process. The Board of Commissioners also will empanel the citizen review committee that the commissioners were talking about during the election campaign. I am hoping for a good cross- section of individuals to sit on the panel, and I also hope those who voted against the levy will be well-represented. The fact is that this county is pretty much divided on using additional tax money to support the jail. We need to develop a long-term strategy to fund the jail, and we need to build consensus around a solution that will work for longer than three years. Let us work together to build consensus for a safer, more secure community for our future. Columbia County Passes Jail Funding Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 Columbia County citizens voted in favor of a tax levy to support funding their county jail. In a close vote, Measure 5-238 won by just 296 votes or 1.26%. A total of 11,768 votes were cast. In other local election news, County Commissioner Henry Heimuller and Wayne Mayo ended their race in a virtual deadlock, with Heimuller outpacing Mayo 5,341 votes to 5,278. There were 92 write in votes meaning neither Heimuller nor Mayo received the necessary 50% of the vote to secure election. A run off will take place in November. In the two contested judges races, incumbent for Judge of the Cir- cuit Court, Pos. 3 Jenefer Grant easily handled a write-in challenge by Ag- nus Petersen, winning almost 80% of the vote. In the race for Judge of the Circuit Court, Pos. 1, Jean Martwick received 37.67% of the vote while Cathleen Callahan received 36.39% of the vote. Jason Heym finished third with 24.72 of the vote. A run off will be held in November. www.VernoniasVoice.com Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals Now Open Mon, Wed & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for Appointments (503) 429-1612 Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Lady’s Night Wed 5-12 Cedar Side Inn “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” Events • Specialty hamburgers • Draft beer & mixed drinks • Pool tables & satelite TV • Special live music events • Free Wi-fi Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia June 7 Dixie Wrecked June 21 Texas Hold ‘em June 28 Megan James & the Intolerables Beer & Kegs to go Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 Karaoke Every 2nd & Last Friday Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ping Pong Every 2nd & Last Sunday iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841