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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2014)
community Health Center Grand Opening that the Health Center Board’s goal is “...building partnerships with new providers in order to widen the scope of services so it is not just primary care.” Guest speakers at the ceremony included State Senator Betsy Johnson and Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde. “This is another great day for Vernonia!” said Senator Johnson. “Vernonia is a great place to live and work and this is one more step in putting everything back, not just the way it was but ten times better!” “We had a crisis, and instead of just falling flat and becoming victims, we recognized opportunity,” added Commissioner Hyde, referencing the new school, the new West Oregon Electric headquarters, and the new Health Center as improvements to Vernonia since the flood. Also in attendance at the ceremony were State Representative Brad Witt, Vernonia Mayor Josette Mitchell and former Vernonia School District Superintendent Ken Cox, who traveled from his new home in Idaho to be at the event. Patient care at the Health Center is provided by The Public Health Foundation of Columbia County and Pacific University. Sherrie Ford, the new administrator for The Public Health Foundation, was a guest speaker, as was Physician Assistant Jim Ferguson representing Pacific University. The new Heath Center building is named in honor of Carolyn Keasey, long time member and chairperson of the Vernonia Health Board. Carolyn Keasey passed away in October of 2013. Numerous members of the Keasey family were on hand for the celebration. Paleck unveiled a portrait of Carolyn Keasey which she said will have a prominent place in the new building. “We are very proud to have Carolyn’s name connected with the Vernonia Health Clinic from this day forward,” said Paleck. “Her upbeat spirit was the driving force that kept the project alive to its completion.” The new facility was fully funded through fundraising efforts and grant awards from The Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation, The Collins Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, The Samuel S. Johnson Foundation and the Carolyn Keasey Memorial Fund. Funding was also provided through the FEMA buyout of the old clinic building. Funding also came from The Providence-St. Vincent Foundation, which collected funds donated to rebuild the clinic immediately following the flood in December 2007, and from individual donors. Marc Seigel from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkely’s office read a message VRFPD Replaces Apparatus november6 2014 3 continued from front page from the Senator. “Congratulations on this exciting grand opening of the new Vernonia Health Center. Access to affordable and quality health care is critical to our communities and this new health center will provide necessary primary care to Vernonia residents. Due to an innovative model with Pacific University and The Public Health Foundation of Columbia County, the Vernonia Health Center will fill an important health care need for the community,” read Segal. The Carolyn Keasey Memorial Building is the first completed phase of the Rose Avenue Project, a collaboration between local non profits and the City of Vernonia which has been developed as a home for local essential services. The project will hopefully add the new Senior Center and Vernonia Cares food bank in the near future. The new facility has five rooms dedicated to patient care, treatment rooms and office space, as well as a large conference room. There is space for additional services to be added. The building was designed by Scott Edwards Architecture and constructed by Five Star Building. Following the grand opening ceremony the building was open for tours and refreshments were served. Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Tom Coughlin Steven Leskin Stacey Lynn Aaron Miller Michal Smith Grant Williams Melissa Zavales Photography Scott Laird 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. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 continued from front page volunteers. Current volunteers lives are be responsible for training. Smith says well as for training firefighters. E451, which is being replaced, getting busier and training requirements that adding a training officer could al- was a 1974 Ford F900. According to are getting longer, says Smith, and the low VRFPD to develop a resident train- www.VernoniasVoice.com Smith, state standards call for a second community can be vulnerable at times. ing program and house students, who out engine to be no older than twenty Smith gave as an example that while would give the District more able bod- ies to respond to calls. years old. Smith says the that,” said Smith. Smith noted Funding an additional staff District is looking to several other issues member as part of an operations levy reconfigure their appa- with E451. Because it would go a long way to reducing Smith’s ratus to try to find dif- has a manual transmis- ferent ways to use the personnel concerns. That person could sion, only two members rigs and equipment they help rebuild the volunteer base, develop of the District were able presently have to be a training program and respond to emer- to drive it. It also only more efficient and safe- gencies. seats two firefighters. Smith says he believes the Dis- ly protect and respond The new engine trict has been very frugal with their to the needs of the com- from Banks seats up to VRFPD has replaced E451 (left) with a newer 1994 engine (right). spending and resourceful in finding munity. Unfortunately five, has an automatic transmission and is obviously twenty he was away fighting that wild land fire there currently just aren’t enough re- ways to make do with what they have. “My job and passion for this years newer, meaning the safety features this summer, VRFPD was called out sources. District is to help and be of service to the Smith says the district probably and other equipment on the rig are more for a motor vehicle accident that ended community,” says Smith. “And it’s the up needing an extrication. Only two needs to consider an operating levy. up to date. “WT452 [the water pumper/ten- same for our volunteers. We just need Smith says the purchase of the firefighters who are trained in extrication newer engine helps alleviate some of his rescue techniques, a volunteer Duty der] is in dire need of being replaced and more resources to be able to do our jobs concerns about the fleet, but really just Officer and a volunteer who was on we’re going to have to find a way to fund safely, timely, and efficiently.” emphasizes some of the other needs the light duty, were available to respond. “We just had one of District has. “This is our first course of action those weekends when none of our volunteers were available to update our fleet,” said Smith. WT452 is a water pumper/ to respond,” explained tender and has multiple issues. A 1982 Smith. Although the injuries Meet Peaches. She is a very Ford, which can carry 2000 gallons of to the patient were not life friendly and fun loving 5 year old water, WT452 has an engine issue which threatening, the extrication female DSH that is ready to go Smith says has already been “bandaid- took an hour and a half and to her new forever home. She came ed.” It also has a problem with a pump created a very high level of to the shelter as an owner surren- as well as a tank leak and has been out anxiety for Smith, who was of service several times with transmis- following the call by radio in der. She is very sweet and loves sion filter leaks. Smith noted that when Central Oregon, and for the attention from anyone that is willing members of the District were called at Duty Officer and volunteer to give it to her. She has a bright 3:00 AM to help fight a wildfire confla- who were responsible for disposition and will be sure to bring gration this past summer, he had to go in assisting the victim. a smile to anyone who meets her. Smith has suggested to the station immediately, fix the trans- Her adoption fee is $90.00. "Peaches” mission filter and get the rig back in ser- one solution to the personnel issue would be for VRFPD to vice, before they could leave. Another issue the department hire an additional paid full- Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org 2484 Oregon Street continues to face is dwindling volunteer time staff member. According Phone: 543-397-4353 St. Helens, OR 97451 personnel. Smith continues to raise a red to Smith, that additional offi- Web: www.columbiahumane.org flag warning that he doesn’t have enough cer could respond to calls and Columbia Humane Society Featured Pet
