june4 2015
VERNONIA’S
volume9 issue11
www.vernoniasvoice.com
reflecting the spirit of our community
Vernonians Attend No LNG Rally
Coalition of Groups from Across Oregon power to protect Oregon from LNG projects while
Rally Against Liquefied Natural Gas at supporting clean energy, healthy rivers and forests,
private property rights, safe communities, and a
the Capitol with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
stable climate.
Vernonia area resident Steve Calhoun
shared news of the Vernonia City Council’s recent
resolution to oppose LNG projects with the crowd
Over 600 Oregonians including farmers,
ranchers, business owners, and conservationists
gathered on Tuesday, May 26 at the Capitol steps
in Salem for a rally to oppose
liquefied natural gas (LNG)
exports throughout Oregon. The
rally included speeches from tribal
leaders, impacted landowners, and
a keynote speech from Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., Waterkeeper Alliance
President.
“Oregon is viewed as
a leader in combating climate
change, yet the fossil fuel industry
is pushing to make Oregon a
trafficker of fracked gas to the
entire world through these LNG
export proposals. Oregon should
stand firm in protecting iconic
salmon-bearing rivers like the Above: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Oregon activists against LNG in
Rogue and Columbia and in the Salem. Below: Vernonian Steve Calhoun was a speaker at the rally.
Photo courtesy of ©Alex Milan Tracy.
process reaffirm its goal of reducing
climate pollution by rejecting LNG
export terminals and pipelines,” said
Kennedy.
Oregon faces two LNG export
proposals–one in Coos Bay and the
other on the Columbia River–coupled
with associated proposals to construct
hundreds of miles of new natural gas
pipelines throughout Oregon and
Washington. Opposition to the LNG
projects has created unusual alliances,
inspiring conservative rural landowners
near proposed pipelines to join forces
with conservationists and climate
activists.
at the Department of State Lands, one of the
“As a proud conservative Oregonian, I
agencies with critical decision-making authority
oppose the pipelines for LNG exports because it
over the Oregon LNG and Jordan Cove LNG
would destroy valuable farmland and forestland,”
proposals.
said rancher Bill Gow of Douglas County, Oregon.
Don West, Manager of the Cannery Pier
“There’s no way these companies are going to
Hotel in Astoria and owner of the Astoria Crest
put a big scar through the middle of my ranch.”
Motel, supported the rally’s message against LNG
Like Gow, hundreds of Oregon and Washington
exports. “The future of our community and our
families may have their land condemned to install
business—a future that creates jobs by drawing
a pipeline to export gas to overseas markets.
people to iconic, salmon-bearing rivers like the
During the rally, participants called
Columbia—depends on the State of Oregon
on Oregon decision-makers to use the state’s
Alexis Baska Named
Foster Club All-Star
Vernonia High School graduate Alexis Baska has
been named a Foster Club All-Star.
Baska, who has spent the last three years in the foster
care system following the death of her father, graduated from
Vernonia High School on May 30, 2015.
Baska has been
participating in Indepen-
dent Living classes in
St. Helens where she has
been learning about ap-
plying for colleges and
needed paperwork, about
filing taxes, about per-
sonal finance, how to ap-
ply for a job and write a
resume, and other helpful
life skills.
As part of the In-
dependent Living classes,
Baska has attended sev-
eral summer conferences,
sponsored by a group
called Foster Club. The conferences are held on college
campuses and students stay in college dorms and learn about
college life.
Baska was selected this year as one of only twenty-
six Foster Club All-Stars, a paid internship position helping
organize and present the summer conferences. She is the
only All-Star selected from Oregon this year.
Baska says she will spend the summer traveling
around the country for seven weeks. All-Stars must be be-
tween eighteen and twenty-five years old, and Baska was
chosen in her first year of eligibility.
“We promote wellness for children in foster care and
present success stories,” explains Baska about the confer-
ences.
Baska has been an outspoken advocate for children
in foster care. She has already been part of a group of stu-
dents who helped craft two Oregon House bills through the
Oregon Foster Youth Connections Legislative Action Team.
HB 2889 allows foster youth to open a savings account on
their own at the age of twelve. HB 2890 requires foster fami-
lies, Department of Human Services (DHS) and foster youth
to work together to ensure foster children have an opportuni-
ty to participate in at least one extracurricular school activity
if the child wishes to. Both bills have strong bipartisan sup-
port and have passed the House and moved on to the Senate.
Baska will be attending Southern Oregon University
next fall where she plans to study Psychology and Human
Resources.
continued on page 8
inside
10
100 wise words
11
vhs graduation
16
ves field day
23
jr. salmon auction
Ride Inn Opens
Just in time for the start of
summer, the Ride Inn has opened
its doors to guests in Vernonia.
After a long renovation
project, owner Jerry Cordell, along
with business partners, brothers
Elmer and Santos Rios, celebrated
the grand opening of their fifteen
room hotel on May 30 with an
open house event, followed by
a party for family, friends and
neighbors at the Vernonia Golf
Club.
The Ride Inn is the former
Vernonia Inn and is located at 900
Madison Avenue. It is within easy
walking distance of city parks,
restaurants and other businesses
in the downtown corridor.
Cordell, who will serve
free
as inn keeper, says the Ride
Inn name indicates his hope
to encourage bicyclists, car
clubs,
motorcycle
riders
and other day trip tourists
to stay overnight and enjoy
all the Vernonia region has
to offer. He says he expects
to serve customers visiting
Vernonia for special events
like weddings and local festivals.
He also hopes to attract visiting
family members of locals, as
well as business travelers to book
rooms for stays throughout the
year.
All the rooms at the
Ride Inn feature queen size
beds, refrigerators, flat screen
televisions with dish service, and
continued on page 16