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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2015)
november5 2015 VERNONIA’S volume9 issue21 free reflecting the spirit of our community www.vernoniasvoice.com Halloween 2015 more photos on page 15 Loggers Football Undefeated, Win League Title Will host playoff game November 6 in St. Helens The Vernonia Loggers football team won the Northwest League Championship on Friday, October 30, with a 34-22 win at Knappa. The win left head coach Thor Ware and the Loggers with a perfect 9-0 regular season record and secured a home playoff game for the Loggers and their fans against Stanfield on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 pm in St. Helens. The Loggers finished the season ranked 9 th in the state. They defeated Gaston 34-10 on October 16, and beat Nestucca at home 56-34 on October 23 on the way to completing their undefeated season. They lead all of division 2A in scoring on the season with 474 total points. The Loggers have used speed, strength and quickness to overcome a somewhat undersized line to move the ball on offense. A swarming defense has inside 6 ties to the land 9 faith west christian education 10 meet the exchange students 15 halloween parade helped limit opposing teams from moving the ball. Junior quarterback Steele Ware has used his accurate throwing arm, running ability and scrambling to ignite a lightning quick offense that has often scored on big plays from scrimmage. The running game has been led by seniors Jake Harbour and Blade Ware. Coach Ware’s 5-wide offense has opened up space and confused defenses. Senior receiver Robert Conner uses his size and speed to overmatch opposing defensive backfields and receiver Brett Elliot, a junior, has made numerous clutch catches throughout the season. Conner has also been a dangerous return man for the Loggers, taking several kickoffs back for touchdowns. The Loggers, seeded 8 th in the state tournament, will face the 9 th seeded Stanfield Tigers on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 pm at St. Helens High School Stadium. Stanfield finished in second place with a 7-1 record in the Columbia Basin League and were ranked 5th in 2A at the conclusion of the season. If the Loggers defeat Stanfield, they would most likely face #1 ranked Central Linn in the quarterfinals. Central Linn faces 16th seeded Nestucca in the first round. USDA Awards $4 Million Loan for Rural Electric Project in Vernonia The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is awarding $47 million in loans for two electric infrastructure projects in rural Oregon, announced State Director Vicki Walker, including $4 million for West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC). “Improving and expanding electric utility systems in rural America supports economic development, creates jobs, and ensures rural residents have reliable access to affordable electricity,” said Walker. “With this funding, USDA is helping to increase the efficiency of utilities, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the quality of life in rural areas.” WOEC was formed by residents of rural northwest Oregon in 1944 with assistance from the Rural Electrification Administration. Under this loan award, the cooperative is receiving a $4 million loan to replace and upgrade 21 miles of outdated underground transmission lines originally installed in the 1970s and 1980s in order to improve access to electric power for local residents. This funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Electric Program, which makes loans and loan guarantees to nonprofits, cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities, primarily for electric distribution in rural areas. The Umatilla Electric Cooperative in northeast Oregon is receiving $43 million to install 112 miles of transmission lines to improve services for its approximately 10,000 members. This consumer owned electric cooperative was created in 1937 with assistance from the Rural Electrification Administration, a predecessor to Rural Development. The cooperative will use $400,000 of the loan to finance smart grid technologies, which increase the reliability of electric power by helping utilities better manage the electric grid to improve operational efficiencies. Smart grid technologies include metering, substation automation, computer applications, two-way communications, geospatial information systems, and other improvements. The awards for these two Oregon projects are part of a nationwide announcement of $2.3 billion in loans to help 77 utilities and cooperatives build and improve rural electric infrastructure across rural America. Funding of each award announced is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement. USDA has been committed to improving the production and transmission of electricity in rural communities since the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935. Since the start of the Obama administration alone, USDA has funded $34 billion in electric loans and more than $1 billion for smart grid technologies. This assistance has helped build more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving approximately 8.5 million rural customers. Keep it Local Columbia County Small changes can bring great success By Sarah Rossi Would you like to be able to help strengthen the eco- nomic base of your community, help support non-profit com- munity groups, create more jobs, and keep your community a pleasant and unique place to live and work? You have the power to make all of that happen by keeping your dollars in Columbia County. Whether it’s a din- ner out at a local restaurant, shopping for things you need for your home, buying gifts, or even having visiting friends or family use the local hotels, supporting our local businesses in Columbia County will improve our economy and make our community a better place to live and work. The money you spend at the local independent busi- nesses will continue to circu- late in our community creating a multiplier effect that directly benefits you and your neighbors. This helps support a healthy tax base income for Columbia County and the essential servic- es that it provides. Locally owned independent businesses also aver- age much larger donation support of non-profits and school organizations. From sponsoring the local little league teams to just saying yes to donating their time or money to help a group achieve their fundraising goals, our local businesses care about the community they live and work in. They want continued on page 7
