8
community
march3
2016
Vernonia Radio Station Looking for Funding
Vernonia now has a radio sta-
tion, at least on paper.
Vernonia Public Broadcasting,
104.5 FM with a call sign of KVPB-LP,
is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit public
charity which has been granted a con-
struction permit and radio license by the
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) for a low power (LP) FM broad-
cast, 100 watt radio station to be located
in Vernonia.
The project is the work of Reo
Gargovich, the President of Vernonia
Public Broadcasting. Gargovich has
been pursuing the idea of a community
radio station since 2009. He says he’s
been following a group, the Promethius
Project, which has been lobbying con-
gress to require the FCC to provide more
opportunities for a LP FM radio stations
for use by local communities.
The FCC did open a window for
new radio station licenses a few years
ago and Gargovich learned that any local
radio station needs to be publicly man-
aged by a nonprofit; no one is allowed
to own it like a commercial radio sta-
tion. Gargovich formed a nonprofit with
a three member local Board of Directors
and was granted the license.
“Theoretically Vernonia has
KVPB, 104.5 FM ready to go as soon
as we can put the hardware together and
make it happen,” says Gargovich.
Gargovich has said the station
would be used to disseminate infor-
mation during emergencies; the FCC
requires the station be part of the na-
tional and state emergency alert system.
Gargovich has spoken with the City of
Vernonia about providing emergency
services and also has an unofficial en-
dorsement from the Vernonia Fire Dis-
trict. Gargovich would also like to
provide programmable music and also
envisions shows hosted by locals.
A new drug and alcohol treat-
ment and recovery facility is getting
ready to open its doors in St. Helens.
Medicine Wheel Recovery Ser-
vices (MWRS) is a newly formed non-
profit that will function as an outpatient
clinic for adults, and their families, suf-
fering from addictions and unaddressed
mental health issues. The co-ed facility
will provide individual and group therapy
and counseling along with a variety of re-
covery skills training, including commu-
nication skills and parenting classes. The
facility will also help clients navigate and
access community resources and offer re-
ferrals to their community partners.
According to their web page,
MWRS “promotes healing by addressing
the delicate balance of physical health,
mental and emotional health, social and
cultural connection, community involve-
ment, environmental responsibility, and
spirituality,” with a focus on cultural ex-
periential opportunities, cultural ances-
try, and personal traditions.
Jessica Ford, a volunteer doing
community outreach for the program,
says MWRS has not yet set a date to open
their doors, but they will host a ribbon
cutting ceremony on Saturday, March 12;
doors open at 10:00 am, with the ceremo-
ny at 12:00 pm, and an open house until
4:00 pm.
MWRS is being run by co-ex-
ecutive directors Pam Daniels and Tana
Howtopat. “They have a lot of experi-
ence working in this field and they’re su-
per excited to come into the community
and offer their support,” said Ford.
Ford says the facility will also
offer gambling addiction services as well
as DUI courses. According to their web-
page, MWRS’s ambitious five year plan
includes the addition of a residential re-
covery program, educational opportuni-
ties for both adults and children, green
and sustainability practices including an
organic garden, and additional support
services, including assistance with em-
ployment, housing, nutrition, education,
personal finance, and health and fitness.
Ford says she hopes citizens
from all over Columbia County will use
their services. She said she is currently
working on finding a van to use as a shut-
tle service to help clients access the facil-
ity. “It’s hard sometimes for people to get
the services that they need and we feel
it’s important that we try to provide a way
to get here.”
New Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Center to Open in St. Helens
Gargovich has been involved in
VERA, the group of local HAM radio
operators, in the past and has assisted the
community during past emergency situ-
ations.
He has also managed the region-
al Skywarn system for amateur radio in
seven counties, connecting local radio
operators to the National Weather Ser-
vice. Data collected through this proj-
ect allowed Vernonia to get online river
gauges at the Green Bridge and on Rock
Creek to better predict river and stream
levels during high water events.
In addition, Gargovich was re-
sponsible, along with Dale Webb, for
starting the “Vernonia Weather” page
on Facebook, providing real time infor-
mation and predictions during weather
events. He also just started a “Vernonia
Roads” page to provide updated road
conditions. “This kind of activity is al-
ready my hobby,” explains Gargovich.
The hardware and associated
cost ranges from a full maximum pack-
age capable of everything Gargovich
envisions for around $20,000 to a more
basic minimum set up for $10,000. Gar-
govich says in his ideal package a good
antennae would be placed on Cory Hill,
which includes monthly costs for inter-
net access, purchase a more elaborate
and functional transmitter with testing
equipment included, pay royalty fees
associated with musical entertainment,
and provide a generator and fuel to keep
the station running during any extended
power outages.
Gargovich has already begun
placing donation jars around town to
collect funds to buy the equipment need-
ed, but needs to find some other fund-
ing sources in order to raise funds by
February of 2017, the deadline imposed
by the FCC to be up and running.
Medicine Wheel Recovery Services is lo-
cated at 58147 Columbia River Highway,
Suite B in St. Helens. To learn more about
Medicine Wheel Recovery Services go to
www.MedicineWheelRecoveryServices.
org.
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
291
A
Street
Small and Large Animals
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58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292
Vernonia, Oregon 97064
(503) 429-7867
Open
Call for Appointments
10-5 Tue-Sat
12-4 Sun
(503) 429-1612
Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470
700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR