6
community news
february2
2017
CASA for Children
Named One of Oregon’s
Most Admired Companies
CASA (Court Appointed
Special Advocate) for Children of
Multnomah, Washington, and Co-
lumbia Counties has been named
the fi fth Most Admired Company
(nonprofi t category) in Oregon for
2016.
The results come from a
survey sent to 3,000-plus CEOs and
business owners. The 400-plus re-
spondents selected three companies,
in order of priority, which they most
admire in eight industries. Respon-
dents were not required to answer in
all industries — just those they felt
comfortable in their knowledge of.
As CASA plans for the fu-
ture of the agency the primary ob-
jective continues to be providing
more children and young adults
with the benefi ts of a CASA. This
year 489 active CASA volunteers
will serve 1,100 children in the fos-
ter care system with the ultimate
goal of quickly and effectively se-
curing a safe and permanent home
for these young people.
“We are honored to be in-
cluded in this group of phenomenal
non-profi ts in Oregon” said Betsy
Stark Miller, Executive Director of
CASA. “It is especially meaningful
to be included alongside our fellow
honorees, who represent our state’s
impressive array of non-profi t or-
ganizations doing such valuable
work.”
As an organization, CASA
will continue to focus on three main
areas to achieve these goals: In-
creased and improved training and
support for volunteer CASAs so
they can advocate effectively for
the educational needs of children
and teens in foster care, organiza-
tion-wide commitment to diversity,
equity, and inclusion, and sustained
program growth in a decentralized
rural county that is experiencing
great economic and social stress.
If you are interested in
learning more about how to become
a CASA volunteer, upcoming train-
ings, or future fundraising events,
please contact Anne Marie Johnson,
Director of Development and Com-
munications, at (503) 988-4170 or
ajohnson@casahelpskids.org.
School Board Approves Another
Bond Attempt continued from front page
million in debt the school is still obligated
to pay from their general fund from the
construction of the new school campus.
Those funds that would be used to retire
debt are not eligible for matching funds
from the state. The District will ask for an
additional $2.3 million to fi nish the school
campus and make needed repairs at the
Mist Grade School; those funds would be
matched by the state if the bond measure is
successfully passed by the voters.
Miller told the Board that the May
election provides another golden, and pos-
sibly fi nal, opportunity for the District to
pass another bond and receive matching
funds. He said the Governor’s offi ce had
initially indicated that the fi nal round of
funding scheduled for the May 2017 elec-
tion had been temporarily removed after the
November 2016 election, but was just re-
cently added back into the state budget. In
addition, while the VSD did not qualify for
the Priority List, they were the fi rst District
picked in the Lottery Process and are guar-
anteed access to matching funds.
Miller noted that the original $13
million bond measure was approved at
$1.90 per thousand dollars of assessed
value, but has been reduced to about $1.70
due to increased property values within the
community, more properties on the tax rolls,
and VSD’s initiative last year to refi nance
What’s Happening at the
Vernonia Library
Upcoming Events
The Solar Eclipse Experience
Thursday, February 2, 6 pm
Presentati on by Jim Buxton on
the Total Solar Eclipse coming up
on August 21, 2017. Includes a
slideshow, things to look for, tools to
use, where to be, and informati on on
the physics of the eclipse as well as
eclipses of the past.
Beginning Knitting for Kids
Tuesdays, 4-5 pm,
February 14, 28, March 14, 28
Free and all materials provided
for children ages 8 – 17. Classes
taught by Caitlin Hunter. Contact
boylandknitworks@gmail.com for
more informati on.
Author Visit: Willy Vlautin
Tuesday, February 21, 6:30 pm
Willy Vlauti n is a nati onally recognized
author of four novels including Lean
on Pete and The Free. He founded
the band Richmond Fontaine in 1994
and put out a debut album in 2014
with his new band, The Delines. He
currently lives in Scappoose, Oregon.
His Vernonia visit will focus on the
book Lean on Pete, with a Q&A about
his novel and song writi ng. He will be
bringing his guitar and books to sign.
rd
3 Annual Cat in the Hat Event
Thursday, March 2, 6 pm
Story read by The Cat in the Hat.
Pictures, door prizes, cake, and
Seussish acti viti es. In honor of Dr.
Seuss’s Birthday. For children and
families.
Family Movie Night
Thursday, February 23, 6 pm
(Family Movie) Featuring: Storks!
Relax and enjoy a movie and popcorn
at the library.
Ongoing Programs
Writer’s Group
Thursday, February 16, 6-7:30 pm
3 rd Thursday of every month. For
writers with all levels of experience.
Book Discussion Group
Monday, February 27, 5:30 pm
Last Monday of every month, 5:30
pm. Book selecti on for February: The
Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate
Jacobs
the debt and save taxpayers about $0.12 per
thousand.
The new bond would increase the
total obligation to taxpayers back to the
originally agreed upon rate of $1.90 per
thousand and extend the levy for an ad-
ditional 10 years from 2036 to 2046, but
could potentially be reduced if Vernonia
continues to experience growth.
“Our community is biting at the bit
right now to grow,” said Board member Er-
nie Smith about the possibility that the rate
might come down over the life of the bond.
“We lost a lot of homes after the fl ood. We
have a lot of people looking for homes to
rent and homes that are for sale are not last-
ing more than a week.”
There will be four positions on the
School Board up for election on the May
16 ballot as well. Position 1, held by Susan
Wagner, Position 4, held by Smith, Position
5, held by Cari Levenseller, and Position 6,
held by Board Chair Brett Costley, will all
be put to the voters. Costley has said he
plans to run for re-election. Smith has said
he is not going to run again. Neither Lev-
enseller nor Wagner have made their inten-
tion clear yet.
“This is going to be my last term on
the Board,” said Smith. “My goal when I
started was to see new schools and I want to
see it get done.”
Avila Sentenced
in Shooting Death
Kirk Avila, a resident and
former business owner in Vernonia,
was sentenced in Columbia County
Court on January 18, 2017 for the
shooting death of Jesse Depue, also
of Vernonia.
On January 3 Avila (53) pled
no contest to criminally negligent
homicide and felon in possession of
a fi rearm.
On January 18 Avila was
sentenced to 80 months on the
count of “criminally negligent
homicide” and 60 months on the
count of “felon in possession of a
fi rearm.” The sentences are to be
served consecutively, for a total of
140 months (or 11 years, 8 months).
Avila was given credit for time
already served on his sentence.
Avila’s
sentence
was
incorrectly reported by Portland
news agencies following his
sentencing.
Avila has remained in
custody in the Columbia County jail
since his arrest and was originally
charged with murder, before
pleading no contest to the lesser
charges.
The shooting occurred at
Avila’s home on the 900 block of
Riverside Drive. The two men
were involved in a confrontation
prior to the shooting. Depue died
from a single gunshot wound to the
stomach.
Depue was 31 at the time of
his death and left behind his partner
and two young sons.
Storytimes
Baby and Toddler Time
Mondays, 10:30 – 11:15 am
Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and
bubbles! For ages 0 – 3. Older
siblings welcome.
IT’S TAX TIME
Call your LOCAL tax preparer
Preschool Storytime
Fridays, 10:30 – 11:15 am
Stories and a craft /acti vity for children
up through age 6.
Library Hours & Contact
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 – 5
Tuesday, Thursday: 1 – 7
Saturday: 10 – 4
Closed Sundays
Phone: (503) 429-1818
E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov
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