Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2017)
community april6 2017 13 Columbia County Hosts MIP Class On March 6, 2017 the Columbia County Department of Community Justice- Juvenile Division hosted its first Minor in Possession (MIP) class at the Columbia County Road Department Conference Center. The class was previously hosted by the Columbia County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) until the retirement of beloved community member Lynn Chiotti in 2016. Her final class was in July of 2016. Without a local host, youth and families were referred to attend this class in Portland. The Juvenile Division has always recognized this class was an excellent tool to inform about, and deter current and future alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse by youth. The Juvenile Division receives more than 60 referrals a year from police agencies for alcohol and marijuana violations. Probation officers meet with the youth and families and subsequently perform a risk and needs assessment using a Statewide-approved assessment tool. Youth who use alcohol or other drugs, or who associate with peers and adults who use or abuse alcohol or other drugs, pose a higher risk of continued alcohol and drug use, poor school performance, poor health, negative peer and other relationships, and delinquency. We hope this early intervention program will start Columbia County Transit System to Begin Online Sales CC Rider monthly passes, “singles-in-multiples” included CC Rider, Columbia County’s transit system, is making it easier for customers to pay for a ride on the bus. Beginning March 27, passes and single- ride tickets sold in bulk are available online through the transit service’s website at columbiacountyrider.com. “Online ticket sales are much more convenient than buying from a driver or having to go to the Transit Center during open hours,” said Michael Ray, Columbia County’s transit director. “It’s also better for drivers, whose main goal is getting riders to where they need to go on time.” As monthly passes are gener- ally sold at the end of each month, driv- ers will no longer be responsible for large amounts of cash at very predict- able times, making it easier for them to focus on driving. The new online system is also safer for riders, as they won’t need to carry large amounts of money to pay for their rides. “Many people pay for their monthly passes early in the morning or late at night while waiting for their bus,” Ray said, “so this makes it better for them.” Passes and single tickets in multiple will continue to be sold at the St. Helens Transit Center at 1155 Deer Island Rd. Monthly passes and multiple single-ride tickets sold online will be delivered through the mail. The new payment system also makes it easier for companies and the conversations about the impacts of these choices. The class was presented by the Legacy Emanuel Trauma Nurse Talk Tough Program Nurse and Educator Shelley Campbell. The class was attended by 16 youth from Columbia County, along with 11 of their guardians, who had been referred to the class for possession or consumption of alcohol or marijuana by the Juvenile Division, the City and State Courts, and schools. Ms. Campbell shared her experiences as a trauma nurse of more than 40 years as she educated the group about brain and other organ development. Many participants seemed surprised to learn the brain is not fully developed until around age 25. The liver is not fully developed until around age 23. This left most participants feeling that people should refrain from the use of alcohol or other drugs until at least age 23. The Juvenile Division plans to host the MIP class every three months. The next class is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The cost of the class is $50 for youth who attend alone, it is reduced to $20 if youth bring a parent or guardian as we feel it is paramount that parents and guardians receive the same information. The proceeds of the class go to the Legacy Emanuel Trauma Nurse Talk Tough Program. For more information or to refer or register for the class, please email Stacey Dague at Stacey.dague@ co.columbia.or.us or Ryan Moore at ryan.moore@co.columbia.or.us agencies that purchase passes or bulk tickets for employees and clients to do business. Many businesses already use online payment methods, so they can now pay for passes without having to write checks or bring cash to the Transit Center office. Ray expects bus operator sales to stop before summer. He thinks most people will find the new system to be so convenient that it will soon overshadow the current system of buying passes from drivers. “Once riders are used to purchasing online, we will stop selling passes and multiples of single tickets on buses altogether. After that, drivers will only accept exact cash for walk-on riders taking a single trip.” The online program will also help the CC Rider to better monitor pass and ticket sales. CC Rider has seen an increase in ridership this year. In 2016, the transit system transported 95,303 passengers, a 16% increase over 2015 numbers. Bus passes and tickets can now be purchased on-line though the following website: www. columbiacountyrider.com. CC Rider is Columbia County’s transit system. With a fleet of buses that connect with Sunset Empire Transportation District to the west, River Cities Transit to the north in Longview, and TriMet in the Portland metropolitan area, the system carries nearly 100,000 riders each year. CC Rider also provides a route to Portland Community College’s Rock Creek campus in Washington County. Register Now for Early Childhood Screening Fair The Early Childhood Health and Education Screening Fair is being provided for all 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds of Columbia County. This free screening fair will provide parents and guardians information about their child’s development as it relates to current health and education guidelines. Friday, May 19th Sunset Park Community Church 174 Sunset Blvd, St. Helens Parents and guardians are requested to make appointments by May 12 so materials can be mailed and completed before attending the screening fair. Please call the NW Early Learning Hub for an appointment (503) 614-1443 or (503) 366-4100 Notice of Budget Committee Meeting A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia County 4-H & Extension Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018, will be held at the OSU Extension Service office, 505 N. Columbia River Hwy, St. Helens, OR. The meeting will take place on April 19, 2017 at 12:15 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 18, 2017 at the OSU Extension Service office, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.
