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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2017)
4 letters to the editor/community bulletin board april20 2017 Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, In the past, the Vernonia community has done a spectacular job of coming together in times of disaster. We came together during the 1996, 2007, and 2015 floods, and we came together to pass the $13 million bond to help pay for our wonderful new school. But in November of 2016, the community wasn’t able to maintain their usual cohesiveness. Vernonians were torn on whether or not to pass a $6.8 million bond that would pay off the rest of the school debt, finish construction where it’s needed, and help establish Logger athletics nearby the new school campus. A finished school would be very lucrative for potential homeowners and businesses, and therefore would increase Vernonia’s appeal. The bond failed by only 54 votes. Currently Vernonians are paying $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value for their homes. The new bond will raise the price $0.20, to approximately $1.90. For example, a house assessed at $200,000 will pay an additional $3.33 a month from what they’re already paying. The increase is so miniscule compared to the cumulative benefits of having a finished school. I believe the bond failed the first time for a few reasons. I think that it wasn’t promoted well enough but that has changed this time around. In preparation for the upcoming May vote, the School Bond Committee has put in a lot of effort to send out letters and have meetings on Vernonia Weather March 2017 DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ave/Tot HIGH 49 46 49 44 43 40 45 44 53 57 55 60 53 57 56 52 51 50 52 53 58 52 52 51 48 48 51 56 55 53 59 51.4 LOW 36 38 33 32 31 31 37 41 41 38 40 46 46 49 34 32 32 30 29 42 42 32 30 36 40 37 39 43 39 31 31 36.7 PRECIP .10 .03 .72 .20 .57 .40 .38 .33 .58 T .22 0 .49 .98 .35 T .73 .11 0 .16 .27 0 .55 .17 .38 .29 .02 .26 .10 T T 8.39 Weather data is collected at the U.S. Weather station at the Vernonia Water Plant behalf of the public, so that everyone has the same facts and information. Additionally, there is more student, staff and community involvement in the effort to get the word out than there was with the first bond. I also personally believe the bond was not passed because a majority of the people who voted no most likely don’t have children who go to Vernonia Schools. They’re probably thinking, “Why should I pay extra money for something that doesn’t apply to me?” A finished school is a lot more attractive than a school in debt; a school that can’t afford the teachers they’ve hired or the facility they’re running. A finished school would encourage new people to move to Vernonia, which would increase business in town, and maybe even cause new stores to open up. As a student, I would like to see a finished baseball and football field nearby my school. It would make transportation and after school games much easier. I would like my friends who are in track and field to not have to drive to Banks to use their equipment and track because we can’t afford either. I believe that everyone deserves the best education that they can possibly get, and the money to improve my school is within your reach. It’s up to the community members, those who have children, and those who don’t, to make it possible for my peers and I to get the education that they once had; an education that their community members once helped pay for. Thank you for your consideration. Kailia Jackson, 11 th Grade Vernonia High School Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Meeting Vernonia Marathon Results Runners from all over the country gathered in Vernonia on Sunday, April 9 for another running of the Vernonia Marathon and Half Marathon. The race started in Vernonia at the Cedar Ridge Conference Center and ended in Banks, traveling most of the way on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. The Half Marathon ended at Stub Stewart State Park. Nicole DeWitt was the first Vernonian to complete the Marathon finishing 29 th overall in a time of 3:35:59, which placed her 9 th among all women runners, and 2 nd in the Female 25-29 category. Tim Becken was the first male from Vernonia to finish, running the 26 miles in 3:37:12. Becken finished 23 rd among all men and 3 rd in the Male 50-54 category. Jennifer Draeger finished in 3:53:25, good for 23 rd among all women. VHS exchange students Kathy Will, Theresa Bomke and Lene Jacobsen also completed the Marathon, crossing the line together in 5:08:41. Kellie Murray was the first Vernonian to finish the Half Marathon, finishing 67 th in 2:00:34. Pauline Sandweg finished in 2:07:42, good for 2 nd in the Female 15-19 category. Rebecca Scotto, Tina Guyett, Kim Franz and Kathy Dalebroux also completed the Half Marathon. Upcoming Events Free Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Saturday, April 22, 8:00 am to noon at 322 Bridge St. (be- tween Grant and Washington Av- enues). Sponsored by Columbia County to provide safe and respon- sible hazardous waste disposal. Earth Day Vernonia Library Clean Up Event - Saturday, April 22. If interested in volunteering, contact Shannon Romtvedt at the library or email shannonr@vernonia-or.gov. OSU/Columbia County Master Gardener’s™ Spring Garden Fair - Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at St. Helens High School Commons, 2375 Gable Rd., St Helens. Will sell roughly 5,000 tomatoes of more than 30 varieties, provide tomato and general gardening information, and have a number of educational displays. Kindergarten Round-up - Thursday, May 4 at the Vernonia Schools. Please call for an appointment, (503) 429-1333. P.E.O. Spring Tea - Saturday, May 6, 1:00 pm at the Cabin in Vernonia. Entertainment, light lunch, raffle, and more! Vernonia Community Garden Group’s Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale - Saturday, May 13, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Vernonia Schools Commons. Certified organic tomato plants, garden art, flowers, vegetable starts, native plants, and more. Annual Camp 18 Logger’s Memorial Dedication & Logging Exhibition - Sunday, May 13, 10:00 am at the Camp 18 Logging Museum, MP 18 Hwy 26, Elsie, OR. (503) 434-0148 6:30 pm on Thursday April 27, 2017 HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR at the UNWC office 1201 Texas Ave. Suite A. Entrance is around the back of the building Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064. For more info call (503) 429-0869 or email maggie@nehalem.org Auction Notice Storage Too 58645 Nehalem Hwy. S. Vernonia, Oregon 97064 503-429-7867 E-9 - 5 x 10 - T. McTaggart Auction will be held Wednesday, April 26 at Noon Please call prior to confirm the auction Columbia Humane Society Featured Pet Meet Big Boy, a 7-year-old St. Bernard mix! He came into the shelter as a stray. Initially when this gent came to us he wanted us all to stay away from him because he was scared. So we worked hard and gave him the time and space he needed to figure out that he was safe and we were here to help him. Soon a dog that nobody could look in the face decided that he wanted nothing more than to make eye contact, give kisses and get affection. At approximately 93 pounds he is excellent on leash and loves car rides. Big Boy would love nothing more than to snuggle and go for short walks every now and then. His adoption fee is $250. If you have any ques- tions please don't hesitate to email or call. Web: www.columbiahumane.org Phone: 503-397-4353 2084 Oregon Street Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org St. Helens, OR 97051
