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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2018)
10 county news january18 2018 Columbia County Approved for Grant to Improve CZ Trail Oregon Parks and Recreation matches $75,000 for $150,000 in total funding A desire to memorialize a friend has turned into $150,000 in grants and services for Columbia County’s Crown Zellerbach (CZ) Trail. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Depart- ment (OPRD) approved a $75,000 matching grant request to provide improved access, safety and ser- vices along the 23-mile trail, which runs from Scap- poose to Vernonia. Additions will include kiosks, maps, signage, safety crossings and user amenities. It all started with an idea to memorialize a friend and $6,000 to do so. After Wayne Naillon, a cycling enthusiast and trail advocate passed away in 2016, family members and friends gathered the funds in the hopes of finding a way to honor him. “Wayne loved the CZ Trail and wanted more people to know about it, so we thought that promoting use of the trail would be a good way to memorialize him,” said Dale Latham, Naillon’s friend and co-manager of the Wayne Naillon Me- morial Trail Fund. Latham and family member Marcus Iver- son approached the County with the idea of using the $6,000 to improve access to the trail. Then the County applied for a grant from OPRD in May 2017. By December, the initial donation of $6,000 had turned into an approved $150,000 matching grant, with promises from the County, Oregon Equestrian Trails, and cartographer Jeff Smith part- nering to provide labor and pro bono personal ser- vices. Smith was a good friend of Naillon’s and is an active advocate for biking trails in Oregon. Much of the work will take place at the Chapman trailhead, which is located 8.5 miles west of Scappoose. A covered picnic area, bicycle rack, bicycle repair station, signage, ADA horse mount assist, and an ADA-approved vault toilet will be constructed near the trailhead. Kiosk signage for five other existing trail- heads are also planned along the trail, and maps designed by Smith will be made available. Safety features include installing a flashing crossing at the intersection of Scappoose-Vernonia and Cater roads, additional safety crossing signage at other in- tersections with county roads, and adding milepost markers to the last seven miles of the trail. Oregon Equestrian Trails, which has pro- vided a significant amount of labor in other county parks, will construct the ADA horse mount, similar to the one the group built at Camp Wilkerson. The County’s Parks and Road Departments will provide labor for other trail work as well as landscaping at the Chapman trailhead. “The CZ Trail is a jewel, and we’re thrilled to be able to make it safer and more accessible, Marie Krahn Massage Therapy Auto injury recovery/medical billing • Accepting: Medical Benefits Cards • Medical Massage Cupping • Swedish Massage • Reiki • Deep Tissue • Reflexology • doTerra Aroma Touch • Trigger Point Therapy • Myofacial Release 503-429-5180 lic#5495 mariekrahn@frontier.com Local skateboard advocates installed a new banner announcing the proposed site of the new Vernonia SK8 park. The group is currently raising funds for the project and is working with the City of Vernonia to make a grant application to Oregon State Parks for construction. and to spread the word about this beautiful place,” said County Commissioner Margaret Magruder. “I thank the friends of Wayne Naillon for starting us on this incredible journey.” Work will begin in spring, and is expected to last up to two years. Approval of the grant comes at a time when the County is developing a renewed CZ Trail Advi- sory Committee. In 2006, the County formed an ad hoc committee to study how to develop the trail into a recreational facility for cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians. A concept plan was also drafted. The new committee, which was formalized by county ordinance in January 2018, will focus on the goal of previous plans to connect the CZ Trail with the Banks-Vernonia Trail in Vernonia, along with related land transfers and possibly developing Camp 8 as an equestrian camp. Columbia County Commissioners believe finalizing these projects will elevate the CZ Trail and serve as a catalyst for linking to other trails in northwest Oregon such as the proposed Salmonber- ry Trail, which would run from Banks to the coast, and the Trees to Seas Scenic Byway along Highway 6. The County is also joining a coalition orga- nized by the Washington County Visitors Associa- tion to connect these bike trails and scenic byways as a way to promote visitor activity in Washington and Columbia counties out to the Oregon coast. “We’re excited about joining this effort,” said Magruder. “Increasing visitation to smaller communities like Banks, Vernonia and Scappoose will have a positive economic impact for all of us.” The CZ Trail is a regionally significant part of a larger trail system in northwest Oregon. The property lies along a trail constructed in the 1800s to transport logs harvested from county forests. It was purchased by the Crown Zellerbach Corp. and then sold to Hancock Timber Resources, which maintained it for access and fire suppression. The corridor was purchased by Columbia County in 2004. Columbia County is Keeping It Local Natahsa Parvey helps Columbia County businesses get noticed by customers By Scott Laird Running a small business or finding the ser- vices you need can be a real challenge, especially in ru- ral Oregon. Thankfully local businesses and consumers are getting help from Na- tasha Parvey and the Keep It Local Columbia County campaign. Parvey is an in- dependent contractor who works for the nonprofit Keep It Local Columbia County project under the Columbia County Business Alliance in partnership with the Colum- bia County Economic Team. The goal is to develop a va- riety of campaigns and proj- ects that encourage consum- ers to strengthen the local economic base by shopping at businesses within Colum- bia County. “The Keep It Local Columbia County program provides support for small businesses across the Coun- ty,” says Parvey. “To see healthy economic develop- ment you need a three legged stool that includes industry, commercial, and tourism based businesses. An active ‘shop local’ campaign helps provide viability and vis- ibility for small businesses. When larger businesses lo- cate here, or people come visit Columbia County, they see a healthy ‘main street’ economy and they want to live in those communities. So they all go hand in hand.” Local businesses and community groups are encouraged to join the pro- gram by registering on the Keep It Local Columbia County website; community groups and nonprofits can register upcoming events as well. The website is the heart of the program and features a directory of businesses across the County, informa- tion for shoppers about cam- paigns they can participate in, media partnerships and resources for business own- continued on page 16 JOBS IN THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY Production workers wanted for entry level sawmill positions Lumber is our business - since 1971 • Competitive wages and benefit package • Starting at $15/hr depending on experience • Must be able to pass drug screen • Must have current driver’s license Apply in person at Olympic Forest Products 69480 Banzer Rd. Mist, OR 97016 Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace DON WALLACE, PLS Professional Land Surveying 1224 E. Alder St. Vernonia, OR 97064 Phone: 503-429-6115 FAX: 1-866-297-1402 Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com CORPORATE MEMBER
