june21 2018
free
VERNONIA’S
volume12 issue12
reflecting the spirit of our community
Lack of Fire
Volunteers Becoming Critical
Limited responses to
emergencies indicate that the
shortage of resources may be
reaching a dangerous point
By Scott Laird
they arrived they found the trailer with
a fire fully involved and about to spread
to a garage/shop structure. With just two
crew members, Hanson made the deci-
sion to allow the trailer to burn and he and
Abney began putting water on the shop in
an effort to save that structure. Hanson
called for a second alarm, which activat-
A dwindling num-
ber of volunteer firefight-
ers is becoming a serious
issue for the Vernonia Ru-
ral Fire Protection District
(VRFPD). A recent fire
that had only two local
firefighters respond ended
with the loss of a travel
trailer. The volunteer re-
sponse exposed a lack of
resources and indicated
that the local fire depart-
ment is reaching a critical
point.
“I think a question
our community needs to
ask itself is, ‘What is the
level of service that you Local firefighters responding to a fire on Riverside Drive in 2015.
believe our local fire de-
partment is capable of providing, when it ed additional resources from Banks and
comes to a fire, or to a motor vehicle ac- Mist-Birkenfled Fire Districts. Neither
cident, or search and rescue, or to a water of those departments initially received
rescue?’” says Vernonia Fire Chief Dean an adequate number volunteers, so their
Smith. “What level of response do they response was delayed. “When the Banks
expect, because everyone wants to call crew showed up with another water ten-
9-1-1 to help them in a situation, but do der they were able to knock out the fire,”
they really understand what they are ask- says Captain Steinweg. Steinweg said
ing, versus what we are capable of pro- crews were fighting the fire until 4:00 am.
viding, and what they are going to get?”
The firefighters did save the ga-
On May 13, 2018, at around rage/shop structure, which received a
12:30 am, the VRFPD received a report small amount of fire and smoke damage,
of a travel trailer fire on Louisiana Av- and kept the fire from spreading to the
enue. Chief Dean Smith and Training residence or any other surrounding struc-
Captain Will Steinweg were both out of tures or homes. A classic car inside the
town at the time of the fire. Two Vernonia structure was not damaged.
volunteers, Lieutenant Dan Hanson, who
Steinweg says the initial response
was the acting duty officer, and Firefight- from the Vernonia volunteers was quick -
er Brandi Abney, responded to the call. just several minutes. “The problem was
Lt. Hanson took the command vehicle that we didn’t get enough volunteers,
and Abney drove the fire engine. When
continued on page 3
inside
6
11
my fair lady court
14
summer meals
After a long delay,
construction of the new
facility should begin this
summer
By Scott Laird
Vernonia City Administra-
tor Josette Mitchell says the Vernonia
Senior Center and Ver-
nonia Cares Food Bank
building should break
ground this summer
after a lengthy delay in
the planning process.
The project is
being built using $2
million in grant funds
from the Community
Development
Block
Grant (CDBG) pro-
gram. While the pro-
gram provides direct funding for de-
velopment projects, the funding also
comes with significant oversight and
paperwork.
“We have a new representa-
tive from CDBG, Arthur Chaput, who
is handling our project,” said Mitchell
in a recent interview. “He was hired at
the end of May.”
Mitchell says changes in the
personnel handling the project had
slowed down the progress. According
to Mitchell, the City of Vernonia, the
applicant for the project on behalf of
the Vernonia Senior Center and Ver-
nonia Cares, has had to submit the
construction plans, the construction
contract, and the draft bid documents
for the project for approval by CDBG.
“There is a lot of back and forth be-
tween the applicant and CDBG in
any project of this size and scope,”
explained Mitchell. “We were origi-
nally working with one representative
and then she moved to a new posi-
tion within the agency. Then we were
working with a second rep, but we
had a big gap of time between Janu-
ary and May because the new rep was
overwhelmed with getting up to speed
on all the work they were given. Then
CDBG made another change in per-
sonnel and Mr. Chaput was assigned
to our project.”
Mitchell says CDBG had
previously approved the construction
plans and contract and the City just re-
ceived approval on the draft bid docu-
ments. “We now have a schedule for
soliciting bids, choosing a contractor,
and starting construction around the
end of August,” explained Mitchell.
Mitchell says several con-
tractors have expressed interest in the
project and have remained in contact
with the City during the delay this
spring.
Mitchell says the goal is to get
the foundation poured, walls framed,
and the roof on before winter weather
starts, which would allow the interior
work to be completed over the winter.
Mitchell says final completion of the
project should be by June 30, 2019.
Jack’s Hobo Bakery:
Creating Bread and Baked Goods with Love
By Scott Laird
carbon monoxide
the silent killer
City Ready to Move
Forward with Senior Center/
Vernonia Cares Project
Vernonia’s newest business,
Jack’s Hobo Bakery and Bread Club, is
already developing a loyal following,
not just because of the delicious treats
they are making, but because of their
business model.
“People just seem to love bak-
eries - it just seems to be part of their
heart and soul,” says co-owner Jack
Kauppila. “I want people to feel like
this is their bakery. I don’t feel like
it’s mine just because my mug is on
the glass out front. It’s really for every-
body.”
Jack and wife Mary purchased
We Bakes, the previous bakery business
that was started less than a year ago,
and have hit the ground running. They
opened on Memorial
Day weekend at 805
Bridge Street at the
corner of Jefferson
Avenue to rave re-
views, selling cook-
ies, muffins, brown-
ies, and donuts.
Their specialties in-
clude cinnamon rolls,
and scones split and
spread with butter
and homemade fruit
jam, just like you get
at the State Fair. The
muffins are gluten free. They’re cur-
rently open Fridays through Sundays
and they’ve also stayed open into the
evening on several Saturdays for Pizza
Night, serving homemade vegetarian
pizza.
Jack is the head baker and
Mary, a social worker during the week,
is the operations manager in charge
of inventory, finances, and the retail
continued on page 10