september19 2019
free
VERNONIA’S
volume13 issue18
reflecting the spirit of our community
A Cares/Senior Moment!
City celebrates groundbreaking
of new Senior Center/Vernonia
Cares Food Bank facility
It’s been a long wait, but the
City of Vernonia, along with the Verno-
nia Senior Center and Vernonia Cares
food pantry, finally broke ground on
September 9, 2019 for the construction
of their new building.
The new facility, which is being
funded through a $2 million Communi-
part of the Rose Avenue Project, located
near the south entrance into Vernonia.
“I’m very happy for the com-
munity,” said Vernonia Mayor Rick Ho-
bart during his remarks at the ground-
breaking ceremony. “Thank you to all
the people who have worked so hard to
make this happen.” Hobart noted the
hard work of Vernonia City Administra-
tor Josette Mitchell, “to overcome all
the hurdles and move the project for-
ward.”
Taking part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Vernonia Senior Center/
Vernonia Cares facility are (left to right): Vernonia Cares Executive Director Sandy
Welch, Senior Center representative Tobie Finzel, CDBG Program Coordinator
Rena Schoen, Vernonia City Administrator Josette Mitchell, project architect Trent
Jorgensen, construction supervisor Eric Larke, and Vernonia Mayor Rick Hobart.
ty Development Block Grant (CDBG)
awarded to the City of Vernonia, will be
constructed by Five Star Builders, and
will join the Vernonia Health Center as
Mitchell introduced a number
of guests in attendance for the event, in-
cluding Rena Schoen, CDBG Program
continued on page 5
Mist-Birkenfeld CHIPP
Provides Service Beyond 9-1-1
New community
paramedicine program brings
healthcare to their members
By Scott Laird
The Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire
Protection District (RFPD) is introduc-
ing an innovative and new health pro-
gram to their community this month.
The Community Health Integrated
down to for us in EMS is that our work-
ers are now working in areas outside of
emergency medicine, in places like in-
dustrial settings, in hospitals, and now
making home visits and being involved
in preventative care, not just responding
to emergency calls,” says Larry Box-
man, EMS Director at Mist-Birkenfeld
RFPD, who will also serve as Mist-
Birkenfeld’s CHIPP Coordinator.
Larry Boxman, EMS Director at Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD,
will serve as Mist-Birkenfeld’s CHIPP Coordinator.
Paramedicine Program (CHIPP) pro-
vides a new way for professional and
volunteer Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) personnel to interact with, and
provide care to, their patients.
“Healthcare reform has been
happening for years, and what it boils
Loggers Kick Off at New Field
A long-time resident of the
Mist–Birkenfeld fire district, Boxman
has been a Vice President at Metro West
Ambulance in Hillsboro, where he re-
mains a part-time internal consultant.
While at Metro West, Boxman intro-
duced the idea of what is generically
continued on page 17
The Vernonia
Loggers played
their first home
game at their new
field on Friday,
September 13.
Fans, including
current students and
numerous alumni,
turned out to cheer
on the home team
against visiting
Colton, who won
the game 20-12.
inside
Whiskey Dixie & The Big Wet Country
Amanda Richards’s musical movie
spends three weeks filming in Vernonia
By Scott Laird
10
where do you
read the voice?
12
vhs fall
sports report
12
9/11
memorial march
It’s hard to make it in show business. Ask
any musician, actor, comedian, or performing artist,
and it’s likely they can tell you about the long, hard
road they’ve had to travel to find success. It takes
talent, perseverance, some good luck, and usually an
bit of something special – a unique look, a quick wit,
or a vibrant personality.
Amanda Richards has all that, and more, and
has infused her talent and personality into a movie
project that will be filming in and around Vernonia
until September 29.
The movie is called Whiskey Dixie & The Big
Wet Country, a musical Richards wrote, is starring in,
and is also directing. It’s an independent film, being
made on a shoestring budget. While Richards has
had a diverse and successful career as a performing
continued on page 3
Amanda Richards is a country singer who wrote, is directing, and
starring in the film version of Whiskey Dixie & The Big Wet Country.