June 3, 2021
free
VERNONIA’S
Volume 15 Issue 11
reflecting the spirit of our community
City Parks Projects Move Forward Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD
Learn Large Animal
Rescue Techniques
The City of Vernonia has been busy
this spring with several projects in city parks.
Six foot tall western red cedar trees
have been planted in Ora Bolmeir Park, the
start of a replanting project to replace the dis-
eased Douglas fir trees that were removed this
past winter. Later this year the City will plant
a mix of deciduous trees, including Oregon
ash and Pacific madrone, along with Doug fir
seedlings in the upper section of the park.
ting an upgrade with new signage this summer.
The old signage was badly in need of replace-
ment, and City staff members Ben Fousek
and Angie Handegard (pictured below) have
created a new look for the park signs, which
incorporates the new City logo, along with
simplified rules and rates. The signage is now
in place at Anderson Park; the rest of the parks
will have the new signs installed over the next
several months.
14 staff and volunteers go through certified training
to assist horses and other animals in trouble
By Scott Laird
The folks at the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection
District (RFPD) have been developing some innovative programs
recently, including their Community Health Integrated Paramedi-
cine Program (CHIPP) and recent rural COVID vaccination clinics.
Now they can add a Large Animal Rescue program to that list.
Large Animal Rescue trainer Deb Fox watches
trainees during hands-on practice.
City workers cut down four hazardous
cottonwood trees in Hawkins Park during the
week of May 10, with assistance from Mike
Pihl Logging. Two years ago one of the trees
fell unexpectedly on the Saturday morning be-
fore the annual Logging Show was scheduled,
damaging a vehicle that was on-site setting up
for the show, prompting the City to hire an ar-
borist to examine the health of the trees. The
recommendation was to remove the rest of the
trees. The City is currently consulting with
the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council and
the Columbia County Soil and Water Conser-
vation District for help in replanting and pos-
sibly developing a restoration plan.
All of Vernonia’s City parks are get-
inside
Other parks projects the City has
recently completed include the repair of leaks
in the play shed roof at Spencer Park, and the
clearing of fishing spots at Vernonia Lake,
which utilized volunteers from the Oregon
Bass and Panfish Club.
The City will be accepting propos-
als for construction of the Vernonia SK8 Park
project at Spencer Park in the coming weeks.
10 more memorial trees were planted
at Spencer Park, and memorial plaques have
been added for some of the trees. If you have
placed a tree in the park and would like to
add a plaque please contact City Hall at 1001
Bridge Street, (503) 429-5291.
3
6
Interim State
Forester Appointed
10
VHS Sports Report
continued on page 8
Investigative Report Clears Witt
in Sexual Harassment Complaint
House Committee on Conduct
will review the report and
decide if action is needed
2 nd Amendment
Ordinance Examined
“We get called out on all kinds of emergency calls, not just
fires and EMS calls,” says Mist-Birk RFPD staff paramedic Larry
Boxman. “Of course we do rescue work and we have people who
are certified as rope technicians for rescues, but we also get called
to get both small and large animals out of various predicaments,
whether in the mud or creeks, or getting a cat out of a crawl space.
We get called for everything because we’re the only agency around.”
May 14-16 14 Mist-Birk RFPD volunteers and staff spent
the weekend with John and Deb Fox, owners and primary trainers of
the Large Animal Rescue Company from Arizona, learning the chal-
lenges and techniques for assisting horses and other large animals in
distress.
Boxman says Jon and Deb Fox came highly recommended.
“They teach all over the country and are probably the best in the
field,” says Boxman.
A report filed by the investi-
gator assigned to review the sexual
harassment complaint filed against Or-
egon State Representative Brad Witt,
(D-Clatskanie), has found that both the
complainants concerns and Witt’s ex-
planation are credible.
In a report filed on May 19,
2021 to the Legislative Equity Office,
investigator Sarah J. Ryan found that
Representative Vikki Breese Iverson’s
(R-Prineville) interpretation as sexual
harassment of an awkward text ex-
change between her and Witt was not
unreasonable.
Breese Iverson filed the com-
plaint against Witt, believing he
wanted to exchange his vote on a bill
Breese Iverson was bringing forward
in exchange for a date or some kind of
sexual relationship.
Ryan’s investigation found
Witt’s explanation of his comments in
the text exchange as “believable.”
Ryan works for the law firm of
Jackson Lewis P.C. which was hired to
conduct the investigation. The investi-
gation’s conclusions were scheduled to
be heard by the House Committee on
Conduct on June 1, which will decide
if any further action should be taken.
Witt and Breese Iverson work
together on three committees in the
state legislature, including the House
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee which Witt chairs and
Breese Iverson is a Vice Chair. Witt
temporarily stepped down as the chair
while the investigation was being con-
ducted.
The text exchange, which oc-
curred on April 12, was released as part
of the investigative report. In the ex-
change Breese Iverson asks Witt if he
will support her “reservoir bill,” HB
2616. Witt explains that his previous
work on watershed issues would not al-
low him to vote yes on the bill. After
some discussion about the details of the
bill, Witt texts, “We probably need to
go for a beer sometime”. Breese Iver-
son responds with more details about
the bill, and Witt texts, “I’m not wed-
ded to beer by any means. Could be
dinner or…..? “Or what?” asks Breese
Iverson. Witt responded, “I’ve made
two offerings. If you wanna meet, find
something better than dinner or beer.”
“Trying to get a vote count” is the final
text from Breese Iverson.
According to Ryan’s report,
continued on page 5