Image provided by: Vernonia Public Library; Vernonia, OR
About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1979)
V ernonia (LU)F reedom lût Vol 1 Na 32 Weather Date 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 High Low Proc. 70 66 65 63 58 58 65 41 39 45 35 44 50 50 0 0 .02 .2 .11 .05 .02 City Council still deadlocked The Newspaper Serving proposal, that the usual procedure was for the consultant to be advocate for the City and work forthe City’s benefit in dealings with the contractor. Coon also stated he had investigated the reputation of Dilworth Construction and found some problems. One case being the City of Echo, for which Dilworth construction is doing sewage lagoon work. The City Recorder in Echo reportedly said that Dilworth construction had run into problems and the job has lasted four years with excessive cost overruns. In other business the council passed a resolution forming a transportation district for the Senior Citizens (COLCO) transportation system. This will enable the Senior’s van to be run without certain tax’s that are now being paid. Also in resolving the situation of the swimming pool, Mike Harrison was hired as lifeguard. As most of you will notice the dam for the pool was put up this week. Along with the Mayorial Advisory Election the Council set up an election on the revised budget. The initial date for this election is June 28, but the City Recorder said on Tuesday that the election will not be able to be held on that day, as it does not allow time for the various revisions and necessary publication etc. The likely alternate date for the election will be July 10. However the advisory election for the Mayor’s position will not be held at all, according to the last information received on Tuesday. Of the revision made in the budget, one was to delete the purchase of the Odam land for the sanitary land fill. Also funds for roads were cut out and the amount to the Senior Center was cut from $2,500 to $2,000. Also at this meeting Attorney Coon verified that a Mayorial candidate must be a resident of the City for one year prior to the election. Martha Wiley had challenged this stipulation at the previous meeting and this meeting. At the June 18 meeting of the Vernonia City Council there was again a deadlock on the Mayor's position and the Council decided to hold an advisory election in the City. However it has since been discovered that the State Elections Office advises that it will be illegal for an advisory election to be held when the City Charter states that the Council must choose the new Mayor. The Council had been advised by sources in the Governor’s office that such an election was legal. In business from the floor Todd Bowerman made a statement favoring L.E. (Bud) Atkins for Mayor. Mr. Bowerman also stated he felt there is a lack of traffic policing, especially on the weekends. 4 1 Claude Veal also made a statement in favor of his candidacy for the Mayorial position and presented a petition with over a hundred signatures supporting him for Mayor. These two candidates were later voted Freedom survey begins on with the same split that occured at the In light of the difficulties of deciding on last Council meeting: Batty and Adams a Mayor the Freedom will conduct the voting for Atkins and Tomlin and Balla survey that we had earlier promised and voting for Veal. add to it a survey of choices for Mayor. It Under communications, a letter was is hoped that an acurate estimate of received from CETA denying the City’s public opinion can be gained from such a request for an assistant lifeguard position phone survey and that the Council will be because the salary did not meet minimum able to use it in making their choice. wage requirements. Bud Atkins and Claude Veal are the Also a letter was received from City candidates we know of at this point and Attorney Allen Coon refering to the we will take down any other “write-in” proposal by Dilworth Construction and names. Those who would be interested in Perly Consultation service. Perly and the position should contact the Freedom Dilworth had earlier made a joint office at 429-8111. We will count all those proposal to the City Council for who wish to vote for Martha Wiley as she renovation and enlargement jpf the City’s professes interest in the job, but it is our sewage lagoon. Attorney Coon stated that understanding that she is not a legal it was quite unusual for a contractor and candidate not having been a full years an engineering consultant to make a joint resident. Stroke Clinic June 25 at Senior Center Stroke is not the end of the road, but only the beginning for every person determined to be a stroke recoveree, according to Willis Knight, President, . Portland Stroke Club. Mr. Knight will be in Columbia County on five days in June to help establish five community stroke ‘clubs. Dates and locations for those meetings will be: June 19, Clatskanie Senior Center, 1:30. June 21, Columbia District Hospital, St. Helens, 1:30 p.m. June 25, Vernonia Senior Center, 1:30 June 27, Ranier Senior Center, 1:30 p.m. June 29, Scappoose Senior Center, 1:30 The Stroke Club is a community program of the Oregon Heart Association, established in November, 1975, as an outgrowth of a personal battle waged by Mr. Knight to overcome the debilitating effects of a stroke which hit him in 1974, at age 57. Stroke Clubs are now functioning in 14 Oregon communities with several more to begin operating soon. Each chib functions autonomously, within general stroke club guidelines, as a support and educational organization for stroke recoverees and their families. Membership is open to all persons who have been affected by brain vessel injury: or disease, to their families and to all: interested individuals who provide care and services to stroke recoverees. Club activities are designed to provide an atmosphere of support, understanding, and encouragement for members striving to achieve self-improvement and independence. Club meetings, which occur at least once per month, feature opportunities for social activities, projects, education and fellowship. Other services, beyond the formal club meetings are available. These include' activities of the stroke referral office, housed in the Oregon Heart Association office in Portland and staffed by Mr. Knight and other volunteers. The referral office can provide information about such services as rehabilitation equipment available for loan and current rehabilitation programs. For further information in Vernonia, call Elizabeth Staats at the Vernonia Senior Center, 429-3912. the Upper Nehalem Valley I " " . \ —;------ ’—“ Thursday June 21,1979 Janelle Wiggins ^?.aSi“nl^'aS transfonned into a quilt gallery last weekend as part of Annual FoUt Festival Bright patchwork quilts, both old and new were on <u spiay. Weather fails to dampen spirit of Nehalem Valley Folk Festival Although the weather was its usual unpredictably miserable, with drizzels and unseasonably cool, the Spirits were high at The Nehalem Valley Folk Festival held at the Jewell School last weekend. The entertainment was continuous on .stage and there were a great many other exhibits, crafts and demonstrations to be seen. Not to mention a great variety of food items ranging from toastadas to strawberry shortcake with real wipped cream. The real feeling of such an event is hard to analyze in words so we will leave it to the pictures you will find on page 7. Gas situation discussed at OEDP Committee meeting The Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) Committee met June 11 at the Village Inn in St. Helens. Present were Carolyn King, Ray Steward, Ron Adams, Voris Probst, Paul Kruggel, Betty Huser, Frank VanHorn, Bob Hunt and Larry Davis. Committee members absent were Donna Tewksbury, Gail Steele, Don Berkey, Werner Stork, Fred Bartel and Bill Ostrander. Following preliminaries, discussion ensued regarding the findings of gas in Mist. Bob Hunt stated the Board of Commissioners is being required by LCDC to address this in the goals and guidelines for the County. It was questioned whether the OEDP Committee would be directly involved, especially this year. Bryan Christian, of the County Planning Dept., stated it was mentioned in the revision of the OEDP Document and that it should be addressed more fully by the Committee in the coming year. In a letter sent to the Committee by Tom Current, Economic Development Representative for the State of Oregon, he stated a formal resolution from the OEDP Committee adopting the annual report is required. Bob Hunt moved and Carolyn King seconded the new chairman be authorized to draw up the Resolution to adopt the new Plan. Since the Committee will not be meeting again before the Plan is due, it was decided the Resolution will be sent to all members before the cahirman signs it. If there are questions or revisions, members are requested to call Bryan Christian at 397-1501 as soon as possible. After this discussion, the motion passed unanimously. A discussion was then held regarding the date the Committee would engage Tom Current to speak. It was decided the best time would be the October 13th- meeting. An invitation will be extended to all the governing bodies in the County, as well as to the public. Ray Steward brought up the fact that St. Helens now has a diversification project, namely the Plantronics Kentrox Plant, which manufactures small electronic components. Frank VanHorn stated the Employment Office had 100 applications for 10 job openings. He also said that more people are moving in to the County, but not necessarily workers. Population does not go up proportionaDy”- with employment Mr. Steward then opened nominations for chairman and vice chairman from the' floor, Larry Davis moved that Voris Probst be added to the ballot for chairman. Bob Hunt seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Bob Hunt moved and Larry Davis seconded that Carolyn King be added to the ballot for the office of vice chairman. Motion passed with 8 voting aye and Carolyn King voting nay. The ballots were then passed Out with Larry Davis, Frank VanHorn and Voris Probst nominated for chairman; and Donna Tewksbury, Gail Steele and Carolyn King nominated for vice chairman. Voris Probst was elected to the office of chairman and Carolyn King was elected to the office of vice chairman. Questions were then raised as to what constitutes “growth areas” in the County and whether or not development has risen in proportion with the growth. Larry Davis stated Rainier is now growing at the rate of 4 to 4lA% per year and that they are in need of economic develpment. It was also a general concensus, that although the population of Scappoose is increasing, economic development is not. Vernonia is considered to be the most underdeveloped area in the County. Mr. Steward stated he was desirous of haying Doug Comstock replace him on the Committee as the active member representing the Port of St. Helens. A recommendation will go before the Board of Commissioners at their regular Wednesday meeting on June 13, for this replacement. CETA/Manpower plan The CETA/Manpower plan for Columbia County will be available for public review Thursday, June 21, 1979. Copiés of planned CETA service for FY 80 can be reviewed in the CETA office, 1931 St. Helens St., St. Helens. All Columbia County residents aré * encouraged to review the plan pnd comment. Additional information may be obtained by phoning 397-4888. CETA/Manpower is affiliated with Community Action Team Inc. and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
