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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2000)
Hyde helps secure funds to complete streetscaping Completion of Vernonia’s downtown streetscaping was made possible when the North west Oregon Economic Al liance (NOEA) approved $26,000 for the project, city ad ministrator Mike Sykes in formed the Vernonia City Council at their Dec. 20 meet ing. “Thanks to the leadership of Tony Hyde," Sykes said, the city is able to complete both the sidewalk and electrical work needed for the new light stan- dards. Hyde, a member of the NOEA board, successfully ad vocated for approval of the city’s request from funds previ ously allocated for other pro jects, but which were unused. At this time, some sidewalk and brickwork work remains, but tree planting and installa tion of the new light standards have been completed. The council also learned that the council chamber in Vernonia’s new city hall will soon be furnished with a dais and theater-style courtroom seats. They will be coming to Vernonia from the old U.S. Courthouse in Portland, which is no longer in use. At the January 3 council meeting, Mayor Art Parrow in formed the council that Bob Curl will transport the furnish ings at no charge to the city and, when the truck arrives, the city has arranged to have the Vernonia Youth Corps unload the cargo. INSIDE: Vernonia resident Elroy Min er asked the council to consid er closing some residential streets to heavy trucks be cause of damage that is occur ring to streets not built for such use. The city will consider the request. The council’s regularly scheduled January 17 meeting will be moved to the following Monday, January 24, because it conflicts with Martin Luther King holiday, VHS sports....pg. 4 Last baby of the century........ pg. 6 A look back, and a look forward.... pg. 8-9 Assembly honors academic efforts....... pg. 11 BULK RATE U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 37 Vernonia. OR 97064 Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley' Voi. 15, No 1 Fire totally destroyed the Creekview Lane home of Mark and Kathy Plath on Sunday, January 2. In addition to the loss of their home, the Plath’s motor home and car also sustained damage from the blaze. The cause of the fire was not yet determined at press time. Law enforcement quiet, other emergency personnel were busy Local emergency personnel were prepared for whatever the new millennium might bring, but an uneventful New Year’s eve gave them little to worry about. Vernonia Police Chief Jim Walters said the evening was "very quiet” and there were no problems. New Year’s eve was also quiet for fire and emergency medical services personnel, who spent the night at the sta tion and had time to actually enjoy a great pot luck dinner. Nevertheless, an unusually busy ten, or so, days have kept them on the run. Since December 22, when the van that delivers mail to Scappoose rolled on an icy Scappoose-Vernonia Road, January 5, 2000 Skateboards, bikes on hearing agenda Not a happy new year. the department has been busy. The van was towed back to Vernonia, the mail was deliv ered with another vehicle and, fortunately, no one was hurt. There were more motor ve hicle accidents on the 23rd, 25th, three on the 28th, and on the 30th, all of them caused by icy roads. The most serious was Dec. 28 on Keasey Road, when Car olyn Keasey lost control of her car on an icy patch and struck another vehicle coming out of Creekview Lane. She was tak en to Tuality Hospital with a broken pelvis, but is now re covering at home. The other driver received only minor in juries. In addition to accidents, the fire district responded to three FREE false alarms on Dec. 23, 24 and 25. None of the alarms was turned in as a prank, they were sincere reports that turned out to be unnecessary. There were also calls for smoke in a residence and for a malfunctioning electric heater. Medical calls over the holi day period included two car diac patients and several other conditions that required atten tion. The worst fire call, pictured above, was the Jan. 2 blaze that destroyed a home. In non-emergency business, the fire board’s bid for property adjacent to the fire hall was ac cepted. They plan to develop additional parking on part of the property. Various plans are under consideration. Restrictions on the use of bi cycles and skateboards will be the subject of a public meeting January 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the council room of Vernonia City Hall. Residents are invited to at tend and present their opinions on proposed amendments to city Ordinance 589. This ordi nance defines transportation issues within the city, including exclusion or restriction of such things as the use of skate boards in certain areas and bi cycle riding on downtown side walks. There are concerns about the safety of bike riders who must presently travel on Bridge Street, and about the safety of pedestrians if bicycles are al lowed on the sidewalks. Proposed amendments to the ordinance would expand the area barring skateboards, but would permit bicycles on downtown sidewalks. As cur rently proposed, the amend ments would impose the same restrictions on bicycle riders as those listed in Oregon Revised Statues (ORS 814.410), which defines unsafe operation of a bicycle on sidewalk, including the following: • To suddenly leave a curb and move into the path of a ve hicle that is so close as to con stitute an immediate hazard. • To not give an audible warning before overtaking and passing a pedestrian and not yielding the right-of-way to all pedestrians. • To operate a bicycle in a manner that endangers or would likely endanger any per son or property. “Citizens, young and old, are strongly urged to attend the meeting,” said Mayor Art Par- row, “and express their reasons for support or opposition to the proposed changes.” Those unable to attend the meeting may express their opinions in written form, mailed or delivered to the Vernonia City Council, 1001 Bridge Street, prior to the meeting. Free, year-long program will use flouride to promote healthy teeth Vernonia and Mist students in kindergarten to sixth grades will have the opportunity to par ticipate in a year-long supple mental flouride program admin istered at school. “King Flouride” is a voluntary program sponsored by the Ore gon State Health Division, which provides the necessary supplies at no cost to the dis trict. Each child who partici pates will receive one flouride tablet each day that they attend school, and a toothbrush for the year. “We see an average of one student per week with decay severe enough to create an ab scessed tooth,” said Vernonia dentist Dr. Scott Van Dyken. “The long range goal is to re duce decay overall, improve health and therefore reduce lost days at school due to den tal disease." Studies have demonstrated that the 60-second swish and swallow tablet regimen can re duce decay by 30-40 percent. It also strengthens permanent teeth forming in the jaw under the baby teeth. Parents will re ceive permission slips to sign and return to school. For further information re garding the “King Flouride” pro gram, call Dental Hygienist Pat Stacklie at 429-2675, days, or 429-7563 evenings.
