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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2000)
Page 16 The INDEPENDENT, June 7, 2000 “Swimmerships” available for low income kids’ swimming lessons Attention Parents: Does Your Child Know How to Swim?? If not, this is the year for them to learn! Swimming lessons usually cost $40 per child and transportation is sometimes a problem. As a re sult, many Vernonia children have poor or no swimming skills. In many communities, teaching children how to swim is seen as such a priority that swimming lessons for begin ners are offered for free. With all the water around Vernonia, our kids need to know how to SWIM! Last March, Kim Tierney ap pealed to the Columbia County Commission on Children and Families, CCCCF, to fund W ashington 2001 fundraising starting Meetings will be scheduled in the near future for all those interested in the Washington DC 2001 trip for students in seventh and eighth grade stu dents. The meetings will include in formation about fundraising events, and an opportunity to find out more about this great adventure. In the past, this has been a wonderful experience for the students and chaper ones involved. The trip will take place in October 2001. Fundraising is a very impor tant part of making this trip a reality. In the past it has been the generosity of community businesses and residents who have made this trip possible for so many students. We will again be looking for help to fulfill these children’s goals. We thank you for your past generosity and ask that you support our students in their fundraising efforts be tween now and October 2001. For additional information con tact Shelly Lende at 429-3300. Equestrian program seeks school okay If approved by the Vernonia School Board, the Natal Grange will provide sponsor ship to organize and support a new Equestrian Program for students attending Vernonia High School. This is already an organized team sport for which athletic letters are awarded in 78 high schools across Oregon. Team members train rigorously for competition in many classes: Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Western Pleasure, Showman ship at Halter, English Equi tation, Trail Riding, Reining, and other events requiring skilled horse and rider. With ex perience and expert coaching, students can advance into rop ing and cutting. Team members pay their own expenses, as this sport is not funded by the school dis trict due to budget constraints. What gives this program great value is the wholesome nature of the sport, the individual and team training available, and the camaraderie that develops among team members The team coach, Barb Carr, can be reached at 429-4004. swimming lessons for 10 chil dren, plus necessary trans portation costs. However, the Commission decided to triple the funding request. Mike Sykes and the City of Vernonia, Colco Transportation, and Ver nonia Headstart offered to help with transportation. As a result, the Vernonia Learn to Swim program will be able to provide swimming lessons for 40 Ver nonia youth. Priority for these “Swimmerships” will be given to beginning and non-swim mers who are 5 to 18 years old. Lessons will be offered through Cedar Ridge, one mile out of town on Keasey Road. Sessions will last two weeks. Cedar Ridge has also been very helpful in implementing this program. They have added a third session to assure that there will be enough room for all the children who may enroll. Dana Hyde has volunteered to coordinate the program. The Learn to Swim Program has definitely become a community effort and many people are pitching in to make sure that this is a successful program. “We are not sure what the demand for swimmerships will be," Tierney said, “But, if it Time for academy nominations Congressman David Wu is now accepting applications from eligible students for Con gressional nominations to Unit ed States Military academies. This year, outstanding stu dents will be nominated by Congressman Wu to attend one of four military academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Attendance at the U. S. Coast Guard Acad emy does not require a Con gressional nomination. Service Academies offer an undergraduate college degree at no financial cost to the stu dent. Students must exemplify academic excellence, and serve a term in the U.S. military upon graduation. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, unmar ried (with no dependents), and between 17 and 22 years of age. Congressman Wu will ac cept applications until Novem ber 15, however, applicants are encouraged to submit informa tion early. Nominees will be an nounced on December 1. Application require the fol lowing information: • Military academy of choice • Full name, address and contact information • Date and place of birth • Names of parents • Social security number • High school grade point average, class standing, class size • SAT-I or ACT scores • Three letters of recommen dation • Resume of extracurricular activities Mail applications to Con gressman David Wu, Attn: U.S. Military Academy Nominations, 620 SW Main Street, Suite 606, Portland, OR 97205. For further information, call Sarah Wiecks, (503) 326-2901. Teachers honored at ceremony Vernonia High School teach ers Judi Gwin and Sheri Burleson were among ten teachers honored by the Co lumbia Foundation during the 41st annual St. Helens-Scap- poose Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, May 25. Gwin was named Teacher of the Year, and Burleson was se lected as Teacher of Merit. Other school districts and the honored teachers are as follows: St. Helens - Della Larson, John Gumm, Teacher of the Year; John Lessard, St. Helens High School, Teacher of Merit. Rainier - Suzan Watson, Hudson Park Elementary, Teacher of the Year; Doug Knox, Rainier Middle School, Teacher of Merit. Scappoose - Dana Larson, Scappoose Middle School, Teacher of the Year; Sarah Campbell, Otto HH Petersen School, Teacher of Merit. Clatskanie - Kara Burg- hardt, Clatskanie Middle School, Teacher of the Year; Julie Lipke, Clatskanie High School, Teacher of Merit. “There were a lot of excel lent teachers nominated for this award, the selection com mittee had a difficult time de ciding between all the deserv ing candidates,” said Bonnie Moss, who has led the project for the Columbia Foundation. More than 200 nominations were submitted by students, parents, community members and co-workers. “Teachers have a lasting ef fect on the lives of our children. Outstanding teachers should be commended for their efforts to make our communities bet ter places to live,” said Moss. This is the third year that the Columbia Foundation has sponsored the awards. Colum bia Foundation is a community based, non-profit organization. Retirement party at Mist School Friends, family members and former students are invited to a dessert in honor of Mist School teachers Sharon Batty and Mickey Hammerberg as they celebrate their retirement. The event will be held Satur day, June 10, from 2-5:00 p.m. in the Mist Grade School Gym, with a program to begin at 3:00 p.m. Anyone who would like to share a memory, anecdote, story or music, is asked to con tact Kari Hansen at 755-2486, or 755-9340. proves to be as great as we think, we will look for more funding next year.” Applications are available from Washington Grade School and Vernonia Headstart. For further information, or to obtain applications, you may also call either Dana Hyde at 429-9351, or Kim Tierney, 429-0720. / PCC math class scheduled at VHS nelius Pass Road on Highway 30 in Scappoose. Tuition is $21 and there is a $30 driving fee payable to the golf course at the first class. Orientation to Horseman ship and Care, another PCC non-credit class, covers the ba sics of caring for a horse, such as feeding, exercise and hy giene, and stresses the rules that are necessary to keeping your horse happy. The beginning class runs for five Mondays, starting June 19. The intermediate course is on five Tuesdays, starting June 20. Both classes are from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at Larame Stables in Scappoose, four miles north of Cornelius Pass Road on Highway 30. The cost for the beginning course is $95; $130 for the intermediate class. The class runs from 6-7 For more information, con p.m., on six Wednesdays, be ginning June 21, at Wildwood tact PCC Community Educa Golf Course, just north of Cor tion at 503-397-1311. A Portland Community Col lege mathematics course will start June 20 at Vernonia High School. Math 95, an eight-week-long course, will be offered on Tues days and Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:20 p.m. For more informa tion, call Glenda Delemos at 429-3521 or 429-4074. PCC has also developed a non-credit class to help you get the most out of your time on the links. A good test to determine your need for this class would be if the divot made by your swing goes farther than the ball. If this is true, PCC instruc tors are ready to impart their wisdom so that you connect with the ball every time. OAK RANCH QUARRY OPEN DAILY Crushed Rock l ”, 2 ”, 3 ” Pit Run DELIVERY AVAILABLE Call Teevin Bros, for Information 503-458-6671 A tta -B o y H i- P r o D o g Food 37.5 LB Reg. $13.99 WITH COUPON - LIMIT 2 WHILE QUANTITIES LAST I E x t r a S a v in g s O n L in e w w w .se n try m a rk e ts.c o m C lick on V aluP age Look for Randy’s Special Buys! WESTERN UNION • MONEY ORDERS • FAX SERVICE LAMINATING • BOOKS • GREETING CARDS • LOTTERY GAMES Open 8 am - 9 pm Seven Days a Week - VISA & MasterCard Vernonia Sentry 735 Jefferson Ave. • Vernonia ■ 429-3811
