Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2000)
Vernonia wins grant to extend It was a long shot last February, when the City of Vernonia applied to the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation for a grant of $70,000 to ex tend the Banks-Ver nonia Linear Park from Anderson Park to Ver nonia Lake. There was approxi mately $600,000 in the Recreation Trails Pro gram administered by State Parks, with half of that amount to be used for motorized trails and half for non- motorized trails. There was also some ques tion whether an appli cation would do any good. The decision was made to go for it. The long shot paid off. The $70,000 will enable the City to pur chase the remainder of the property needed along the old railroad grade that parallels the Nehalem River, and transport rock from Oak Ranch Quar ry. Still needed are funds to pave the final portion of the trail, ap proximately $37,000. “We are hopeful that Columbia County will partner with us to complete this project,” said Vernonia City Ad- V trail ministrator Mike Sykes. Columbia County anticipates nearly $120,000 in Bike Path funds for fiscal year 2000-01, according to their recently pub lished budget. The City has also received a grant for construction of two handicapped-accessi ble floating piers at the lake. Attn: Leslie Voi. 15, No 12 INSIDE: VHS scholarships, awards.... pg. 7 Banks council has full meeting ... pg. 8 New Vernonia officer.... pg. 11 Summer activities for kids... pg. 11 BULK RATE U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 37 Vernonia, OR 97064 “ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Caught in the act... FREE June 21, 2000 Deeth targeted for Banks budget woes and resolution must be present in a camera which will be used Banks Mayor Ray Deeth in a variety of situations (low was in the hot seat, perhaps lighting, fast action, details) unfairly, for purchases he au and which is expected to pro thorized during the past year duce reliable and clearly de without consulting the Banks tailed photographs, without fur City Council. ther manipulation, for City busi Following news of a ness. $136,000 shortfall in the The bottom line, said the 1999/2000 City budget, a letter council, is that the mayor must from councilor Norma Stewart bring big ticket items before the asked Deeth to justify, at the council for approval. What con June 13 City Council meeting, stitutes a big ticket item was four items acquired by the City not defined, however. during recent months. The council has discussed One of the items Deeth was a 1999/2000 budget shortfall asked to account for, a storage since late last year. In Novem cabinet for water testing equip ber, during the City audit, the ment, turned out to be a dona council knew that the General tion to the city. Also questioned Fund was overdrawn by about were the rental of a postage $25,000. At the time, it was felt meter at $11.75 per month for that additional income from use by City offices and library, property taxes due to popula Yes, they’re painting a building, but it certainly isn’t an act of vandalism. On a sunny, and a $2600 Local Govern tion increase would resolve the 80 degree day, April Kinney, on the ladder, Donna Gehrke and Michael Snow started ment Personnel Institute study problem. The council was ad painting a mural on the wall of Vernonia Hardware. The design, by Snow, includes a that was needed to bring City vised by City Recorder Bob train with a load of logs, a loaded log truck, and a tree being topped. administrative files into compli Prickett that, while spending should be watched, funds ance for City employees. It was an $835 digital cam could be transferred from other era, however, that focused the areas. A dedicated group of par the DIP support this emphasis. riculum Council, the school council’s frustration on the Prickett also said that with ents and staff has been work The student learning goal re principals and the district su mayor. Time was spent debat so many ongoing projects in ing for over a year to finalize quires each student to be a perintendent composed the ing the need for such an item, Banks, especially those related the Vernonia School Improve competent and proficient read work group. It was also critical which Deeth said cut the time to the City water system, it is ment Plans (SIP) and District er. Additionally, the district cli that the plan be integrated and expense involved in pro often impossible to know up Improvement Plan (DIP). Their mate goal (the atmosphere across the curriculum and from cessing film, and allowed vari front what the final costs will work was completed and pre surrounding individual goals) is kindergarten through grade 12 ous City departments to obtain be. The previous DIP focused sented to the school district for each student to be a pro computer- and internet-ready In February, the council Board of Directors in May. The ductive, positive member of the on improvement of math images without scanning. He adopted a supplemental bud board approved the plans as school and community. These scores on state benchmark cited several recent uses to get to cover a $36,000 short working draft plans that will goals and the DIP are being tests. This new plan focuses on which the camera had been fall. continue to evolve. The DIP used in designing improve two goals. First, it recognizes put. Meanwhile, the council has and SIP are required as part of ments in the instructional pro reading as a critical, life-long continued to allocate funds for Councilors Norma Stewart the state-adopted education re gram, developing the master skill. Improvements in the and Dana Campbell insisted pet projects, such as decora form, and are essential to fu schedule and implementing the school climate, such as partici that a suitable but less expen tions and landscaping and has, ture efforts to secure grant Certificate of Initial Mastery re pation in activities and citizen sive camera might have been against the advice of City Plan ship, are the second focus. The quired of each student. funds. purchased. Deeth responded ner K.J. Won, continued with An important part in the de plan is designed to improve The district goals and school that this was the best option in the costly 20-year Comprehen goals intertwine and are mutu velopment of these plans was student achievement across all a camera that contained a flop sive Plan that is no longer re ally supportive. One goal the involvement of a broad- subject areas including music py disk that could be inserted quired for a city the size of adopted by the school board is based group of parents, stu and mathematics. into a computer without addi Banks. Won said at the March The DIP is a combination of to provide an atmosphere that dents and staff. The Site Coun City Council meeting that tional hardware. focuses on student learning cils at Washington Grade the two SIPs with some addi Additionally, Deeth main Banks could qualify for techni- and achievement in all pro School and Vernonia High tional inform ation about the Please see page 2 tained, a certain level of quality Please see page 3 grams. The goals selected for School, members of the Cur- By Judy Hill Hard work, dedication = SIP and DIP
