Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2000)
Nelson, Levenseller selected to fill 47 J vacancies Vernonia School District Board of Directors is again at full strength with the appoint ment last week of Schann Nel son and Cari Levenseller to the remaining vacancies. With Leslie O'Leary, who was ap pointed in October, remaining board members are Chairman Jeff Blum, Vice-Chair Carla Fall Band Concert Nov. 16, 7:00 p.m. VHS Gym Strand, Tim Titus and Kim Tier ney. Nelson, a long-time resident of Vernonia, is an active school volunteer and presently chairs the Vernonia High School Site Council. She has one daughter who has graduat ed from Vernonia High School, another who is a freshman and a third who is taking her junior year in North Carolina. A comparative newcomer, Levenseller has lived in Ver nonia for two years. She has three children in school and two who will soon be enrolled in school. In addition to Nelson and Levenseller, applicants for the board vacancies were Jim Krahn, Tera Roberts, Chad Sul- loway, Melissa Gritz, Pete Brock, Lisa Fredenberg and Becky Johnston. The board approved changes in the district policy governing admission of ex change students. Dates and schedules in the previous poli- cy were confusing and created some misunderstandings. The district will still accept a maxi mum of six exchange students in any one semester. Addition ally, a procedure has been set by which exchange programs may apply for recognition. Al ready recognized are the American Scandinavian Stu dent Exchange (ASSE) and American Field Service (AFS). To obtain a copy of the policy, contact the district office at 503-429-5891. Postmaster appointed..pg. 4 BHS adds Driver Training....pg. 10 P.E.O. takes a look at its scholarships ........... P 9-12 BULK RATE U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 37 Vernonia, OR 97064 UO Library -O M P 1299 University Of Oregon FREE Voters pick Hyde, Corsiglia, Leonetti Punk. Rotten & Nastv f INSIDE: - - Columbia County Commis sioner Tony Hyde overcame an early lead by Democrat chal lenger Shawna Sykes to retain his seat for a second term. Sykes, of Scappoose, gar nered 39 percent of the votes cast in the three-way race for Position 3. Hyde, a Vernonia Republican, received 43 per cent of the ballots. Constitution Party candidate Wayne Mayo, of St. Helens, captured 18 per cent. St. Helens Democrat Joe Corsiglia led from the begin ning and easily outdistanced his opponents, Scappoose Re publican Scott Burge and Paul Pulliam, an Independent from St. Helens. Final unofficial results in the Vernonia Mayoral race show Mario Leonetti with 385 votes to Cindy Ball’s 379. The “Too close to call” situation mirrored national conditions and took al most as long to determine the winner. Randy Parrow and Glen Purvee were elected to the two open council positions. Parrow got the nod on 588 ballots and Purvee on 334. A third candi date, Charles Collins, received 199 votes. All county-wide ballot mea sures went down to defeat - levies for the county fair and county parks, and a measure to increase the depletion fee on gravel extraction. Vernonia Council decides to monitor court for now The Vernonia City Council, which has been considering establishment of a Municipal Court, has agreed to postpone further plans, while directing City Administrator Mike Sykes to monitor the county Justice Court for the next six months. Council members and many community members have ex pressed dissatisfaction with Justice of the Peace Rod McLean, who was unopposed for re-election to a second term. The primary concern ap No, we’re not speaking of author Paul Clock, pictured here on a trestle crossing Hwy. pears to be the perception that 47 south of Vernonia, but of his book, Punk, Rotten & Nasty, The Saga of Pacific Rail McLean makes inadequate way & Navigation Co., which once used the trestle. For more information on this Hills drug and alcohol referrals to boro to Tillamook rail line, please see page 13. Columbia Community Mental Health, resulting in the transfer of a well-liked counselor and the potential loss of a much Ryan Birr led the field of five and Brendan Warren, 116, fill the vacancy left by the res needed service. McLean says ignation of Mayor Raymond that he can’t make referrals at candidates for three positions completed the field. In a sort of musical chairs, Deeth. In January, Birr and the all, but can only require that on the Banks City Council, with 275 votes. Ten Branstitre was Birr will be sworn in at the De other councilor-electees will defendants be evaluated. Two additional factors con second with 247, followed cember Council meeting to fill take their own positions, as will closely by Kathleen Murdoch at the vacancy left by Robert Or- Orlowski, who was the sole tribute to the council’s hesita tion. One is the cost of operat 242. Jeannette Garnsey, 208, lowski, who was appointed to candidate for mayor. Three elected to anks City Council ing a court, even if it just for traffic offenses. If the city es tablished a court at this time, it would have to take operating capital from its Contingency Fund, which is already inade quate in case of a major emer gency. Postponing the decision allows time to budget for a court in the next fiscal year, if the council deems it appropriate. The second factor is whether residents would be ill- served by having to go to St. Helens for everything except minor traffic offenses. There is no adequate public transporta tion between Vernonia and St. Helens because Colco Trans portation can make the trip just once weekly. One reason for the establishment of the Jus tice Court was to eliminate that problem. The next council meeting, on Nov. 20, will be preceded by a 6:00 p.m. hearing on a re quest for annexation of 32-plus acres.
