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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2002)
“ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”February 20, 2002 Vol. 17, No. 4 Election cycle starts; filing deadline near Winter recreation spot Improvements at Anderson Park are bringing visitors to Vernonia even on a cool Febru ary weekend. These visitors brought along their bikes, too, to enjoy the linear trail. Like Christmas, the election season seems to come around before most people are ready. Nevertheless, the deadline for filing nomination papers for state and county offices that will be on the May 21, 2002, primary election ballot, is March 12, less than a month away. In addition to state and fed eral openings, several county positions will be on the ballot. The term of Columbia Coun ty Commissioner Rita Bernhard will expire this year, as will county assessor, county clerk and district attorney. Incum bents who have filed for re- election, as of Tuesday morn ing, include County Assessor Tom Linhares, County Clerk Betty Huser and District Attor ney Steve Atchison. There will be two openings on the Columbia County Circuit Court. The positions held by Judge Steve Reed and Judge Ted Grove will both be on the Commissioner would eliminate regional strategies By Noni Andersen Columbia County Commis sioner Joe Corsiglia submitted written testimony recommend ing the elimination of the Re gional Strategies program as a statewide cost-cutting effort, in spite of the fact it has brought hundreds of thousands of dol lars to Columbia County in the form of grants and low-cost loans. Corsiglia based his sug gestion on what he feels is un necessary overhead, because there is “an administrator in five regions throughout Oregon.” He further wrote: “...sending a pro-rated amount directly to each county with the task of ad dressing real industry needs ...to assure outcomes within each county in an effective pro gram...” Asked by The Independent why he would send Regional Strategies funds to metropoli tan counties, when the program is designed for rural areas, Corsiglia said he didn’t consid er that when he suggested the money go to all the counties. He also said he wasn’t speaking for the Board of County Commissioners, al though the letter was written on county stationery and he signed it as a county commis sioner. “I don’t know what (Commis sioner) Tony (Hyde) and (Com missioner) Rita (Bernhard) think (about the program),” Corsiglia said. To provide a little back ground, here are some of the projects that have been helped with Regional Strategies funds: • $14,160 grant to Business Assistance Teams, Vernonia & Clatskanie, for small business owner financial and technical training. • $60,000 grant to Columbia Health District to conduct needs assessment (see pg. 12). • $50,000 grant to construct Columbia River fishing pier. • $21,000 grant to improve security around historic loco motive in Shay Park. • $93,630 grant to improve water, sewer and electrical ser vices at Anderson Park. • $40,000 grant to improve 4-H facility at Columbia County Fairgrounds. • $5,000 grant to assess community college needs in PCC service area of Columbia County. • $55,000 grant to Clatskanie Park District facility improvements. • $49,000 grant for Vernonia streetscape. • $11,000 grant to pave path and parking lot at Vernonia Lake. • $47,500 grant for feasibili- ty/site analysis for Vernonia Visitor Information Center/City Hall. $24,000 loan for weatheriza tion at Cedar Ridge • • w Q CZ5 z ballot. Reed has filed for re- election. Oregon Representative Bet sy Johnson (who represents Vernonia and Mist since re-dis tricting took effect), has filed for re-election, as has state Sena tor Joan Dukes. Dukes was saved by the bell, so to speak, when the state Supreme Court tossed out the term limits law. Had it been judged constitu tional, Dukes would have had no choice about leaving the po sition. On the federal level, Democ ratic Congressman David Wu will seek re-election, as will Re publican Senator Gordon Smith. There will be nothing on the ballot for the City of Vernonia. City offices are voted on during the general election in Novem ber. Although candidates must file by March 12, the deadline for filing a ballot measure is March 21. April 30 is the last day to reg ister for the May 21 election. Vernonia Lake will be stocked March 4 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will begin its 2002 North Coast Area Trout Stock ing March 4, stocking Vernonia Pond with 2,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. Subsequent stocking dates for Vernonia Lake will be March 18, April 8, April 29, and May 13. Business notes....... Pages 4 & 5 Community news... Page 6 & 7 School news.... Pages 8, 9 & 10 Banks news.................... Page 11 Weather report............. Page 16
