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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2002)
•J î Voi. 17, No. 15 Attn: Leslie Larson UO Library-O M P 1299 University Of Oregon Eugene OR 97403-1299 c *-L. ‘Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley’ August 1, 2002 Friendship Jamboree ready for 46th year Job training... Training, paving get job done together Superintendent Mike Fun- derburg called a special, 7:30 a.m. meeting of the board of di rectors for the Vernonia School District on July 23 to discuss getting the district and high school parking lots paved at a greatly reduced cost. Working in cooperation with the City of Vernonia and the Oregon De partm ent of Transportation (ODOT), Funderburg told the board that the job could be completed for approximately 20 percent of the cost of bidding out a contract. This project would also be a great way to show the community that the district's m anagem ent and board can take care of existing PRESORTED STANDARD U S . P o s ta g e P a id V e rn o n ia , O R 9 7 0 6 4 buildings and make the facility look good, according to Fun derburg. Though board member Leslie O ’Leary expressed con cern about moving ahead with a capital project without a long- range plan in place, the board unanimously approved the pro ject. John Lewis, the district’s new maintenance supervisor, a city employee and ODOT per sonnel used the paving project as a training exercise. This will enable both the district and the city to borrow paving equip ment from ODOT for small paving projects in the future. Funderburg, too, was working alongside city and ODOT em ployees. Because the project was used as a training exercise, the district will be able to complete it for under $25,000. The dis trict parking lot and the high school parking lot were graded and repaved. The parking lot east of W ashington Grade School was graded and excess paving material was used to fill pot-holes in that lot and behind the grade school. The work was done early this week so it would be com pleted before Jamboree. Robyn Basset, Director of P u b lic W orks fo r the C ity of Please see page 9 This year, the traditional re union of former Vernonia resi dents and the gathering of newcomers is well underway before the Friendship Jam boree even gets started. The population has noticeably swollen and a celebratory at mosphere filled the air at least two days before any event started. Starting with the kids’ fishing derby on Friday and ending with the logging show on Sun day, there will be enough activ ities and events to keep every one busy August 2, 3 and 4. The fishing derby attracts 70 to 100 young anglers, through the age of 14, and volunteers with the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League see to it that no youngster leaves w ith out something good to remember. Participants start gathering early Saturday morning for the parade and the car show, and many of the softball players ar rive a day or two before Jam boree starts. The parade will get underway at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, going east on Bridge Street from City Hall. The car show on the lawn between Vernonia High School and Washington Grade School, Jamboree Cruisin,’ will be busy until late afternoon with people enjoying the cars, the 50s-60s rock music of the Bouncing Baby Boomers, and the Booster Club’s barbecued hamburgers. In addition to the softball tournam ent that continues throughout the weekend, musi cians hit the Alternative Stage on Friday evening and continue through Sunday afternoon. The outdoor Stage is behind the Lyon’s Den and the old theater, a half block off Bridge Street, and brings in an eclectic gath ering of musical styles and genres. Spectators can relax on the lawn or get up and dance, and it’s all free. Also underway throughout the weekend is the Nehalem River Rendezvous, a gathering of black powder, muzzle load ing devotees. Their encamp ment on Stoney Point Road, about 2-1/2 miles out of town, is open so spectators can enjoy a trip to an earlier time, too. More on Jamboree on page 2 Water curtailment is Town Hall topic Water curtailment during times of drought will be the topic of a Town Hall meeting on Monday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Vernonia City Hall. Following the discussion, the Vernonia City Council will convene their regularly scheduled meeting. Filing deadline nears for City Council Anyone interested in elec tion to mayor or a city council position must complete the pa per work by 5:00 p.m., Aug. 27. Three Vernonia positions will be open. The mayor’s term, presently held by Cindy Ball, is for two years. Council positions are for four years. Two council positions, currently held by Shirlee Daughtrey and Brett Costley, will be on the ballot. The Vernonia City Council last month appointed Costley to fill the remaining term of Ball, who was council president when form er Mayor Mario Leonetti resigned. The council unanim ously chose Ball to complete the vacated mayoral term, leaving her council posi tion open. Daughtrey is com pleting her full term. Packets are available at City Hall with information and in structions. The positions will be on the ballot for the November General Election.
