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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2002)
A : À3 Attn: Leslie Larson UO Library-OMP 1299 University Of Oregon Eugene OR 97403-1299 'sh 4 « : PRESORTED STANDARD U .S . P o s ta g e P aid V e rn o n ia , O R 9 7 0 6 4 *7T*u 7 V«/ xT.-'ti A Voi. 17, No. 18 “ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valiey” School board format has students speak growing effort >ut Cody Barnett, a brand new greenhouse has been con- ary School. The greenhouse was Barnett's Eagle project and, his mentor, Rob Qarcla, the structure went up very fast. Bar* >d above, between the greenhouse and the brick wall, facing L...................... „....... ...................... L. olmeier Park The City of Vernonia award ed a contract to Gwin and Sons Logging to cut and remove some of the mature trees from Ora Bolmeier Park. Plans have been in place for a long time to thin some of the trees because growth in some areas is too dense for park use, but the job was postponed when log prices plummeted. The need has be come more urgent, however, because the daughter of Mrs. Bolmeier, who was a long-time teacher and city clerk, has do nated playground equipment for the park and the space is needed in order to utilize them. A complaint about horse ma nure on the bridge to the linear 47J forms special budget review team Despite voter approval of stopgap Ballot Measures 19 and 20, a statewide financial crisis exists. To help deal with the situation, Vernonia School District has formed a Budget Assistance Team - composed of budget committee members, school board members and ad ministrators - to study continu ing budget projections and make recommendations to the board. Budget committee members Noni Andersen, Ro byn Bassett and Cindy Naillon, and board members Leslie O’Leary, Cari Levenseller and Tim Titus volunteered to serve on the team. The first meeting will be Oc tober 9 at 7:00 a.m. in the Dis trict Office. September 19, 2002 trail extension from Anderson Park, triggered a response from another citizen. Jacque line Ramsay told of going home from Vernonia Lake, getting a broom, returning and sweeping the path. She then gave the broom to the caretaker, with in structions for its use. Students will be included in Vernonia School Board meet ings, in a change instituted by Superintendent Mike Funder- burg. Now, instead of principals submitting written reports of ac tivities, they will develop a more comprehensive report with stu dent representatives at the ele mentary, junior high and high school level. The students will then report each month to the board, with the principals avail able to answer any questions. The pçipcipals will also supple ment student reports, when necessary. The new format was initiated at the Sept. 12 meeting, with Lincoln Grade School students Ryan Sandström and Logan Hendricks telling about their ex periences at school. Both boys told the board there were “a lot of nice people there.” Anna Naspini reported for Washington Grade School, de scribing the programs present ed at both Lincoln and Wash ington on Sept. 11. She also in vited board members to the Rattling Thunder Intertribal Pow Wow on Sept. 20 at 9:00 a.m. The assembly will be this year’s first Run for the Arts ac tivity, paid for with funds raised last spring. Melissa Grebenc left Out door School at Camp Wilker son in order to report for Ver nonia High School. She gave an excellent description of Ballot Measures 19, 20 pass In county With slightly fewer than 50 percent of registered voters casting ballots, Columbia County voters approved Ballot Measures 19 and 20 in the September 17 Special Election. Of those who voted on Mea sure 19, 56 percent favored taking $150 million from an ed ucation endowment fund to help meet immediate education needs, and eliminated the en- dowment, making it a general education fund that can be tapped whenever state income falls two percent below projec tions. Statewide, more than 61 percent voted for Measure 19. Measure 20, which in creased the cigarette tax by 60 cents per pack, also received approval from Columbia Coun ty voters with 57 percent favor ing the increase. Freshman Orientation, then discussed the Renaissance as sembly on the first day of school to recognize 45 stu dents who maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or better, or who increased their GPA by .5, for the final quarter of last year. She also told the board that the (Student Body) Presi dent’s Challenge this year is to raise money for juvenile dia betes, and invited board mem bers to last niqht’s open house. Elementary Principal Kirk Sherrill, who attended Outdoor School this year, praised the work of the teacher/organizers Cathy Ward and Marilyn Peter son, and the exceptional group of high school counselors. Al though he apparently had a personal garment run up the flagpole, he also laughed as he said, “...sixth grade boys are fun.” On a more serious note, Sherrill told the board that two- way communication was pur chased and is now in use by playground supervisors on the WGS playground, following an incident when first aid treat ment for an injured child took “too much time.” He also thanked parent Linda Garry- more for her gift of a small first aid pack that can be worn on the playground to facilitate prompt treatment in case of in jury. Funderburg also introduced a program of recognition for community members or organi zations that have volunteered exceptional time or services to the district. The first recipients are the Manning office of the Oregon Department of Trans portation, Vernonia City Hall employees, Tim Titus and West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Dick Titus of Northwest Exca vating Services, and Chief Paul Epier and the Vernonia Fire District. 1
