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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2003)
.* • ! î v & À i. *3 J r JT . fÖ&’SP -V 'li ì L. Voi. 18, No. 8 Attn. Ledi© Larson UO Library-OMP 1299 University Of Oregon Eugene OR 974Û3-1299 <, PRESORTED STANDARD U S P osta ge P aid V ern on ia, O R 97 0 6 4 , a r t Vo/ce of the Upper Nehalem River Valley A Spring Day... April 17, 2003 Wauna gets approval for local service area Another step has been taken in the proposed merger of Ver nonia Federal Credit Union with Wauna Federal Credit Union. An expansion in W FCU’s field of membership has been approved by the National Cred it Union Administration, allow ing the Clatskanie-based credit union to serve people who live, work, worship, or attend school anywhere in Clatsop and Co lumbia Counties. Also eligible are members of immediate families or households of cur rent Wauna Federal members. “Expanding our membership provides consumers in Clatsop and Columbia Counties more choice in financial services and allows us to bring our world class rates to new communi ties,’’ said Wauna Federal Credit Union President Dave Baggett. Wauna Federal has been a community credit union since 1975, and its previous field of membership was limited to parts of Clatsop and Columbia Counties. The $76 million cred it union has 12,000 members and offices in Astoria, Warren ton and Clatskanie. Regulators have not yet ap proved a merger between the credit unions, but that is not likely to be a problem if Vernon ia Federal Credit Union mem bers vote in favor of the pro posal at their annual meeting in May. Vernonia schools struggle to finish year without more cuts A father and daughter enjoyed one of April’s few dry days with a little time for fishing and fun at Vernonia Lake. This police car brought to you by...? Advertising on Vernonia Po lice cars isn’t in the City’s long range plans, but cars are need ed, so the Vernonia City Coun cil instructed Police Chief Mike Cahill and City Administrator Mike Sykes, at their April 7 meeting, to obtain more infor mation from cities that have used advertising to fund vehi cles. The program under consid eration operates through a company called Government Acquisitions, Inc., which solicits sponsors to help pay for emer gency vehicles, in exchange for advertising on the vehicles. A number of cash-strapped agen cies have contracted with the company, including at least two in Oregon. Technically, there is no po- tential conflict of interest in the arrangement because the sponsors pay Government Ac quisitions, Inc., for advertising. The car is then purchased and “donated” to the city. The city’s only expense is $1.00...but it must give the car back at the end of three years. There should be more infor mation available at the April 21 council meeting. The Vernonia Planning com mission was brought back to full strength with the appoint ments of Steven Stanbrough and Carol Sawyer. DaleneMcLeod was reap pointed to the city Budget Com mittee, but there are still vacan cies. Anyone interested in serv ing on this extremely important committee should call City Hall at 503-429-5291. Director of Public Works Robyn Bassett told council that a successful grant application will provide $10,000 to hire young people during the sum mer. Bassett will be working with Oregon Youth Conserva tion Corps (OYCC) members. City residents can ignore Goal 5 notice A programming error sent post cards giving notice of a workshop and public hearing regarding proposed am end ments to Columbia County’s Goal 5 resource protection pro gram were mailed to owners of property within city limits. The proposed amendments would affect only properties outside of incorporated city limits. The Vernonia School District board of directors heard about two areas of concern from dis trict patrons at a well attended meeting in Mist, April 10. Gor don Hieronomous asked the board about a variety of rumors regarding the future of Mist School. Later in the meeting, Richard Forster told the board that he, and other parents, had not received adequate notice of the elimination of bus trans portation for spring sports. Superintendent Mike Fun- derburg told the audience that, rather than have the adminis tration develop the budget, a team of community members, administrators and board mem bers, know as the budget assis tance team (BAT), has been meeting since early March to develop a budget. The district is in the unprecedented posi tion of having to find areas to reduce spending in the current budget and, at the same time, develop a budget for the follow ing year, Funderburg told the audience. The state informs school dis tricts of revenue projections for the next fiscal year, however, as is the case in the current fis cal year, the projections may Please see page10 Easter Egg Hunt at Hawkins Park The Easter Bunny will be attending the Vernonia Cham ber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt in Hawk ins Park on April 19. Age categories will be 0- 3 years, 4-6 years, 7-8 years and 9-10 years. Following the romp through the grass in search of colorful Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny will have treats for the children. NOTE TO PARENTS: The event will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. In korder for your child to take part, rou must ar rive on time.
