PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. P o s ta g e P aid
V ern on ia, O R 9706 4
NewspaperRoom-ONP
UO Library System - CPS
1299 University Of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299
Vol. 18, No. 19
Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley
FREE
October 2, 2003
Chinook on time for
Fall Salmon Festival
Differences defined, ideas suggested
Approximately 140 people
attended the Septem ber 22
Vernonia Town Hall meeting on
law enforcement, with nearly
half that number staying to the
end to work on the difficult and
lengthy process of trying to find
mutual ground between the
mistrust and dissatisfaction ex
pressed by many citizens to
ward Police Chief Mike Cahill
and his staff, and the trust and
satisfaction expressed by many
others.
To assist that effort, the City
of Vernonia obtained the aid of
a facilitator, Craig Smith of Rur
al Development Initiatives.
Smith first explained ground
rules for the meeting that would
allow people to comment with
out intrusion by others and
without personal attacks. He
then outlined an agenda that
utilized the S.W.O.T. approach
- identification of Strengths,
W eaknesses,
O pportunities
and Threats - for decision
making based on a clear un
derstanding of the police de
partment’s strengths and weak
nesses, combined with a clear
set of community goals for po
lice services.
Some of the Strengths and
Weaknesses identified by par
ticipants were polar opposites,
ie.: Officers are friendly, willing
to know citizens and enforce
the law equally — or— Officers
are confrontational, unwilling to
admit mistakes and discrimi
nate by age.
Among the Opportunities
identified were a chance to
“wipe the slate clean" and re
place the entire police force;
abolish the “us vs. them" men
tality and re-unify; develop
DARE, Cadet, Reserve and
Neighborhood
Watch
pro
grams; change hiring guide
lines to reduce officer turnover;
community liaisons.
Identified Threats
were
budget constraints made worse
by loss of state and federal
funds; lack of communication; a
location that makes backup
support difficult; lack of control
over a lenient court system; in
sufficient staffing.
Use of the S.W.O.T. agenda
was frustrating for some at the
meeting who attended to ex
press their complaints, and felt
they should be allowed to do so
even if identical complaints had
already been vocalized.
After completing the S.W.O.T.
portion of the meeting, Chief
Cahill reviewed the 2003-04
police department goals adopt
ed by the city council before his
arrival. They include ten public
presentations annually, publi
cation of a bi-weekly informa
tion bulletin, exploration of al
ternative funding options, de
velopment of a long range plan
for police service, providing
training; developing a reserve
force and increased office staff
with volunteers.
Currently, work toward these
goals includes two office volun
teers, one reserve officer and
Picturesque Rock Creek is
home to many species, includ
ing Chinook Salmon that are
arriving on schedule for the first
annual Vernonia Salmon Festi
val this Saturday, October 4.
The day’s festivities will state
with a parade at 11 a.m. Every
one is invited to participate; the
only requirement is to base
your entry on a “Salmon" or
“Fall” theme and show up at the
staging area on Weed Avenue,
alongside City Hall.
In Shay Park, there will be
an interactive stream discovery
booth hosted by the Upper Ne
halem Watershed Council and
the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife. The Nehalem Val
ley Chapter of the Izaak Walton
League has prepared salmon
viewing areas and hayrides of
fered by the Vernonia Volunteer
Ambulance Association and
Metro West transportation will
take visitors from downtown to
the most distant viewing area.
Viewing areas can also be ac
cessed by foot or by car. A map
of the day’s events will be
available at the inform ation
table in the park.
At Anderson Park, the Cow
boy Mounted Shooting Associ
ation will put on a display of
shooting, starting at high noon
increased training.
By this time, it was ten o ’
clock and quite a few people
left because they had to be up
early the following morning.
The remainder broke up into
six small groups to brainstorm
ideas and try to develop poten
tial solutions to the impasse.
Each small group had a volun
teer facilitator to help bring
ideas out for discussion and,
after hearing ideas proposed
for nearly three hours, the
groups quickly focused on ar
eas they felt had promise.
One group suggested a law
Please see page 17
in the horse arena. Competitors
dressed as turn-of-the-century
cowboys shoot 45-caliber re
volvers at targets while mount
ed on galloping horses. This
should be a lot of fun to watch.
Hawkins Park will be busy
with a wide variety of activities
throughout the day. A wine tast
ing featuring Oregon wines,
and a silent auction will take
place from 12 to 6:00 p.m. in
the Scout Cabin, while Lee’s U-
Catch will host a trout pond for
kids in the children's wading
pool.
Music including the Vernonia
Hands On Art Orchestra, Diana
& The Song Dogs, and Cindy
Lou Banks will entertain in the
Lions Club gazebo. There will
be a pumpkin pie baking con
test, pumpkin carving, scare
crow building, and pumpkin
seed spitting contests, too. At
6:00 p.m., awards will be pre
sented to winners of the day’s
events, followed immediately
by an auction of pies, wines
and other goodies.
In downtown Vernonia, you’ll
find the kids’ coloring contest
entries, the freestyle art com
petition entries and a place to
participate in the sidewalk
chalk art contest. Grey Dawn
Gallery will also hold an open
ing of its annual fall show, "Au
tumn Leaves,” featuring pho
tographer Christopher Burkett
and others. Hands On Art will
host arts and crafts on Adams
Avenue and in the old City Hall
building.
Food booths will include Ver
nonia Cares Salmon Bento, the
Lions Club Kraut & Dogs, plus
Antipasto & Quiche from Lew’s
Place.
The Festival Com m ittee
needs about 12 volunteers to
help with various activities dur
ing the day. For information call
Randy Parrow, 503-429-3811.
A full schedule of events
imay be found on page 15.