PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 19, No. 15 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Volunteers at work… A great group of volunteers from J&S Masonry, of Port- land, joined their supervisor Loren Dennis, of Vernonia, to erect the walls for the Boosters concession stand at Vernonia High School. Lonnie and Marvin Dennis were part of the crew, also. The eight-person crew put up the walls of the 34x24’ building in about six hours. The labor and materials were all donated. 47J sets hearing on design/build proposal for new middle school Vernonia School District will hold a public hearing August 12 at the school district office for public comment on utilizing a design/build method to build a new middle school. The school board is responsible for local contract review and, under Oregon law, is responsible for deciding whether to use the de- sign/build process. According to information provided by the district, use of the design/build method would exempt them from public con- tracting rules, which would al- low “substantial savings.” The Willamette Education Service District has agreed to serve as consultant to manage the process. A compressed time frame is anticipated for the process to select a contractor and subcontractors would be selected by the design/build contractor. A complete copy of the find- ings (reasons) for using the de- sign/build method is available from the district office. FREE August 5, 2004 Bassett is interim administrator Robyn Bassett was appoint- ed interim city administrator at a special meeting of the Ver- nonia City Council on July 29. Bassett, who is the city’s direc- tor of public works, will do dou- ble duty until a new administra- tor is named. A process for selecting a new administrator will be dis- cussed at the August 19 meet- ing. Bassett gave a presentation at the July 19 council meeting on the Wastewater Facility Up- grade. Upgrades needed in- clude increasing one to two pipe sizes on three of the grav- ity collection systems in town, upgrading Pump Station No. 2 to a 12-inch-diameter force main, increasing the pump size in the Main Pump Station by 2008, and adding a new pump station. The City will be looking for grants and/or loans to cover some of these costs, but, in ac- cordance with plans begun years ago, sewer rates are be- ing increased in July from $31.00 to $37.00. Further in- creases may be needed next year, depending on the suc- Mayor Cindy Ball presented a plaque to outgoing administra- tor Michael Sykes, in appreciation of his service to the City of Vernonia. Sykes was thanked for his efforts at a picnic in An- derson Park last Monday. Of course, he was also roasted by the many people who have become friends during his five years with the city. cess of finding other funds. The council unanimously approved the resolution increasing the sewer rates. The City of Vernonia and the Vernonia Ridge Riders entered into an agreement on the use and management of the eques- trian area in Anderson Park. The agreement outlines the Tragedy strikes local communities Manning teen drowns in pond Vernonia woman dies in wreck Joseph Rigert, 16, of Man- ning, drowned Monday after- noon, August 2, in Dierickx Pond, which is just south of Banks. According to the Washing- ton County Sheriff’s Office, Rigert and two friends, Mike Doner, 16, and Eric Vanderzan- den, 14, were swimming be- tween a stationary dock on the bank and a floating dock, which was about 75 yards from shore. The three boys were friends and often swam at the pond. One of them tried to help when Joseph started yelling, accord- Please see page 4 A Vernonia woman was killed and four Vernonia resi- dents were injured, one critical- ly, in a two-car crash on High- way 47 near the Pebble Creek Trestle, shortly after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 3. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hea- ther Forster, 19, lost control of her southbound Honda Accord, crossed the centerline and “T boned” a northbound Kia Se- phia driven by Alan Russell, 72. Russell’s wife, Diana, 60, was killed in the collision. He Please see page 4 Ridge Riders’ responsibilities for the arena area, including garbage disposal, while giving the Ridge Riders a portion of camping fees for campers in the equestrian area. Dana Anderson asked for and received approval to do mechanical work out of his hanger at Vernonia Airport, and to have signage. The airport is zoned light industrial. In other business, the coun- cil approved new library fees, including late fees on books of $.10 per day. Join us for the 48th Annual Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show August 6, 7, 8, 2004 Complete schedule in the special Jamboree issue