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The INDEPENDENT, December 2, 2004
State employees seeking a better contract
Employees of state agen-
cies in Columbia County will
join others across the state on
Monday, December 6 from
11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., in front
of the state office complex in
Class to be held
for Food Handlers
A Food Handler’s class will
be held Tuesday, December
14, at 1:30 p.m. at the Buck-
horn Restaurant, 934 Bridge
St., Vernonia.
The test is based on infor-
mation contained in the Food
Handler’s booklet, which is
available at the Vernonia Pub-
lic Library. It is also available
from Public Health at 2370
Gable Rd., St. Helens. The test
is based on information in the
booklet. Cost of the test is
$10.00. Participants need to
bring a pen or pencil.
Pre-registration for the test
is not required. For more infor-
mation, call Mark Edington at
503-366-3828.
St. Helens (500 N. Hwy 30), to
draw attention to their struggle
to maintain family wage jobs.
December 6 is also the first day
of labor negotiations for thou-
sands of state workers.
“After enduring a pay freeze
these last two years and seeing
my medical co-pays double, my
pay check has to stretch farther
every month,” said Sharon Mc-
Gaugh, a Department Human
Services worker. “What I think
people don’t realize is that
many of my co-workers qualify
for food stamps.
“If our state won’t provide liv-
ing wage jobs,” she asked,
“what kind of standard does
that set in our communities?”
State workers who are part
of SEIU Local 503, OPEU have
led the fight for one of the high-
est minimum wages in the na-
tion, benefiting working people
and their families. Union mem-
bers have also been instrumen-
tal in pushing for bulk prescrip-
tion drug buying for the state, a
cost-saving measure that will
expand health care access for
more Oregonians, and have
made it a priority to seek afford-
able health care for all families.
Representative Betsy John-
son (D-Scappoose) announced
that she will seek the appoint-
ment to fulfill the term of Sena-
tor Joan Dukes (D-Svenson),
who was appointed to fill a va-
cancy on the Northwest Power
and Conservation Council,
subject to Senate confirmation
in early January.
Johnson was first elected to
represent District 31 in the Ore-
gon House in November 2000
and was re-elected this fall.
During the 2003 Legislative
Session, she served on the
House Ways and Means Com-
mittee, the General Govern-
ment Ways and Means Sub-
A Monday fire in the
shop at Buckner Land Sal-
vage damaged part of the
building , as well as a new
shop truck that was parked
inside. No one was in the
shop when the fire started
and the cause had not yet
been determined, Ed Buckn-
er told The Independent.
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
Alcoholics Anonymous
Saturdays
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
Arts & Crafts Society
2nd Thursday
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
Doll Club
4th Tuesday
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
Hands On Art Committee
3rd Wednesday
Home Extension Club
3rd Thursday
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Nehalem Valley Car Club
Pioneer Museum
Preschool Story Hour
Mondays
Upper Nehalem C.P.A.C.
2nd Tuesday
Vernonia Airport Committee
3rd Wednesday
Vernonia Cares Directors
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
Vernonia Community PTA
3rd Thursday
Vernonia Grange
4th Saturday
Vernonia Health Center
2nd Monday
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
Vernonia Pride
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
3rd Friday
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Thursday
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
Johnson will seek senate position
6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
627 Adams Avenue
2:00 p.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
7:00 p.m., Leonetti’s Grill
Noon, Buckhorn Restaurant
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
For Info Call 503-429-0188
1:00 p.m., Senior Center
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
10:30 a.m., Christian Church
For location call 503-429-7193
6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant
For Info Call 503-429-4074
For Info Call 503-429-8134
10:30 a.m., City Library
7:00 p.m., City Hall
7:00 p.m., City Hall
For Info call 503-429-1414
7:00 p.m., City Hall
6:30 p.m., WGS Library
10:30 a.m., Grange Hall
6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
7:00 p.m., City Hall
For Info Call, 503-429-5201
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
6:00 p.m., District Office
1:00 p.m., Senior Center
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
7:00 p.m., WOEC
S
7
14
21
28
M
1
8
15
22
29
NOVEMBER
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W
T
3
4
2
9
10 11
16 17 18
23 24 25
30
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
S
M
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
DECEMBER
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W
T
2
1
8
7
9
14 15 16
21 22 23
29 29 30
F
3
10
17
24
31
S
4
11
18
25
committee, and the Natural Re-
sources Ways and Means Sub-
committee.
Dems from five
counties eligible
to replace Dukes
With five counties involved
in the process to appoint a re-
placement for Senator Joan
Dukes, it appears that the
county with the most Democrat
representation in the senate
district (Columbia) will organize
a convention to select nomi-
nees.
Candidates for the appoint-
ment must submit their names
to the Democratic Party organ-
ization. Precinct committee
persons within the district will
vote on the nominees, select-
ing from 3 to 5 names.
County Commissioners will
vote on the final winner. If the
counties fail to make an ap-
pointment within 30 days of the
vacancy, the governor will
choose the replacement.
S
M
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-2401
JANUARY
T
W
T
F
S
5
12
19
26
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
4
11
18
25
6
13
20
27
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
6:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fridays
8:00 p.m., Methodist Church
Banks City Council
2nd Tuesday
7:30 p.m., City Hall
Banks Fire District #13
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Station 13
Banks Planning Commission
Last Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Banks School Board
2nd Monday
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
Banks Youth Group
Sundays, Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
Chamber of Commerce
1st Thursday
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
CPO 14
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Friends of the Library
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., Schlegel Hall
Sunset Park Assoc.
3rd Wednesday
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
T.O.P.S.
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
Women’s Aglow
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., City Library
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesdays
10 a.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Monday
6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
3rd Tuesday
10 a.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 550 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. 2nd Tuesday
3:00 p.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410
or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.