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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2005)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Vol. 20, No. 15 Pihl says OA Hill logging “won’t cause problems” Vernonia’s Night Out… Vernonia Police Officer Michael Kay talks with some of the residents who attended the lo- cal events for National Night Out. Officer Kay was explaining what his German shepherd would be doing in a demonstration of K9 dog training. More information on page 11. S c a p p oo se t o Ve r n on i a t ra il p la n b e g in s A meeting to discuss the proposed trail from Scappoose to Vernonia was held at the Scout Cabin on July 21. Most of the property for the trail, tem- porarily called the Crown- Zellerbach Trail, has been ob- tained through purchase or land trades, from Wood’s Land- ing on the Multnomah Channel in Scappoose to within three miles of Vernonia. Columbia County Commis- sioner Tony Hyde gave the overview and the reason for the meeting, which was to let peo- ple know what is happening with the trail and to hear any concerns from landowners Meeting on Apple Valley Airport expansion Please see page 13 along the trail. All three County Commis- sioners – Tony Hyde, Joe Cor- siglia, and Rita Bernhard – were present. Hyde noted that the project is very important to all three commissioners that any issues be addressed and mitigated. Hyde went on to say that the county has agreed with the Bu- reau of Land Management (BLM) to replace three culverts in the next three-and-a-half years; in exchange for this, BLM has conveyed some property to the county. Hyde said the county has obtained funds for the culverts. The trail is intended to be an extension of the Banks-Vernon- ia State Park and, once com- pleted, will have park ranger coverage. Chapman resident Joy Fer- renburg expressed anger and dismay at the idea of having the trail run through her front yard, and that she felt the coun- August 4, 2005 ty has not notified residents of what’s going on with the trail or plans. Hyde responded that there was nothing to notify peo- ple about until the county was able to put enough of the land together for the trail to become a possibility. The county is now holding meetings to identify concerns, so they can start working with individual land- owners on mitigation of any problems, then start develop- ment of a master plan for the trail project. Other residents expressed concern about horses, bikes and pedestrians leaving the trail and trespassing or damag- ing their property. Noni Ander- sen and Jim Tierney, Vernonia residents who were instrumen- tal in getting the Banks-Vernon- ia State Park (B-VSP) started, both told the meeting attendees that residents along B-VSP had the very same concerns until the trail was opened and then Please see page 10 Mike Pihl spoke to the Ver- nonia City Council, at their Au- gust 1 meeting, to address con- cerns that have been transmit- ted via letter by residents below the area he recently logged on OA Hill. Pihl told the council that he logged off a different area on the hill in 1995 and when the flood of 1996 came, nothing happened to the property he had logged. He went on to say that he left stumps in to help stabilize the ground and plant- ed grass seed three weeks ago. “I wouldn’t do it if I thought it would cause any problems,” Pihl said. During a discussion on whether to pursue acquisition of property on Rose Avenue for a new senior citizens center, Senior Center President Bill James said that the seniors are Social Security topic of meetings Congressman David Wu has scheduled two Town Hall meetings to discuss Social Se- curity and privatization. The first meeting will be Wednesday, August 10, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the St. Helens Senior Center, 357 S. 15th St., St. Helens. The other meeting will by Thursday, Au- gust 11, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Astoria Senior Cen- ter, 1111 Exchange St., Astoria. Congressman Wu has voted every time to oppose privatiza- tion and protect Social Securi- ty. The Town Hall meetings will include invited experts on So- cial Security. These meetings provide an opportunity to tell your congressman what you believe should be done about Social Security and privatiza- tion. divided on the Rose Avenue site and feel forced into a deci- sion. City Administrator Robyn Bassett said that one consider- ation is timing. A building on the Rose Ave. site could be started next year, but the Lake proper- ty, where infrastructure (roads and utilities) won’t go in until 2007, would probably delay the building until 2010. After extensive discussion of both sites, James and other Senior Center board members present, George Gans and Carl Holsey, gave approval to the council to pursue acquisition of the Rose Avenue site, with the understanding that there would be a DEQ evaluation done pri- or to purchase to assure that the site will qualify for grants and funding. The Jamboree Committee asked for and received appro- val to close some streets for Jamboree. Closures will in- clude Adams Avenue from Bridge to Maple, old City Hall parking lot and accesses for vendor set up, Weed Avenue on Saturday morning for the parade, Madison Avenue from Bridge to Shady Lane at 9:00 p.m. Saturday for a movie showing, Park Drive all week- end except for reserved park- ing for the Scout Cabin, and Bridge Street from City Hall to State Avenue on Saturday morning for the parade. Coun- cil also approved the use of 598 A St. for a beer garden and live band on Saturday night from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Resident Clark McGaugh presented pictures of wildlife Please see page 4 Vernonia Cares 5K Fun Run & Walk Please see page 11
