The INDEPENDENT, September 1, 2005
“Loud and Proud” walks to first place
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
Front row, third from left is Liz White and behind her in the back row is Angie Handegard and
to Angie’s right is her husband, Derek Handegard; together with the rest of the “Loud and
Proud” walking team, their volunteer support staff and drivers. All of them took time out from
their celebration in Seaside for this team picture.
In this year’s Portland to
Coast walk, held August 26-27,
the winning mixed walking
team included three team
members from Vernonia. The
walk, held in conjunction with
the Hood to Coast run, is a
competitive relay that starts at
the Hawthorne Bridge in Port-
land and ends in Seaside.
Vernonians Derek and Angie
Handegard and Liz White start-
ed training in April to compete
with the other nine members
who make up the 12 walking
members of the “Loud and
Proud” team. The full team in-
cludes 12 walkers, two drivers
and three volunteers. Training
consisted of walking 4-5 miles
three times a week.
“Loud and Proud,” one of
122 mixed walking teams, fin-
ished in 23:31:34 (23 hours, 31
minutes, 34 seconds), beating
the second place team (last
years winners) by 23:87. They
beat their last year’s time by
over an hour. They also placed
fifth overall out of the 315 total
walking teams. Each team
member walks two legs of the
relay, with each leg averaging
5.5 miles.
This year was the Hande-
gards’ sixth time in the walk
and the first walk for White.
Angie Handegard said winning
the walk was “very emotional,
the team has been in every po-
sition from seventh to second
and finally took first, it was pret-
ty overwhelming.” White’s take
on the win, “our team was real-
ly supportive and focused, I
think that’s what propelled us
into first place.”
After celebrating and resting
up, the Handegards and White
plan to start training for next
year’s Portland to Coast, after
all, there’s still first overall to set
as a walking goal.
Oktoberfest at fairgrounds Sept. 23-24
Columbia County’s second
annual Oktoberfest will be held
at the County Fairgrounds in
St. Helens on Sept. 23 and 24.
“THE ULTIMATE PARTY!” is
being presented by Friends of
the Columbia County Fair and
the Scappoose Boosters at
$5.00 per adult; kids under 12
are free. On Friday, Seniors get
in for $3.00. Raffle tickets will
be on sale for a trip for two to
the 2006 Munich Oktoberfest.
Raffle tickets will be $5.00 each
and only 3000 will be sold.
Activities will include bingo,
a quilt show, food and bever-
age-making demonstrations,
children’s activities, and con-
cession booths.
On Saturday, in addition to
the activities noted, there will
be a Logging Show at 1:00
p.m. and, at 3:00 p.m., a BMW
car show sponsored by Ras-
mussen BMW.
Camping facilities will be
available for $5 dollars.
All proceeds benefit the Fair-
grounds and Scappoose sports.
Contact Ronda Courtney at
503-397-4231 or Jeff VanNatta
at 503-556-4008 for more infor-
mation.
I
guess
the older
I get the
more lit-
tle stuff I
see that
makes
me won-
der
–
“What are they thinking?” Last
Tuesday, a smallish boy was
riding his bicycle down Bridge
St. angling across traffic. As I
passed him, he was reading a
book. Eeee…
Another thing I’ve pondered
all summer. Driving into Forest
Grove – beautiful highway –
nice wide bike lanes both sides
of the road, even a nice well
kept walking path – Okay. So,
why do the bikes use the walk-
ing path and runners use the
bike paths? Think about it.
I know it’s sunny and hot
and all that jazz but did you
know you can drive with your
lights on and it won’t run down
your battery? When you’re run-
ning in and out of our shady,
dark lanes on any of the four
roads leading into or out of Ver-
nonia it would be nice to see
you before you whiz by in the
dark. Comprehend? Nobody
will think you dumb for driving
in the sun with your lights on,
you’re even easier to see then,
also.
Did you go by Anderson
Park last Friday? The Senior
Center Picnic with the Golden
Oldies was great entertain-
A GALIS
N ETWORK
S ERVICES
ment. Even a young girl visiting
our town asked if she could
sing with the band. They said,
“sure.” She sang Amazing
Grace . It was very touching,
her voice was timid but she
could sing. I wasn’t that brave
at 11 years, I was trying to be
unseen.
Vernonia Cares 5K Run/
Walk had good weather and a
good turnout. Runners, walk-
ers, strollers and one dog.
For those of you who no-
ticed the picture of Cares re-
ceiving four blankets from Max-
ine and Vic Jones, blanket ven-
dors during Jamboree and
wonder what we did with them
– all clients’ names were put in
a can, and three people drew
out the names of four happy
people. Thank you from Ver-
nonia Cares for those that care.
School’s coming – Smile.
™
LLC
B ac k to S c h o ol
Sp e ci al
(take the kids to school,
then sneak in here), buy a
specialty coffee drink & get a
free cookie (just mention
this coupon).
One per visit - offer expires 9/14/05
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