The INDEPENDENT, September 15, 2005
Back to School Barbeque a hit with all
The Vernonia Community
PTA hosted a “Back to School
Barbeque” at Washington
Grade School (WGS) on Thurs-
day, September 1. Students
from kindergarten through
eighth grade and their families
were invited to attend.
The purpose of the bar-
beque was to ease back-to-
school jitters, allowing students
to see where their classrooms
would be and to meet their prin-
cipal – as well as to enjoy the
new play structure at WGS, the
good company and the food.
Approximately 150 people
attended the event and roughly
200 hotdogs were eaten. Prin-
cipals Aaron Miller and Nate
Underwood barbequed the hot-
dogs and PTA volunteers
served food. All food was free,
courtesy of the Vernonia Com-
munity PTA, with pasta salads
donated by “Simply Delicious,”
a local catering company. En-
tertainment was provided by
“Muggles” (Forrest Wheeler of
Vernonia), a clown from the
“Clowns Interactive Program”,
a non-profit organization that
promotes social good.
Left, Muggles the clown
makes balloon animals and
hats for kids at the Vernonia
Community PTA Back to
School Barbeque held on
September 1. Below left,
children at the barbeque en-
joyed playing on the new
play structure put in place
during the summer.
MTC summer
youth program
provides lead-
ership training
MTC Works again provided
a variety of summer youth ac-
tivities in Columbia County.
In addition to the youth jobs
program in Vernonia, 25 young
adults completed four days of
skill-building, teambuilding, and
leadership training with MTC
Works and the National Guard.
Youth focused on applica-
tions, interviews and complet-
ing the Q Customer Service
Training during the first two
days of the workshop. Comple-
tion of the Q Training earned
students college credit from
Chemeketa Community Col-
lege.
The National Guard returned
to provide two days of team-
building and leadership activi-
ties led by MSgt. John Shirron
and Sgt. Bobbie Vicory of the
National Guard Drug Preven-
tion Team. Youth were actively
involved in hands-on leader-
ship building activities, learning
skills that will help them make
better choices in life.
Participants also had the op-
portunity to interview for work
experiences with private busi-
nesses and public agencies
Page 11
Vernonia High School Sports Report
By Ben Schorzman
Vernonia High School is
once again in full swing, ready
for another long year. It is al-
ways the same: the teachers,
old and new, ready for the kids,
and the kids, not ready for
homework. For the athletes of
Vernonia High, it all started in
August,with the volleyball and
cross-country teams practicing
hard for their respective sea-
sons, and the football team get-
ting ready to take another shot
at the playoffs.
For the football team, prac-
tice started almost a month be-
fore the first day of school.
They began play with a week of
“Team Camp” starting August
8 — no pads, and no condition-
ing. It was a week of relative
fun for the players who each
paid $25 for the camp. The pur-
pose of the camp was for the
coaches and players to devel-
op a new offense before start-
ing daily doubles.
When asked about the
change in offense, Coach Mike
Funderburg said, “This team is
unique, because even though
I’m the head coach, I’m only
running the defense. But be-
cause I am a head coach, I
have my own offensive philoso-
phy. I want to know in a tight
game which plays are being
called.”
In addition to a new offense,
the Loggers have two new
coaches. Jeff Ridgeway, who
formerly coached at Mollala
High School, is the receiver
coach. Also added is Jackson
Gillett, who enlisted in the
Marines out of high school,
played some semi-pro football,
and a year of Arena League
Football.
When asked how the team
is looking this year, Coach Fun-
derburg said that it all depends
on how they handle adversity.
“They could get down on them-
selves and lose it, or they can
choose to battle. Even though
we have lost a lot of key play-
ers, we have eight returning
starters from offense and de-
fense. We look at this year, not
as a rebuilding year, but as a
‘reloading’ year.”
How the team handles ad-
versity is key because they
have a tough opening sched-
ule. After the Willamina Jam-
boree, where they won by
scores of 12-6, 6-0, and 6-0,
they will play number four
ranked Blanchett at home, then
travel to Scio, before opening
league play at Clatskanie. To
see how they handle the com-
ing season, join the fans on Fri-
day nights to watch the Mighty
Loggers on their march toward
the playoffs.
throughout the county. Those
who were selected spent the
summer learning new skills
while providing a public service
at several work sites.
For more information about
MTC Works programs, contact
Karin Miller or Diana Nish in St.
Helens, 503-397-6495.
Evergreen Dance Center
Classes Start Sept. 22!!
WEDNESDAYS
Ballet
Age 4-5 3:30 p.m.
Age 6-7 4:30 p.m.
Age 8 + 5:30 p.m.
Jazz
Age 6 + 6:30 p.m.
$38/MONTH
Teacher: Jessica Weller Davis
Classes held at Vernonia Community Church
957 State Ave, Vernonia
To Register, Call 360-423-7410, Longview