P R E S O RTED STA N D A R D
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 20, No. 24
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
Santa brings smiles…
December 15, 2005
No interest in city’s hazard mitigation plan
Former council member
Shirley Goodman was present-
ed with a plaque in appreciation
of her service to the city at the
opening of the Vernonia City
Council meeting, December 5.
The meeting was then re-
cessed for a public hearing on
the Hazard Mitigation Plan
draft. City Recorder Kate Con-
ley presented the highlights of
the plan using a powerpoint
presentation.
The two largest potential
Free concert Saturday at Banks
A free holiday concert will be
presented December 17 at
Schlegel Hall in Banks’ Sunset
Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Headlining the event will be
Alena Sheldon. Other perform-
ers will include “Everybody’s
Favorite Home Town Band”
and the choir from the Banks
Community United Methodist
Church.
The audience can enjoy a
community sing-along, as well,
and Santa Claus will make an
appearance. Hot beverages
and homemade cookies will
drive away the chill, too.
Please see page 16
hazards for this area, as deter-
mined by the committee work-
ing on the plan, are flood and
earthquake. The committee
then identified ways to mitigate
(or make less severe) the po-
tential for damages. Mitigation
measures for flooding, for ex-
ample, might include higher
levees on the sewer ponds, im-
proved drainage, and reloca-
tion or elevation of essential
structures. There being no tes-
timony regarding the plan draft,
the public hearing was ended,
the regular meeting resumed
and the Hazard Mitigation Plan
was adopted.
Please see page 5
The Music of Christmas…
These youngsters are delighted to have their picture tak-
en with Santa Claus during his visit at Jim’s Market in
Banks
OLCC compliance test finds flaws
Four of nine licensed busi-
nesses in Columbia County
sold alcohol to a minor during
recent compliance testing by
the Oregon Liquor Control
Commission.
According to the OLCC, the
following licensees sold to the
minor: Buckhorn Restaurant &
Pub in Vernonia; Goble Tavern;
Lucky Inn and Zatterberg’s
Grocery in St. Helens.
Two OLCC inspectors and a
minor volunteer did the compli-
ance testing November 18.
During the checks, volunteers
attempt to buy alcohol from li-
censees or their employees to
determine if they are properly
examining identification and
obeying state law prohibiting
alcohol sales to anyone under
21. The minors are supervised
by OLCC inspectors or other
law officers, carry their own le-
gal ID and are advised not to
disguise their age or encour-
age the sale of alcohol.
Compliance checks are a
key regulatory component of
OLCC’s mission to prevent un-
derage drinking, which is a crit-
ical problem in Oregon and
across the nation, said Teresa
Kaiser, executive director. Dur-
Please see page 23
Vernonia Middle School Band entertained families and friends at the annual holiday concert.
Vernonia Cares needs meat for Christmas food boxe s
Turkeys and hams are still
needed to round out the Christ-
mas food boxes provided by
Vernonia Cares.
Vernonia Cares is currently
helping an average of more
than 300 area residents per
month with supplemental gro-
ceries. One third of those are
children. The demand has
been high all year long and the
food pantry’s budget is
stretched thin in order to pro-
vide a “Special Holiday” meal
for these families.
There are still several ways
to donate before Christmas.
You can purchase a turkey or
ham at Vernonia Sentry and
donate it when you check out.
You can also donate $20 for a
“Christmas food box” at Ver-
nonia Sentry, that includes a
turkey or ham.
Breaktime is accepting meat
donations Mondays through
Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., and Fridays and Satur-
days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Donations may also be tak-
en to Vernonia Cares, at 627
Adams Avenue, on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.
Please see page 23
Transfer Station
Holiday Closure
Vernonia Transfer Station
will be closed Christmas E v e ,
S a t u r d a y, December 24.