Page 20
The INDEPENDENT, June 21, 2007
Titus and Hansen receive farewells from 47J board
Letters
From page 3
which the Parks committee chooses to
plant, maintain and remove trees. An
ordinance to specifically address trees
is not necessary or advisable at this
time within the City of Vernonia
• Resource Library – The council
should make available a resource li-
brary within Vernonia Municipal Li-
brary. At minimum, the resource li-
brary should contain the following:
• Trees which are compatible with
the Vernonia area climate
• The growth rate, needs and main-
tenance of tree species
• Policies – No recommendations.
The staff of Vernonia Public Works
seems capable and there is a clear di-
rection to decision making.
• Brochure – None recommenda-
tion. This would be covered by the Re-
source Library. Staff may direct indi-
viduals to the library informally.
• Arbor Day – no recommenda-
tions.
Ed. Note: Trees are mentioned in
Vernonia’s nuisance (health &
safety) ordinance, in regulations
regarding public rights-of-way, and
in the planning code, but there is
no “tree” ordinance.
From page 11
writing skills.
The board approved new
high school graduation require-
ments. For the 2007/08 school
year, seniors will need to docu-
ment 10 hours of community
service. Summer projects may
be used to satisfy some or all of
this requirement – packets of
information are available at the
district office. For students
graduating after 2008, the re-
quirement will be 20 hours of
community service.
Washington Grade School’s
basement was tested by tapelift
samples for health hazards.
Some of the tests showed
Many will take scholarships with them to college
From page 10
Lindauer, Julianna Pelster
(homeschooled).
Gene Weller Memorial
($500); Kevin Johnston.
Vernonia Education Associa-
tion; Brent Thompson ($800),
Willie Hansen ($500).
Windermere ($500); Brittney
Lindauer.
WOEC Sam Hearing ($500
Mariolino’s
each); Brittney Lindauer, Erin
Gehrke.
VOLTA ($1250 each); Colton
DeWitt, Travis Baker.
Isaak
Walton
League
($250); Erin Gehrke.
Mist/Birkenfeld Helping Cir-
cle ($750); Kevin Johnston.
VHS Alumni ($1000); Brent
Thompson.
Wauna Federal Credit Union
Welcome
Cycle Oregon!
Pedal on over for
Breakfast, Lunch
and Dinner!
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
($1000); Erin Gehrke.
Karen Pitt-Kilgore Memorial
($700); Nandi VanMeter.
Holce
Logging;
Brent
Thompson ($3000), Brittney
Lindauer ($2000), Christina
Sohler ($2000), Nandi Van-
Meter ($1000), Danielle Robb
($1000), Jessica Espinoza
($1000).
Zack Rumbolz Memorial;
Nicole Frantz ($4000), Jessica
Leach ($1000), Willie Hansen
($1000), Brittney Lindauer
($500), Kevin Johnston ($500),
Jeff Paleck ($500), Megan
Farmer ($500).
In addition, Holce Logging
also provided the following
scholarships to 2006 gradu-
ates; Kristin Cota ($3000), Tim
Hein ($1500), and Kristin Kelly
($1500).
glass fibers and a couple
showed fungal problems. The
areas will be cleaned and then
re-tested to see whether the
findings represented only resid-
ual debris or ongoing issues.
The board was presented
with a suggestion to designate
September 4 as an early re-
lease day, with dismissal at
1:30 for students in grades 1-6
and 9. Students in grades 7, 8,
10, 11 and 12 would start
school on September 5. This
schedule would allow an orien-
tation day for students in sixth
and ninth grades. Board mem-
ber Ernie Smith opposed the
change; the majority voted in
favor.
Retiring board members Tim
Titus and Randy Hansen (Han-
sen was not in attendance)
were given farewells, including
a somewhat emotional one by
board member Kim Wallace,
and plaques in appreciation of
their service. Newly elected
members Tim Bamburg and
Gregg Kintz will join the board
at the July meeting.
In other business, the board;
• approved an amendment
to the superintendent’s contract
that will run until the contract is
renegotiated,
• approved new language
arts textbooks,
• accepted resignations of
Brad McKedy, Dominic Nardel-
li, Dan Utter, Lindsey Dunkel,
Adena Nelson, and Kim Morri-
son,
• approved the hiring of Ash-
ley Rogers for middle and high
school Math/Technology and
David Spackman for Elemen-
tary Counselor,
• approved the resolution
adopting the 2007-08 budget,
• approved a contract with
Curl School Bus Service, Inc.
This was needed due to a re-
configuring of Curl’s Trans-
portation Co., Inc.
The next board meeting will
be held on July 12, starting at
6:00 p.m. at the district office,
475 Bridge St., Vernonia.
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Obituary
FLORENCE MAE AKERS
Florence Mae Akers, 94, formerly of
Vernonia, died June 18, 2007. Funeral
services are being held today at 1:00
p.m. at Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Vernonia with Pastor John
Cahill officiating. Concluding rites and
interment will follow at the Vernonia
Memorial Cemetery, followed by a re-
ception in the Fellowship Room at the
Vernonia Baptist Church, 359 A St.
Mrs. Akers was born May 13, 1913,
in Yale, Idaho, to Joseph E. and Ella
Florence (Offill) Tipton. She was raised
in several communities, including Ver-
nonia, where she attended Pleasant
Hill School.
In 1935, she married Lee William
Akers. They made their home in
Pocatello, Idaho, then Payette, Id., be-
fore moving to Vernonia in 1947. She
was a homemaker. In 2004, she moved
to Forest Grove.
She was preceded in death by her
husband and a grandson, Steve Akers.
Survivors include a son, Larry Akers
of Coquille; two daughters, Nancy
Devine of Vernonia, and Joyce DeHart
of Portland; a sister, Melissa Baker of
Weiser, Id., six grandchildren; seven
great-grandchildren; and five great-
great grandchildren.
Remembrances are suggested to
the Alzheimer’s Association, Colum-
bia/Willamette Chapter, 1311 NW 21
Ave., Portland OR 97209.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home
in Forest Grove is in charge of arrange-
ments.
LESLIE GEORGE BOWDEN
Leslie George Bowden, 70,
Longview, Washington, died June 4,
2007. Services were held June 9 at the
Church of Latter-Day Saints in Forest
Grove.
Mr. Bowden was born May 25,
1937, in Moise, Montana, to William
Chauncey and Alice Long Bowden. In
1943, he attended school in Vernonia.
Later, he attended schools in Scofield,
Manning and Timber. He graduated
from Banks High School in 1955. He
worked at Long-Bell lumber mill from
May to November 1955. He served in
the U.S. Navy, then worked at Weyer-
haeuser Company until he retired in
1992.
He was preceded in death by a
brother, Chauncey Jr., and a half-broth-
er, Elmer Nolan Carlson.
Survivors include his wife, June
Scott Bowden; a son, Leslie Wynn
Bowden; four step-children, Brenda
Lee Chambers, Michael Duane Cham-
bers, Patricia Sophie Chambers, and
Robert Roy Chambers; his mother, Al-
ice Long Bowden Carlson Rasmussen;
three brothers, Duane Bowden,
Chauncey Bowden, and Lee Carlson;
three sisters, Willina Bowden, Rita Fay
Carlson Davis, and Ida Darlene Carl-
son Peterson; 16 grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; uncles, aunts, and
cousins.
Remembrances are suggested to
the Community Home Health & Hos-
pice, P.O. Box 2067, Longview WA
98632.
Steele Chapel at Longview Memori-
al Park was in charge of arrangements
PAUL ALLEN EASLON JR.
Paul Allen Easlon, Jr., 50, Madras,
died June 3, 2007. A memorial service
was held June 16 at Bel-Air Colonial
Chapel in Madras.
Mr. Easlon was born January 14,
1957, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to
Paul Sr. and Bobbie (Smith) Easlon. He
had lived in Central Oregon for 20
years and taught welding classes at
Central Oregon Community College.
He was preceded in death by his fa-
ther.
Survivors include two sons, Levi of
Issaquah, Washington, and Travis of
Redmond; a daughter, Ryan Johnson
of Madras; his mother of Madras; a
brother, Michael of Vernonia; a sister,
Carol Elek of Redmond; and seven
grandchildren.
MARY OLIVE FORD
Mary Olive Ford, 85, Clackamas,
died May 25, 2007. A memorial service
was held June 2 at the King of Kings
Lutheran Church in Milwaukie, followed
by inurnment at Willamette National
Cemetery.
Mrs. Ford was born September 2,
1921, in Mist, to Charles and Jane (Sal-
mi) Hansen. She graduated from Ver-
nonia High School in 1941, and moved
to Portland.
In 1943, she married Thomas J.
Ford. After the death of her husband in
1982, she worked at several Fred Mey-
er stores as a fabric sales clerk.
She was also preceded in death by
a brother, Norman Hansen, and a sis-
ter, LaVerna Kulju.
Survivors include two sons, Charles
Ford of Molalla and James Ford of
Lebanon; a sister, Priscilla Roeser of
Please see page 21