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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
Pay property taxes at Wauna or on-line From page 1 prior to January 1, 2007, was rural Saint Helens and Warren, where vacant land values in- creased by 41 percent. Most of the remaining residential mar- ket values in the county in- creased by an average of 15 percent. However, Poling point- ed out that property taxes are based on assessed value, not market value. The total as- sessed value this year is $3,898,081,711 or 8.27 percent higher than last year. The in- crease includes the three per- cent increase in maximum as- sessed value, plus new con- struction. A total of $50,307,931 in property taxes are being billed for the county, cities, schools and special districts, 4.34 per- cent more than was billed last year. An additional $1,201,211 will be collected for such things as drainage districts assess- ments and the Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry’s fire patrol special assessments. The first payment of the tax bill is due by November 15. Payments that are mailed need to be postmarked by the 15th. At least one third of the amount is due at that time. The second and third installments are due by February 15 and May 15, however the County does not send out statements for the February or May due dates. Property owners who pay the entire amount due by No- vember 15th will receive a three percent discount. If two thirds of the bill is paid by No- vember 15th a two percent dis- count of the amount paid will be allowed. Columbia County property tax payments can be made with credit and debit cards on-line at www.officialpayment.com, or by calling 1-877-246-3058. There is a 2.5 percent charge to use a credit card, or a $3.00 flat fee for debit card use. Also, as in past years, 2007- 2008 property taxes can be paid at authorized local finan- cial institutions through Novem- ber 15, 2007, at the following: Wauna Federal Credit Union in Clatskanie, St. Helens and Ver- nonia; St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union, all branches in Columbia County; and Bank of the West in St. He- lens. Property owners may appeal the value of their property as in past years. However, if the ap- peal results in a lower market value, there would be a reduc- tion in the taxes due only if the market value falls below the as- sessed value. The deadline for filing an appeal is December 31, 2007. Appeal forms are available from the county clerk or county assessors office. Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays & Thursdays 6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg. American Legion Post #119 2nd Thursday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Arts & Crafts Society 2nd Thursday 2:00 p.m., City Library Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., VHS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., City Hall CERT 4th Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-3018 Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Hands On Art Committee 1st & 3rd Thursdays 4:00 p.m., City Hall Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant Municipal Airport Committee 4th Thursday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Narcotics Anonymous Saturdays 7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Community PTA 3rd Thursday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Learning Center 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m., VLC Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Pride 3rd Thursday 1:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 1:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Thursday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC S M 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 Farm loans for women, minorities The Washington/Columbia County Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced they have loan funds available to help qualified women and mi- norities buy and operate family- sized farms. FSA reserves a portion of its loan guarantee funds to assist socially disad- vantaged applicants. Socially disadvantaged groups are those whose mem- bers have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender preju- dice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual quali- ties. For purpose of FSA’s loan programs, socially disadvan- taged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, His- panics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. FSA’s loan and loan guaran- tee funds are available to indi- viduals and entities that are pri- marily and directly engaged in NOVEMBER 2007 T W T F 1 2 8 6 7 9 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 30 S 3 10 17 24 S M 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 DECEMBER 2007 T W T F 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 farming and ranching on family -sized operations. Farm owner- ship loan funds are available to help purchase a farm or ranch. To qualify, the applicant must have participated in the busi- ness operation of a farm or ranch for at least three years. For those applicants who have at least one year’s experi- ence in managing or operating a farm or ranch, funds are available to help with the pur- chase of livestock, machinery and equipment, as well as an- nual production expenses. Information is available on the Oregon State FSA website at www.fsa.usda/or/. or by call- ing 503-648-3174, ext. 2. Turkeys are needed From page 1 tion is 10-12 pounds. One hun- dred percent of donations stay in the community and all dona- tions are tax deductible. S S 1 8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 2nd Tuesday M-BRFPD Board Workshop 4th Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-2401 JANUARY 2008 T W T F 1 3 4 2 7 9 8 10 11 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 M S 5 12 19 26 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 6:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Fridays 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church Alcoholics Anonymous Wednesdays 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church American Legion Post #90 2nd Tuesdays 7:30 p.m., Main Street Post Banks City Council 2nd Tuesday 7:30 p.m., City Hall Banks Fire District #13 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Station 13 Banks Library Commission 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Library Banks Planning Commission Last Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Banks School Board 2nd Monday 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library Banks Youth Group Sundays, Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. Chamber of Commerce 1st Thursday 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office CPO 14 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., City Library Friends of the Library 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Library Lions Club 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby Sunset Park Assoc. 3rd Wednesday 8:00 p.m., Gun Club T.O.P.S. Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesdays 10 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 3rd Monday 6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St. Mental Health Advisory Comm. 3rd Tuesday 10 a.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 550 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. 2nd Tuesday 3:00 p.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
