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The INDEPENDENT, December 20, 2007
County Fair Board seat will open in ‘08
A position on the five-person
board that oversees the Colum-
bia County Event Complex and
the annual Fair & Rodeo in St.
Helens will be available at the
end of the year. This volunteer
position works collaboratively
with four other board members
to manage the 70 acre proper-
ty and to oversee the Fair Ad-
ministrator, who manages the
day-to-day operations.
Applications will be accept-
ed through the end of month at
either the County Commission-
ers’ office in the Columbia
County Courthouse, or at the
Event Complex. Candidates
must have a genuine interest in
the Event Complex and the Co-
lumbia County Fair & Rodeo,
work well in a team environ-
ment, and be willing to serve a
three year term. Current board
members include Deloris Bel-
lingham of Vernonia, Deb
Parmley of Scappoose, Evelyn
Hudson of Scappoose, Henry
Heimuller of St. Helens and
David Thompson Jr. of Clatska-
nie, whose term expires at the
end of the year.
Although the Columbia
County Fair generated over
$74,000 in ticket sales this past
year that isn’t the only event
held at the Columbia County
Event Complex. Activities on
the grounds happen throughout
the year, which helps to support
the complex and other local
businesses and non-profits in
the county.
The complex had 563
rentals last year (not including
the fair), which is calculated by
the number of activities on the
grounds each day of the year,
bringing in over 57,000 people.
Activities include Little League
and Youth Soccer games and
practices, stock car races, and
the rental of the buildings and
grounds for both public and pri-
vate events such as fundrais-
ers and wedding receptions.
Twenty-six organizations used
the facility to raise funds that
were directly reinvested into
the community.
Currently, the Fair Board has
negotiated a new contract with
the Columbia County Racing
Association and final drafts on
lease agreements with the St.
Helens Little League and Youth
Soccer Association are in the
works.
Market-based approach is goal of
Ecosystem Services Council
An alliance of business, en-
vironmental and government
leaders in Oregon are joining
forces to form the Ecosystem
Services Council. These organ-
izations represent the nation’s
first not-for-profit efforts to es-
tablish an ecosystem services
marketplace – with the goal of
organizing market-based ef-
forts that promote clean air,
clean water, land protection
and habitat restoration. The
work of the Council takes mar-
ket initiatives beyond the fre-
netic energy of carbon markets
to support investment in whole
ecosystems.
Market-based efforts that
encourage
environmental
restoration are growing rapidly
at all levels. Globally, the World
Bank estimates that $30 billion
moved through carbon markets
in 2006. In Oregon, an unmet
demand of $30 million persists
for the wetland mitigation cred-
its necessary for future devel-
opment. Locally, Clean Water
Services, a public water-re-
sources utility in Oregon, used
market-based approaches to
restore 35 miles of streams for
$6 million instead of spending
$60 million on industrial-engi-
neering to meet water quality
standards.
To unify these global, state
See page 24
Little change in County job rates
Columbia County’s season-
ally adjusted unemployment
rate was essentially un-
changed at 6.2 percent in Octo-
ber from the previous month
(5.9%) and from one year be-
fore (5.8%). The rate was high-
er than the statewide rate
(5.5%) and the national rate
(4.7%).
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
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Total employment rose by 45
to 23,005 but the number of un-
employed people increased by
87 to 1,378. October is the first
time employment has passed
the 23,000 mark in the county.
Total employment this October
was 299 more than one year
before but there were 109 more
people unemployed this year.
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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
FEBRUARY 2008
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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.